If Viggo Bjorck drops in the 2026 NHL Draft, Mathieu Darche should waste no time selecting the Swedish forward

Size still plays a massive role in the NHL, but those lacking it have been making an impact across the league in recent years. Viggo Bjorck, a 5'10" forward out of Sweden, lacks the size, but certainly has the tenacity to become an effective NHL player.

When it comes to players rising in the ranks this season, Bjorck is at the forefront. Receiving a 'B' rating from NHL Central Scouting before the season, projected as a second or third-round talent, he's soared into the top-10 conversation.

Bjorck's rise really took off at the 2026 World Junior Championship, finishing the tournament with three goals and six assists in seven games, heading back to Sweden with a Gold Medal.

Despite Bjorck's size, he plays with tenacity. Similar to Victor Eklund, who the NY Islanders took 16th overall at last year's draft, Bjorck is a hound on the puck and thinks the game at a higher level.

Bjorck can carry, pass, and shoot, and did so playing in the SHL this past season, scoring six goals and adding nine assists in 42 games. Djurgardens was one of the league's youngest teams this season, where he played alongside Eklund and last year's third-overall pick, Anton Frondell, yet he helped his team reach the playoffs in their first season after earning promotion back to the SHL.

Continuing to perform on the international level, Bjorck played for Sweden in this year's World Championships. Playing against several NHLers across seven games, the 18-year-old scored once and added five assists.

Bjorck may be a pipe dream for the Islanders as a team will likely take a chance on the high-ceiling forward before pick No. 13, but he's the type of player who could be a fan favorite for a long time.

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