The Vancouver Canucks have reached an agreement with forward Vilmer Alriksson on a three-year, entry-level contract. General Manager Patrik Allvin announced the deal Sunday morning.
Alriksson, 19, just wrapped up his first season in the OHL with the Guelph Storm, where he tallied 33 points (17 goals-16 assists-33 points) and racked up 35 penalty minutes across 67 games. The Stockholm, Sweden native set new career highs in goals, assists, and points. He also contributed a goal in four playoff appearances for the Storm. Before making the jump to the OHL, Alriksson played 43 games for Djurgardens Jr. in Sweden, recording 21 points (12 goals-9 assists-21 points) and 22 penalty minutes.
The Swedish forward made a strong impression during Vancouver’s training camp and pre-season games, using the opportunity to showcase his potential before heading back to junior. In his first appearance at Rogers Arena, the 6’6” forward left his mark with a mix of physical play and fearlessness.
In the Canucks’ pre-season opener against the Seattle Kraken, Alriksson made headlines with a huge hit on Logan Morrison, which led to a fight with Kraken forward John Hayden just moments later. Despite the size advantage, Alriksson was up against a veteran NHLer with 249 games and over 40 career fights. While Alriksson didn’t appear entirely comfortable during the scuffle, he earned praise for accepting the challenge.
Though Alriksson’s performance has impressed so far, he is set to return to the Guelph Storm for the upcoming OHL season. “Vilmer had a solid training camp and continues to develop and improve,” said GM Patrik Allvin. “We really like his size, skating ability, and skillset, and we will continue to monitor his progress and work with him this year to help Vilmer get ready to take another step forward in his hockey career.”
Alriksson’s potential has many in the Canucks organization excited. If he can carry his recent form back to the OHL, the towering 234-pound forward could significantly boost his point totals and become one of the league’s toughest matchups.
The Canucks selected Alriksson in the fourth round, 107th overall, of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.