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The man they call 'The Maestro' in Seattle had a memorable second campaign with the Kraken. Bjorkstrand racked up 20 goals while setting career highs in both total points (59) and power-play points (25). The team's poor defensive play left him with a minus-20 rating, but he held steady in a middle-six role throughout the campaign. Bjorkstrand doesn't offer much outside of scoring, but he should still be a factor on the Kraken's power play in 2024-25. Where he lines up will be of more intrigue -- new head coach Dan Bylsma could go in a number of directions since few of the Kraken's forward combinations found success last year. Bjorkstrand was most often with Yanni Gourde, but skating alongside a playmaker like Chandler Stephenson could afford him more chances to push for his first 60-point campaign.
Bjorkstrand reached the 20-goal mark for the fourth time in his career last season, but it was somewhat of a down year for the winger. He wasn't able to maintain a top-six job by the end of the campaign, though he played well alongside Yanni Gourde at times. Bjorkstrand also shot just 10.1 percent in 2022-23, the second-lowest mark of any season in his career. At 28 years old, there's plenty of room for him to rebound to around 13 percent this campaign. He should also remain in the mix for power-play time, and he's a very capable shoot-first winger whose defensive work makes him a middle-six fixture even if he wavers on the scoresheet. That all combines to give him some late-round appeal in drafts for standard fantasy leagues for the upcoming season.
The Kraken lacked offensive weapons in their first NHL season, so they lucked out when they were able to acquire Bjorkstrand - a proven scorer - from Columbus in late July for a pair of mid-round picks. It was a shockingly low price to pay for a guy who potted 28 goals and 57 points in 80 games a year ago for a middling club. Bjorkstrand is an asset with the man advantage - he never hesitates to shoot the puck -- and he won't turn 28 until next April, so this move is a potential home run for Seattle. Keep Bjorkstrand in mind when you are looking for secondary scoring in the middle rounds of fantasy drafts this year.
There were few bright spots for the Blue Jackets in the 2020-21 season, but Bjorkstrand was one of them. The third-round pick from the 2013 NHL Entry Draft posted a career-high 44 points in 56 games - although a paltry minus-15 rating certainly cast a shadow on the offensive production. On a rebuilding Blue Jackets team lacking a great deal of offensive talent, the Swedish winger should get plenty of opportunity, but the dearth of playmakers on the roster significantly limits his fantasy upside. Bjorkstrand should garner a heavy workload on the top line and could generate enough offense to justify consideration in the later rounds of their fantasy drafts, but Bjorkstrand may struggle to break out significantly with the Blue Jackets in 2021-22.
Bjorkstrand missed 21 games during the abbreviated 2019-20 regular season due to rib and ankle injuries, but he was pretty productive when healthy, racking up 21 goals, 15 assists, six power-play points and 162 shots while averaging 17:56 of ice time in 49 contests. The 25-year-old winger will be locked into a top-line role and a spot on Columbus' first power-play unit in 2020-21, giving him the potential to produce at a 30-goal, 55-point pace. Bjorkstrand will come with some inherent risk due to his lack of track record, but he'll still make for a nice addition in the mid-to-late rounds of fantasy drafts due to his scoring potential.
Bjorkstrand more than doubled his career goal total with 23 in 77 games last year, but his 36 points were a disappointment after he hit 40 the year before. The slick winger has a great shot and a nose for open ice in the attacking zone, but he needs someone to set him up to maximize his skillset, and Columbus isn't deep with centers that feature the kind of passing skills that mesh well with Bjorkstrand. The 24-year-old will head into camp looking to establish himself on one of the top two lines, but even in a more significant role he could struggle to break out.
The 23-year-old's first full season in the NHL was something of a mixed bag, but for the most part Bjorkstrand was a reliable contributor for the Blue Jackets, scoring 11 goals and 40 points while handling a regular role on the second power-play unit. Much like teammate Cam Atkinson, Bjorkstrand makes up for his lack of size with a knack for finding open ice, which he combines with a sniper's eye and a quick trigger. His immediate fortunes depend a great deal on what happens with Artemi Panarin. If Panarin remains in Columbus, Bjorkstrand will likely remain in a depth role, but if Panarin is traded a spot in the top six could open up, giving the Dane a chance to blossom.
A poor showing in training camp forced Bjorkstrand to spend the early part of the season back in the AHL, but the winger quickly proved he was ready for the big leagues and scored six goals and 10 points in 15 games after his recall in February. Possessing a nose for open ice and a lethal shot, the 22-year-old has the talent to develop into a consistent 25-goal threat if he gets a chance at a top-six role, but the Blue Jackets’ crowded wing situation could keep Bjorkstrand further down on the depth chart in 2017-18. For now, he'll focus on improving his all-around game and staying in the lineup for a full campaign, but even on a checking line he could prove to be a handful for the opposition.
Bjorkstrand had a huge season for the Portland Winterhawks (50 goals and 109 points in 69 games) skating alongside Jets prospect Nicolas Petan, but Bjorkstrand’s small stature means he will need to keep getting stronger and prove himself on every rung of the ladder before he'll get a shot at the NHL. The offensive talent and hockey sense are there for him to make an impact down the road.
Undersized prospect Bjorkstrand has the offensive talent and two-way game to someday make the NHL, but he's a long way away.
