Jacob Josefson

Lore & Background

Josefson began skating at age two and joined IK Göta at five. He played for Hammarby IF for a year before being acquired by Djurgårdens IF at age ten. He made his Elitserien debut on 28 February 2008 against Timrå IK and became a regular on the senior team. In the 2008–09 season he scored 5 goals and 16 points, a record for players 18 or younger with the senior team. He was ranked third among European skaters in the NHL Central Scouting Bureau midterm rankings for the 2009 draft. After being drafted by the Devils, he played one more season with Djurgården, scoring 8 goals and 20 points in 43 games, then signed with New Jersey in May 2010. He made his NHL debut on 15 October 2010 against the Colorado Avalanche and scored his first NHL goal on 12 March 2011 against the New York Islanders. Injuries limited his early NHL career, including a broken clavicle in 2011 and a broken left wrist in 2012. After seven seasons with the Devils, he signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres on 1 July 2017. In the 2017–18 season he played 39 games, scoring 2 goals and 4 points. He returned to Djurgården in April 2018 on a multi-year contract through 2022. In the 2018–19 season he scored 12 goals and 35 points and was awarded the Guldhjälmen as the league's most valuable player. A foot injury in October 2019 kept him out for three months. After several concussions, the last occurring on 20 January 2021, he missed the entire 2021–22 season and announced his retirement. He made a comeback in 2025, returning to professional hockey with Djurgården.

Reader's Guide

Josefson's career illustrates the trajectory of a highly touted Swedish prospect who transitioned to the NHL but was repeatedly hampered by injuries. His selection 20th overall in the 2009 draft reflected his strong play in the Elitserien, where he set a scoring record for players 18 or younger. In the NHL, he played 315 games across eight seasons, primarily with the New Jersey Devils, but never fully established himself due to a series of injuries including a torn thumb ligament, broken clavicle, and broken wrist. His one season with the Buffalo Sabres was also injury-limited. Returning to Djurgården, he won the Guldhjälmen as SHL MVP in 2018–19, demonstrating his skill when healthy. However, concussions forced him into rehabilitation and ultimately retirement after missing the 2021–22 season. His comeback in 2025, four years after his last game, marks a rare return to professional hockey after a prolonged absence.

Did You Know?

• Josefson was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and is the youngest of three brothers.
• He was awarded the Guldhjälmen as the SHL's most valuable player in 2018–19.
• He returned to professional hockey in 2025 after a four-year absence due to concussions.