Victor Rask

Lore & Background

Rask began his playing career with Leksands IF of the Swedish HockeyAllsvenskan. After the 2010–11 season, he was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2011 NHL entry draft and also by the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in the 2011 CHL Import Draft. He chose to play major junior hockey with the Hitmen, where he tallied 30 goals and 60 points in his rookie season and earned the team's Rookie of the Year. Rask signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Hurricanes on 20 October 2011.

Rask made his NHL debut for the Hurricanes on 10 October 2014. During his rookie season, he became the sixth rookie in Hurricanes history to hit the 30-point milestone, with 11 goals and 22 assists through 78 games. He also joined a franchise record by becoming one of five Hurricanes rookies to score 10 or more goals in a season since the team's relocation to Raleigh. On 17 January 2019, Rask was traded by the Hurricanes to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for winger Nino Niederreiter. He later played for the Seattle Kraken before moving to the National League.

Reader's Guide

Victor Rask's significance lies in his early impact as a rookie for the Carolina Hurricanes, where he set franchise records for first-year players. His 30-point rookie season placed him among a select group of Hurricanes rookies to achieve that milestone, and his 11 goals tied a franchise record for rookies since the team's relocation to Raleigh. Rask's career-high 21 goals and 27 assists in the 2015–16 season demonstrated his offensive potential, leading to a six-year, $24 million contract extension. However, his production declined in subsequent seasons, and he was traded to the Minnesota Wild in 2019. Rask's career illustrates the trajectory of a promising young player who achieved early success but struggled to maintain consistency, ultimately moving through multiple NHL teams before continuing his career in Switzerland. His time with the Hurricanes remains notable for the rookie records he set and the expectations he carried as a second-round draft pick.

Did You Know?

• Rask was drafted by both the Carolina Hurricanes (42nd overall in 2011) and the Calgary Hitmen (third overall in the 2011 CHL Import Draft).
• He scored his first NHL goal on 2 November 2014 against the Los Angeles Kings.
• Rask signed a six-year, $24 million contract extension with the Hurricanes on 12 July 2016.
• He was traded to the Minnesota Wild on 17 January 2019 in exchange for Nino Niederreiter.