Viktor Stålberg

Lore & Background

Stålberg began his amateur career with Frölunda HC in the J20 SuperElit during the 2005–06 season, leading the team in scoring with 33 goals and 31 assists in 48 games. He was then drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the sixth round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He played three seasons at the University of Vermont, where he was a Division I First-Team All-American in 2008–09 and a finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, the first Vermont player to be a finalist since Martin St. Louis. He led Vermont in points during his junior year with 24 goals and 22 assists.

Stålberg turned professional in 2009, signing with the Maple Leafs and making his NHL debut in the 2009–10 season opener. He recorded his first NHL goal on 18 December 2009 against the Buffalo Sabres. In June 2010, he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, where he played three seasons and won the Stanley Cup in 2013. He later signed as a free agent with the Nashville Predators in July 2013, but after two seasons his contract was bought out. He then signed a one-year deal with the New York Rangers for the 2015–16 season.

Reader's Guide

Viktor Stålberg's NHL career spanned from 2009 to 2021, during which he played for six teams and achieved his greatest success with the Chicago Blackhawks, winning the Stanley Cup in 2013. His most productive season came in 2011–12 with the Blackhawks, when he set career highs in goals (22), assists (21), and points (43). He also recorded his first career hat trick that season against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Stålberg's path to the NHL included a standout college career at the University of Vermont, where he was a Hobey Baker Award finalist and a First-Team All-American. Despite injuries and a buyout from his contract with the Predators, he continued to play in the NHL, including a stint with the New York Rangers. His legacy includes being part of a Stanley Cup-winning team and representing Sweden as a professional in the NHL.

Did You Know?

• Stålberg was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award in 2008–09, the first Vermont player since Martin St. Louis.
• He recorded his first NHL hat trick on 10 January 2012 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
• Stålberg was traded from the Maple Leafs to the Blackhawks on 30 June 2010 in exchange for Kris Versteeg and a prospect.
• He won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013.