Magnus Hellberg

Lore & Background

Hellberg's NHL journey began with a last-minute decision to attend the 2011 draft, where he became the first player to wear the Nashville Predators' redesigned road jersey. He made his NHL debut on 26 October 2013 with the Predators, playing 12 minutes in relief against the St. Louis Blues. After a high ankle sprain caused by his skate catching under a goal post, he missed three months and was later assigned to the ECHL. He was traded to the New York Rangers in 2015, where he served as backup to Henrik Lundqvist and made his first NHL start in the 2016–17 season finale, stopping 22 of 24 shots in a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Hellberg then played in the KHL for Kunlun Red Star, SKA Saint Petersburg, and HC Sochi, posting a .926 save percentage with Kunlun and a 2.42 goals-against average with Sochi. He returned to the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings in 2022, making one start in a 5–3 win over the New Jersey Devils. After stints with Seattle, Ottawa, and Pittsburgh, he was traded to the Florida Panthers in 2024 and later signed with the Dallas Stars. In 2025, he returned to Sweden to join Djurgårdens IF of the SHL on a three-year contract.

Reader's Guide

Magnus Hellberg's career illustrates the path of a goaltender who moved frequently between leagues and teams, often serving as a backup or injury replacement. His NHL appearances were sporadic, totaling starts and relief outings across five franchises, but he consistently found opportunities due to his size and experience. His time in the KHL was notable for strong save percentages on teams that did not always contend, and he represented Sweden internationally, winning a gold medal at the 2018 IIHF World Championship. Hellberg's ability to be claimed off waivers multiple times—by Ottawa, Seattle, and Detroit—shows he was valued as a depth option. His return to Sweden in 2025 marked a full-circle move after a decade of North American and European play. While never an NHL regular, his career demonstrates the resilience required of a goaltender navigating the margins of the league.

Did You Know?

• Hellberg was the first goaltender selected in the 2011 NHL entry draft, going 38th overall to the Nashville Predators.
• Hellberg won a gold medal with Sweden at the 2018 IIHF World Championship, backstopping a 3–2 win over Switzerland.
• He was claimed off waivers three times in the 2022–23 season: by Ottawa, then Seattle, then Detroit.