Joel Persson

Playing career

Persson started his senior career with Kristianstads IK while also working as a teacher. After scoring 40 points in 38 games during the 2016–17 season in the Hockeyettan, he signed a three-year contract with the Växjö Lakers on 27 April 2017. In the 2017–18 season, he made his SHL debut, appearing in 51 games and recording 28 assists for 34 points in the regular season, then adding five points in 13 playoff games as Växjö won the Le Mat Trophy. On 18 May 2018, he signed a one-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL, who immediately loaned him back to Växjö for the 2018–19 season. He made his NHL debut on 5 October 2019 in a 6–5 win over the Los Angeles Kings, and on 8 November he recorded his first career points (two assists) in a 4–0 win over the New Jersey Devils. Persson also played 27 games for the Oilers' AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. On 24 February 2020, he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks for Angus Redmond and a 2022 conditional seventh-round pick, and was assigned to the AHL's San Diego Gulls, appearing in seven games before the season was cancelled due to COVID-19. On 6 June 2020, as a restricted free agent, he signed a three-year contract to return to Sweden with the Växjö Lakers, and his NHL rights were later relinquished by the Ducks.