Viktor Stålberg facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Viktor Stålberg
Stalberg with the New York Rangers in September 2015
Born	(1986-01-17) 17 January 1986 (age 39) Gothenburg, Sweden
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Toronto Maple Leafs Chicago Blackhawks Frölunda HC Atlant Moscow Oblast Nashville Predators New York Rangers Carolina Hurricanes Ottawa Senators EV Zug Avangard Omsk HC Fribourg-Gottéron
National team	Sweden
NHL Draft	161st overall, 2006 Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career	2009–2021

Viktor Stålberg (born January 17, 1986) is a former professional ice hockey player from Sweden. He played as a winger, which is a forward position in hockey. Viktor played for several teams in the National Hockey League (NHL), including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Ottawa Senators. He is most famous for winning the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013.

Viktor's Hockey Journey

Early Years and College Hockey

Viktor Stålberg started his hockey journey playing for Frölunda HC in Sweden during the 2005–06 season. He was a top scorer for his team, getting 33 goals and 31 assists in 48 games. Because of his great performance, the Toronto Maple Leafs chose him in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He was picked in the 6th round, as the 161st player overall.

After being drafted, Viktor moved to the United States to play college hockey. He joined the University of Vermont team in 2006. In his first year, he played in all 39 games, scoring 7 goals and adding 8 assists. He was even named "Hockey East Rookie of the Week" once.

Viktor continued to play well in his second year, scoring 10 goals and 13 assists. By his third year, he was a star player. He scored 24 goals and 22 assists in 39 games, leading his team in points. He was even a finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, which is given to the best college hockey player. That year, his team made it to the "Frozen Four," which is the final round of the college championship.

Starting Professional Hockey

After his successful college career, Viktor decided to become a professional player. In April 2009, he signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He first played for their minor league team, the Toronto Marlies, in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Viktor made his first appearance in the NHL with the Maple Leafs on October 1, 2009. In that game, he got his first NHL assist. A few days later, he got an injury after a big hit, which made him miss some games. On December 18, he scored his very first NHL goal against the Buffalo Sabres. He finished his first NHL season with 9 goals and 5 assists in 40 games.

Winning the Stanley Cup with Chicago

Stalberg playing for the Chicago Blackhawks in February 2012.

In 2010, Viktor was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, who had just won the Stanley Cup. In his first season with the Blackhawks (2010–11), he scored 12 goals and 12 assists in 77 games. He also played in his first Stanley Cup playoffs, scoring a goal in a tough series against the Vancouver Canucks.

The 2011–12 season was a great one for Viktor. He scored his first career "hat trick" (three goals in one game) in January 2012. He ended that season with his best numbers yet: 22 goals and 21 assists for 43 points.

In the 2012–13 season, which was shorter due to a player lockout, Viktor continued to play well. The Blackhawks had an amazing season, winning the "Presidents' Trophy" for being the best team in the regular season. Then, they went on to win the Stanley Cup! Viktor was a part of this championship team, which was a huge achievement in his career.

Moving to Other NHL Teams

After winning the Stanley Cup, Viktor signed a four-year contract with the Nashville Predators in 2013. He played for them for two seasons. In his second year with the Predators, he also spent some time playing for their minor league team, the Milwaukee Admirals. In 2015, the Predators ended his contract early, and he became a free agent.

Viktor then signed a one-year contract with the New York Rangers in 2015. He played 75 games for them, scoring 9 goals and 11 assists. He helped the team in their playoff run that year.

In 2016, Viktor moved to the Carolina Hurricanes for a season. Then, in 2017, he was traded to the Ottawa Senators. He played 18 games for the Senators and helped them make a deep run in the 2017 playoffs, almost reaching the Stanley Cup Finals. It was later shared that he played through some injuries during this time.

Playing in Europe and Retirement

After his time in the NHL, Viktor decided to play hockey in Europe. In 2017, he signed a two-year contract with EV Zug in Switzerland's National League. He quickly became a top player there, scoring 22 goals and 28 assists in his first season. He was even named the league's best forward by the media.

In 2018, he moved to Russia to play for Avangard Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). After that, he returned to Switzerland in 2019 to play for HC Fribourg-Gottéron.

On August 13, 2021, Viktor Stålberg announced that he was retiring from professional ice hockey after a long and successful career.

After Playing Hockey

Even after retiring, Viktor has stayed involved in hockey. In September 2023, his former college, the University of Vermont, announced that he would be an advisor to their men's ice hockey coaching staff.

Playing for Sweden

Viktor also proudly represented his home country, Sweden, in international competitions. He played in the 2012 IIHF World Championship. He also represented Sweden at the 2018 Winter Olympics, where he scored one goal and helped his team finish 5th.

About Viktor's Life

Viktor's parents are Eddy and Maria Stålberg. He has two younger brothers, Alexander and Sebastian. Sebastian also plays hockey for Frölunda HC in Sweden. When he was growing up, Viktor's favorite hockey player was Mats Sundin, a famous former captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Awards and Special Mentions