Mikael Wikstrand

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Mikael Wikstrand
Mikael Wikstrand.png
Wikstrand with Färjestad BK in 2019
Born (1993-11-05) 5 November 1993 (age 30)
Karlstad, Sweden
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Frölunda HC
Färjestad BK
Ak Bars Kazan
National teamFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
NHL draft 196th overall, 2012
Ottawa Senators
Playing career 2010–2022

Mikael Wikstrand (surname also spelled Vikstrand; born 5 November 1993) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

Contents

Playing career

In 2010–11, Wikstrand made his debut in professional hockey, playing 28 games for Mora IK of the HockeyAllsvenskan, getting one assist. The following year, Wikstrand played 47 games for the club, getting 3 points.

Wikstrand was ranked 23rd amongst European skaters in the 2012 NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s final rankings, however he was selected in the seventh round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Senators, 196th overall. [1]

In 2012–13, Wikstrand played 45 games for Mora, getting 22 points. That year, he tied for fifth among Allsvenskan defensemen in scoring, and lead all the Mora defensemen in scoring. There were several trade rumours surrounding Wikstrand at the time, with Frölunda being particularly mentioned. [2]

In 2014, Wikstrand signed a three-year entry-level contract with Ottawa. [3] He attended the Ottawa Senators training camp, but played the season in Sweden with Frölunda HC on loan from Ottawa.

Wikstrand caused controversy when he abruptly left the Ottawa Senators' 2015 pre-season training camp without permission, not even notifying team officials of his departure from camp until he was at the airport about to board a flight back to his native Sweden. Senators general manager Bryan Murray announced shortly afterward that Wikstrand had been suspended by the team. Since Wikstrand is under contract with the Senators, the NHL's affiliation with the IIHF meant that he was prohibited from playing professional hockey for Färjestad BK or any other club in a league affiliated with the IIHF. [4]

On January 20, 2016, the Ottawa Senators announced that they had come to terms with Wikstrand that would allow him to play professional hockey in his native Sweden, while the Senators retained his North American rights. Wikstrand has been loaned to Färjestad of the SHL, which will allow him to play hockey while staying close to his family home in Karlstad, where Wikstrand's brother is reportedly battling leukemia. [5]

After Captaining Färjestad in the 2018–19 season, his fourth year with the club, Wikstrand left as a free agent in the off-season. He agreed to a two-year contract with Russian club, Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), on 13 June 2019. [6]

At the conclusion of his contract with Ak Bars, appearing as a regular on the blueline, Wikstrand opted to return to former club, Färjestad BK, as a free agent by agreeing to a three-year contract to resume his career in the SHL on 3 May 2021. [7]

After winning the Le Mat Trophy with Färjestad BK in the 2021–22 season, Wikstrand missed the following two seasons through injury before announcing his retirement from professional hockey on 24 April 2024. [8]

International play

Medal record
Representing Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2018 Denmark
World Junior Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2013 Russia

Wikstrand has represented Sweden at the 2018 Winter Olympics, the 2011 U18 World Junior Championship, as well as at the 2013 World Junior Championship, leading all Swedish defensemen with 4 points. [9]

Wikstrand with Frolunda HC in 2014 Mikael Wikstrand2.JPG
Wikstrand with Frölunda HC in 2014

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2008–09 IFK Ore J18 902231—————
2008–09IFK OreSWE.53000—————
2009–10 Mora IK J18177101718—————
2009–10Mora IKJ18 Allsv63148—————
2009–10Mora IK J20 141238—————
2010–11Mora IKJ184123631344
2010–11Mora IKJ20163586—————
2010–11 Mora IK Allsv 28011680002
2011–12Mora IKJ20113472—————
2011–12 Mora IKAllsv4721314—————
2012–13Mora IKJ2020110—————
2012–13 Mora IKAllsv4511142535—————
2013–14 Mora IKAllsv274162014—————
2013–14 Frölunda HC SHL 194711471120
2014–15 Frölunda HCSHL465152010130558
2015–16 Färjestad BK SHL17189650330
2016–17 Färjestad BKSHL48415191272352
2017–18 Färjestad BKSHL45513181461010
2018–19 Färjestad BKSHL474162014140226
2019–20 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 5242832840220
2020–21 Ak Bars KazanKHL39211131090112
2021–22 Färjestad BKSHL48313162081126
SHL totals270268711380605152022
KHL totals916394518130332

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2011 Sweden WJC18 Silver medal icon.svg60118
2013 Sweden WJC Silver medal icon.svg60444
2018 Sweden OG 5th42130
2018 Sweden WC Gold medal icon.svg100112
Junior totals1205512
Senior totals142242

Awards and honours

AwardYear
SHL
Le Mat Trophy (Färjestad BK) 2022 [10] [11]

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References

  1. ↑ "Mikael Wikstrand the lone Senators prospect in ufa". thehockeywriters.com. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  2. ↑ "Wikstrand could join Frolunda in the next couple of days". icehockeyrumors.com. 3 December 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  3. ↑ "Senators sign defenceman Mikael Wikstrand to entry-level contract" (Press release). Ottawa Senators. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "Senators prospect Wikstrand suspended". National Hockey League . 21 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "Senators broker temporary fix with Wikstrand". The Sports Network. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "Mikael Wikstrand in Kazan". Ak Bars Kazan. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  7. ↑ "Mikael Wikstrand moves home" (in Swedish). Färjestad BK. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  8. ↑ "After 750 days of struggle - now Wikstrand retires: "Have to live with the pain for the rest of my life"" (in Swedish). vf.se. 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  9. ↑ "Mikael Wikstrand prospect profile". hockeysfuture.com. 4 March 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  10. ↑ "Färjestad wins it on the road". eurohockeyclubs.com. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  11. ↑ "Färjestad BK are Swedish Champions" (in Swedish). Swedish Hockey League. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
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