Before Jared Bednar became the coach who led the Colorado Avalanche to the Stanley Cup, he was making a name for himself with the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters.
One of the biggest reasons those Monsters won the Calder Cup in 2016 was a young winger named Oliver Bjorkstrand.
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Bjorkstrand appeared in 51 regular-season games that year, scoring 17 goals and adding 12 assists. Then he caught fire in the playoffs, piling up 10 goals and six assists in 17 games as Lake Erie swept the Hershey Bears to capture the championship.
Fast forward nearly a decade, and Bjorkstrand is beginning another chapter of his career.
The New York Rangers signed the veteran winger to a one-year, $4.5 million contract on the opening day of free agency, betting that his scoring touch can give their lineup another dimension.
Most of the attention this summer has gone to Pavel Dorofeyev after New York acquired him from the Vegas Golden Knights and immediately signed him to a seven-year extension worth $11 million per season. That’s understandable.
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But don’t overlook Bjorkstrand. By the time the season is over, he may end up looking like one of the Rangers’ smartest additions.
Scoring goals has never been much of an issue for Bjorkstrand.
Last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning was an outlier, as he finished with 12 goals in 80 games. Before that, he had scored at least 18 goals in seven straight seasons and topped the 20-goal mark six different times.
Players with that kind of consistency aren’t easy to find, especially on a one-year contract.
Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller remain New York’s top two centers, but both are now in their 30s, and the depth behind them leaves plenty to be desired. If the Rangers don’t get enough production down the middle, it could limit the opportunities for their wingers.
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Even so, Bjorkstrand has built a career on creating offense. He has an underrated release, finds soft spots in coverage, and doesn’t need many chances to make an impact.
The one-year commitment also works in the Rangers’ favor.
If New York is in the playoff race, Bjorkstrand gives the club another proven scorer who can provide valuable secondary offense.
If the season goes in the other direction, his contract becomes an asset as many contenders will be looking to add at the deadline.
Either way, it’s a low-risk move with plenty of upside.
For Avalanche fans, there’s another reason this signing stands out.
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Bednar coached Bjorkstrand during one of the most memorable seasons of both of their careers. Bednar helped guide the young winger through a championship run, and Bjorkstrand rewarded that trust by becoming one of Lake Erie’s most dangerous offensive players when it mattered most.
The player arriving in New York today has years of NHL experience, but many of the traits that made him successful under Bednar are still there.
The Rangers are hoping those qualities help them take a step forward this season.
For Avalanche fans, it’s another chance to watch one of Bednar’s former players continue carving out a successful NHL career.
Through 704 NHL games, Bjorkstrand has recorded 184 goals and 232 assists for 416 points.
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