Marcus Högberg Bio
Marcus Högberg is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). He plays the position wearing the standard goaltender equipment and catches with his left hand. Standing 6 ft 5 in tall, Högberg has developed into one of the more traveled Swedish netminders of his draft class, having represented multiple organizations across both North American and European professional leagues.
Selected by the Ottawa Senators in the third round, 78th overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Högberg has spent more than a decade in professional hockey. His career has taken him from the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) to the AHL, the ECHL, and eventually the NHL, where he continues to compete for playing time and roster stability.
Early Life and Background
Marcus Högberg was born on 25 November 1994 in Örebro, Sweden. He grew up in a country with a deep-rooted hockey tradition, where goaltending is treated as a specialized craft from an early age. His size, listed at 6 ft 5 in and 232 lb, was identified early as an asset for the position, giving him the physical profile many scouts look for in a modern goaltender.
Högberg came through the Swedish junior system and developed his game in the structured environment of Swedish club hockey. The pathway from local youth programs to senior professional rosters is well established in Sweden, and Högberg followed that traditional route, rising through the ranks at Linköping HC before making his professional debut.
Path to Hockey
Högberg made his Swedish Hockey League debut playing with Linköping HC during the 2012–13 SHL season. On 17 March 2013, Linköping announced that they would loan Högberg to Mora IK of the HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-tier Swedish league, for the duration of the 2013–14 season. That loan spell allowed him to gain valuable senior minutes outside of the top flight.
He continued to develop within the Linköping organization, working his way into a more prominent role over several SHL campaigns. His combination of height, positional discipline, and consistency at the junior and lower professional levels helped establish him as a legitimate prospect, which is reflected in his third-round selection by Ottawa in 2013.
Marcus Högberg Career
Early Career (2013–2017)
After completing four seasons in the SHL with Linköping HC, Högberg signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators on 30 March 2017. To close out the 2016–17 season, he was signed by Ottawa’s AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators, to a professional try-out deal, giving him his first extended look at North American professional hockey.
During the 2017–18 campaign, Högberg split time between the AHL’s Belleville Senators and Ottawa’s ECHL affiliate, the Brampton Beast, adjusting to the smaller ice surface and the faster pace of the North American game.
Ottawa Senators Organization (2017–2021)
Högberg began the 2018–19 season with the Belleville Senators but was reassigned to the ECHL on 27 November before playing a game at the AHL level that year. After being recalled to Belleville and appearing in seven contests, he received his first NHL recall on 22 December 2018. He was briefly returned to the AHL before eventually making his NHL debut on 29 December against the Washington Capitals, stopping 21 shots in a 3–2 loss.
On 19 June 2019, the Senators signed Högberg to a two-year contract extension, with the second year carrying a one-way value of $700,000. He spent the bulk of his remaining time in the Ottawa organization between Belleville and the parent club.
Return to Linköping HC (2021–2024)
As an impending free agent after five seasons within the Ottawa system, Högberg opted to return to his original Swedish club, Linköping HC of the SHL, agreeing to a four-year contract on 17 June 2021. The move marked a homecoming for the Örebro native and gave him an opportunity to serve as a top goaltender in the Swedish top flight.
Following the 2023–24 season and three successful years with Linköping, Högberg exercised an NHL out clause in his contract and signed a two-year, $1.55 million deal with the New York Islanders on 7 May 2024. On 11 January 2025, he earned his first win with the Islanders in a 2–1 victory over the Utah Hockey Club.
Bridgeport Islanders Era (2024–Present)
Under contract with the New York Islanders, Högberg has spent time with the organization’s AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders. He continues to provide goaltending depth within the Islanders system, splitting work between the NHL club and its developmental partner.
Notable Events and Milestones
Högberg’s NHL debut against the Washington Capitals on 29 December 2018 stands as a career milestone, as does his first win with the New York Islanders against the Utah Hockey Club in January 2025. His decision to return to Linköping in 2021 and his subsequent return to North America in 2024 also mark significant turning points in his professional journey.
Marcus Högberg Career Wins
Marcus Högberg has accumulated professional wins across multiple leagues, including the SHL, the AHL, the ECHL, and the NHL. His victories have come with Linköping HC, the Belleville Senators, the Brampton Beast, the Ottawa Senators, and the New York Islanders organization.
NHL Highlights
Högberg’s first NHL appearance came on 29 December 2018 against the Washington Capitals, and his first NHL victory came on 11 January 2025 with the Islanders against the Utah Hockey Club. Specific career win totals are not fully verified.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to his NHL appearances, Högberg has posted wins in the AHL with Belleville and Bridgeport, in the ECHL with Brampton, and across multiple SHL seasons with Linköping HC.
Marcus Högberg Family
Personal Life
Marcus Högberg was born and raised in Örebro, Sweden, and has maintained ties to his home country throughout his career, including his return to Linköping HC in 2021. Public details about his immediate family and personal life are limited.
2025 Season Performance
Högberg entered the 2025 calendar year on the New York Islanders’ roster and recorded his first win with the club on 11 January 2025 against the Utah Hockey Club. He has continued to shuttle between the NHL club and its AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders, depending on team needs and roster movement.
Within the Islanders system, Högberg has provided experienced depth at the goaltending position, supporting the organization’s overall rotation while working within his two-year contract signed in May 2024. His performance has remained steady, and he remains a reliable option for the organization as the season progresses.
