Oliver Bjorkstrand Bio
Oliver Bjorkstrand is a Danish professional ice hockey player born on 10 April 1995 in Herning, Denmark. He plays as a right winger and currently competes for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted 89th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2013 NHL entry draft, Bjorkstrand has built a reputation as a reliable scorer and has represented Denmark in multiple international tournaments.
Standing 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) and weighing 174 lb (79 kg), Bjorkstrand shoots right and is known for his offensive instincts and competitive edge. Over the course of his professional career, which began in 2011, he has played for the Herning Blue Fox, Portland Winterhawks, Lake Erie Monsters, Columbus Blue Jackets, Seattle Kraken, and Tampa Bay Lightning.
Early Life and Background
Oliver Bjorkstrand was born on 10 April 1995 in Herning, Denmark, to parents Todd and Janne. His father, Todd Bjorkstrand, is an American citizen and a former professional hockey player and coach. His older brother, Patrick, also plays ice hockey, making hockey a central part of the family’s life. Growing up in Herning, Bjorkstrand was raised in Denmark and trained under the guidance of his father until he was 17 years old.
From a young age, Bjorkstrand was immersed in the sport through his family’s hockey background. His early development in the Danish hockey system allowed him to progress quickly, and by the time he was a teenager, he was already competing at the senior level in Denmark’s top professional league. This strong foundation prepared him for a smooth transition to North American hockey.
Path to Hockey
Bjorkstrand made his AL-Bank Ligaen debut with the Herning Blue Fox during the 2011–12 season at just 16 years old. In his rookie campaign, he recorded 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points in 36 games, leading all 16-year-olds in the league in scoring. His strong performance caught the attention of scouts in North America, and he was selected 26th overall by the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Hockey League (WHL) 2012 Import Draft.
Joining the Winterhawks for the 2012–13 season, Bjorkstrand quickly established himself as one of the top rookies in the WHL. By December, he ranked fourth among all WHL rookies with 27 points and was invited to the 2012 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. He ended his rookie regular season leading all WHL rookies with 31 goals and 63 points in 65 games, earning the team’s Rookie of the Year award alongside Seth Jones and leading all rookie skaters with 19 points in 21 playoff games. Following his standout junior career, he was selected 89th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2013 NHL entry draft.
Oliver Bjorkstrand Career
Early Career (2012–2015)
During his second season with the Winterhawks in 2013–14, Bjorkstrand signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on 26 December 2013. At the time of signing, he had tallied 25 goals and 31 assists for 56 points in 32 games. By March 2014, he became the second Winterhawk player in three seasons to reach the 50-goal plateau, recording his fourth hat-trick of the season. He finished the regular season third in WHL scoring with 109 points and was named to the WHL Western Conference All-Star First Team, helping the Winterhawks win their fourth straight WHL Western Conference Championship with 28 points in 14 playoff games.
In his third and final WHL season in 2014–15, Bjorkstrand led all WHL players in goals and points, earning the Bob Clarke Trophy as the league’s leading scorer. He recorded 50 goals in 50 games, becoming the first WHL player to accomplish the feat since the 2011–12 season, and the first Winterhawk to post back-to-back 50-goal seasons since Dennis Holland in 1987–89. He was unanimously selected to the WHL Western Conference First All-Star Team and was voted the Winterhawks’ Most Valuable Player by his teammates.
Columbus Blue Jackets Era (2015–2022)
Following his junior career, Bjorkstrand joined the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL) for the 2015–16 season. He recorded 15 goals and 10 assists for 25 points before being recalled to the NHL on 16 March 2016. He made his NHL debut the following day against the Detroit Red Wings and scored his first two NHL goals in his second game against the New Jersey Devils. He finished the regular season with the Blue Jackets, recording four goals and eight points in 12 games. Returning to the AHL, he helped the Monsters win the Calder Cup, scoring the overtime game-winning goal in Game 4 of the Finals against the Hershey Bears and earning the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP.
After splitting time between the NHL and AHL in 2016–17, Bjorkstrand played the full 2017–18 season with the Blue Jackets, setting career highs with 11 goals and 29 assists for 40 points in 82 games. He signed a three-year contract extension in July 2018 and reached his first 20-goal season in 2018–19 with 23 goals. During the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, he helped the Blue Jackets eliminate the Toronto Maple Leafs in five games and later scored in a historic five-overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, setting a franchise record for most postseason game-winning goals. He signed a five-year, $27 million contract extension in January 2021 and was named an alternate captain for 2021–22, recording his 100th assist with the club in October 2021.
Seattle Kraken Era (2022–2025)
On 22 July 2022, Bjorkstrand was traded to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for third-round and fourth-round picks in the 2023 NHL entry draft. Although he struggled to score early in the 2022–23 season, he was moved to the third line in November and eventually snapped a 17-game scoreless drought against the San Jose Sharks. He and Daniel Sprong combined for the fastest two goals in Kraken history during a December 2022 game against the Vancouver Canucks, scoring within 10 seconds of each other.
Bjorkstrand played a key role in the Kraken’s first-ever playoff appearance in 2023, scoring both goals in the team’s 2–1 Game 7 victory over the defending champion Colorado Avalanche to clinch the first-round series. He was selected to represent the Kraken at the 2024 NHL All-Star Game, where he scored in the overtime loss for Team MacKinnon. On 5 March 2025, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning as part of a three-team deal and debuted for the Lightning two days later, scoring a third-period game-winning goal.
Driving Style and Strengths
Oliver Bjorkstrand is recognized for his offensive instincts, scoring touch, and competitiveness despite his average size. Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen once praised him for not being afraid to play the North American style, noting his character and the chip on his shoulder. Bjorkstrand has been praised for his ability to contribute in multiple situations, and his consistency as a scorer has made him a dependable forward at both the NHL and AHL levels.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Bjorkstrand’s most notable achievements are winning the 2016 Calder Cup with the Lake Erie Monsters and earning the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP. He holds the Columbus Blue Jackets franchise record for most postseason game-winning goals and helped the Seattle Kraken defeat the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in the 2023 playoffs. He also represented Denmark at the 2022 Winter Olympics, part of the country’s first-ever Olympic hockey team.
Oliver Bjorkstrand Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Oliver Bjorkstrand has collected a number of significant victories at both the junior and professional levels. His success spans multiple leagues, including the WHL, AHL, and NHL, and includes individual awards as well as team championships.
WHL and AHL Highlights
During his time with the Portland Winterhawks, Bjorkstrand won multiple WHL Western Conference Championships and earned the Bob Clarke Trophy as the WHL’s leading scorer in 2014–15. At the AHL level, he won the Calder Cup with the Lake Erie Monsters in 2016 and was named playoff MVP.
NHL Highlights
In the NHL, Bjorkstrand helped the Columbus Blue Jackets qualify for the playoffs in multiple seasons, including the historic 2020 postseason run that included a five-overtime game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. With the Seattle Kraken, he played a central role in the franchise’s first-ever playoff series win in 2023.
Oliver Bjorkstrand Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Oliver Bjorkstrand comes from a hockey family. His father, Todd Bjorkstrand, is an American former professional hockey player and coach, and his older brother, Patrick, is also an ice hockey player. Todd coached Oliver during his early development in Denmark and also served as head coach for Team Denmark at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Personal Life
As a dual citizen of Denmark and the United States, Bjorkstrand has chosen to represent Denmark in international competition. He continues to play professional ice hockey in the NHL as a right winger for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
2025 Season Performance
Following his trade to the Tampa Bay Lightning on 5 March 2025, Oliver Bjorkstrand made an immediate impact by scoring a third-period game-winning goal in his debut two days later. His arrival added scoring depth to a contending Lightning roster and gave the team another reliable right winger for the stretch run of the 2024–25 regular season.
Bjorkstrand’s transition to Tampa Bay came after a strong stretch with the Seattle Kraken, where he had been a key contributor on the wing and a leader in the dressing room. His playoff experience, including a Game 7 performance against the Avalanche in 2023, made him a valuable addition for a Lightning team with postseason ambitions.
Looking ahead, Bjorkstrand is expected to play a significant role in Tampa Bay’s pursuit of a deep 2025 playoff run. His scoring ability, speed, and familiarity with playoff hockey position him as a key piece of the Lightning’s forward group for the remainder of 2025 and beyond.
