While the NHL is on hold because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Tribune-Review will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 54 individuals under NHL contract with the organization, from mid-level prospect Niclas Almari to high-profile trade acquisition Jason Zucker.
Kasper Bjorkqvist
Position: Right winger
Shoots: Right
Age: 22
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 198 pounds
2019-20 AHL statistics: Six games, one point (one goal, zero assists).
Contract: First year of a two-year entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $792,500. Pending restricted free agent in 2021.
Acquired: Second-round selection (No. 61 overall) in the 2016 draft, June 25, 2016.
This season: If the only ingredient toward being a successful hockey player was working out, Bjorkqvist would be an all-star. His training videos on social media have earned him something of a cult following.
Unfortunately, all that iron hasn’t helped Bjorkqvist avoid a disaster of a first professional season.
A knee injury and subsequent surgery has sidelined him since early November. Five months into a six-month time frame for recovery, Bjorkqvist has not played since Oct. 19.
In the unlikely event the AHL resumes play after its pause for the coronavirus pandemic, Bjorkqvist, who also underwent shoulder surgery during the 2019 offseason, could salvage something from his first professional season and work his way back into the lineup. But that is a long shot, at best.
The future: There still is a world of potential for Bjorkqvist. A high draft pick — the Penguins selected him with a pick they acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2015 blockbuster trade that also netted star forward Phil Kessel — Bjorkqvist is one of the more physically gifted athletes in the Penguins’ prospect pool, as evidenced by his Instagram exploits.
A native of Finland who played three season of college hockey with Providence — a decision partially rooted in getting used to North American hockey — Bjorkqvist is a mature, defense-first player who has some offensive touch. If he reaches the NHL, he could be a player used on a variety of lines.
