Linus Omark

Linus Karl Heimer Omark (born 5 February 1987) is a Swedish professional ice hockey left winger currently with Genève-Servette HC of the National League (NL). Omark has previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers. He was drafted into the NHL by the Edmonton Oilers in the fourth round, 97th overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Not to be confused with Linus Ullmark.

Linus Omark
Omark in 2017
Born	(1987-02-05) 5 February 1987 Övertorneå, Sweden
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shoots	Left
NL team Former teams	Genève-Servette HC Luleå HF Dynamo Moscow Edmonton Oilers EV Zug Buffalo Sabres Jokerit Salavat Yulaev Ufa
National team	Sweden
NHL Draft	97th overall, 2007 Edmonton Oilers
Playing career	2005–present

Playing career

Omark began his professional hockey career in his native Sweden playing for Luleå HF of the Elitserien. In the 2008–09 season, Omark led Luleå in scoring with 23 goals and 55 points, good for third in the league. Following that successful campaign, Omark played one season with Dynamo Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), scoring 20 goals and 36 points in 56 games. Omark became known as a "YouTube sensation" for his creative scoring attempts,[1] which included a shootout goal where he flipped the puck over a sprawling Switzerland goaltender Marco Bührer in a March 2009 international exhibition,[2] a between-the-legs goal in a game against Timrå IK[3] and a behind-the-net, lacrosse-style attempt against Brynäs IF.[4]

Omark in 2008.

Omark moved to North America for the 2010–11 season and, following his first training camp with the Oilers, during which he recorded three points in two exhibition matches, was assigned to the Oklahoma City Barons, the Oilers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. Omark drew attention when he blamed the demotion on "politics".[5][6] However, he had a successful start to the season, recording 13 goals and 26 points through his first 26 games with the Barons to lead the team in scoring. Five of those goals came in one game on 7 November 2010, when Omark scored five times against the Toronto Marlies and added another goal in a shootout to help the Barons to a 7–6 victory.[7] Omark admitted that although he was initially angry with the demotion, he took it as a learning experience and an opportunity to prove himself, channeling his emotions to work at improving his game.[8]

After injuries to Oilers forwards Aleš Hemský and Shawn Horcoff, Omark and fellow Barons teammate Ryan O'Marra were recalled on 8 December 2010.[9] Omark made his NHL debut on 10 December against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a 4–3 shootout win for the Oilers in which he recorded an assist and scored the clinching shootout goal.[10] His shootout goal drew widespread attention, as it featured a spin move at centre ice;[11] Lightning forward Simon Gagné called it "too much" while Gagné's teammate Martin St. Louis described it as a "slap in the face".[10][12] Oilers head coach Tom Renney defended Omark, telling those who did not like the move to "deal with it".[12] Omark scored his first NHL goal on 16 December against Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets, also recording two assists in the 6–3 Oilers victory.[13] By season's end, Omark had dressed for 51 games with the Oilers, recording five goals and 27 points. With the Oilers missing the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs, Omark returned to Oklahoma City and finished with 14 goals and 31 points in 28 games. He added one goal and three points in the Barons' first round playoff loss.

After going pointless in five games, and scratched for five, Omark was demoted to the minors.

As a restricted free agent and unable to cement a position within the Oilers, Omark left the Oilers and agreed to a one-year contract with Swiss club EV Zug on 29 August 2012. In the 2012–13 season, due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Zug was further strengthened by the presence of Henrik Zetterberg and Damien Brunner. Forming the top offensive line of the National League A, Omark remained with the club for the duration of the season, finishing with 69 points in 48 games to lead the league.

On 27 August 2013, off the back of his successful season in Switzerland, Omark returned to the Oilers organization, signing a one-year, two-way contract.[14] On 19 December 2013, the Buffalo Sabres acquired Omark from the Oilers in exchange for a conditional sixth-round draft pick. On 7 February 2014, Omark was placed on waivers by the Sabres after scoring no goals and two assists in 13 games with the Sabres. He refused to report to the Rochester Americans, Buffalo's AHL affiliate, after clearing waivers,[15] prompting the Sabres to terminate his contract and place him on unconditional waivers, which he cleared. After the incident, Omark indicated that he would return to Europe to continue his professional career.[16] On 19 February, it was announced that Omark had re-joined his original club, Luleå HF, for the remainder of the season.[17]

On March 26, 2020, Omark returned to the National League and joined Genève-Servette HC on a two-year deal worth CHF 2 million.

International play

Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Ice hockey
World Championships
	2017 Germany/France
	2010 Germany
	2009 Switzerland

Omark has represented Sweden several times. He made his international debut with the junior team at the 2007 World Junior Championships in his native country, scoring five points in seven games to help Sweden to a fourth-place finish in the tournament. He made his senior international debut at the 2009 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland. Omark recorded ten points in nine games as Sweden captured the bronze medal. He again represented his country at the 2010 IIHF World Championship in Germany, and Sweden won another bronze medal with Omark recording four points.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2003–04	Luleå HF	J20		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Luleå HF	J20		32	8	9	17	44		7	4	2	6	1
2005–06	Luleå HF	J20		32	22	21	43	56		5	1	2	3	28
2005–06	Luleå HF	SEL		19	0	1	1	10		3	0	0	0	0
2006–07	Luleå HF	SEL		50	8	9	17	32		4	1	0	1	2
2007–08	Luleå HF	SEL		55	11	21	32	46		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Luleå HF	SEL		53	23	32	55	66		5	0	5	5	4
2009–10	HC Dynamo Moscow	KHL		56	20	16	36	34		4	0	0	0	4
2010–11	Oklahoma City Barons	AHL		28	14	17	31	32		6	1	2	3	4
2010–11	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		51	5	22	27	26		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Oklahoma City Barons	AHL		18	6	10	16	8		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		14	3	0	3	8		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	EV Zug	NLA		48	17	52	69	40		12	2	4	6	12
2013–14	Oklahoma City Barons	AHL		29	14	15	29	18		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		13	0	2	2	6		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Luleå HF	SHL		5	1	3	4	0		6	2	3	5	0
2014–15	Jokerit	KHL		60	16	30	46	26		10	3	6	9	12
2015–16	Salavat Yulaev Ufa	KHL		60	18	39	57	40		19	5	11	16	20
2016–17	Salavat Yulaev Ufa	KHL		55	14	42	56	38		5	1	3	4	2
2017–18	Salavat Yulaev Ufa	KHL		55	16	39	55	60		14	4	13	17	33
2018–19	Salavat Yulaev Ufa	KHL		56	10	39	49	28		17	4	14	18	16
2019–20	Salavat Yulaev Ufa	KHL		59	12	42	54	36		6	1	11	12	0
SHL totals				182	43	66	109	154		18	3	8	11	6
KHL totals				401	106	247	353	262		75	18	58	76	87
NHL totals				79	8	24	32	40		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2007	Sweden	WJC	4th		7	2	3	5	4
2009	Sweden	WC			9	2	8	10	14
2010	Sweden	WC			9	1	3	4	8
2016	Sweden	WC	6th		8	0	6	6	2
2017	Sweden	WC			5	2	0	2	2
2018	Sweden	OG	5th		4	0	7	7	0
Junior totals					7	2	3	5	4
Senior totals					35	5	24	29	26

References

1. "Oilers hope Omark sparks offence". The Globe and Mail. 9 December 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
2. "Linus Omark Amazing Goal Against Schweiz 31-03-09". YouTube. 31 March 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
3. "Linus Omark goal vs Timrå". YouTube. 15 February 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
4. "Linus Omark zorro vs Brynäs". YouTube. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
5. Jim Matheson (4 October 2010). "Oilers' Omark blames politics for getting cut". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
6. Cuts Day Interview (at 0:28) on YouTube
7. "Omark scores 5 goals in regulation as Barons outlast Marlies". TSN. 7 November 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
8. "Oilers prospect Linus Omark and his dazzling skills getting a shot in NHL". The Hockey News. 9 December 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
9. "Oilers recall Linus Omark and Ryan O'Marra". Oilers.NHL.com. 8 December 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
10. "Surging Oilers top Lightning 4-3 in shootout". NHL.com. 10 December 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
11. "Shootout goal vs. Tampa Bay". YouTube. 10 December 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
12. "Your Call: Do players have to earn the right to be 'flashy'?". TSN. 11 December 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
13. "Omark and Eberle lead Oilers in victory over Blue Jackets". TSN. 16 December 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
14. "Oilers agree to terms with Omark". Edmonton Oilers. 27 August 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
15. Jafari, Mike (13 February 2014). Omark Fails to Report to Rochester Archived 21 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine. WGR. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
16. Omark headed to Europe after released by Sabres. Associated Press. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
17. "Omark back in Lulea". Luleå HF (in Swedish). 19 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database