Mikael Wikstrand

Mikael Wikstrand (surname also spelled Vikstrand; born 5 November 1993) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing with Ak Bars Kazan in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He had previously been suspended from playing professionally by the National Hockey League and the International Ice Hockey Federation after leaving the 2015–16 pre-season training camp of the NHL's Ottawa Senators and returning to Sweden without informing the club of his intentions.

Mikael Wikstrand
Born (1993-11-05) 5 November 1993
Karlstad, Sweden
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
KHL team
Former teams		 Ak Bars Kazan
Frölunda HC
Färjestad BK
National team  Sweden
NHL Draft 196th overall, 2012
Ottawa Senators
Playing career 2010–present

Playing career

In 2010–11, Wikstrand made his debut in professional hockey, playing 28 games for Mora IK of the HockeyAllsvenskan, getting one assist. The following year, Wikstrand played 47 games for the club, getting 3 points.

Wikstrand was ranked 23rd amongst European skaters in the 2012 NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s final rankings, however he was selected in the seventh round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Senators, 196th overall.[1]

In 2012–13, Wikstrand played 45 games for Mora, getting 22 points. That year, he tied for fifth among Allsvenskan defensemen in scoring, and lead all the Mora defensemen in scoring. There were several trade rumours surrounding Wikstrand at the time, with Frölunda being particularly mentioned.[2]

In 2014, Wikstrand signed a three-year entry-level contract with Ottawa.[3] He attended the Ottawa Senators training camp, but played the season in Sweden with Frölunda HC on loan from Ottawa.

Wikstrand caused controversy when he abruptly left the Ottawa Senators' 2015 pre-season training camp without permission, not even notifying team officials of his departure from camp until he was at the airport about to board a flight back to his native Sweden. Senators general manager Bryan Murray announced shortly afterward that Wikstrand had been suspended by the team. Since Wikstrand is under contract with the Senators, the NHL's affiliation with the IIHF meant that he was prohibited from playing professional hockey for Färjestad BK or any other club in a league affiliated with the IIHF.[4]

On January 20, 2016, the Ottawa Senators announced that they had come to terms with Wikstrand that would allow him to play professional hockey in his native Sweden, while the Senators retained his North American rights. Wikstrand has been loaned to Färjestad of the SHL, which will allow him to play hockey while staying close to his family home in Karlstad, where Wikstrand's brother is reportedly battling leukemia.[5]

After Captaining Färjestad in the 2018–19 season, his fourth year with the club, Wikstrand left as a free agent in the off-season. He agreed to a two-year contract with Russian club, Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL, on 13 June 2019.[6]

International play
Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Ice hockey
World Championships
2018 Denmark
World Junior Championships
2013 Russia

Wikstrand has represented Sweden at the 2018 Winter Olympics, the 2011 U18 World Junior Championship, as well as at the 2013 World Junior Championship, leading all Swedish defensemen with 4 points.[7]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 Mora IK J20 14 1 2 3 8 — — — — —
2010–11 Mora IK J20 16 3 5 8 6 — — — — —
2010–11 Mora IK Allsv 28 0 1 1 6 8 0 0 0 2
2011–12 Mora IK J20 11 3 4 7 2 — — — — —
2011–12 Mora IK Allsv 47 2 1 3 14 — — — — —
2012–13 Mora IK J20 2 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
2012–13 Mora IK Allsv 45 11 14 25 35 — — — — —
2013–14 Mora IK Allsv 27 4 16 20 14 — — — — —
2013–14 Frölunda HC SHL 19 4 7 11 4 7 1 1 2 0
2014–15 Frölunda HC SHL 46 5 15 20 10 13 0 5 5 8
2015–16 Färjestad BK SHL 17 1 8 9 6 5 0 3 3 0
2016–17 Färjestad BK SHL 48 4 15 19 12 7 2 3 5 2
2017–18 Färjestad BK SHL 45 5 13 18 14 6 1 0 1 0
2018–19 Färjestad BK SHL 47 4 16 20 14 14 0 2 2 6
2019–20 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 52 4 28 32 8 4 0 2 2 0
SHL totals 222 23 74 97 60 52 4 14 18 16
KHL totals 52 4 28 32 8 4 0 2 2 0

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2011 Sweden WJC18 6 0 1 1 8
2013 Sweden WJC 6 0 4 4 4
2018 Sweden OG 5th 4 2 1 3 0
2018 Sweden WC 100112
Junior totals 12 0 5 5 12
Senior totals 14 2 2 4 2
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References
  1. "Mikael Wikstrand the lone Senators prospect in ufa". thehockeywriters.com. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  2. "Wikstrand could join Frolunda in the next couple of days". icehockeyrumors.com. 3 December 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  3. "Senators sign defenceman Mikael Wikstrand to entry-level contract" (Press release). Ottawa Senators. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  4. "Senators prospect Wikstrand suspended". National Hockey League. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  5. "Senators broker temporary fix with Wikstrand". The Sports Network. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  6. "Mikael Wikstrand in Kazan". Ak Bars Kazan. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  7. "Mikael Wikstrand prospect profile". hockeysfuture.com. 4 March 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
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