Oliver Bjorkstrand
Oliver Bjorkstrand is a Danish professional ice hockey forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. Bjorkstrand was selected by the Blue Jackets in the third round, 89th overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Born and raised in Herning, he is the son of American hockey coach Todd Bjorkstrand and the brother of Patrick Bjorkstrand.Playing career
Bjorkstrand made his AL-Bank Ligaen debut playing with the Herning Blue Fox during the 2011–12 season. On 26 December 2013, during his second season in the Western Hockey League with the Portland Winterhawks, Bjorkstrand signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the organization that drafted him in the third round, 89th overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
On 16 March 2016, Bjorkstrand was recalled by the Blue Jackets and made his NHL debut the following day, 17 March, against the Detroit Red Wings. He scored his first and second NHL goals in his second NHL game on 19 March against goaltender Yann Danis of the New Jersey Devils.
On 11 June 2016, while playing for Columbus' American Hockey League affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, Bjorkstrand scored the game-winning goal in overtime of Game 4 in the Calder Cup Finals against the Hershey Bears, effectively winning the series for Lake Erie; Bjorkstrand also earned the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the playoffs' most valuable player.
During the 2019–20 season, Bjorkstrand suffered an ankle injury on 20 February during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. He was expected to miss eight-10 weeks to recover.Career statistics
International
Awards and honours
