Viktor Persson

March 2024 – One of the worst-case scenarios has continued for Persson, as he has yet to play in another game since his shoulder injury on January 14th, 2023, more than a year ago. This is terrible news for him, as the 22 years old is in the crucial years of his development. Now, he is stuck in a lengthy reconditioning process to regain the level he was at before the injury. Cedrick Blais-Turcotte

June 2023 – Unfortunately, following a decent year with the Kamloops Blazers, Persson’s move overseas proved to be a dud. The 21-year-old’s season was shut down in January with a shoulder injury and was limited to just 24 games, where he notched three assists, 10 PIMS and minus-six. He has signed a one-year extension with the Pelicans, which means he will play out at least one more year in Liiga. Dave Hall

June 2022 – Despite a decent showing in his first season with the Kamloops Blazers, the Canucks will not be signing Persson to his ELC deal just yet. While they continue to own his rights until the summer of 2024, this likely indicates that he will be heading back overseas for the 2022-23 season. In this scenario, the hope is that he etches his way onto a top-four pairing, and continues to develop his game. Jumping to the AHL level only means fighting for minutes, and playing time is crucial right now. Check back next year. Dave Hall

March 2022 – Persson is enjoying a strong debut North American season, contributing as a second-pairing defender on a strong Kamloops Blazers roster. With his swift mobility, and booming point shot serving as his top attributes, the 20-year-old has racked up 26 points on the year, firing at a 0.50 clip. As a right-shot defender, Persson sits in a strong position among the organizations pecking order and could see himself in Abbottsford as early as next season. For now, he has his sights set on a Memorial Cup run. Dave Hall

March 2021 – The Canucks received tremendous value in the seventh round by selecting Persson, as many had him pegged well into the top-100, with some in the top-50. He’s a smooth-skating, transitional defender with a good sense for the play and subtle mean-streak to boot. With stints on three clubs, his 2020-21 season has been run through the blender but has enjoyed developing success nonetheless. The original plan was for him to cross the pond to begin his North American tour with the Kamloops Blazers. However, thanks to the pandemic, his plans may be pushed back. He shows untapped offensive talents and the potential to grow into a solid piece in the six-man rotation. Being a right-handed shot always adds its benefits. Dave Hall