Liam Öhgren Finds His Stride with the Vancouver Canucks

The young Swedish forward is making the most of his fresh start in a new NHL city.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Liam Öhgren, a 22-year-old Swedish forward, was traded from the Minnesota Wild to the Vancouver Canucks in late 2025. After struggling to find consistent playing time with the Wild, Öhgren has seized the opportunity with the Canucks, scoring key goals and providing an energetic presence both on and off the ice. He has quickly become a valuable part of the Canucks' lineup, showcasing his offensive abilities and earning increased ice time in all situations.

Why it matters

Öhgren's successful transition to the Canucks is an encouraging sign for the team as they look to build for the future. The young forward's ability to adapt and contribute at the NHL level could make him an important piece of the Canucks' long-term plans, providing a boost of energy and skill to a team that has been struggling to find consistent success.

The details

After being drafted in the first round by the Minnesota Wild in 2022, Öhgren struggled to establish himself as a regular in the Wild's lineup, spending time between the NHL and AHL. However, since being traded to the Canucks in late 2025, the young Swede has found his stride, scoring two goals and adding an assist in his first four games with the team. He has also made an impact in the shootout, scoring the game-winning goal in a seven-round shootout against the Boston Bruins.

  • Öhgren was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in late 2025.
  • He scored his first goal as a Canuck on December 17, 2025.
  • Öhgren scored the game-winning shootout goal against the Boston Bruins on December 21, 2025.

The players

Liam Öhgren

A 22-year-old Swedish forward who was a first-round draft pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2022 and was recently traded to the Vancouver Canucks.

Adam Foote

The head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, who has been working with Öhgren to develop him into a well-rounded player.

Elias Pettersson

A defenseman for the Vancouver Canucks and Öhgren's former teammate on the Swedish national junior team.

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What they’re saying

“Great. I mean, he's very coachable. Young guy that's got a lot of power and speed for his age, and he loves Vancouver. He wants to just fit in and keep learning, and it's fun to be around a guy like that every day.”

— Adam Foote, Head Coach, Vancouver Canucks (nhl.com)

“As a young guy, it's a good opportunity. Maybe get more ice time, stuff like that. It's easier maybe, but it's never guaranteed. You've got to work for it and try to get better every day to stay in the lineup. That's what I try to do. Just work hard every day, keep getting better, and stay in the lineup.”

— Liam Öhgren (nhl.com)

What’s next

Öhgren will look to continue his strong play and cement his spot in the Canucks' lineup as the team navigates the remainder of the season. With his entry-level contract expiring at the end of the 2026-27 season, he will be eligible to sign a contract extension with the Canucks this summer, and both sides have expressed a desire to keep him in Vancouver long-term.

The takeaway

Liam Öhgren's successful transition to the Vancouver Canucks showcases the value of a fresh start and the opportunity for young players to step up and make an impact. His combination of skill, energy, and team-first mentality have quickly made him a valuable asset for the Canucks, and his continued development could be a key part of the team's plans for the future.