Catching up with... Lukas Vejdemo

MONTREAL - After inking a two-year entry-level contract with the Canadiens on Wednesday, prospect Lukas Vejdemo couldn't be more excited about next season. We caught up with the 22-year-old Swede to find out more about his plans for a busy summer ahead.

Congratulations on signing with the Canadiens! Where were you when you signed the deal?
LUKAS VEJDEMO: I was here in Stockholm. I went out to my agent's house and signed it over there. I just took the train over to him. It was really, really fun and really, really exciting.
Who was the first person you called and texted to tell them the news?
LV:My dad. He followed me along my whole journey here from when I started playing hockey. He was glad, too. It was really exciting, for sure. I had a dream about it. It's like a dream come true and he was excited for this opportunity. It was a fun day.

What are your plans for the offseason? Will you be spending the summer back home in Sweden?
LV: I'm going to be here in Sweden and train with Djurgarden, I think. That's my team over here. Then, we'll see. I think I'm going to go over to Montreal in the fall for Rookie Camp. I haven't really planned everything yet, but right now it looks like I'm going to be here in Sweden in the summer.
What - if any - adjustments will you be making to your offseason training regimen? Where do you think you still need to improve?
LV: I don't know, actually. I'm going to talk about that with [amateur scout] Christer Rockstrom. We're going to plan a little bit. Here in Sweden, we're not on the ice so much during the summer, but I think I need to go on the ice a lot this summer to develop some things in my game that I want to be better at. One thing is to be stronger on the puck; to protect the puck and be really strong on it.
How would you characterize your development since being drafted by the Canadiens back in 2015?
LV: I think I've had a good [learning] curve. I've played three years in the Swedish Hockey League, the highest league here. It's a good league, so I think I've improved a lot, for sure. I'm stronger and I've grown up more. I think I've also improved my skating a little bit. I think it's one of the biggest things in my game, that I skate pretty well. Also, I'm a smarter player. Of course, you get smarter with experience. Those are some of the things.
You put up 17 points in 52 games in 2015-16, then had a drop in production down to eight points in 48 the following year. But you bounced back with a career-high 10 goals and 22 points in 47 games this season. You also averaged a career-high 16:35 of ice time per game. What was the biggest factor in getting back on track?
LV: I think this year it was easier to play because we had a good team and we were a top team in the league. The season before this was pretty hard. We had a tough start in the league and we had to fight every game for a win. It's easier when you're a top team. You can play more relaxed. The other thing was I had one more summer to build my body and now I think I'm a lot stronger. That built some confidence, too, and I took that hard training from last summer into the season and felt that I had developed and took that confidence with me. That was an important thing for me.

How helpful do you think playing against older players on a full-time basis since 2015-16 has prepared you for the next step in your career?
LV: It's a good thing, for sure. Over in North America, it's going to be even tougher. I think it's a good thing to have played here for a few years. I know that I've learned a lot over the last three years. I'm ready to go over there and take those things with me that I've learned here.
Where do you expect to play in September?
LV: My goal is going to be to take a spot in Montreal, for sure. That's what I'm going to look forward to. This summer, I'm going to train a lot to reach my goal. If I don't do that, we'll see, but my goal is going to be to earn a spot in the lineup with the Montreal Canadiens.
Do you feel like you're ready to make the jump to the North American ranks?
LV: For sure. I had a good season this year, and I hope next season I'm going to be an even stronger and better hockey player. I think I have a good chance to make it.
For those who haven't been able to make it to Sweden to see you play, how would you describe your game up the middle?
LV:I would say I'm a two-way center with pretty good skating. That's the strongest thing in my game. I'm pretty smart. I try to make good decisions with the puck. I can play both in an offensive place or box play, too. I'm a pretty all-around player with good skating, I'd say.
Over the course of the season, did you have the chance to talk to [Djurgarden teammate] Rene Bourque about playing in Montreal?
LV: We talked a lot and he only had good things to say. It was fun to hear some stories about Montreal from a player who played there. You get motivated when you hear him speak about the city and all the fans over there. He said it was an amazing place to play.
Have you been in contact with fellow Swede Jacob de la Rose over the years?
LV: He texted me right before you called and congratulated me on the contract. I know he's going to play in the World Championship for Sweden, so I wished him good luck. It was nice to hear from him.

What are you looking forward to the most about coming to Montreal?
LV: Many things, but just to be living there and playing for Montreal and starting a new chapter in my life. Being able to wear the Montreal Canadiens jersey is my dream. That's what I'm looking forward to.