WINNIPEG – The highly anticipated debut of Viggo Björck in a Winnipeg Jets jersey is less than 24 hours away as the Jets prospects will be in Gatineau, Quebec to take part of the 2026 Prospect Challenge this weekend.
“Yeah, for him and for some of the other guys as well, we want to make sure that there's not too much system talk and too much on ‘em. We want them to go out and play,” said Moose head coach Mark Morrison.
“Not gonna bear them down with too much. Just go play and put them in positions and with other players that we feel that complement each other.”
Being as young as the Swedish centre is, it seems that Björck is not overwhelmed with all the eyes that will be on him on Saturday and Sunday.
“I think just trying to play my own game, the way I’m used to,” said Björck after the rookies skated at hockey for all centre.
“Not trying to change anything and be a person that I’m not. Just play my game and go out there and have fun. I mean, it’s hockey.”
With rookie camp being shorter than in years past, Friday morning was the only skate together for the group playing in the Prospect Challenge. That being said, Morrison who has seen Björck skate already back in July at development camp, likes what he has seen so far.
“He's having fun. He carries himself well, he speaks well, he’s interested,” said Morrison.
“And the thing I really like, I see him with different players all the time.”
Those relationships that Björck is creating will be important. The 18-year-old was skating on a line with Kevin He and Davis Burnside this morning.
“Super great players. Super nice as well. Being able to give each other feedback and talk off the ice,” said Björck.
“I haven’t spent that much time with them because I’ve only been here for a week, almost, but seem like super nice guys.”
Morrison added that the lines could change once the puck drops on Saturday.
"Yeah. We did. We tried to find guys that skate well enough with each other,” said Morrison.
“Some guys go get the puck a little bit better than other guys so yeah, there was some thought into the lines, but not necessarily do they work.”
Chemistry might not show up right away, the Jets prospects skated together this morning and will not practice at all this weekend with two matinee games.
"Yeah, it's rushed for sure,” said Morrison.
“We did some pressure stuff today to get them ready because all of a sudden, they're going to have guys in their faces and they're going to have to do things quicker. We tried to do a little bit of that today and go from there, but, at the end of the day, just go play."
Asked if it will be a challenge playing in a tournament where things might be less structured than at the higher levels he’s competed at before, Björck said he plans to keep things simple.
“I guess we’ll see. But I think just go with the flow. Try and play relaxed out there, compete hard and follow the guys out there. Try and help your teammates, and then I think it will go well.”
