EDMONTON, AB - You've got to hand it to Joakim Nygard.
The Oilers forward has been dealing with and recovering from an injured hand for most of the calendar year, but he's persevered and is now producing during his loan to the Swedish Hockey League.
Nygard sustained a broken hand in a game against Calgary on Jan. 29 and had surgery two days later, but with the regular season ending abruptly in March due to the pandemic, he was unable to return to action and finished his first season with the Oilers with three goals and six assists in 33 games.
He did sign a one-year contract extension in February and was a healthy member of Edmonton's Return To Play roster this past summer, but he did not dress for any Qualifying Round games.
The 27-year-old left-winger was loaned to Farjestad for the start of the 2020-21 season, but he had a setback with his hand in September that required a follow-up procedure. Nygard has been back in action since late October and has found a groove of late, scoring in three of his team's last four games.
He also had an assist and logged a season-high 18:44 TOI against Skelleftea on Thursday to give him three goals and three helpers in 12 SHL games as he gears up for his return to the NHL.
BLOG: Nygard finding his flow with Farjestad
Oilers forward has scored in three of his last four games in the Swedish Hockey League