Joel Persson

Joel Persson
Born	(1994-03-04) 4 March 1994 (age 30) Kristianstad, Sweden
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Right
SHL team Former teams	Växjö Lakers Edmonton Oilers
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2011–present

Joel Persson (born 4 March 1994) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman who plays under contract for the Växjö Lakers of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

Playing career

Persson began his senior career with Kristianstads IK, while also working as a teacher. Following the 2016–17 season in the Hockeyettan (3rd tier) where Persson scored 40 points in 38 games, he was signed by the Växjö Lakers of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) to a three-year contract on 27 April 2017.[1]

In the 2017–18 season, Persson made his debut in the top tier SHL appearing in 51 games for Växjö. He posted 28 assists for 34 points in the regular season before also contributing with five points in 13 playoff games, helping Växjö capture the Le Mat Trophy.[2]

On 18 May 2018, Persson was signed to a one-year contract by the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Oilers immediately announced that Persson would be loaned back to the Växjö Lakers for the 2018–19 season.[3]

Persson made his NHL debut with the Oilers on 5 October 2019 in a 6–5 win over the Los Angeles Kings.[4][5] On 8 November, he recorded his first career points (two assists) in a 4–0 win over the New Jersey Devils.[6] Persson also skated in 27 games for the Oilers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors.

On 24 February 2020, Persson was traded to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Angus Redmond and a 2022 conditional seventh-round pick.[7] He was assigned directly to AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, featuring in 7 games before the remainder of the season was cancelled due to COVID-19.

On 6 June 2020, Persson as a restricted free agent from the Ducks, signed a three-year contract to return to Sweden with his former club, Växjö Lakers of the SHL.[8] His NHL rights' were later relinquished by the Anaheim Ducks.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2011–12	Kristianstads IK	Div.1		17	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Kristianstads IK	Div.1		25	0	2	2	2		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Osby IK	Div.2		15	2	7	9	12		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Kristianstads IK	Div.1		10	0	1	1	6		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Osby IK	Div.2		26	3	13	16	18		6	5	11	16	12
2014–15	Tyringe SoSS	Div.2		36	11	35	46	4		12	1	8	9	4
2015–16	Tyringe SoSS	Div.1		31	6	10	16	10		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Kristianstads IK	Div.1		38	10	30	40	6		14	2	11	13	4
2017–18	Växjö Lakers	SHL		51	6	28	34	8		13	1	4	5	0
2018–19	Växjö Lakers	SHL		50	6	25	31	8		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		13	0	2	2	2		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Bakersfield Condors	AHL		27	3	13	16	12		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	San Diego Gulls	AHL		7	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Växjö Lakers	SHL		52	8	28	36	10		14	0	7	7	4
2021–22	Växjö Lakers	SHL		50	8	31	39	10		4	2	3	5	0
2022–23	Växjö Lakers	SHL		51	6	30	36	12		18	2	6	8	2
2023–24	Växjö Lakers	SHL		52	7	30	37	8		8	0	2	2	0
SHL totals				306	41	172	213	56		57	5	22	27	6
NHL totals				13	0	2	2	2		—	—	—	—	—

Awards and honours

Award	Year
SHL
Le Mat Trophy (Växjö Lakers)	2018, 2021, 2023	[2][9][10]
Defenseman of the Year	2024
Guldhjälmen	2024

References

1. "Vaxjo sign defenseman Joel Persson" (in Swedish). Växjö Lakers. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
2. "Lakers win Le Mat trophy for 2018". eurohockey.com. 22 April 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
3. "RELEASE: Oilers sign Joel Persson". NHL.com. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
4. "Oilers defenceman Joel Persson to make NHL debut vs. Kings". Sportsnet. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
5. Wilkins, Reid. "Edmonton Oilers sink Kings in high-scoring game". Global News. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
6. Van Diest, Derek. "Koskinen makes 29 saves, Oilers shut out Devils". National Hockey League. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
7. "Ducks acquire Persson from Oilers". Anaheim Ducks. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
8. "Welcome back Joel Persson". Växjö Lakers (in Swedish). 6 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
9. "Vaxjo go 3-for-3 in SHL finals". International Ice Hockey Federation. 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
10. Knekta, Jonathan; Ros, Tomas; Abrahamsson, Hans (24 April 2023). "Växjö Lakers svenska mästare i ishockey". aftonbladet.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 5 November 2023.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database