Pontus Åberg

Pontus Åberg (/ˈɔːbərɡ/ AW-bərg;[1] born 23 September 1993) is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for Traktor Chelyabinsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was drafted in the second round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, 37th overall, by the Nashville Predators.

Pontus Åberg
Born (1993-09-23) 23 September 1993
Stockholm, Sweden
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Right
KHL team
Former teams		 Traktor Chelyabinsk
Djurgårdens IF
Färjestad BK
Nashville Predators
Edmonton Oilers
Anaheim Ducks
Minnesota Wild
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL Draft 37th overall, 2012
Nashville Predators
Playing career 2011–present

Playing career

SHL

Åberg represented team Stockholm at the Rikspucken, a national tournament in Sweden. He made his Elitserien debut during the 2010–11 season, as an extra forward in the second game of the season against Modo Hockey, but did not get any time on the ice.[2] Åberg extended his contract with Djurgården to the 2013–14 season in May 2011.[3] Åberg played a total of five games, scoring two points in the 2011 edition of the pre-season tournament European Trophy. Åberg received his first time on the ice in an Elitserien game and also scored his first goal in Elitserien in the league premier against HV71 on 15 September 2011.[4][5] He scored the game-winning goal in the shootouts against Färjestad BK on 29 September 2011.[6]

After a start to the 2011–12 Elitserien season that included getting five goals and three assists in the first fourteen games, Åberg was announced to be the first of four candidates for that season's Elitserien Rookie of the Year.[7]

In the 2013–14 season, Åberg transferred to play for fellow SHL club, Färjestad BK.[8]

Nashville Predators

After signing an entry-level contract with the Predators, he began his first North American season in 2014–15 season playing for the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL.

In the 2016–17 NHL season Åberg appeared in 15 regular season games posting 1 goal and 1 assist with the Predators. In the AHL Åberg was effective potting 31 goals in just 56 games, and he added 21 assists to bring his point total to 52 with the Admirals.

After Ryan Johansen went down in Game 4 of the WCF he was announced to be out for the remainder of the playoffs, and with Predators captain Mike Fisher being sidelined as well, the Predators called upon Sissons and Åberg to help carry the offensive load. In game 5 Åberg scored the game-winning goal in Anaheim in a 3–1 win to give the Predators a 3–2 series lead. In Game 6 at Bridgestone Arena, Åberg assisted 2 of Sissons' 3 goals to help the Predators advance to their first ever Stanley Cup Finals.

On 18 July 2017, the Predators re-signed Aberg to a two-year, $1.3 million contract worth $650,000 annually.[9] During his time with the Predators', he was given the nickname "The Pope".[10]

Edmonton Oilers

In the 2017–18 season, at the NHL trade deadline on 25 February 2018, Åberg was dealt by the Predators to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Mark Letestu.[11] He made his Oilers debut on 27 February against the San Jose Sharks.[12] He scored his first point as an Oiler in his debut with an assist on a goal from Jesse Puljujärvi, in a 5–2 loss to the Sharks.[13] In remaining with the Oilers to play out the season, Åberg contributed with 2 goals and 8 points in 16 games.

Anaheim Ducks

After attending the Oilers 2018 training camp, Åberg was unable to retain his roster spot approaching the 2018–19 season. On 1 October 2018, he was claimed off waivers by the Anaheim Ducks.[14] He made his debut with the Ducks in an opening night 5–2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on 3 October 2018.[15] After a brief stint with AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, Åberg returned to the Ducks scoring two goals in consecutive games on 28 October and 30 October against the Sharks and Philadelphia Flyers. Through 37 games with the Ducks, Åberg had already eclipsed career highs offensively, placing second on the team with 11 goals and recording 19 points before he was relegated as a healthy scratch through a franchise record losing streak.

Minnesota Wild

On 16 January 2019, Åberg's tenure with the Ducks ended as he was dealt to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Justin Kloos.[16] Åberg was unable to replicate his offensive pace with the Wild, remaining on the roster through the conclusion of the regular season to post 1 goal and 6 points in 22 games.

On 25 June 2019, Åberg was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Wild, releasing him to free agency.[17]

Toronto Maple Leafs

On 24 July 2019, Åberg signed as a free agent to a one-year, $700,000 deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs.[18] In the 2019–20 season, Åberg was primarily assigned to AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. He was productive with the Marlies, registering 20 goals and 44 points in 55 games, while making just 5 appearances with the Maple Leafs adding 1 assist. With the remainder of the AHL season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Åberg as an impending restricted free agent returned to his native Sweden.

KHL

Left off the Maple Leafs return to play training camp roster, Åberg effectively left the NHL by signing a one-year contract with Russian club, Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL on 13 July 2020.[19] On 25 August 2020, Åberg's NHL rights were included in a six player trade by the Maple Leafs to the Pittsburgh Penguins, along with Kasperi Kapanen and Jesper Lindren, in exchange for Evan Rodrigues, David Warsofsky, Filip Hållander and the 15th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.[20]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 Djurgårdens IF J20 110114 —————
2010–11 Djurgårdens IF J20 4113173016 42352
2010–11 Djurgårdens IF SEL 10000 —————
2011–12 Djurgårdens IF SEL 4787156 —————
2012–13 Djurgårdens IF Allsv 521228406 63142
2013–14 Färjestad BK SHL 5215163141 132244
2014–15 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 6916183428 —————
2015–16 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 7425154032 30000
2015–16 Nashville Predators NHL ————— 20000
2016–17 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 5631215240 —————
2016–17 Nashville Predators NHL 151124 162352
2017–18 Nashville Predators NHL 372688 —————
2017–18 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 442616 —————
2017–18 Edmonton Oilers NHL 162682 —————
2018–19 Anaheim Ducks NHL 371181914 —————
2018–19 San Diego Gulls AHL 21124 —————
2018–19 Minnesota Wild NHL 221566 —————
2019–20 Toronto Marlies AHL 5520244436 —————
2019–20 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 50110 —————
SHL totals 10023234647 132244
NHL totals 13217274434 182352

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2010 Sweden U17 6 2 0 2 4
Junior totals 6 2 0 2 4

References
  1. National Hockey League 2017–18 Pronunciation Guide. Retrieved 18 December 2018
  2. Uhlin, Daniel (18 September 2010). "Tung eftermiddag i Örnsköldsvik". difhockey.se (in Swedish). Djurgårdens IF Hockey. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  3. "Juniortrio förlänger med DIF". difhockey.se (in Swedish). Djurgårdens IF Hockey. Archived from the original on 21 September 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  4. Runemo, Staffan (15 September 2011). "Liv hyllades när HV71 förlorade". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). TT. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  5. Peterson, Jimmy (15 September 2011). "Ja, han är sjutton år - Åberg matchvinnare". difhockey.se (in Swedish). Djurgårdens IF Hockey. Archived from the original on 14 October 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  6. Grefve, Daniel (29 September 2011). "Sämsta mästarna". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  7. "Pontus Åberg årets rookiekandidat" (in Swedish). 1 November 2011.
  8. "Åberg moves to Färjestad BK" (in Swedish). hockeyligan.se. 19 August 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  9. "Predators Sign Pontus Aberg to Two-Year Contract". NHL.com. Nashville Predators. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  10. Jones, Terry (25 February 2018). "JONES: Oilers lose another strong presence in the locker room". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  11. Wescott, Chris (25 February 2018). "BLOG: Oilers acquire Aberg for Letestu". NHL.com. Edmonton Oilers. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  12. Matheson, Jim (27 February 2018). "Pontus Aberg makes debut with Edmonton Oilers". The National Post. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  13. "Evander Kane makes immediate impact in Sharks' win over Oilers". sportsnet.ca. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  14. "Ducks claim Aberg off waivers from Oilers". Sportsnet. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  15. "Ducks spoil Karlsson's Shark debut with 5-2 victory". ESPN. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  16. "Wild acquires Aberg from Ducks". National Hockey League. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  17. "Wild announces qualifying offers". Minnesota Wild. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  18. "Maple Leafs Announce Free Agent Signings". Toronto Maple Leafs. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  19. "Pontus Aberg becomes a player for Traktor" (in Russian). Traktor Chelyabinsk. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  20. "Maple Leafs trade Kapanen to Pengiuns". The Sports Network. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
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