Lucas Wallmark signs with Björklöven
Homecoming center signs six-year deal with his childhood club ahead of Björklöven's return to the SHL.
Lucas Wallmark returns to Umeå and IF Björklöven on a six-year contract. The 30-year-old center leaves HC Fribourg-Gottéron and becomes the club's first major signing ahead of their SHL comeback. The acquisition gives Björklöven a homecoming profile with NHL experience and national team status.
For a newcomer that has just stepped back into the top league after 25 years, it is a signal that the club wants to set the standard immediately. Wallmark is not just any reinforcement. He was raised in Umeå, carries a name that already means something in the city, and commits long-term as Björklöven takes the next step in their SHL project.
Six years also says something about the direction. Björklöven not only gets quality for the first SHL season, but a player who can become a fixture over time. For a club that must transition from promotion euphoria to everyday life in the top league, that kind of continuity is valuable.
