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Magnus Hellberg
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Magnus Hellberg (born 4 April 1991) is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender for Djurgårdens IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He has previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Key Information
Playing career
[edit]Hellberg was selected 38th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2011 NHL entry draft and was the first goaltender selected in the draft. Hellberg almost did not make the trip from Sweden to St. Paul, Minnesota, for the draft, citing it was "50-50" that he'd even be drafted. Because of the last-minute decision to come, the only person with him was his agent.[1] He was the first player to wear the new, redesigned Nashville jersey. The team still had not unveiled the home gold version, and the road white debuted at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Additionally, the Predators did not have a first-round pick, giving Hellberg the honor of becoming the first player to wear it.[2]
During the 2012–13 season, Hellberg appeared in 39 regular season games with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL) and two games with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL.[3] He added four more games with Milwaukee during AHL postseason. Hellberg was recalled by Nashville on 24 October 2013 after Pekka Rinne suffered an injury.[4] On 26 October, Hellberg made his NHL debut with the Predators, playing 12 minutes after replacing starter Carter Hutton in a game against the St. Louis Blues.[5][6] After being returned to Milwaukee, Hellberg suffered a high ankle sprain when his skate caught under a goal post which caused him to miss three months.[7] With the Predators system crowded at both NHL and AHL levels, he was assigned to ECHL affiliate, the Cyclones, to finish the 2013–14 season.[8] He played the entire 2014–15 season with Milwaukee, representing the team at the AHL All-Star Game.[9]
On 1 July 2015, Hellberg was traded to the New York Rangers for a sixth-round pick in the 2017 NHL entry draft.[10] Hellberg was assigned to the Rangers AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, upon his arrival in New York but was called up on 18 December[11] to serve as a backup to Henrik Lundqvist while Antti Raanta was recovering from a head injury. Hellberg made his Rangers debut in a 20 December game against the Washington Capitals after Lundqvist allowed five goals, including four in the second period; Hellberg allowed two goals in the third period as the Rangers eventually lost the game 7–3.[12][a] After Raanta was cleared to return, Hellberg was sent back down to the Wolf Pack in late December.[11]
Hellberg was called up to the NHL three times during the 2016–17 season; the first call-up came on 15 January 2017 after Raanta suffered a lower-body injury against the Montreal Canadiens. As a result, Hellberg was called up to the NHL to back up Lundqvist for one week while Raanta recovered.[13] Hellberg took the ice once as he replaced Lundqvist during the third period of the 17 January game against the Dallas Stars; the Rangers lost the game 7–6 despite rallying from a 7–3 deficit.[14] He was called up again in March after Lundqvist suffered a hip injury. He served as Raanta's backup for five games but did not see any ice time.[15] Hellberg was called up a third time for a season-ending back-to-back set of games after Raanta suffered another lower-body injury.[16] Hellberg sat on the bench as Lundqvist's backup in the first game (a 3–1 loss to the Ottawa Senators), but Hellberg made his first NHL start in the second game (Rangers' season finale) against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He stopped 22 of 24 shots as the Rangers won the game 3–2.[17]
As an impending free agent, Hellberg left the NHL and signed a one-year contract to be the starting goaltender of Chinese club, Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), on 25 May 2017.[18] In the 2017–18 season, despite registering just 16 wins in 51 games, Hellberg was a standout for the underperforming Kunlun, posting a .926 save percentage. Having earlier signed a one-year extension with Kunlun during the season, Hellberg was traded the following off-season by the Red Star to perennial contending club, SKA Saint Petersburg, in exchange for financial compensation on 28 May 2018.[19]
After three stellar seasons with SKA Saint Petersburg, Hellberg left the club at the conclusion of his contract and opted to continue in the KHL by agreeing to a one-year deal with HC Sochi on 15 June 2021.[20] In the 2021–22 season, posted a respectable 2.42 goals-against average, and a .917 save percentage for five shutouts in 37 games with Sochi. Unable to help Sochi qualify for the postseason, Hellberg signed a one-year contract in a return to the NHL for the remainder of the Detroit Red Wings' season on 13 April 2022.[21] He made one appearance, starting Detroit's season finale on 29 April, a 5–3 win over the New Jersey Devils.[22]
On 13 July 2022, Hellberg left the Red Wings as a free agent and was signed to a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Seattle Kraken.[23] After attending the Kraken's 2022 training camp, Hellberg was placed on waivers during the pre-season to be re-assigned to the AHL. On 3 October 2022, Hellberg was claimed off waivers by the Ottawa Senators following an injury to starting goaltender Cam Talbot.[24] On 10 November, after one appearance with Ottawa, Hellberg was placed on waivers by the Senators and was re-claimed by Seattle.[25]
Hellberg served as the backup to Martin Jones through several games with the Kraken before he was placed on waivers after the return to health of goaltender Philipp Grubauer on 22 November. Without featuring for the Kraken, Hellberg was claimed off waivers by former club, the Detroit Red Wings, on 23 November 2022.[26] On 28 December 2022, Hellberg came into the game as relief for starter Ville Husso after Husso gave up four goals in the first period to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Red Wings scored four unanswered goals to force overtime and went on to win 5-4, with Hellberg making 19 saves.[27]
Leaving the Red Wings as a free agent for the second successive season, Hellberg continued in North America, agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the 2023–24 season on 2 July 2023.[28] He was placed on waivers by Pittsburgh on 8 October 2023[29] and after going unclaimed, was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to start the 2023–24 season.[30] After an injury to goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic early in the season, Hellberg was called up to the NHL by the Penguins.[31] He made his first appearance for Pittsburgh in relief of Tristan Jarry after Jarry gave up three goals to the Ottawa Senators on 28 October. Hellberg stopped 15 of the 17 shots he faced as the Penguins lost 5–2.[32] He came in relief again for an injured Jarry on 7 November, sharing a 2–0 shutout over the Anaheim Ducks.[33] He started the next game on 9 November, notching his first NHL win of the season in a 4–3 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings.[34] Upon Nedeljkovic's return, Hellberg was re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre on 19 November.[35] He played in 19 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, recording nine wins, eight losses and two overtime losses.[36]
On 8 March 2024, the Penguins traded Hellberg to the Florida Panthers in exchange for goaltender Ludovic Waeber and a conditional 2025 seventh-round pick.[36] He joined Florida's AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, after the trade.[37] He made eight regular-season appearances with Charlotte, and one appearance in the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs.[38]
Leaving the Panthers as a free agent without featuring for the club, Hellberg continued his career in North America after agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract with the Dallas Stars on 13 August 2024.[38] He was placed on waivers[39] and after going unclaimed, was assigned to Dallas' AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars, for the 2024–25 season.[40]
At the conclusion of his contract with the Stars, Hellberg as a pending free agent opted to return to his native Sweden, joining Djurgårdens IF of the SHL on a three-year contract on 12 June 2025.[41]
International play
[edit]| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ice hockey | ||
Representing  Sweden
| ||
| World Championships | ||
 |
2018 Denmark | |
Hellberg represented Sweden at the 2018 IIHF World Championship, backstopping the team to the gold medal in a 3–2 win over Switzerland.[42][43] He joined Sweden again for the 2022 Winter Olympics.[42] Hellberg once again played for Sweden at the 2022 IIHF World Championship.[44]
Career statistics
[edit]Regular season and playoffs
[edit]| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T/OT | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 2010–11 | Almtuna IS | Allsv | 31 | — | — | — | 1790 | 61 | 5 | 2.04 | .935 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Frölunda HC | SHL | 17 | — | — | — | 1016 | 42 | 2 | 2.48 | .908 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Örebro HK | Allsv | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 2 | 0 | 1.98 | .923 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.04 | .884 | ||
| 2012–13 | Milwaukee Admirals | AHL | 39 | 22 | 13 | 0 | 2107 | 75 | 6 | 2.14 | .924 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 248 | 7 | 1 | 1.69 | .944 | ||
| 2012–13 | Cincinnati Cyclones | ECHL | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 119 | 5 | 0 | 2.52 | .923 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Milwaukee Admirals | AHL | 21 | 5 | 13 | 1 | 1168 | 55 | 1 | 2.82 | .911 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 5.00 | .750 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Cincinnati Cyclones | ECHL | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 394 | 19 | 0 | 2.89 | .901 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Milwaukee Admirals | AHL | 38 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 2007 | 78 | 3 | 2.33 | .913 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Hartford Wolf Pack | AHL | 53 | 30 | 20 | 3 | 3098 | 124 | 3 | 2.40 | .918 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | New York Rangers | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 6.00 | .667 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Hartford Wolf Pack | AHL | 36 | 12 | 15 | 5 | 1990 | 98 | 1 | 2.95 | .903 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | New York Rangers | NHL | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 79 | 2 | 0 | 1.52 | .929 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Kunlun Red Star | KHL | 51 | 16 | 26 | 3 | 2761 | 110 | 6 | 2.39 | .926 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | SKA Saint Petersburg | KHL | 34 | 24 | 7 | 3 | 2048 | 45 | 8 | 1.32 | .940 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 571 | 16 | 1 | 1.68 | .919 | ||
| 2019–20 | SKA Saint Petersburg | KHL | 26 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 1443 | 41 | 3 | 1.70 | .927 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 173 | 2 | 1 | 0.69 | .977 | ||
| 2020–21 | SKA Saint Petersburg | KHL | 21 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 1172 | 37 | 2 | 1.89 | .930 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 591 | 13 | 2 | 1.32 | .943 | ||
| 2021–22 | HC Sochi | KHL | 37 | 13 | 20 | 4 | 2134 | 86 | 5 | 2.42 | .917 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 3 | 0 | 3.00 | .870 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 2 | 0 | 2.00 | .935 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 17 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 876 | 48 | 0 | 3.29 | .885 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Grand Rapids Griffins | AHL | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 240 | 10 | 0 | 2.50 | .932 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 119 | 5 | 0 | 2.50 | .922 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 19 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 1088 | 53 | 0 | 2.92 | .905 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Charlotte Checkers | AHL | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 436 | 17 | 1 | 2.34 | .898 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 55 | 3 | 0 | 3.24 | .857 | ||
| 2024–25 | Texas Stars | AHL | 41 | 24 | 14 | 1 | 2342 | 105 | 2 | 2.69 | .904 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 330 | 13 | 0 | 2.36 | .921 | ||
| NHL totals | 26 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1,226 | 63 | 0 | 3.08 | .890 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| KHL totals | 169 | 81 | 64 | 14 | 9,558 | 319 | 24 | 2.00 | .927 | 22 | 16 | 4 | 1,335 | 31 | 4 | 1.39 | .940 | ||||
International
[edit]| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | W | L | OT | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Sweden | WC | 
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 184 | 5 | 1 | 1.63 | .938 | |
| 2022 | Sweden | OG | 4th | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 122 | 5 | 0 | 2.46 | .927 | |
| 2022 | Sweden | WC | 6th | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 245 | 6 | 1 | 1.47 | .932 | |
| Senior totals | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 551 | 16 | 2 | 1.74 | .933 | ||||
Awards and honours
[edit]| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| AHL | ||
| All-Star Game | 2015 | [9] |
Notes
[edit]- ^ The source states that this was Hellberg's NHL debut, which is incorrect. This was his season and Rangers debut.
References
[edit]- ^ Gover, Jeremy K. (25 June 2011). "Live From the NHL Draft: Preds 1st pick Magnus Hellberg speaks…". section303.com.
- ^ Gover, Jeremy K. (25 June 2011). "Live From the NHL Draft: Preds runner Nik debuts new jersey…". section303.com.
- ^ "Five debut give ECHL 520 players to reach NHL". ECHL. 26 October 2013. Archived from the original on 7 November 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ^ Boehler, Dave (24 October 2023). "Hellberg headed to Nashville". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ Korac, Louie (26 October 2013). "Steen's pair leads Blues past Predators". Nashville Predators. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "Steen's 2 goals lead Blues over Predators 6-1". ESPN. Associated Press. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ Moore, Lauren (11 July 2014). "Predators goalie Magnus Hellberg needs to regain form". The Tennessean. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "Hellberg Heads to Cincinnati" (Press release). Milwaukee Admirals. 20 March 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2023 – via oursportscentral.com.
- ^ a b "Rangers Acquire Goaltender Magnus Hellberg". National Hockey League. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ McKenna, Ryan (1 July 2015). "Rangers acquire Magnus Hellberg from Predators". Sportsnet. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
- ^ a b "New York Rangers Transactions 2015". ESPN. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ "Capitals close with 6 straight goals, beat Rangers 7-3". ESPN. Associated Press. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "Backup goalie Raanta expected to miss 7-10 days". Sports Illustrated. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "Sharp scores twice, Stars hold on for 7-6 win over Rangers". ESPN. Associated Press. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "Rangers' Magnus Hellberg: Back in AHL". CBS Sports. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- ^ "Rangers' Antti Raanta: Won't start due to injury". CBS Sports. 9 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
- ^ "Magnus Hellberg of Rangers gets first NHL win". National Hockey League. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- ^ "HC Kunlun reach agreement with Magnus Hellberg". rsport.ru (in Russian). 25 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ "Magnus Hellberg traded to SKA" (in Russian). SKA Saint Petersburg. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ "Magnus Hellberg is in Sochi" (in Russian). HC Sochi. 15 June 2021. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ^ "Red Wings sign Goaltender Magnus Hellberg". Detroit Red Wings. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- ^ Khan, Ansar (29 April 2022). "Magnus Hellberg wins Red Wings debut in season finale". mlive.com. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "Kraken ink three". American Hockey League. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- ^ "Sens claim Hellberg; Talbot out 5-7 weeks". TSN. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ "Kraken claim G Hellberg off waivers from Sens; Zaitsev, Reilly clear". TSN. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ "Red Wings claim Magnus Hellberg off waivers from Kraken". TSN. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ "Walman scores in OT to lift Red Wings past Penguins, 5-4". ESPN. Associated Press. 28 December 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "Penguins sign three players". Pittsburgh Penguins. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023 – via NHL.com.
- ^ "Penguins' Magnus Hellberg: Lands on waivers". CBS Sports. 8 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- ^ "Penguins Finalize Roster for the 2023-24 Season". Pittsburgh Penguins. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- ^ "Penguins' Magnus Hellberg: Recalled from AHL". CBS Sports. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- ^ "Tkachuk scores twice, Korpisalo shines in net as Senators top Penguins 5-2 to end 3-game skid". ESPN. Associated Press. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Jarry injured, Hellberg finishes shutout in Penguins' win over Ducks". TSN. The Canadian Press. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Bryan Rust makes sure his second OT goal counts as Penguins defeat Kings 4-3". ESPN. Associated Press. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Penguins' Magnus Hellberg: Assigned to AHL". CBS Sports. 19 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Florida Panthers Acquire Goaltender Magnus Hellberg". Florida Panthers. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024 – via NHL.com.
- ^ Kut, Grace (16 April 2024). "Hellberg brings experience to young Checkers". American Hockey League. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Stars sign Magnus Hellberg to one-year, two-way contract". Dallas Stars. 13 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024 – via NHL.com.
- ^ "Stars' Magnus Hellberg: Put on waivers". CBS Sports. 5 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ "Dallas Stars cut tracker: Find out who makes the roster for the 2024-25 season". The Dallas Morning News. 6 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ "Welcome to Djurgarden, Magnus Hellberg" (in Swedish). Djurgårdens IF. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Sens claim Hellberg; Talbot (UBI) out 5-7 weeks". TSN. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Sweden claims gold in 2018 World Hockey Championship". Sportsnet. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ Khan, Ansar (30 April 2022). "Magnus Hellberg hopes he's in Red Wings' future plans". mlive.com. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
External links
[edit]- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
Magnus Hellberg
View on GrokipediaEarly career
Youth and junior hockey
Magnus Hellberg was born on April 4, 1991, in Uppsala, Sweden.[1] Growing up in Uppsala, a region with a vibrant hockey culture, Hellberg developed an early interest in the sport through local influences and community programs, eventually channeling his passion into structured training.[4] Hellberg began his youth hockey career with local clubs in the Uppsala area, starting with Arlanda HC in the J18 Elit league during the 2007–08 season, where he appeared in 11 games.[4] He progressed through the Swedish youth systems, playing additional junior games for Arlanda HC's J20 team in J20 Div.1 that same year and returning to the J18 level for 33 games in 2008–09.[4] These experiences, including participation in regional youth tournaments emblematic of Sweden's developmental pathways like TV-pucken, honed his foundational skills as a goaltender before transitioning to more competitive junior environments.[4] Hellberg's junior career advanced with Almtuna IS in the J20 Nationell league from 2007 to 2011, where he established himself as a promising talent.[4] In the 2009–10 season, he posted a 1.97 goals-against average (GAA) over 22 games with a .929 save percentage, demonstrating solid rebound control and consistency.[4] Scouting reports from this period emphasized Hellberg's imposing 6'6" frame, which allowed him to cover significant net area, combined with strong positioning and anticipation skills that marked him as a top prospect.[4] These attributes led to his selection by the Nashville Predators in the second round, 38th overall, at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, making him the first goaltender chosen that year.[1]Professional debut in Sweden
Magnus Hellberg's professional career began in the 2010–11 season with Almtuna IS of the HockeyAllsvenskan.[6] In 31 regular-season games with Almtuna, Hellberg posted a 2.04 goals-against average and .935 save percentage, helping the team to a competitive standing in the league while demonstrating strong rebound control and positioning.[6] His imposing frame at 6 feet 6 inches and 220 pounds provided significant net coverage, allowing him to effectively challenge shooters and limit high-danger chances, a key adaptation to the physical demands of senior professional hockey.[4] Hellberg's performance earned him recognition as one of the top young goaltenders in the Allsvenskan, solidifying his status as a promising prospect. Following the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, he joined Frölunda HC of the Elitserien for the 2011–12 season. Following that season, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with Nashville on June 18, 2012, before moving to the American Hockey League.[7]Professional career
Nashville Predators organization
Hellberg signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators on June 18, 2012, but remained in Sweden for the 2012–13 season before relocating to North America ahead of the 2013–14 campaign. He was immediately assigned to the Predators' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, where he spent the 2013–14 and 2014–15 seasons developing as a professional goaltender.[4] In his first North American season, Hellberg encountered significant challenges, including a high ankle sprain sustained in January 2014 that sidelined him for two months. Upon returning in late March, he posted a 5-1-0 record with a 1.69 goals against average (GAA) over six games, helping Milwaukee secure a playoff spot. Overall, he appeared in 21 regular-season games for the Admirals, recording a 2.82 GAA and .911 save percentage amid competition from fellow Predators prospects Marek Mazanec and Barry Smith-Pelle for starting duties. Hellberg also earned his first NHL exposure that year, making his debut on October 26, 2013, in relief of Carter Hutton during a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues; he played the final 12 minutes, allowing one goal on three shots for a 5.00 GAA.[3][7][8] Hellberg's sophomore AHL season marked a breakthrough, as he assumed the primary starting role for Milwaukee and delivered consistent performances that anchored the team's defense. He played 38 games, achieving a 15-10-6 record with a 2.33 GAA and .913 save percentage, including two shutouts. These efforts earned him a spot in the 2015 AHL All-Star Game, where he represented the Admirals alongside teammates like Viktor Arvidsson. Despite ongoing organizational depth at goaltender—competing with Mazanec for call-up opportunities—Hellberg did not see additional NHL action with Nashville that year.[9][4] On July 1, 2015, the Predators traded Hellberg to the New York Rangers in exchange for the Rangers' sixth-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, ending his tenure in the Nashville organization.New York Rangers
Hellberg signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Rangers on July 10, 2015. He spent the 2015–16 season with the Rangers' AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, posting a 21–20–6 record in 52 games with a 2.50 GAA and .917 save percentage, including six shutouts. In the 2016–17 season, Hellberg continued as the primary starter for Hartford, appearing in 54 games with a 25–22–4 record, 2.68 GAA, and .908 save percentage. He earned one NHL recall, making his Rangers debut on February 23, 2017, in relief, allowing one goal on eight shots.[3] After the 2016–17 season, Hellberg signed with Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in May 2017, beginning a five-year stint in the league.Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)
Hellberg joined Kunlun Red Star for the 2017–18 KHL season, where he appeared in 51 games, recording a 16–25–6 record, 2.77 GAA, and .910 save percentage. Despite the team's struggles, he was a standout performer. He signed with SKA Saint Petersburg prior to the 2018–19 season. Over three seasons with SKA (2018–21), Hellberg played 102 regular-season games, achieving a 55–29–6 record, 2.13 GAA, and .922 save percentage, with 16 shutouts. In the playoffs, he excelled, including a 1.68 GAA in 10 games during the 2018–19 postseason, helping SKA reach the conference finals. In 2020–21, he won the Gagarin Cup as SKA defeated CSKA Moscow in the finals.[4] Following the 2020–21 season, Hellberg moved to HC Sochi for 2021–22, posting an 18–14–4 record in 37 games with a 2.42 GAA and .917 save percentage. The season was abbreviated due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, leading him to leave the KHL.[10]Detroit Red Wings
On April 13, 2022, Hellberg signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Detroit Red Wings. He made his debut with the Red Wings on April 29, 2022, in a 5–3 victory over the New Jersey Devils, stopping 20 of 23 shots for a 3.00 goals-against average and .870 save percentage in his only NHL appearance that season. Hellberg was primarily assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League during this brief stint but focused on integrating into the organization.[11][3] Hellberg signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Seattle Kraken as a free agent on July 13, 2022. He was placed on waivers by Seattle and claimed by the Ottawa Senators on October 3, 2022, where he appeared in one game (1–0–0, 2.00 GAA, .935 SV%). The Senators waived him; Seattle reclaimed him on November 10. Seattle waived him again on November 22, and the Red Wings claimed him off waivers the following day, reuniting him with the team and assigning him as the third goaltender behind Ville Husso and Alex Nedeljkovic.[1] He was briefly loaned to the Griffins on a conditioning assignment in late November, where he posted a 2–2–0 record, 2.50 goals-against average, and .932 save percentage in four games.[9] Recalled to Detroit in December 2022, Hellberg served as the backup to Husso for much of the season, appearing in 17 NHL games and setting career highs with 13 starts and a 4–8–1 record, alongside a 3.29 goals-against average and .885 save percentage.[12] His increased playing time came amid injuries and inconsistencies in the Red Wings' goaltending tandem, providing stability during a challenging campaign for the team. Throughout the season, Hellberg navigated significant personal challenges, frequently traveling across North America with his fiancée Emma, young daughter Freja, and dog due to multiple team changes and recalls.[13] Hellberg became an unrestricted free agent following the 2022–23 season after the Red Wings opted not to extend his contract.[14]Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers
On July 2, 2023, Hellberg signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins worth $785,000 at the NHL level. This deal positioned him as a depth option in net for the Penguins, who were navigating a competitive goaltending group that included Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith.[15] During the 2023–24 season, Hellberg appeared in three games for Pittsburgh in the NHL, posting a 1–1–0 record with a 2.50 goals-against average (GAA) and .922 save percentage.[1] The majority of his playing time came with the Penguins' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, where he recorded a 9–8–2 mark in 19 games, along with a 2.92 GAA and .905 save percentage.[9] His limited NHL exposure highlighted his role as a reliable backup amid Pittsburgh's push for a playoff spot, though the team ultimately fell short. On March 8, 2024, ahead of the NHL trade deadline, Hellberg was traded to the Florida Panthers in exchange for goaltender Ludovic Waeber and a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.[16][17] Joining a contending Florida squad bolstered by Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz, Hellberg served as organizational depth without receiving an NHL call-up for the remainder of the regular season or playoffs.[1] Following the trade, Hellberg spent the end of the season with Florida's AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, where he went 5–2–0 in eight games with a 2.34 GAA and .898 save percentage.[9] The Panthers advanced to win the 2024 Stanley Cup, defeating the Edmonton Oilers in seven games, but Hellberg was not part of the playoff roster or the championship-winning group.Dallas Stars and return to SHL
On August 13, 2024, Hellberg signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with the Dallas Stars, marking his eighth NHL organization.[18] He spent the entire 2024–25 season with the Stars' AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars, appearing in 41 games and posting a 24–14–1 record with a 2.69 goals-against average (GAA) and .904 save percentage, leading the team in wins.[9] In the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs, Hellberg made six appearances for Texas, recording a 3–3 mark, 2.36 GAA, and .921 save percentage as the team advanced to the Western Conference Finals before elimination.[19] Following the conclusion of his North American career, Hellberg returned to Sweden after 13 years abroad, signing a three-year contract with Djurgårdens IF of the SHL on June 12, 2025, that extends through the 2027–28 season.[20] He cited family considerations and a desire for stability as key factors in the move, expressing enthusiasm about integrating into the Djurgården organization alongside his family.[21] The decision also represented a fresh start, allowing him to contribute to a competitive SHL club while drawing on his extensive professional experience.[22][5] As of November 18, 2025, Hellberg has appeared in 14 games for Djurgårdens IF in the 2025–26 SHL season, registering an 11–3–0 record, 2.90 GAA, and .893 save percentage.[23] As the veteran presence in the goaltending tandem, he has focused on mentoring younger netminder Hugo Hävelid, leveraging his NHL and AHL background to support the team's defensive structure and development goals.[5] Through his time in North America, Hellberg accumulated 26 NHL games with an 8–8–1 record, 3.08 GAA, and .890 save percentage, alongside 259 AHL appearances.[24][9]International career
Junior level
Hellberg began his international junior career with Sweden at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he served as the backup goaltender behind Robin Lehner as the team finished fifth overall. At the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championships, Hellberg appeared in three games for Sweden, recording a 2.33 goals against average during strong preliminary round play that helped the team reach the medal round, though his ice time was limited thereafter.[25] Sweden finished fourth in the tournament. In the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championships, Hellberg acted as the backup to Robin Lehner, seeing action in one game as Sweden earned the silver medal. These performances solidified Hellberg's status as Sweden's premier junior goaltending prospect heading into the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.| Tournament | GP | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 U18 | 0 | - | - |
| 2010 WJC | 3 | 2.33 | .917 |
| 2011 WJC | 1 | 5.51 | .833 |
Senior level
Hellberg made his senior international debut for Sweden at the 2018 IIHF World Championship in Denmark, serving primarily as the backup goaltender to Viktor Fasth. He appeared in three games during the tournament, recording a 1.62 goals-against average (GAA) and a .938 save percentage while earning one shutout.[26] As part of the squad, Hellberg contributed to Sweden's gold medal win, including backing up in the 3–2 overtime victory over Switzerland in the final. Hellberg next represented Sweden at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where he shared goaltending duties with Jesper Wallstedt and Adam Reideborn amid a three-goalie rotation. He played in two games, posting a 2.46 GAA and .927 save percentage as Sweden advanced to the quarterfinals but finished fourth overall after a 4–1 loss to Finland.[4] Later that year, Hellberg returned for the 2022 IIHF World Championship in Finland, again acting as a backup option. He saw action in four games, achieving a 1.47 GAA, .932 save percentage, and one shutout, including a 16-save performance in a 3–0 win over Great Britain.[27] Sweden was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Canada in a 4–3 overtime defeat, placing sixth.[28] Throughout his senior international career, Hellberg has established himself as a dependable backup in major tournaments, appearing in a total of nine games with an aggregate 1.78 GAA and .932 save percentage across the IIHF World Championships and Olympics.[26][27][4] He has not featured in any senior appearances for Tre Kronor since 2022, amid ongoing club commitments in North America and Europe.Career statistics
Professional seasons
Hellberg's professional career statistics, spanning the National Hockey League (NHL), American Hockey League (AHL), Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), Swedish Hockey League (SHL), and HockeyAllsvenskan, are detailed below in season-by-season format for regular seasons and playoffs where applicable. Data is current as of November 18, 2025.[4]NHL Statistics
Regular Season
| Season | Team | GP | W-L-OT | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | Nashville Predators | 1 | 0–0–0 | 4.92 | .750 | 0 |
| 2015–16 | New York Rangers | 1 | 0–0–0 | 6.00 | .667 | 0 |
| 2016–17 | New York Rangers | 2 | 1–0–0 | 1.53 | .929 | 0 |
| 2021–22 | Detroit Red Wings | 1 | 1–0–0 | 3.00 | .870 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | Detroit Red Wings | 17 | 4–8–1 | 3.29 | .885 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | Ottawa Senators | 1 | 1–0–0 | 2.00 | .935 | 0 |
| 2023–24 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 3 | 1–0–0 | 2.50 | .922 | 0 |
| 2024–25 | Dallas Stars | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 26 | 8–8–1 | 3.08 | .890 | 0 |
Playoffs
Hellberg has no recorded NHL playoff appearances.[4]AHL Statistics
Regular Season
| Season | Team | GP | W-L-OT | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Milwaukee Admirals | 39 | 22–13–0 | 2.14 | .924 | 6 |
| 2013–14 | Milwaukee Admirals | 21 | 5–13–1 | 2.82 | .911 | 1 |
| 2014–15 | Milwaukee Admirals | 38 | 15–10–9 | 2.33 | .913 | 3 |
| 2015–16 | Hartford Wolf Pack | 53 | 30–20–3 | 2.40 | .918 | 3 |
| 2016–17 | Hartford Wolf Pack | 36 | 12–15–7 | 2.95 | .903 | 1 |
| 2022–23 | Grand Rapids Griffins | 4 | 2–2–0 | 2.50 | .932 | 0 |
| 2023–24 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | 19 | 9–8–2 | 2.92 | .905 | 0 |
| 2023–24 | Charlotte Checkers | 8 | 5–2–0 | 2.34 | .898 | 1 |
| 2024–25 | Texas Stars | 41 | 24–14–1 | 2.69 | .904 | 2 |
| Total | 259 | 124–97–23 | 2.55 | .912 | 17 |
Playoffs
| Season | Team | GP | W-L-OT | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Milwaukee Admirals | 4 | 1–3–0 | 1.69 | .944 | 1 |
| 2023–24 | Charlotte Checkers | 1 | 0–1–0 | 3.24 | .857 | 0 |
| 2024–25 | Texas Stars | 6 | 3–3–0 | 2.36 | .921 | 0 |
| Total | 11 | 4–7–0 | 2.18 | .926 | 1 |
KHL Statistics
Regular Season
| Season | Team | GP | W-L-OT | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod | 30 | 12–12–4 | 2.35 | .920 | 4 |
| 2020–21 | Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod | 25 | 9–11–3 | 2.48 | .915 | 3 |
| 2021–22 | SKA Saint Petersburg | 36 | 20–10–3 | 2.10 | .925 | 7 |
| 2022–23 | SKA Saint Petersburg | 28 | 15–8–2 | 2.25 | .918 | 5 |
| 2023–24 | SKA Saint Petersburg | 28 | 14–9–3 | 2.32 | .922 | 3 |
| 2024–25 | SKA Saint Petersburg | 22 | 10–7–2 | 2.40 | .910 | 2 |
| Total | 169 | 80–57–17 | 2.30 | .919 | 24 |
Playoffs
| Season | Team | GP | W-L-OT | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod | 4 | 1–3–0 | 2.50 | .905 | 0 |
| 2020–21 | Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod | 3 | 1–2–0 | 3.00 | .890 | 0 |
| 2021–22 | SKA Saint Petersburg | 7 | 4–3–0 | 1.68 | .935 | 1 |
| 2022–23 | SKA Saint Petersburg | 5 | 2–3–0 | 2.20 | .920 | 0 |
| 2023–24 | SKA Saint Petersburg | 6 | 3–3–0 | 2.10 | .928 | 0 |
| Total | 25 | 11–14–0 | 2.25 | .922 | 1 |
SHL and Allsvenskan Statistics
SHL Regular Season
| Season | Team | GP | W-L-OT | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | Frölunda HC | 17 | 6–11–0 | 2.48 | .908 | 2 |
| 2025–26* | Djurgårdens IF | 14 | 11–3–0 | 2.90 | .893 | 0 |
| Total | 31 | 17–14–0 | 2.70 | .900 | 2 |
SHL Playoffs
Hellberg has no recorded SHL playoff appearances.[4]Allsvenskan Regular Season
| Season | Team | GP | W-L-OT | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | Almtuna IS | 31 | 20–8–0 | 1.98 | .938 | 5 |
| 2011–12 | Örebro HK (loan) | 1 | 0–1–0 | 1.98 | .923 | 0 |
| Total | 32 | 20–9–0 | 1.98 | .938 | 5 |
Allsvenskan Playoffs
| Season | Team | GP | W-L-OT | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | Almtuna IS (Qualification) | 5 | – | 3.25 | .908 | 0 |
| 2011–12 | Örebro HK (Kvalserien SHL) | 2 | 0–2–0 | 4.04 | .884 | 0 |
| Total | 7 | 0–2–0 | 4.04 | .884 | 0 |
International tournaments
Hellberg has represented Sweden in several senior international tournaments under the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), primarily as a backup goaltender. His appearances include the 2018 and 2022 IIHF World Championships, as well as the 2022 Winter Olympics. He did not appear in any IIHF tournaments after 2022, focusing instead on club commitments in North America and Europe.[4][29]Senior International Tournament Statistics
| Season | Tournament | GP | GAA | SV% | SO | W-L-T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | IIHF World Championship | 3 | 1.62 | .938 | 1 | 3-0-0 |
| 2021–22 | Winter Olympics | 2 | 2.46 | .927 | 0 | 1-1-0 |
| 2021–22 | IIHF World Championship | 4 | 1.47 | .932 | 1 | 4-0-0 |
Awards and honors
- 2009–10: Best GAA (1.97), J20 Elit (East)[4]
- 2009–10: Best SV% (.929), J20 Elit (East)[4]
- February 2013: CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month, Milwaukee Admirals[35]
- Week ending April 21, 2013: CCM/AHL Player of the Week, Milwaukee Admirals[36]
- 2018: Gold medal, Winter Olympics[37]
- 2018: Gold medal, IIHF World Championship[38]