Jets' draft – Winnipeg went big on offensive upside in the first round, taking Viggo Björck eighth overall, then filled out its board with a mix of goalies, USHL scorers, and CHL talent. Here’s what each of the Jets’ picks means as they shape the next wave of their prospect
The Winnipeg Jets didn’t spend Friday night hedging their bets. They went straight for an offensive-minded centre with a track record that kept widening—first in Sweden’s top league, then on the world stage—when they selected Viggo Björck eighth overall.
Björck’s journey into the spotlight didn’t come in one neat package. In 2025-26. he climbed from Sweden’s SHL (Djurgårdens IF) up to both international levels—at the world junior and senior events—and he “thrived every time. ” a signal that Winnipeg liked what they saw under pressure. In the end, it was a selection at eighth overall that set the tone for the whole draft.
The pick is built on numbers, but also on context. Björck posted 6G-9A-15PTS in 42 games for Djurgårdens IF in the SHL. Even if his totals don’t leap off the page compared to some other top-10 names. the season matters: he played the majority of 2025-26 in a league known for being tough on goal-scorers. facing seasoned veterans as a teenager. When the playoffs arrived, that development translated—he finished with three points in three post-season games.
On the international stage, his draft stock jumped again. At the 2026 world juniors, he helped propel a star-studded Team Sweden to gold, collecting nine points in seven games. At the world championship “this past spring. ” he became the youngest Swede to ever dress at the tournament. then produced six points in eight games to lead all under-18 players. The Jets clearly weren’t just buying potential—they were buying proof that he could stand out.
Björck’s red-carpet moment didn’t look like hockey at all. Asked about fashion style, he gave a humble response. But his play has carried a different label since scouts started talking about him. Words like “wizard” and “fearless” have followed his game. tied to his playmaking and his ability to get into the dirty areas and come out with the puck on his stick.
Winnipeg’s remaining picks kept coming, widening the picture beyond one centre.
With the 71st overall selection, the Jets chose G Samuel Hrenak from Fargo Force of the USHL. In nine games in 2025-26, he posted a 7-1-1 record with a 2.20 GAA and a .918 save percentage. Hrenak also brings an unusual wrinkle to a draft profile: he played for Slovakia at the world junior championship. and he even scored a goal for Fargo this season.
At 116th overall, the Jets selected LW Zach Wooten from the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL. He erupted in his third full USHL season, finishing 61 games with 35G-27A-62PTS. The 20-year-old is scheduled to play NCAA hockey for Wisconsin next season.
Green Bay stayed on Winnipeg’s board at 167th overall, when the Jets picked C Landon Hafele. Also playing for the Green Bay Gamblers in 2025-26, Hafele recorded 15G-27A-42PTS in 57 games. He has made a commitment to Arizona State University.
From the CHL, Winnipeg turned to WHL at 199th overall with D Noa Ta’amu from the Edmonton Oil Kings. Ta’amu, listed at six-foot-two and 228 pounds, put up 3G-9A-12PTS in 62 games. He was also the only player from the CHL ranks selected by the Jets this year.
The Jets closed out their board with a college goalie at 220th overall: G Jack Parsons from Providence College. In 19 games in 2025-26, Parsons went 13-5-0 with a 2.05 GAA and a .922 save percentage. He previously played for the U.S. National Team Development Program, and this season showed why Winnipeg stayed interested in a steady presence in net.
Taken together. the selections show a clear mood: Winnipeg built around offensive impact first. then used the rest of its draft to add goaltending depth and scoring pockets. from the USHL to the WHL and into NCAA hockey. One pick carried the story of pressure and international standout moments; the rest filled in the next layers of their future roster—with skill. size. and a few goalkeepers who know how to keep games in reach.
Winnipeg Jets draft picks Viggo Björck SHL Djurgårdens IF Samuel Hrenak Fargo Force Zach Wooten Green Bay Gamblers Landon Hafele Noa Ta'amu Edmonton Oil Kings Jack Parsons Providence College USHL WHL NCAA hockey NHL prospects
Eighth overall for a center sounds nice but who cares if he can actually win faceoffs lol.
So they drafted Björck and he scored like 15 points? That doesn’t seem like a lot? Unless this is like European math or something. Also “thrived under pressure” is such a hockey-speak thing.
Wait, the article says Winnipeg went big on offensive upside… but then it talks about goalies too. I thought this was a Jets offensive draft not a goalie draft. Are they mixing teams up with like NHL vs USHL or what?
This is all Sweden stuff, world juniors, SHL, world championship… meanwhile the Jets still need actual help right now. If he’s the youngest Swede to dress then cool, but dressing doesn’t mean he changes the power play or whatever. I’ll believe it when he’s scoring in the league, not in tournaments that kids play in.