SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed defenseman Viking Gustafsson Nyberg to a two-year entry-level contract beginning in the 2025-26 season.
Gustafsson Nyberg, 22 (9/21/03), has played in two games with the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League (AHL) since signing an amateur tryout (ATO) with Minnesota on April 6, recording an assist, two penalty minutes (PIM) and a plus-1 rating.
The 6-foot-6, 225-pound native of Stockholm, Sweden, also recorded 11 assists, 47 shots and 26 PIM in 37 games with the University of Connecticut (UConn) this season. He led UConn with a plus-18 rating, ranked second in blocked shots (51) and third among defensemen in assists and points to help the Huskies reach the Hockey East Championship game and qualify for the NCAA Tournament. In two seasons (2024-25) at UConn, Gustafsson Nyberg totaled 21 points (1-20=21), 83 shots, 53 PIM and 113 blocked shots. Gustafsson Nyberg transferred to UConn from Northern Michigan, where he played one season (2023-24) and posted three points (1-2=3) in 34 games while ranking fourth on the team (first among freshman) with 44 blocked shots.
Prior to his collegiate career, Gustafsson Nyberg played two seasons (2021-23) with Leksands IF J20 of the Swedish Junior League, recording seven goals, 30 assists, 37 points (7-30=37), 28 penalty minutes, and a plus-21 rating in 82 games and serving as an alternate captain during the 2022-23 season. He will wear sweater No. 6 with Minnesota.
