Penguins forward Kasper Bjorkqvist overcomes obstacles - not setbacks - to reach the NHL

Before making his NHL debut Sunday, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Kasper Bjorkqvist had a meeting.

Sure, he was in attendance for group meetings with video sessions the Penguins typically conduct before each and every contest.

But Bjorkqvist also had a one-on-one meeting.

With Dr. Dharmesh Vyas, the Penguins’ head physician.

Nothing was wrong with Bjorkqvist medically. Far from it.

Especially after what Vyas did for him in 2019.

Bjorkqvist made his professional debut during the 2019-20 season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL), but his season only lasted six games.

A few months after rehabilitating a shoulder injury, Bjorkqvist suffered a torn ACL that required surgery.

Vyas was the one who patched him up.

“I met Dr. Vyas before the game,” Bjorkqvist said. “Very appreciative of what he did to get my knee back. Just very appreciative of everyone who has helped me so far.”

The Penguins seemed appreciative of what Bjorkqvist offered in Sunday’s 8-5 home win against the San Jose Sharks at PPG Paints Arena.

Primarily deployed on the left wing of the fourth line, Bjorkqvist logged 8 minutes, 54 seconds of ice time on 14 shifts and scored a goal at 16:29 of the first period.

The goal wasn’t anything fancy. And neither is Bjorkqvist. After linemate Radim Zohorna shuffled the puck to the crease, Bjorkqvist barged in and chopped it through the 5-hole of Sharks goaltender James Reimer.

“I’m probably going to take it home,” Bjorkqvist said of the puck he scored. “I have all my pucks from big games or big goals at my parents’ (home). Probably bring it home there.”

The notion of Bjorkqvist being here, in the NHL, is no small feat. A second-round pick (No. 61 overall) in the 2016 draft, he carried significant expectations as a relatively high draft pick.

But his injuries and the pandemic stretched out his journey to the NHL.

After three seasons at the NCAA level with Providence College, Bjorkqvist turned professional and suffered his knee injury. Fully rehabilitated, he was ready to resume his professional existence but the pandemic halted virtually every league in North America by September 2020.

So in order to get him some highly valuable playing time, the Penguins sent him to Europe, where most leagues were trying to forge through the pandemic. Bjorqkvist was loaned to KooKoo of Finland’s Liiga, the highest-tiered professional league in his native country.

After KooKoo’s season came to an end last spring, Bjorkqvist returned to North America and finished the season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. After briefly serving as a Black Ace for the NHL club during the postseason, he was re-signed as a restricted free agent during the summer to a barebones one-year, two-way contract worth the league minimum of $750,000.

Bjorkqvist opened the 2021-22 season back with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. In 17 AHL games, he had three points (two goals, one assist).

After a number of incumbent members of the NHL roster had tested positive for covid-19, Bjorkqvist was summoned to the taxi squad on Tuesday. By Sunday, he was promoted to the NHL roster and made his debut.

“I’ve played in tougher games going from Finnish juniors to college then going pro, playing in the (American Hockey League), playing the Finnish league (Liiga) and now back to the (AHL),” Bjorkqvist said. “You evolved when you play with better and stronger players. I’ve battled some injuries. Through those, I’ve mentally learned a lot. I’ve learned to keep grinding and focus on myself in terms of trying to get better every day and be appreciative of the chances that you have to be at the rink and play hockey.”

If Bjorkqvist is to play hockey in an NHL rink on a more regular basis, he needs to continue the development he’s enjoyed this season.

“He’s one of those guys that helps your team become hard to play against,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s good on the wall. He has good size. He has good strength. He’s strong on the puck. He’s willing to block shots. He’s a good penalty killer, and I think his pace is improving.

“One of the things that I think that has been a little bit of a challenge for him has just been the pace of the game and the adjustment there at the NHL level. And he’s no different than a lot of young players I think. That is one of the biggest obstacles or one of the biggest challenges that young players face when they’re trying to establish themselves as NHL players is just the pace of play. … Kasper, for me, this year has a noticeable difference in his pace, not only his foot speed but ability to think the game and see the game, his awareness skills.”

Over the past five-plus years, Bjorkqvist has become aware of how difficult it is to reach the NHL. He has faced plenty of impediments in learning that lesson.

“They’re part of your career and it’s part of your life,” Bjorkqvist said. “I don’t think they’re setbacks, I think it’s obstacles. You overcome them, you grow.

“I feel healthy, I feel good. That’s where I am right now.”

Note: The Penguins activated defenseman P.O Joseph from the NHL’s protocols for covid-19 and assigned him to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL).