Erik Källgren (/ˈʃælɡrɛn/ SHAL-gren;[1] Swedish: [ˈɕɛ̂lɡreːn]; born 14 October 1996) is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender for Brynäs IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Källgren was drafted in the seventh round, 183rd overall, of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Arizona Coyotes, and made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut in 2022 with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Erik Källgren
Kallgren with the Utica Comets in 2023
Born (1996-10-14) 14 October 1996 (age 28)
Stockholm, Sweden
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
SHL team
Former teams
Brynäs IF
Växjö Lakers
TPS
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL draft 183rd overall, 2015
Arizona Coyotes
Playing career 2015–present

Playing career

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In the 2020–21 season, Källgren appeared in 21 regular season games for the Växjö Lakers collecting 12 wins with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage. In 10 postseason games, Källgren posted a 7–3–0 record with a .937 save percentage, capturing the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) championship.

As a free agent following his break-out year, Källgren initially joined fellow SHL outfit, Frölunda HC, on a two-year deal on 17 May 2021.[2] However just two days later, Källgren used his NHL opt-out clause, agreeing to a two-year, two-way contract to return to North America with the Toronto Maple Leafs on 19 May 2021.[3]

Källgren began the next season with the Toronto Marlies, but was called up by the team on 10 March 2022, on an emergency basis after starting netminder Jack Campbell was announced to have an injury.[4] Källgren served as backup that same night in a game against the Arizona Coyotes. After goaltender Petr Mrázek allowed four goals on twelve shots, Källgren was placed in the team goal and made his NHL debut, playing just over 30 minutes and allowing one goal as the team fell in overtime, 5–4.[5][6] On 15 March, Källgren recorded his first career NHL shutout in his first career NHL start against the Dallas Stars. Källgren faced 35 shots in the 4–0 victory. He became the fourth Maple Leaf goalie to record a shutout in his first NHL start.[7]

Following two seasons within the Maple Leafs organization, Källgren left as a free agent to sign a one-year, two-way contract with the New Jersey Devils for the 2023–24 season on 1 July 2023.[8] Källgren was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, for the duration of his contract with the Devils, posting four wins through 16 regular season games.

On 3 May 2024, Källgren as a pending free agent opted to return to his native Sweden, signing a three-year contract with Brynäs IF in their return to the SHL following promotion from HockeyAllsvenskan.[9]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2014–15 IK Oskarshamn Allsv 3 2 1 0 145 6 0 2.49 .896
2015–16 IK Oskarshamn Allsv 20 9 10 0 1,149 53 1 2.77 .897
2016–17 IK Oskarshamn Allsv 22 11 10 0 1,165 49 1 2.52 .912
2017–18 AIK Allsv 28 16 11 0 1,659 67 2 2.42 .907 3 1 2 185 6 0 1.95 0.918
2018–19 AIK Allsv 32 18 12 0 1,841 62 5 2.02 .920 1 1 0 0 60 1 1.00 0.964
2019–20 Rapid City Rush ECHL 3 2 1 0 178 8 0 2.70 .924
2019–20 Tucson Roadrunners AHL 2 0 1 0 68 1 0 0.89 .967
2019–20 Växjö Lakers SHL 2 0 2 0 76 7 0 5.51 .837
2019–20 TPS Liiga 18 6 8 0 1,058 41 1 2.33 .911
2020–21 Växjö Lakers SHL 21 12 9 0 1,265 50 1 2.37 .911 10 7 3 621 18 1 1.74 .930
2021–22 Toronto Marlies AHL 26 15 8 1 1,388 70 1 3.02 .904
2021–22 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 14 8 4 1 780 43 1 3.31 .888 1 0 0 31 0 0 0.00 1.000
2022–23 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 10 3 2 4 562 25 0 2.67 .898
2022–23 Toronto Marlies AHL 24 10 9 2 1,306 71 0 3.26 .883 4 2 1 204 11 0 3.24 .883
2023–24 Utica Comets AHL 16 4 6 3 795 48 1 3.62 .872
SHL totals 23 12 11 0 1,341 57 1 2.55 .906 10 7 3 621 18 1 1.74 .930
NHL totals 24 11 6 5 1,342 68 1 3.04 .892 1 0 0 31 0 0 0.00 1.000

Awards and honours

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Award Year
SHL
Le Mat Trophy champion 2021

References

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  1. ^ "Draft Pick Profile - Erik Kallgren". NHL.com. 13 June 2015. Archived from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Swedish championship winner Kallgren to join Frolunda" (in Swedish). expressen.se. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Maple Leafs Sign Goaltender Erik Källgren". Toronto Maple Leafs. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Jack Campbell to miss at least 2 weeks with a rib injury". SB Nation. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Maple Leafs, Erik Kallgren salvage a point from early goalie gaffes". Toronto Sun. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Kallgren impresses in unexpected NHL debut as Maple Leafs' goaltending situation reaches boiling point". Nation Network. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  7. ^ McCarthy, Dave (15 March 2022). "Kallgren helps Maple Leafs shut out Stars in first NHL start". NHL.com. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Kallgren inks one-year, two-way contract with Devils". New Jersey Devils. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Erik Källgren klar för Brynäs IF – skriver treårskontrakt" (in Swedish). Brynäs IF. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
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