A Winnipeg Jets prospect who had said he planned to stay in Sweden is now headed to North America.
According to Martin Jansson of hockeysverige.se, Alfons Freij will play under the Jets organization this season after taking part in this year’s development camp. The 20-year-old defenseman finished his 2025-26 season with Timrå IK on loan, putting up 11 points in 42 SHL games. He also delivered seven assists in seven games at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championships, helping Sweden win gold while skating as a third-pair defender and handling power-play duties.
Freij’s season in Sweden stood out among his age group. His 11 points ranked second among U20 defensemen in the SHL, trailing only Leo Sahlin Wallenius, who had 13 points with Växjö Lakers HC.
“The plan was for me to stay another year and get ready while at Timrå. I had two years left on my contract and intended to stay; I was fully prepared for that.
Then I went over for the development camp and had meetings with the GM, the coach, and so on, said Freij in the article, “They made it clear they wanted me playing over there-that it was the best path for me to achieve my goals and dreams. You can’t say no to that.”
Freij was selected 37th overall in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft and has built a reputation as a deceptive, shifty defenseman with puck-moving skill that makes him tough to pin down. After the draft, Växjö, his original club in J20, did not keep him on its main roster and instead loaned him to IF Björkloven. He later moved to Timrå last summer, signing a two-year deal and quickly emerging as an offensive contributor at a young age.
The Jets signed him to a three-year entry-level contract in June, a deal that begins next season because it slid while he played overseas. The Sölvesborg native will earn nearly $3MM, with a $965K AAV, and the contract runs through 2029, after his age-23 season.
Freij will get a look in training camp, but a regular NHL job looks unlikely with Winnipeg already carrying left-shot defensemen Josh Morrissey, Dylan Samberg, Mario Ferraro and Haydn Fleury. His offense is the calling card, while his defensive game still needs time to sharpen in the AHL. For now, he projects as the youngest defenseman on Manitoba’s roster.
In Other News...
Connor Hellebuyck Drama Is Still Hanging Over The Jets Summer
Connor Hellebuycks future is still one of the biggest unresolved items hanging over Winnipegs summer, and the Jets are not treating it like a closed case. According to David Pagnotta, the club remains open to trade discussions involving its star goaltender, even while trying to persuade him to give the team another chance after a difficult season.
The real pause point is timing, not interest. Winnipeg is expected to keep the situation in limbo until around training camp, with the possibility that Hellebuyck could eventually make his intentions clear in public, and the Jets have been firm enough on their trade stance that any movement will likely take patience before it takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Former Jets Goalie Michael Hutchinson Just Closed The Book On Something
Michael Hutchinsons pro hockey run has come to a close, and for Jets fans, it brings a familiar name back into view. Winnipeg confirmed the news after Hutchinsons most recent season with SaiPa Lappeenranta in Finland, capping a career that also included his final NHL appearance with the Detroit Red Wings in the 2023-24 season.
The Jets were part of the story from the start of his NHL climb, after he signed with Winnipeg as a free agent in 2013 and went on to have his best stretch there. Hutchinson played for six NHL teams overall, finishing with 154 appearances, a .902 save percentage and a 2.94 goals-against average, a solid enough body of work to make him a recognizable part of the leagues recent goaltending landscape. [Read more 🡒]