Lucas Wallmark has joined Björklöven on a six-year contract after leaving Swiss champions Fribourg-Gottéron. The 30-year-old forward aims to help turn the Umeå club into a top SHL team.
Wallmark turned down a remaining year on a well-paid contract in Switzerland to return to his boyhood club. He cited the potential to create something lasting in Umeå as the main reason for the move.
"I believe there is incredible potential to do something really good here with Björklöven in the long term," Wallmark said. "I think it is possible to make Björklöven a top team in the SHL."
The forward pointed to a growing core of local players, including Lucas Ekeståhl Jonsson, Marcus Björk and Axel Ottosson, who share his roots in the city. He also expressed hope that plans for a new arena will advance within two to three years.
Wallmark described the project as challenging but stressed that the long-term vision extends beyond immediate results on the ice.
