Following reports last month, Björklöven has secured its first major signing for SHL return by bringing back Umeå native Lucas Wallmark on a six-year contract. The 30-year-old center returns after a career abroad, including a recent Swiss title.
Björklöven announced the signing of Lucas Wallmark, the first acquisition by sports director Per Kenttä for the team's SHL comeback. The 30-year-old center has signed a six-year deal, making him a cornerstone for next season. Wallmark, who grew up playing on Teg in Umeå, shared his excitement on social media: “It feels completely fantastic to come home and play as a kid from Umeå, grown up on Teg. See you in the fall.”
Wallmark brings elite experience from the NHL (187 games), AHL, KHL, Swiss league, Tre Kronor, and prior SHL time with Luleå and Skellefteå. He left Björklöven in 2010 and excelled abroad, including stints with CSKA Moskva, Zürich, and three years at Fribourg-Gottéron—where he scored the decisive goal in their first-ever Swiss title last week.
This fulfills long-rumored interest, building on April reports and Wallmark's prior comments about returning home with buddy Kenttä. The veteran center now heads back to Västerbotten for SHL action.