Calle Järnkrok

Calle Järnkrok (born 25 September 1991), nicknamed "Ironhook" (direct translation of his last name),[1][2] is a Swedish professional ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). Järnkrok was drafted 51st overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Calle Järnkrok
Järnkrok with the Nashville Predators in 2017
Born (1991-09-25) 25 September 1991 (age 32)
Gävle, Sweden
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight186 lb (84 kg; 13 st 4 lb)
PositionCenter
ShootsRight
NHL team
Former teams
Toronto Maple Leafs
Brynäs IF
Nashville Predators
Seattle Kraken
Calgary Flames
National team Sweden
NHL draft51st overall, 2010
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career2009–present

Playing career

After a strong second half to the 2009–10 season where he earned a regular roster spot on Brynäs IF, Järnkrok went from 21st among European Skaters in the midterm rankings to 4th among European Skaters in the Central Scouting final rankings for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.[3] He was drafted in the second round, 51st overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings.[4]

Calle Järnkrok in 2012

Twenty-eight games into the 2010–11 season, Järnkrok led all junior players in points with eight goals and nine assists and was selected to be the second of four Elitserien Rookie of the Year candidates of the season.[5]

On 5 March 2014, Järnkrok was traded to the Nashville Predators (along with Patrick Eaves) as part of a deal that brought David Legwand to Detroit. He was assigned to the Predators' then-American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals.[6] Järnkrok recorded an assist in his NHL debut on 21 March 2014.[7] He scored his first NHL goal on 27 March 2014 against Matt Hackett of the Buffalo Sabres.[8]

During the 2014–15 season, in his first full NHL season, Järnkrok recorded 7 goals and 11 assists in 74 games. He posted two goals and seven assists in his first 12 NHL games, including five points in the first five contests of his NHL career, the second-longest point streak by a Predators player in the first games of their NHL career, behind Marek Židlický's six games from 9–23 October 2003. On 17 July 2015, the Predators re-signed Järnkrok to a one-year contract.[9] On 26 July 2016, Järnkrok was again re-signed by the Nashville Predators to a six-year, $12 million contract.[10]

Having played his eighth season with the Predators following the pandemic delayed 2020–21 campaign, Järnkrok was left exposed by Nashville and selected at the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft by the Seattle Kraken on 21 July 2021.[11] On 16 March 2022, five days before the trade deadline, Järnkrok was traded by the Kraken to the Calgary Flames for the Florida Panthers' 2022 second round draft pick, the Calgary Flames' 2023 third round draft pick and 2024 seventh round draft picks.[12] Järnkrok played in 12 playoff games with the Flames, scoring one goal and three assists.[4] At the end of the season, he became an unrestricted free agent.[13]

Järnkrok (left), Tye Kartye (center) and Max Domi (right) in 2024.

As a free agent, Järnkrok joined the Toronto Maple Leafs after signing a four-year, $8.4 million contract on 15 July 2022.[14]

Personal life

Järnkrok's cousin, and former Flames teammate Elias Lindholm, was drafted fifth overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks.[15]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2007–08Brynäs IFJ18 Allsv134484
2007–08Brynäs IFJ2020002
2008–09Brynäs IFJ18324612
2008–09Brynäs IFJ18 Allsv4336020112
2008–09Brynäs IFJ2041818263774372
2009–10Brynäs IFJ20191120313020110
2009–10Brynäs IFSEL334610251120
2010–11Brynäs IFSEL49111627433032
2011–12Brynäs IFSEL5016233922164121612
2012–13Brynäs IFSEL531329421240006
2012–13Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL90330
2013–14Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL5713233614
2013–14Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL6549031122
2013–14Nashville PredatorsNHL122794
2014–15Nashville PredatorsNHL74711181860220
2015–16Nashville PredatorsNHL8116143014140114
2016–17Nashville PredatorsNHL8115163125212572
2017–18Nashville PredatorsNHL681619351270110
2018–19Nashville PredatorsNHL791016261260222
2019–20Nashville PredatorsNHL641519341441010
2020–21Nashville PredatorsNHL491315281450112
2021–22Seattle KrakenNHL491214262
2021–22Calgary FlamesNHL170444121340
2022–23Toronto Maple LeafsNHL7320193914111230
2023–24Toronto Maple LeafsNHL521011211870000
SHL totals185447411840288132120
NHL totals699136165301151935172210

International

Medal record
Men's Ice hockey
Representing  Sweden
World Championships
2013 Sweden/Finland
2014 Minsk
YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2009SwedenU185th62794
2011SwedenWJC4th62352
2012SwedenWC6th80110
2013SwedenWC 100114
2014SwedenWC 100004
Junior totals12410146
Senior totals280228

References