Joachim Blichfeld

Joachim Blichfeld
Blichfeld with the San Jose Barracuda in 2020
Born (1998-07-17) 17 July 1998 (age 26)
Frederikshavn, Denmark
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Right
SHL team
Former teams		 Växjö Lakers
San Jose Sharks
Frederikshavn White Hawks
National team  Denmark
NHL draft 210th overall, 2016
San Jose Sharks
Playing career 2018–present

Joachim Ninna Blichfeld (born 17 July 1998) is a Danish professional ice hockey forward for the Växjö Lakers of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the seventh round, 210th overall, in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, and played 8 games with then during the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons.[1]

Playing career

Following two seasons in the Malmö Redhawks organization, Blichfeld was selected in the seventh round (210th overall) by the San Jose Sharks in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.[2] He joined the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Hockey League for the 2016–17 campaign, where he recorded 28 goals and 30 assists in 58 games. On 28 December 2017, the Sharks signed Blichfeld to a three-year, entry-level contract.[3]

Blichfeld led the WHL in scoring with 114 points in 68 games during the 2018–19 season, earning the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as "player of the year."[4]

Blichfeld joined the Sharks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, to begin the 2019–20 season. On 12 December 2019, the Sharks recalled him.[5] He made his NHL debut that night in a 6–3 loss to the New York Rangers.[6] Blichfeld finished the season with three scoreless appearances for the Sharks. He also had 32 points in 44 games for the Barracuda and was named to the AHL All-Star Classic.[7]

With the 2020–21 season delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sharks loaned Blichfeld to his hometown Frederikshavn White Hawks of the Metal Ligaen on 27 October 2020.[8] He scored 12 points in as many games before returning to San Jose for the team's training camp. On 3 March 2021, Blichfeld delivered an illegal check to the head of Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon. He was removed from the contest and was given a two-game suspension the following day.[9] He scored his first NHL goal on 24 April 2021, in a 3–6 loss to the Minnesota Wild.[10] After the 2020–21 season, he signed a one-year contract with the Sharks.[11]

As a pending restricted free agent from the Sharks following the 2021–22 season, Blichfeld opted to return to Europe in agreeing to a two-year contract with Swedish club, Växjö Lakers of the SHL, on 8 June 2022.[12]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2014–15 Malmö Redhawks J20 J20 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2
2015–16 Malmö Redhawks J20 J20 45 15 13 28 10 3 2 0 2 0
2016–17 Portland Winterhawks WHL 63 28 30 58 34 11 5 5 10 8
2017–18 Portland Winterhawks WHL 56 24 32 56 51 12 3 6 9 10
2017–18 San Jose Barracuda AHL — — — — — 2 0 0 0 0
2018–19 Portland Winterhawks WHL 68 53 61 114 70 5 2 2 4 0
2019–20 San Jose Barracuda AHL 44 16 16 32 26 — — — — —
2019–20 San Jose Sharks NHL 3 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2020–21 Frederikshavn White Hawks DEN 12 5 7 12 2 — — — — —
2020–21 San Jose Barracuda AHL 25 12 10 22 6 — — — — —
2020–21 San Jose Sharks NHL 5 1 0 1 12 — — — — —
2021–22 San Jose Barracuda AHL 61 24 21 45 18 — — — — —
2022–23 Växjö Lakers SHL 50 10 14 24 19 18 5 3 8 0
2023–24 Växjö Lakers SHL 50 17 10 27 16 8 1 4 5 0
NHL totals 8 1 0 1 14 — — — — —
SHL totals 100 27 24 51 35 26 6 7 13 0

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2015 Denmark U18-D1 P 4 0 0 0 0
2016 Denmark U18 10th 7 4 2 6 2
2017 Denmark WJC 5th 5 3 1 4 0
2018 Denmark WJC 9th 6 3 3 6 4
2021 Denmark OGQ Q 3 2 1 3 0
2022 Denmark WC 9th 7 5 1 6 0
2024 Denmark WC 13th 6 2 3 5 2
Junior totals 22 10 6 16 6
Senior totals 16 9 5 14 2

Awards and honors

Awards Year
WHL
Four Broncos Memorial Trophy 2018–19 [13]
Bob Clarke Trophy 2018–19
AHL
All-Star Game 2020 [14]
SHL
Le Mat Trophy 2023 [15]

References

  1. ^ "Sharks' Joachim Blichfeld: Earns first NHL call-up". CBSSports.com. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  2. ^ "Sharks Conclude 2016 NHL Draft with Five Selections". San Jose Sharks. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Sharks Sign Forward Joachim Blichfeld". San Jose Sharks. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Joachim Blichfeld Named WHL's Player of the Year". San Jose Sharks. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Sharks Recall Forward Joachim Blichfeld from San Jose Barracuda". San Jose Sharks. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  6. ^ "Joachim Blichfeld Makes NHL Debut". Portland Winterhawks. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  7. ^ "Rosters announced for 2020 AHL All-Star Classic". American Hockey League. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  8. ^ "PRESSEMEDDELELSE: Blichfeld på lejeaftale". Frederikshavn White Hawks. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  9. ^ "San Jose Sharks' Joachim Blichfeld suspended 2 games for hit on Nathan MacKinnon". ESPN. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Wild defeat Sharks, clinch playoff berth with seventh straight win". National Hockey League. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Sharks Sign Forward Joachim Blichfeld". National Hockey League. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Welcome Joachim Blichfeld" (in Swedish). Växjö Lakers. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Joachim Blichfeld Named WHL's Player of the Year". National Hockey League. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  14. ^ "Bracco, Liljegren added to All-Star roster". American Hockey League. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  15. ^ Knekta, Jonathan; Ros, Tomas; Abrahamsson, Hans (24 April 2023). "Växjö Lakers svenska mästare i ishockey". aftonbladet.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 5 November 2023.