EDMONTON, AB - The Edmonton Oilers have signed defenceman Joel Persson to a one-year contract extension for the 2019-20 season.
Persson was originally signed by the Oilers as an undrafted free agent on May 18, 2018 and was assigned to the Vaxjo Lakers of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) for the 2018-19 season.
The 5'11", 176-pound defenceman is in his second season with Vaxjo where he ranks second in overall scoring, leading the team's defencemen, with 22 points (4G, 18A) in 35 games, six penalty minutes and a +2 plus-minus rating.
Persson, 24, also made his international debut with Sweden this season, appearing in six games at the Karjala Cup in November in Helsinki, Finland and the Channel One Cup in December in Finland/Russia, posting one assist, two penalty minutes and a -2 plus-minus rating. Sweden finished third in both those events.
In 2017-18, his rookie SHL season, Persson was Vaxjo's top scoring defencemen, with 34 points (6G, 28A) in 51 games, helping Vaxjo finish the regular season first overall, and going on to win the SHL Championship.
The native of Kristianstad, Sweden played in lower level professional leagues in his home country from 2012 through 2017, prior to getting his opportunity in the SHL.
Persson profile at
NHL.com
:
https://www.nhl.com/player/joel-persson-8480940
RELEASE: Oilers sign defenceman Joel Persson
The Edmonton Oilers have signed defenceman Joel Persson to a one-year contract extension for the 2019-20 season.
