The Penguins selected the forward in the second round (58th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft, and he traveled to Pittsburgh in the summer of 2019 for development camp.
However, Hallander was traded to Toronto for Kasperi Kapanen in August 2020. The change of scenery didn't last long, though. Just under a year later, the Penguins reacquired Hallander on July 17, sending Jared McCann to the Maple Leafs in the deal.
"I was really happy. It's been really good to be back here," Hallander said. "I never went to Toronto, so it didn't change too much. I think if I had come over here, it would be kind of different, but I was in Sweden the whole time. So it was kind of the same, but being here two years before, it feels more like home than being in Toronto."
And now that he's back in the Penguins organization, the young Swede is looking to play for Pittsburgh sooner rather than later.
"I'm here to take a spot," Hallander said following the first day of Penguins Rookie Camp.
That's the kind of mindset that Penguins general manager Ron Hextall wants to see from the young forward, who comes to North America after scoring 13 goals in 51 games last season with Lulea HF of the Swedish Hockey League, the country's top professional league. He also played for Sweden at the 2021 World Championship, recording one assist in five games.
"He's 21 years old. He's not 18 or 19. He's somewhat of a seasoned player," Hextall said. "You come from Europe to the smaller ice, to a new culture, there's a lot going on, so sometimes you're not ready. But certainly, I would hope at some point this year, or certainly in training camp a year from now, that he's ready. But if Filip comes in and knocks us out, we'll make decisions from there."
Hallander doesn't foresee any issues with translating his game. In fact, the 6-foot-1 forward believes that the smaller ice will work to his advantage and play to his strengths.
"I think it's going to be good for me," Hallander said. "I've played a couple tournaments on smaller ice, and I think it fits my game better. I'm that guy who likes to go to the net and play pretty aggressive on the forecheck, and I think it's easier playing on the smaller ice."
Hallander - who is most comfortable at the wing - has drawn comparisons to a former fan favorite in Pittsburgh: fellow Swede Patric Hornqvist. But while the heart of both of their games is at the net-front, Hallander has been working hard on expanding his skillset and strengths.
"I think I've improved my two-way game last season and got to play some with the national team as well. I think that helped me a lot," Hallander said. "Playing up and down in the lineup, playing many different roles, that's kind of what I want - to be a guy you can trust in many different situations."
As far as how he looks to stand out from the crowd, Hallander kept it simple.
"I think just to play the game I played at home, and of course, just don't think too much, and just go out there and have fun," he explained. "I'm a young guy, and of course maybe it's going to need a little bit more from me, but I'll just to try to play my game and do as well as I can. That's all I can do."
