Mattias Norlinder

Mattias Norlinder
Born (2000-04-12) 12 April 2000
Kramfors, Sweden
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
SHL team
Former teams		 Brynäs IF
Montreal Canadiens
MoDo Hockey
Frölunda HC
National team  Sweden
NHL draft 64th overall, 2019
Montreal Canadiens
Playing career 2019–present

Mattias Norlinder (born 12 April 2000) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for Brynäs IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He was selected in the third round, 64th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2019 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

Sweden

As a youth, Norlinder played junior hockey for MoDo Hockey in his country's J20 SuperElit, winning the Anton Cup and Playoffs MVP award in 2019.[1]

During the 2018–19 season, he made his professional debut for the team in the HockeyAllsvenskan ranks, appearing in 14 games with two goals and four assists over that span. In March 2019, he signed a one-year professional contract with the team.[2] The following year, despite missing time with a concussion, Norlinder was named as the best junior (Guldgallret) in the HockeyAllsvenskan.[3][4]

In 2020–21, he was loaned to Frölunda HC of the top-tier Swedish Hockey League (SHL), registering five goals and five assists across 37 games played.[5][6]

North America

Selected by the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the third round (64th overall) of the 2019 NHL entry draft,[7] Norlinder was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the team on 3 June 2021.[8] That November, he made his North American professional debut with the Canadiens' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket,[9][10] followed by his NHL debut with Montreal in a 6–0 loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins on 18 November 2021.[11][12] On 27 November 2021, Norlinder recorded his first NHL point with an assist in a 6–3 win against the Penguins.[13][14] Having played six NHL games before returning to the Rocket, he was later reassigned on loan to continue his development overseas with Frölunda HC for the remainder of their SHL season on 16 December 2021.[15]

Returning to North America for the 2022–23 campaign, Norlinder appeared in 67 games with the Rocket scoring two goals and 19 total points. He was again assigned to Laval to begin the 2023–24 season.[16] However, after fellow defenceman Jordan Harris suffered a significant injury, Norlinder was recalled by Montreal on 21 November 2023.[17] Collectively, he saw no playing time with the Canadiens and, after veteran David Savard rejoined the lineup, he was returned to Laval on 10 December.[18]

Return to Sweden

Prior to the beginning of the NHL free agency period, Norlinder was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Canadiens before the deadline of 30 June 2024, therefore making him an unrestricted free agent.[19] Having trained with former club MoDo Hockey during the 2024–25 preseason, the team began a crowdfunding campaign to raise 1,000,000 Swedish kronor ($97,500) in additional funds to sign him.[20] On 4 September 2024, Norlinder officially agreed to a two-year contract with the foregoing, turning down an offer from the Canadiens to do so.[21][22]

Following MoDo's relegation to the HockeyAllsvenskan after just one season, Norlinder ended his tenure to continue in the SHL with Brynäs IF on a two-year deal in May 2025.[23]

International play

Norlinder represented the Swedish national junior team at the 2020 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, capturing a bronze medal.[8] Thereafter, he made his senior national team debut at the 2020 Karjala Cup as part of the Euro Hockey Tour.[24] Norlinder likewise participated in the 2024 iteration of the tournament.[25]

Personal life

Norlinder's younger brother, Linus, is also an ice hockey player currently with Kramfors-Alliansen of Sweden's Hockeytvåan.[26]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2017–18 Modo Hockey J20 36 8 5 13 10 — — — — —
2018–19 Modo Hockey J20 30 5 16 21 43 5 2 4 6 6
2018–19 Modo Hockey Allsv 14 2 4 6 4 5 1 2 3 2
2019–20 Modo Hockey Allsv 34 7 11 18 2 2 1 0 1 0
2020–21 Frölunda HC SHL 37 5 5 10 12 7 3 2 5 6
2021–22 Montreal Canadiens NHL 6 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2021–22 Laval Rocket AHL 6 1 1 2 2 5 0 1 1 2
2021–22 Frölunda HC SHL 21 0 2 2 2 9 0 6 6 8
2022–23 Laval Rocket AHL 67 2 17 19 20 2 0 0 0 0
2023–24 Laval Rocket AHL 50 2 7 9 26 — — — — —
2024–25 Modo Hockey SHL 50 4 15 19 37 — — — — —
SHL totals 108 9 22 31 51 16 3 8 11 14
NHL totals 6 0 1 1 2 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2020 Sweden WJC 7 0 0 0 0
2020 Sweden Karjala 4th 2 0 0 0 0
2024 Sweden Karjala 4th 5 0 0 0 0
Junior totals 7 0 0 0 0
Senior totals 7 0 0 0 0

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
J20 SuperElit
Anton Cup 2019 [27]
Playoffs MVP 2019 [1]
HockeyAllsvenskan
Best junior (Guldgallret) 2020 [3]

References

  1. ^ a b Hedlund, Christoffer (6 July 2019). "Post-Draft Prospect Profiles: Mattias Norlinder No. 64 to the Montreal Canadiens". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  2. ^ Hedqvist, Robin (3 April 2019). "MODO Hockey förlänger med Mattias Norlinder" [MODO Hockey extends with Mattias Norlinder] (in Swedish). Modo Hockey. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  3. ^ a b Eriksson, Frank (4 March 2020). "Guldgallret till Mattias Norlinder" [Guldgallret for Mattias Norlinder] (in Swedish). Modo Hockey. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  4. ^ Hägglund, Per (4 March 2020). "Guldgallret till Mattias Norlinder: "Åh shit, väldigt inspirerande"" [Mattias Norlinder wins the Guldgallret: "Oh shit, very inspiring"]. Örnsköldsviks Allehanda (in Swedish). Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  5. ^ Cowan, Stu (17 November 2021). "Mattias Norlinder ready to make his NHL debut with Canadiens". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  6. ^ Pettersson Kymmer, Peter (14 April 2020). "Nummer 6 för sjuan" [Number 6 for the seventh] (in Swedish). Frölunda HC. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  7. ^ Kournianos, Steve (27 June 2019). "NHL Draft results 2019: Final grades, analysis for all 31 teams". The Sporting News. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Three-year, entry-level contract for Mattias Norlinder". Montreal Canadiens. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021 – via NHL.com.
  9. ^ "Norlinder à Laval" [Norlinder in Laval]. TVA Sports (in French). 4 November 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Laval Rocket @ Syracuse Crunch Saturday, November 6, 2021 Game Summary". American Hockey League. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Lines, defense pairings and updates - November 17". NHL.com. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  12. ^ Rorabaugh, Seth (18 November 2021). "Penguins rout Canadiens as Sidney Crosby gets 1st goal of season". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  13. ^ Leijon, Erik (28 November 2021). "About Last Night: Habs win 6-3 with front office in flux". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  14. ^ "Canadiens' Mattias Norlinder: Records first NHL point". CBS Sports. 28 November 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  15. ^ "Mattias Norlinder loaned to FHC for remainder of season". Montreal Canadiens. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021 – via NHL.com.
  16. ^ "Canadiens' Mattias Norlinder: Heads to minors". CBS Sports. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  17. ^ "Mattias Norlinder recalled from the Laval Rocket". Montreal Canadiens. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023 – via NHL.com.
  18. ^ "Canadiens' Mattias Norlinder: Dropped to minors". CBS Sports. 10 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  19. ^ "More than 60 players enter free agency after NHL's qualifying offer deadline". Sportsnet.ca. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  20. ^ "Supporterinsamling – hjälp oss att värva Norlinder!" [Supporter fundraising - help us recruit Norlinder!] (in Swedish). Modo Hockey. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  21. ^ "MoDo dame le pion au CH grâce à une campagne de socifofinancement" [MoDo Beats CH thanks to crowdfunding campaign]. TVA Sports (in French). 4 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  22. ^ O'Brien, Derek (4 September 2024). "Mattias Norlinder returns to Sweden; donations raised to pay contract". The Hockey News. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Första nyförvärvet i hamn – välkommen, Mattias Norlinder" [Brynäs IF agree to first new signing, Mattias Norlinder] (in Swedish). Brynäs IF. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  24. ^ Engels, Eric (16 September 2021). "Canadiens' Norlinder hoping to seize roster spot: 'I'm here to take a place'". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  25. ^ O'Brien, Derek (29 October 2024). "Sweden Names Karjala Cup Roster". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  26. ^ "Linus Norlinder". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  27. ^ "Anton Cup" (in Swedish). Swedish Ice Hockey Association. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
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