Not all influential hockey careers are spent in North America. One of his generation’s most creative and exciting players, Linus Omark, has spent the last decade overseas, playing for various clubs. At the age of 36, he’ll now head back to the SHL after signing a new contract with Luleå HF.
A fourth-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in 2007, Omark had one of the most memorable NHL debuts by scoring a wild shootout goal—a talent he would showcase for the rest of his career. While his time in the NHL would last just 79 games (and include 32 points), Omark has continued to have an offensive impact where he’s gone, whether it be the KHL, SHL, or Swiss National League, where he won a league title with Geneve-Servette this season.
Though often credited to Pavel Datsyuk, it was Omark who first pulled off the “flip goal” in competition, scoring it against Switzerland in a pre-tournament game for the 2009 IIHF World Championship.
At his age, there’s virtually no chance of a return to North American pro hockey. But Omark’s career has been impressive either way.
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