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Condors sign college free agent Samuel Sjolund to one-year AHL contract
Western Michigan Broncos defenseman Samuel Sjolund
Photo credit: Ashley Blanchard/WMU Athletics
Tyler Kuehl
Apr 9, 2026, 13:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 9, 2026, 13:39 EDT
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A promising young blueliner has inked his first pro contract.
On Wednesday, the Edmonton Oilers‘ American Hockey League affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, announced that the team has signed college free agent defenceman Samuel Sjolund to a one-year minor-league contract for the 206-27 season.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing over 200 pounds, the 24-year-old uses his strength to be a tough rearguard, though he’s not the kind of player to lay crushing body checks. He utilizes his size and reach to slow down the opposition’s attack, but also has great vision and hands to contribute offensively.
Sjolund was originally taken by the Dallas Stars in the fourth round, 111th overall, of the 2019 NHL Draft. However, he became a free agent after not signing with the team four years after he was drafted.
Instead of joining the Stars system, the Stockholm native elected to take the collegiate route. He committed to Western Michigan University, but had to sit out the 2022-23 campaign due to having played for AIK in the HockeyAllsvenskan in his native Sweden. At the time, the NCAA didn’t allow players with any previous pro experience, even in Europe. However, that rule was changed prior to the 2023-24 season, allowing Sjolund to join the Broncos.
When he finally moved to Kalamazoo, Sjolund immediately became one of head coach Pat Ferschweiler’s top blueliners. After a solid rookie campaign, Sjolund came into his own during the 2024-25 season. In 42 games, he scored four goals and 25 assists for 29 points, posting a career-high plus/minus of +19 while averaging 21:54 of ice time. His play was crucial in helping Western Michigan win the NCHC regular-season and tournament championships, along with the program’s first NCAA Men’s Hockey Championship last spring.
This year, Sjolund further established himself as a solid two-way defender. Along with scoring a career-best six goals with another 29 points, he finished fifth on the Broncos in scoring and fourth in the NCHC among defencemen. He also had a +13 rating whilst logging 20:45 of ice time per game, and was named Third-Team All-NCHC. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to help the Broncos repeat as national champions, as the team was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament by Denver in the national quarterfinals a little over a week ago.
In 119 games at WMU, Sjolund scored 13 goals and 63 assists for 76 points, with a career +31 rating.
Sjolund doesn’t have a ton of international experience, though he played for the Swedes at the 2017 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge. Before playing collegiately, he played one season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League.

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