Mattias Norlinder
Mattias Norlinder is a Swedish professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for Brynäs IF of the Swedish Hockey League. 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.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. The following year, despite missing time with a concussion, Norlinder was named as the best junior in the HockeyAllsvenskan.
In 2020–21, he was loaned to Frölunda HC of the top-tier Swedish Hockey League, registering five goals and five assists across 37 games played.
North America
Selected by the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League in the third round of the 2019 NHL entry draft, Norlinder was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the team on 3 June 2021. That November, he made his North American professional debut with the Canadiens' American Hockey League affiliate, the Laval Rocket, followed by his NHL debut with Montreal in a 6–0 loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins on 18 November 2021. On 27 November 2021, Norlinder recorded his first NHL point with an assist in a 6–3 win against the Penguins. 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.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. However, after fellow defenceman Jordan Harris suffered a significant injury, Norlinder was recalled by Montreal on 21 November 2023. 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.
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. Having trained with former club MoDo Hockey during the 2024–25 preseason, the team began a crowdfunding campaign to raise in additional funds to sign him. 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.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.