Viking Gustafsson Nyberg signs with Minnesota Wild

UConn junior defenseman Viking Gustafsson Nyberg signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Minnesota Wild on Monday, ending his collegiate career. He’ll report to the AHL’s Iowa Wild.

A native of Stockholm, Sweden, Gustafsson Nyberg followed assistant coach Nick Peruzzi from Northern Michigan to the Huskies ahead of the 2024-25 season. He appeared in all 77 possible games with UConn, recording one goal and 21 assists. This past year, Gustafsson Nyberg’s +18 led the team while his 11 assists ranked third among defensemen. He was voted an alternate captain following the preseason, too.

Gustafsson Nyberg’s decision to turn pro comes as no surprise. He had an opportunity to sign with a different NHL team last summer but turned it down to return to the Huskies for another season. The Wild were not his only suitor.

Now, UConn has two spots open on the blue line next year. Will McIsaac, a St. Louis Blues draft pick who most recently played for the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs, will come in as a freshman. Beyond him, the Huskies have plenty of good options.

Carl-Otto Magnusson would be a like-for-like replacement for Gustafsson Nyberg as a 6-7 defensive defenseman out of Sweden. Beyond that, there’s Charlie Morrison, a projected second or third round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, Darels Uljanskis, who played in World Juniors with Latvia this past year, and Shane Gould, the USHL’s points leader among defensemen with 51.

Gustafsson Nyberg is the third former UConn player to sign a pro deal this offseason. Ryan Tattle landed an ATO with the AHL’s Providence Bruins and has appeared in two games without a point so far. Meanwhile, Tyler Muszelik signed an entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers, the team that drafted him in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Draft. He reported to the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers but has yet to play.