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Gustav Hillström is only 19, but he already knows his way around the Brynäs ice rink like the back of his hand. The young Swedish centre, a product of the Gävle club’s youth academy, has extended his contract for a further season. He is now tied to his long-standing team until the end of the 2027/28 season. This is a strong vote of confidence for a player who has risen through the ranks since joining the organisation in 2021.
A native of Gävle itself, the city where the club is based, Hillström embodies the kind of career path that every Swedish club dreams of replicating. Initially trained at Strömsbro IF, he went on to join Brynäs’ youth teams before making his debut for the first team during the 2024/2025 season. His steady development, without rushing things, convinced the management to back him rather than seek reinforcements from elsewhere.
A native of Gävle itself, the city where the club is based, Hillström embodies the kind of career path that every Swedish club dreams of replicating.
An already impressive track record at 19
The young Swede’s honours list commands respect given his age. A Swedish champion with the U16s, and a bronze medallist with the U18s and the national under-17s, Hillström caught the eye of scouts very early on – including those on the other side of the Atlantic.
In 2025, the New Jersey Devils selected him in the fourth round of the NHL draft, 114th overall. A pick that validates the potential recognised by North American scouts, who are always keeping a close eye on the Swedish talent pool. A large frame for a centre (1.88 m and around 80 kg), the right-hander still has significant room for improvement. His profile is reminiscent of many Swedish centres who have successfully made the transition to the NHL after an extended spell in the SHL — Sweden’s top league, considered one of the world’s best development leagues.
Brynäs is banking on stability
In an SHL where young talents are often snapped up by the NHL as soon as they have their first successful seasons, Brynäs is taking the opposite approach: building around its rising stars. Hillström’s contract extension is part of a clear strategy of continuity. The club, which won the national title in 2012 and remains one of the stalwarts of Swedish ice hockey, also announced this summer the signing of Canadian Jaret Anderson-Dolan, a 26-year-old forward with NHL experience, to mentor its young players.
“I feel I’m in the right place, where I have every chance to keep improving,” Hillström said on the club’s official website. It’s a display of patience and clear-headedness not often seen in a 19-year-old player who could already be dreaming of the NHL. The young centre knows that the surest route to North America lies in first establishing himself in the SHL.
Eyes on Newark
For the New Jersey Devils, this contract extension is excellent news. Hillström remains in a high-level environment where he will get ice time, responsibilities, and the chance to develop physically without the immediate pressure of the NHL. New Jersey, which holds his rights until 2029, can monitor his progress from afar, safe in the knowledge that the player is in good hands.
The 2026/27 season will be a real test for the young Swede. With his ice time set to increase further and a more attacking role, Hillström will have the chance to prove that the faith placed in him by Brynäs — and by New Jersey — is fully deserved.