Winnipeg Jets prospect Alfons Freij leaving SHL early to begin North American career

Another Winnipeg Jets prospect will be heading to North America earlier than expected as 2024 second-round pick Alfons Freij is leaving the SHL despite having two seasons remaining on his contract with Timrå to begin the next stage of his professional career.

It was a busy 2025-26 season for the smooth-skating defenceman, who won World Junior gold with Sweden alongside fellow Jets prospect Sascha Boumedienne while also playing 42 games in the SHL with Timrå. After a slow start from a production perspective, Freij finished strong, recording six goals and three assists over his final 10 games. He then joined the Manitoba Moose, playing five regular-season games for the Jets’ AHL affiliate and recording one assist.

The expectation was for Freij to return to Sweden this season and continue playing for Timrå. However, the SHL club announced earlier this month that the Jets had exercised the clause in his contract allowing them to bring him to North America. Hockeysverige’s Martin Jansson later reported additional details, including comments from Freij explaining why the plan changed. The 2024 second-round pick will head to Winnipeg later this summer to begin his North American professional career.

Speaking with Hockeysverige, Freij explained (via Google Translate) that the original plan was for him to spend another season in the SHL before things changed course following conversations with the Jets during development camp.

“The idea was that I would stay for another year and get ready in Timrå. I had two years on the contract and the idea was to stay and I was set on it. Then I came over to dev. camp and had a meeting with the GM and coach and stuff like that. They were clear that they wanted me to play over there. That it’s best for me to reach my goals and my dreams. You can’t say no to that and it will be good.”

While Freij will have an opportunity to compete for a spot with the Jets during training camp, the expectation is that he will begin the season with the Manitoba Moose. The move will give the 20-year-old defenceman the chance to continue his development against North American competition after spending the previous two seasons playing professionally in Sweden.

Jansson also reported that Freij will continue training with Timrå until departing for North America and was even featured in the club’s video as players arrived for summer training.

Freij’s arrival continues a trend this summer of prospects making the move to North America earlier than expected, as 2026 first-round pick Viggo Björck will also be leaving Sweden this summer to join the Jets organization. With Freij joining Björck and other Swedish prospects in the system, it may be time for Jets fans to start learning Swedish.

Editor’s Note:
This story has been updated after it came to our attention that Timrå IF had already announced earlier this month that Alfons Freij would be joining the Winnipeg organization for the upcoming season. We initially overlooked that announcement and have updated the story to reflect the correct timeline.