Pontus Holmberg

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Pontus Holmberg

| image = Toronto Maple Leafs at Seattle Kraken - 2024-01-21 - André Burakovsky and Pontus Holmberg (53481296640).jpg

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Holmberg (right) with Andre Burakovsky of the Seattle Kraken in 2024.

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1999|03|09}}

| birth_place = Västerås, Sweden

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 10

| weight_lb = 174

| position = Left wing

| shoots = Left

| league = NHL

| team = Toronto Maple Leafs

| prospect_league = AHL

| prospect_team =

| former_teams = Växjö Lakers

| ntl_team = SWE

| draft = 156th overall

| draft_team = Toronto Maple Leafs

| draft_year = 2018

| career_start = 2018

| career_end =

}}

Pontus Holmberg (born 9 March 1999) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

He made his debut for Växjö Lakers in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) in 2018, playing two games. In the 2020–21 SHL season, the Växjö Lakers were the top team in the regular season. They won the Le Mat Trophy as the playoff winners, with Holmberg awarded the Stefan Liv Memorial Trophy as the playoff MVP with seven goals and 14 points in 14 playoff games.{{cite web| url = https://www.iihf.com/en/news/25408/vaxjo_goes_3-for-3_in_shl_finals | title = Vaxjo go 3-for-3 in SHL finals | publisher = International Ice Hockey Federation | date = 13 May 2021 | access-date = 13 May 2021}}

He was drafted 156th overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2018 NHL entry draft after the team traded for the opportunity to select him.{{cite web |title=Toronto Maple Leafs Trade For 156th Pick, Select Pontus Holmberg|url=https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/nhl-draft/2018/6/23/17497352/toronto-maple-leafs-trade-for-156th-pick-select-pontus-holmberg-who-is-pontus-holmberg-nhl-draft |website=Pensionplanpuppets.com |last=Stewart |first=Brian |date=23 June 2018 |access-date=23 June 2018}} On 4 June 2021, Holmberg was signed by the Maple Leafs to a two-year, entry-level contract. He would remain in the SHL with the Växjö Lakers on loan from Toronto for the 2021–22 season,{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/maple-leafs-sign-pontus-holmberg/c-325179850 | title = Maple Leafs sign Pontus Holmberg | publisher = Toronto Maple Leafs | date = 4 June 2021 | access-date = 4 June 2021}} but after his team's SHL season ended, he played the last six games of the Toronto Marlies season, scoring two goals and four points.

Holmberg joined the Maple Leafs for training camp before the 2022–23 season. He was considered among the young players who could make the team out of camp.{{cite web |url=https://theathletic.com/3616104/2022/09/21/maple-leafs-training-camp-sandin-matthews/ |title=Maple Leafs training camp notebook: Competition, Sandin's absence, Matthews' contract |work=The Athletic |last=Kloke |first=Joshua |date=21 September 2022 |access-date=7 November 2022}} Holmberg was demoted to the Toronto Marlies and played seven games with them before being recalled to the Maple Leafs.{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/maple-leafs-loan-simmonds-to-marlies-recall-holmberg/ |title=Maple Leafs loan Simmonds to Marlies, recall Holmberg |work=Sportsnet |date=1 November 2022 |access-date=7 November 2022}} He played his first NHL game on 2 November versus the Philadelphia Flyers,{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2022/11/02/rookie-pontus-holmberg-will-make-his-nhl-debut-with-the-maple-leafs-against-the-flyers.html |title=Rookie Pontus Holmberg will make his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs against the Flyers |last=Zwolinksi |first=Mark |work=Toronto Star |date=2 November 2022 |access-date=7 November 2022}} and scored his first NHL goal on Vítek Vaněček on 23 November versus the New Jersey Devils in New Jersey.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs-new-jersey-devils-nhl-recap-nov-23-1.6662177 |title=Devils' 13-game win streak halted by Maple Leafs amid hat trick of disallowed goals |work=CBC Sports |last=Canavan |first=Tom |agency=Associated Press |date=23 November 2022 |access-date=24 November 2022}}

Holmberg took part in the Maple Leafs' 2023 training camp but failed to make the team. He was assigned to the Marlies to begin the season. However, after Tyler Bertuzzi was injured, Holmberg was recalled on 20 October.{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/maple-leafs-looking-to-shake-up-bottom-six-by-recalling-pontus-holmberg/ |title=Maple Leafs look to shake up bottom six by recalling Pontus Holmberg |work=Sportsnet |last=Fox |first=Luke |date=20 October 2023 |access-date=23 October 2023}} He played in seven games with the Maple Leafs before being returned to the Marlies.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/maple-leafs-pontus-holmberg-dropped-to-ahl/ |title=Maple Leafs' Pontus Holmberg: Dropped to AHL |work=CBS Sports |date=6 November 2023 |access-date=6 November 2023}} He made the Maple Leafs out of the 2024 training camp, playing on third line with Max Pacioretty and Nick Robertson.{{cite web |url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2024/10/09/toronto-maple-leafs-season-opener-montreal-canadiens/ |title=New-look Maple Leafs set for regular season opener in Montreal. What you need to know |work=CityNews |last=Casaletto |first=Lucas |date=9 October 2024 |access-date=15 October 2024}}

International play

{{MedalCountry|{{ih|SWE}}}}

Holmberg was selected for Sweden's junior team at the 2019 World Juniors where the team was upset by Switzerland in the quarterfinals of the tournament.{{cite web |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-pontus-holmberg-leads-sweden-to-bronze-triumphs-over-john-tavares-and-team-canada-at-world-hockey-championship |title=Maple Leafs' Pontus Holmberg Leads Sweden to Bronze, Triumphs Over John Tavares and Team Canada at World Hockey Championship |work=The Hockey News |last=Alter |first=David |date=26 May 2024 |access-date=15 October 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/swiss-juniors-upset-top-ranked-sweden-world-hockey-quarterfinal-shocker/ |title=Switzerland upsets Sweden in world junior quarterfinal |work=Sportsnet |agency=The Canadian Press |date=2 January 2019 |access-date=15 October 2024}} He represented Sweden at the 2022 Winter Olympics, where Sweden was defeated by Slovakia in the bronze medal game.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/hockey/olympics-mens-hockey-medal-round-day-15-1.6358159 |title=Teen sensation scores pair as Slovakia blanks Sweden for Olympic men's hockey bronze |work=CBC Sports |agency=Reuters |date=19 February 2024 |access-date=15 October 2024}} At the 2024 IIHF World Championship he won a bronze medal, while playing on a line with Lucas Raymond and André Burakovsky. He appeared in ten games, registering six assists.