The NHL Alumni Association has announced that Linus Omark has officially retired from professional hockey. Omark last played in the NHL during the 2013-14 season with the Buffalo Sabres.
Omark, 39, began his professional career in 2007 when he was selected with the 97th overall pick by the Edmonton Oilers. Despite being a fourth-round selection, Omark’s prospect status began to rise after a pair of quality seasons with the Elitserien’s (SHL) Luleå HF.
Playing on loan with the KHL’s Dynamo Moskva in 2009-10, Omark scored 20 goals and 36 points in 56 games. The next season, the Oilers felt Omark was ready for North American hockey. He played in 28 games for the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons, scoring 17 goals and 31 points with a +7 rating. That was enough for Omark to earn his NHL debut with Edmonton, finishing the season with five goals and 27 points in 51 games.
It was at this point that Omark was viewed as a true diamond in the rough as the Oilers continued to build an up-and-coming team. This era of hockey in Edmonton coincided with the team adding Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall, and Nail Yakupov with first overall picks, and adding other youngsters such as Magnus Paajarvi and Jordan Eberle.
Unfortunately, that was the last quality season Omark had in North America. Although he had a strong introduction during his rookie season, he struggled to establish himself with the Oilers, frequently being shuffled between the NHL and AHL for several years.
During the shortened 2012-13 season, Omark enjoyed a successful year with the NLA’s EV Zug, scoring 17 and 69 points in 48 games. It was after this successful campaign overseas and continued lack of opportunity in Edmonton that Omark was traded to the Sabres for a conditional sixth-round pick.
Since then, it’s been all overseas for Omark. He finishes his career with eight goals and 32 points in 79 career NHL games, 95 goals and 257 points in 365 games in the SHL, and 106 and 353 points in 401 KHL contests. We at PHR congratulate Omark on his career, particularly in Europe, and wish him the best in his next chapter.
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