Getting To Know: Carl Grundstrom
A deeper dive into the Swedish winger
by Jack Jablonski @Jabs_13 / LAKings.com
Hailing out of Umeå, Sweden, Carl Grundstrom jumped onto the scene when the winger made his professional debut in the SHL (Swedish Hockey League) as a 17-year-old. After having lit up the U20 Super Elite League in Sweden with 36 points (21-15=36) in 27 games, Grundstrom made his pro hockey debut during the 2014-15 season when he suited up for MODO Hockey Ornskoldsvik. In his rookie season, Grundrstrom recorded five points (2-3=5) in 24 games.
In his sophomore season with MODO, Grundrstom more than tripled his output with 16 points (7-9=16) and caught the eyes of NHL scouts in doing so. Following his second season in the SHL, Grundstrom accomplished a goal every hockey player grows up dreaming of; getting drafted. Drafted in the second round, 57th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2016 Draft, Grundstrom checked that goal off the list and opted to stayed Sweden to work on his craft and continue to develop.
Grundrstrom would spend two more seasons in the SHL, this time with Frolunda HC before he came to North America. In those two years with Frolunda, Grundrstrom recorded 44 points (31-13=44) in 80 games alongside current teammate Lias Andersson, Ontario Reign forward Samuel Fagemo and former first overall draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres Rasmus Dahlin.
Grundrstrom did appear in two games for the Toronto Marlies during the 2017-18 season, but didn't play his first full year of professional hockey in North America until the 2018-19 season. That same season, after 42 games and 29 points (13-16=29) with the Marlies, Grundrstrom was traded to the Los Angeles Kings with Sean Durzi and a 2019 first-round draft pick (Tobias Bjornfot) for Jake Muzzin.
Following his trade to the Kings, Grundrstrom reported to the Ontario Reign and tallied 10 points (3-7=10) in 13 games. Then, on March 9, 2019, Grundrstrom made his NHL debut with the Kings against the Arizona Coyotes and scored his first NHL goal. Remaining with the big club for the rest of the season, Grundstrom finished the season with 6 points (5-1=6) in 16 games.
This season, Grundstrom has appeared in all but four games for the Kings and recorded eight points (5-3=8) in 34 games. Grundstrom is set to become a restricted free agent following the 2021-22 season.