Anton Blidh Bio
Anton Blidh is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward who plays for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 183 centimeters tall and weighing 91 kilograms, Blidh is recognized as a depth forward who brings energy, physicality, and a willingness to compete along the boards. He was selected by the Boston Bruins in the sixth round, 180th overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, and has since built a career as a reliable lower-lineup presence in North American professional hockey.
Across his professional career, Blidh has suited up for the Boston Bruins, the Colorado Avalanche, and the New York Rangers organization. He is best known for his workmanlike approach, his penalty-killing duties, and his steady contributions at the AHL level, where he has produced his most consistent offensive numbers. His journey from a Frölunda junior prospect to a multi-year NHL depth player reflects a steady, step-by-step development path typical of sixth-round selections.
Early Life and Background
Anton Blidh was born on 14 March 1995 in Mölnlycke, Sweden. He grew up in a country with a deep passion for ice hockey, and like many Swedish prospects of his generation, he entered the sport at a young age. Sweden’s strong junior system, anchored by clubs such as Frölunda HC in Gothenburg, provided Blidh with an early pathway into organized competitive hockey.
Blidh developed through the Frolunda youth program, where he played on both the Frolunda U-18 team and the Frolunda junior team. During the 2012-2013 season, he recorded 17 goals and 10 assists in 43 games for the Frolunda junior team, a performance that caught the attention of National Hockey League scouts. His blend of skating, physical play, and offensive instinct positioned him as a late-round draft prospect heading into his draft year.
Path to Hockey
Blidh’s draft year, 2012-2013, served as the launching point for his professional career. Following his productive junior season with Frölunda, the Boston Bruins selected him 180th overall in the sixth round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Being a late-round pick meant Blidh had to continue proving himself, but it also gave him a clear opportunity within one of the NHL’s most storied organizations.
After the draft, Blidh made his Swedish Hockey League debut with Frölunda HC during the 2013-14 SHL season. He remained with Frölunda through the 2014-15 campaign, appearing in 72 total SHL games and accumulating 10 points and 28 penalty minutes. On 29 May 2015, after attending two Bruins development camps, Blidh signed a three-year entry-level contract with Boston, officially beginning his North American professional career.
Anton Blidh Career
Early Career (2013-2015)
Blidh’s early professional years were spent developing with Frölunda HC in the Swedish Hockey League. Playing against grown men in one of Europe’s top leagues, he gained valuable experience in a structured, defensively responsible system. His two seasons with Frölunda helped him adjust to the speed and physicality of professional hockey and prepared him for the transition to North America.
The 2014-15 SHL season marked his final campaign in Sweden before signing with Boston. By the end of his time with Frölunda, he had established himself as a hardworking two-way forward, ready to test himself in the AHL. The three-year entry-level deal he signed in May 2015 gave the Bruins flexibility to develop him gradually through their affiliate system.
Boston Bruins Era (2015-2022)
Upon joining the Bruins organization, Blidh was assigned to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Providence Bruins, for the 2015-16 season. In his first AHL campaign, he recorded 10 goals and four assists through 65 games, a strong debut that demonstrated his ability to contribute offensively while playing a physical, energy-driven style.
The 2016-17 season marked Blidh’s NHL arrival. After beginning the year in Providence and posting five goals and four assists in 19 games, he was recalled to the NHL on 2 December 2016. He made his NHL debut the following game, a 2-1 road win over the Buffalo Sabres, registering three shots on goal and four hits in 10:12 of ice time. He scored his first career NHL goal on 20 December 2016 in a home loss to the New York Islanders. A notable physical moment came when he delivered a hard hit on Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators, an event that drew attention and resulted in Blidh receiving a major penalty for interference. He was returned to Providence on 21 January 2017, finishing his first NHL stint with one goal and one assist in 19 games.
Over the following seasons, Blidh split time between Providence and Boston, serving primarily as a depth call-up. In 2017-18, he set Providence career highs with 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points in 71 games, while appearing in just one NHL contest. On 1 May 2019, he signed a two-year, two-way contract extension with the Bruins. During the shortened 2020-21 season, he appeared in 10 NHL games and recorded one goal. In 2021-22, Blidh played a career-high 32 NHL games, posting 2 goals and 9 points in a depth forward role before becoming a free agent in 2022.
Colorado Avalanche (2022-2023)
On 3 August 2022, Blidh signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Colorado Avalanche as a free agent. After a strong training camp, he made the Avalanche’s opening night roster for the 2022-23 season. He made his Avalanche debut on 19 October 2022 in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets, though he spent time as a healthy scratch and was also assigned to AHL affiliate the Colorado Eagles. He went scoreless through 14 NHL games with Colorado before returning to the Eagles for the remainder of his time in the organization.
Hartford Wolf Pack Era (2023-Present)
On 3 March 2023, Blidh was traded by the Avalanche to the New York Rangers in exchange for fellow Swedish forward Gustav Rydahl. He was assigned directly to AHL affiliate the Hartford Wolf Pack, where his offensive production increased. In 17 regular-season games with Hartford, he recorded 7 goals and 11 points. In the playoffs, he finished third in team scoring with 7 points through 9 postseason contests, a strong stretch that showcased his value as a contributor in high-pressure hockey.
On 8 June 2023, Blidh agreed to a two-year, two-way contract extension with the Rangers, opting to forgo free agency. The deal covered the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons and reflected the organization’s confidence in his role as a reliable AHL producer and NHL depth option.
Driving Style and Strengths
Blidh is known for his physical, north-south playing style, characterized by a willingness to finish checks, compete on the forecheck, and play a dependable defensive role. His skating and straight-line speed allow him to be effective on the penalty kill, while his modest offensive skill set makes him best suited for a depth, energy-driven role at the NHL level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Some of Blidh’s most memorable career moments include his NHL debut against the Buffalo Sabres in December 2016, his first NHL goal against the New York Islanders later that month, and his hard hit on Roman Josi that sparked league-wide attention. His 7-point playoff performance with Hartford in 2023 stands out as one of his most productive stretches in professional hockey.
Anton Blidh Career Wins
While Anton Blidh is not primarily known for championship-level accolades, his career has been marked by consistent contributions and personal milestones at both the AHL and NHL levels. His 7 goals and 11 points in 17 regular-season games during the 2022-23 AHL campaign, followed by a 7-point playoff run, rank among his most productive stretches in North American professional hockey.
Other Wins & Performances
Earlier in his career, Blidh established himself as a productive junior player in Sweden, recording 17 goals and 10 assists in 43 games for the Frolunda junior team in 2012-13. He also posted 10 goals and 4 assists in 65 AHL games during his first season with Providence in 2015-16, and later set Providence career highs with 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points in 2017-18.
Anton Blidh Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information regarding Anton Blidh’s family background is limited. He was raised in Mölnlycke, Sweden, and developed his hockey skills within the Frölunda youth system, a pipeline that has produced many Swedish NHL players.
Personal Life
Details about Anton Blidh’s personal life, including marital status, spouse, and children, are not publicly confirmed in available sources. He continues his professional hockey career in North America, based with the Hartford Wolf Pack and the New York Rangers organization.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2024-25 season, Anton Blidh continued his role with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL under his two-year contract extension signed in June 2023. He served as a veteran presence in Hartford’s lineup, providing depth scoring, penalty killing, and physical play. The Wolf Pack remained a key developmental partner for the New York Rangers, and Blidh’s steady two-way contributions helped reinforce the team’s middle and bottom of the roster.
With his contract set to expire after the 2024-25 season, Blidh entered the year as a pending free agent. His experience, defensive reliability, and playoff résumé from 2023 made him an attractive depth option for NHL organizations seeking energy-line forwards. Whether he remained with the Rangers organization or pursued a new opportunity was a storyline to watch as the season progressed.
Looking ahead, Blidh’s 2025 outlook depended on his health, performance, and the needs of NHL clubs searching for experienced bottom-six players. His track record of professionalism, physicality, and AHL productivity positioned him well to either extend his stay in the Rangers system or sign a new contract elsewhere in the league.