Linus Omark

Playing career

Omark began his professional hockey career in his native Sweden, playing for Luleå HF of the Elitserien. In 2008–09, Omark led Luleå in scoring with 23 goals and 55 points, good for third in the league. Following that successful campaign, Omark played one season with Dynamo Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia. He scored 20 goals and 36 points in 56 games. Omark became known as a "YouTube sensation" for his creative scoring attempts, which included a shootout goal where he flipped the puck over a sprawling Swiss goaltender Marco Bührer in a March 2009 international exhibition, a between-the-legs goal in a game against Timrå IK and a behind-the-net, lacrosse-style attempt versus Brynäs IF.

Omark moved to North America for the 2010–11 season and, following his first training camp with the Oilers, during which he recorded three points in two exhibition matches, was assigned to the Oklahoma City Barons, the Oilers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. Omark drew attention when he blamed the demotion on "politics." However, he had a successful start to the season, recording 13 goals and 26 points through his first 26 games with the Barons to lead the team in scoring. Five of those goals came in one game on 7 November 2010, when Omark scored five times against the Toronto Marlies and added another goal in a shootout to help the Barons to a 7–6 victory. Omark admitted that although he was initially angry with the demotion, he took it as a learning experience and an opportunity to prove himself, channeling his emotions to work at improving his game.

After injuries to Oilers forwards Aleš Hemský and Shawn Horcoff, Omark and fellow Barons teammate Ryan O'Marra were recalled on 8 December 2010. Omark made his NHL debut on 10 December against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a 4–3 shootout win for the Oilers in which he recorded an assist and scored the clinching shootout goal. His shootout goal drew widespread attention, as it featured a spin move at centre ice; Lightning forward Simon Gagné called it "too much" while Gagné's teammate Martin St. Louis described it as a "slap in the face." Oilers Head Coach Tom Renney defended Omark, telling those who did not like the move to "deal with it." Omark scored his first NHL goal on 16 December against Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets, also recording two assists in the 6–3 Oilers victory. By season's end, Omark had dressed for 51 games with the Oilers, recording five goals and 27 points. With the Oilers missing the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs, Omark returned to Oklahoma City and finished with 14 goals and 31 points in 28 games. He added one goal and three points in the Barons' first round playoff loss.

After going pointless in five games, and scratched for five, Omark was demoted to the minors.

As a restricted free agent and unable to cement a position within the Oilers, Omark left the Oilers and agreed to a one-year contract with Swiss club EV Zug on 29 August 2012. In the 2012–13 season, due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Zug was further strengthened by the presence of Henrik Zetterberg and Damien Brunner. Forming the top offensive line of the National League A, Omark remained with the club for the duration of the season, finishing with 69 points in 48 games to lead the League.

On 27 August 2013, off the back of his successful season in Switzerland, Omark returned to the Oilers organization, signing a one-year, two-way contract.

On 19 December 2013, the Buffalo Sabres acquired Omark from the Oilers in exchange for a conditional sixth-round draft pick. On 7 February 2014, Omark was placed on waivers by the Sabres after scoring no goals and two assists in 13 games with the Sabres. He refused to report to the Rochester Americans, Buffalo's AHL affiliate, after clearing waivers, prompting the Sabres to terminate his contract and place him on unconditional waivers (which he subsequently cleared). After the incident, Omark indicated he would return to Europe to continue his professional career. On 19 February, it was announced that Omark had re-joined his original club, Luleå HF, for the remainder of the season.

International play

Omark has represented Sweden several times. He made his international debut with the junior team at the 2007 World Junior Championships in his native country, scoring five points in seven games to help Sweden to a fourth-place finish in the tournament. He made his senior international debut at the 2009 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland. Omark recorded ten points in nine games as Sweden captured the bronze medal. He again represented his country at the 2010 IIHF World Championship in Germany, and Sweden won another bronze medal with Omark recording four points.