Sebastian Aho Signs With Växjö Lakers After Nine Years

Sebastian Aho has signed with the Växjö Lakers, ending nine years in North America and beginning his return to Sweden. The 30-year-old left-handed defenseman gives Växjö a player with 190 NHL contests on his resume, the most on the roster.

Aho’s Long North American Run

Aho spent the last two years in North America with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, but injuries limited him to no more than 29 games in either season. He did not secure another NHL opportunity after leaving the Islanders, which left the move back home as the next step in his career.

His path to this point included a 2017 fifth-round selection and 129 regular season games between 2022 and 2024 with the New York Islanders. In 2022-23, he posted 23 points in 71 games and dressed for all six playoff contests that spring.

Växjö Adds Experience

The signing also gives Växjö a veteran blue-liner with a clear track record at the highest level. Aho’s 190 NHL contests stand as a team-high for the club, and that number gives the Lakers a different profile on the back end than they had last season.

Växjö’s defense corps already featured Brogan Rafferty and Keegan Lowe, and Dennis Rasmussen will be among Aho’s future teammates. The club finished third in 2025-26 before losing in the semi-finals, so the addition arrives with a team that was already close to a title run and is trying to strengthen the group that got it there.

Return To Sweden

Aho had been expected to return home to Sweden with Växjö back in February, and the signing now completes that move. For the Lakers, it is a direct roster addition. For Aho, it closes a nine-year stretch in North America and places him back in the Swedish league where he started building his career.