LA Kings defenseman Tobias Bjornfot selects new uniform number

In what feels like a daily occurrence, LA Kings defenseman Tobias Bjornfot will don the No. 7 on his sweater in the 2021-22 season.

For the third time in his young career, Tobias Bjornfot will wear a new number at the start of the LA Kings 2021-22 season. The former 22nd overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft gave up his No. 33 for Viktor Arvidsson, switching to No. 7. He first wore No. 54 in Kings training camp.

D Tobias Björnfot switches from jersey number 33 to number 7 for the Los Angeles Kings. Number last worn by Oscar Fantenberg in 2018-19. #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/Y615nlIqHB

— NHL Jersey Numbers (@NHLNewNumbers) August 9, 2021

The number has been vacant since Oscar Fantenberg wore it during the 2018-19 season. Before Fantenberg, Derek Forbort wore No. 7 in the 2016 campaign, Andrej Sekera the year prior, and Rob Scuderi from 2009 to 2013.

Bjornfot, 20, was expected to split time between the Ontario Reign of the AHL and the NHL roster. However, several injuries on the roster and the regression of Olli Maatta forced the young defenseman to play in 33 NHL games in the abbreviated 2021 campaign.

He collected his first career goal and chipped in five assists. Bjornfot’s goal came in the final two minutes of a 6-2 blowout loss to the Ducks on May 1 on a beautiful pass from Adrian Kempe.

With Alex Edler – who also recently chose his number – added to the mix and Kale Clague no longer waiver exempt, it’ll be interesting to see where Bjornfot fits into the Kings plans in the upcoming season. If Maatta remains on the roster throughout the season, Bjornfot may get a little more seasoning in the AHL.