Calle Jarnkrok Says Maple Leafs Experience Drove Him To Head Overseas

'I thought, 'What the h*ll is happening now?' 

Those were the words of Calle Jarnkrok describing the turbulent nature of his final season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, as he struggled with the reality of being an afterthought in the team's lineup plans. 

Jarnkrok was interviewed in a Swedish publication and talked about how his experience in his final year in Toronto helped to drive the decision to head back home, overseas. 

'Two years ago I couldn't play at all. But last year I came in and felt in really good shape, I scored goals...and then he (Craig Berube, coach) put me in the stands. It was a little weird.' https://t.co/54JxBhQUnh

— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) September 1, 2026

"Two years ago I couldn't play at all. But last year I came in and felt in really good shape, I scored goals... And then he (head coach Craig Berube) put me in the stands. It was a little weird. At that moment, I was very surprised… I did well but wasn’t allowed to play. It was tough to motivate myself and keep going.

"I feels a bit sad that I didn't get to finish the way I wanted." 

Jarnkrok returned last season after missing the vast majority of the 2024-25 NHL regular season due to a groin and sports hernia injury that required surgery. In his return, however, in 2025-26, despite recording a goal in each of his first three games of the season, he found his way to the press box more often than in any season in his career. He finished with just 56 games played, and only eight points, while averaging a career-low 11:50 of ice time. 

In 13 NHL seasons, he was with the Nashville Predators for eight years, plus quick stops in Seattle and Calgary, along with the last four seasons in Toronto. He collected 316 points in 774 games with a plus/minus rating of +56.

Now about to turn 35, he's back home in Sweden, ready to suit up again with Brynäs, where he spent the first four years of his professional career, and won a Swedish Elite League title in 2012.

In the end, Jarnkrok did enjoy his time with the Leafs, just not the way it ended. 

"It was a lot of fun playing in Toronto, even though the last year wasn’t that fun. The whole city loves hockey.”