Release from 14.07.2026

Swedish forward Jakob Lilja completes Capitals roster

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The Vienna Capitals have finalized their roster for the upcoming season. Swedish forward Jakob Lilja, 32, is the club's final signing and has signed to a two-year contract. Over the course of his career, Lilja has appeared in 37 NHL games and spent several seasons in the SHL, KHL, and Switzerland's National League (NL), where he also captured the prestigious Spengler Cup. Last season, Lilja played for Löwen Frankfurt in Germany's DEL before finishing the campaign with two games for EV Zug in the Swiss League (SL).

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Born on July 23, 1993, in Limhamn, Sweden, Lilja learned the game in his hometown before progressing from Limhamn HK to Sunne IK and eventually Rögle BK. Between 2011 and 2015, he made 177 appearances for Rögle's senior team, including 29 games in Sweden's top division. Ahead of the 2015/16 season, the then 22-year-old joined Linköping HC, where he established himself as a regular SHL player. Over three seasons with "Cluben," Lilja recorded 72 points (43 goals, 29 assists) in 175 competitive games. His final SHL season came in 2018/19 with Djurgårdens IF. Lilja led the Stockholm club in scoring during the regular season with 37 points (12 goals, 25 assists) in 52 games and added another eight points (3 goals, 5 assists) during the playoffs as Djurgården reached the championship series before falling to Frölunda HC in six games. Altogether, Lilja appeared in 265 SHL games, registering 113 points (54 goals, 59 assists). During the 2018/19 season, he also represented Sweden in seven international games.

His outstanding season in Sweden earned him an opportunity in the NHL. In June 2019, Lilja signed a one-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. During the 2019/20 season, he appeared in 37 NHL games, recording five points (2 goals, 3 assists). He also played 22 games for the club's AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, where he collected 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists).
Lilja then moved to the KHL, joining Barys Nur-Sultan. His two seasons in Kazakhstan proved to be the most productive goal-scoring years of his career. In 2020/21, he scored 20 goals to finish as his team's leading scorer. The following season, skating alongside current Vienna Capitals captain Linden Vey, he added another 16 regular-season goals. Across two seasons with the club from Astana, Lilja recorded 66 points (39 goals, 27 assists). He began the 2022/23 KHL season with Dynamo Moscow, producing 31 points (14 goals, 17 assists). In total, Lilja amassed 97 points (53 goals, 44 assists) over three KHL seasons.

For the 2023/24 campaign, Lilja moved to Switzerland to join HC Ambrì-Piotta in the National League, where he totaled 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists). In October 2024, he was traded to league rival HC Fribourg-Gottéron, reuniting with Linden Vey. Lilja contributed 24 points (14 goals, 10 assists) for the Dragons, and on December 31, 2024, helped Fribourg-Gottéron win the prestigious Spengler Cup. In the final against the Straubing Tigers, featuring current Capitals defenseman Nelson Nogier, Lilja starred with one goal and two assists. Lilja began the 2024/25 season with Löwen Frankfurt in Germany's DEL. A serious viral illness forced him to miss the start of the season, but he returned to appear in 32 games, recording 16 points (6 goals, 10 assists). He finished the campaign back in Switzerland, making two appearances for EV Zug before signing with the Vienna Capitals.

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