Top 25 Swedish NHL Players of All Time
- Thread starter kmad
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Bear of Bad News
Your Third or Fourth Favorite HFBoards Admin
- Sep 27, 2005
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Pelle Lindbergh's got to be on that list somewhere.
It's too bad you said "NHL", because I could support Peter Lindmark's case as well.
It's too bad you said "NHL", because I could support Peter Lindmark's case as well.
John Flyers Fan
Registered User
Pelle Lindbergh, should certainly be the highest ranked goalie.
Ulf Samuelsson is far too low.
I'd add Pelle Eklund, Ulf Dahlen, Bengt Gustaffson, Anders Hedberg, and Kent Nilsson to the list .... dropping Johan Hedberg, Mikael Samuelsson, Huselius, Pahlsson, Axelsson.
If you include time in the WHA, than Ulf Nilsson would also be more than deserving.
Ulf Samuelsson is far too low.
I'd add Pelle Eklund, Ulf Dahlen, Bengt Gustaffson, Anders Hedberg, and Kent Nilsson to the list .... dropping Johan Hedberg, Mikael Samuelsson, Huselius, Pahlsson, Axelsson.
If you include time in the WHA, than Ulf Nilsson would also be more than deserving.
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N.Y. Orangeman
Registered User
Kent Nilsson, Tomas Sandström, Anders Hedberg, Fredrik Olausson, Stefan Persson, Anders Kallur, Ulf Nilsson, Tomas Jonsson, etc. should be in the list way before some of those names.
I think the top four, including the order, is accurate. I think if you were to take a poll of knowledgeable fans, that would be the way it shakes out.
I think the most glaring omissions are Calle Johansson, Kenny Jonsson and Kjell Samuelsson. Johansson was a wonderful well-rounded defenceman. He was the cornerstone of those terrific Washington defences of the 1990s. He was the most underrated blue-liner in the league for many years. As Calle's career wound down, Kenny Jonsson assumed that most underrated label. He was terrific, too. Never put up the great numbers that some expected him to, but those who know the game realized what a joy he was to watch...when healthy. Kjell was dangerous. He towered over everyone at 6'6", but he also had a freakish reach that made it nearly impossible for an opposing forward to get around him.
As much as I despise the man, Ulf Samuelsson is way too low. He should be ahead of Ohlund. I wouldn't brake if I saw him crossing the street, but I'd want him on my team in a Game 7 situation in a heartbeat. He was a consensus top five defensive defenceman in the league in the early-to-mid 90s.
If you want a good resource to adjust your rankings, try this:
http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayersByCountry.jsp?co=SWD
It should be noted that while Tomas Sandstrom was born in Finland, he played his developmental hockey in Sweden and he always represented Sweden in international play. He would be way ahead of Zetterberg or the Sedins.
pnep
Registered User
1 | Nicklas "Lidas" Lidstrom | D | 2276,05
2 | Peter "Peter the Great" Forsberg | C | 1505,50
3 | Markus "Nazzy" Naslund | LW | 1161,00
4 | Mats "Sudden" Sundin | C | 1077,50
5 | Borje "King" Salming | D | 957,40
6 | Daniel "Alfie" Alfredsson | RW | 682,00
7 | Mats "Le Petit Viking" Naslund | LW | 573,50
8 | Tomas "Tommie Gun" Sandstrom | RW | 572,00
9 | Stefan "Rico" Persson | D | 450,80
10 | Ulf "Robocop" Samuelsson | D | 434,95
11 | Kent "The Magic Man" Nilsson | C | 410,00
12 | Thomas "Tommy" Steen | C | 397,45
13 | Ulf Dahlen | RW | 393,50
14 | Hakan "Hawk" Loob | RW | 390,00
15 | Calle Johansson | D | 374,30
16 | Tommy "Abbe" Albelin | D | 370,40
17 | Mikael "Renny" Renberg | RW | 360,50
18 | Fredrik Olausson | D | 359,75
19 | Pelle "Gumper" Lindbergh | G | 355,50
20 | Kjell "Sammy" Samuelsson | D | 335,15
21 | Tomas "Homer" Holmstrom | LW | 325,00
22 | Tomas "T.J." Jonsson | D | 316,20
23 | Thomas Gradin | C | 303,50
24 | Michael "Nyllet" Nylander | C | 302,50
25 | Anders "Andy" Kallur | RW | 287,50
26 | Fredrik "Mo" Modin | LW | 282,00
27 | Bo "Willy The Wisp" Lindstrom | RW | 279,50
28 | Patrik Sundstrom | C | 267,50
29 | Per-Erik "Pelle" Eklund | C | 257,00
30 | Mattias "Notan" Norstrom | D | 247,20
31 | Bengt-Ake "Gunner" Gustafsson | C | 245,50
32 | Anders "The Swedish Express" Hedberg | RW | 238,50
33 | Niklas "Sunny" Sundstrom | RW | 224,00
34 | Kenny Jonsson | D | 213,70
35 | Johan "Garpen" Garpenlov | LW | 196,00
36 | Mattias "Matty" Ohlund | D | 194,10
37 | Marcus "Rags" Ragnarsson | D | 189,05
38 | Magnus "The Machine" Arvedson | LW | 177,00
39 | Juha "Whitey" Widing | C | 173,50
40 | Jonas "Hogie" Hoglund | LW | 169,00
41 | Jorgen Pettersson | LW | 166,50
42 | Anders "Butsy" Eriksson | D | 164,00
43 | Niclas "Secret Weapon" Wallin | D | 161,25
44 | Dackell Andreas | RW | 151,50
45 | Lars "Lurch" Lindgren | D | 146,20
46 | Henrik "Hank" Sedin | C | 139,00
47 | Daniel "Dank" Sedin | LW | 136,50
48 | Mikael Andersson | LW | 135,50
49 | Tommy "Tom Cat" Salo | G | 135,50
50 | Henrik "Hank" Zetterberg | LW | 134,00
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John Flyers Fan
Registered User
Here are the remaining 21 players on my list (in alphabeltical order). As I mentioned earlier, the top four are Lidstrom, Forsberg, Salming and Sundin. Debate the order if you want, but unless you're using some kind of formula, like pnep, most will have Lidstrom, Forsberg, Salming and Sundin in the 1-4 spots.
Daniel Alfredsson
Ulf Dahlen
Pelle Eklund
Thomas Gradin
Bengt-Ake Gustafson
Anders Hedberg
Calle Johansson
Kenny Jonsson
Pelle Lindbergh
Hakan Loob
Markus Naslund
Mats Naslund
Kent Nilsson
Ulf Nilsson
Mattias Norstrom
Matthias Ohlund
Stefan Persson
Ulf Samuelsson
Kjell Samuelsson
Thomas Steen
Patrick Sundstrom
More than willing to intelligently debate any of these 21 guys, where they belong, and why I put them on the list. Most of these guys were easy choices. I'd say the most difficult ones were Dahlen, Eklund, Gustafson, Norstrom, Ohlund and Sundstrom.
Daniel Alfredsson
Ulf Dahlen
Pelle Eklund
Thomas Gradin
Bengt-Ake Gustafson
Anders Hedberg
Calle Johansson
Kenny Jonsson
Pelle Lindbergh
Hakan Loob
Markus Naslund
Mats Naslund
Kent Nilsson
Ulf Nilsson
Mattias Norstrom
Matthias Ohlund
Stefan Persson
Ulf Samuelsson
Kjell Samuelsson
Thomas Steen
Patrick Sundstrom
More than willing to intelligently debate any of these 21 guys, where they belong, and why I put them on the list. Most of these guys were easy choices. I'd say the most difficult ones were Dahlen, Eklund, Gustafson, Norstrom, Ohlund and Sundstrom.
BM67
Registered User
I think the first question would be are you asking who had the best NHL careers or who had the best careers that played in the NHL? It would certainly change the ranking for guys that had good careers before coming to the NHL, Ulf Nilsson, or left the NHL at a young age, Hakan Loob.
Probably not too many...unless fish are the topic
'Finns' would be the correct spelling.
patsypostal
Registered User
see the guy in the picture he might be a good guy to add to this list 4 cups ok add Persson Ulf Dahlen and Thomas Steen Kent Nilsson Pelle Eklund subtract Salo Ohlund Pahlsson Johan Hedberg Mikael Samuelsson I would love to add Pelle Lindberg unfortunately his career was too short
reckoning
Registered User
- Jan 4, 2005
- 7,017
- 1,259
I would move Mats Naslund up to #3. During the 80s he was the engine than ran Montreals offence. The general rule among the other teams was if they could stop Naslund, they could beat Montreal. An outstanding skater and stickhandler who was deadly in the offensive zone, but most impressive was how he wasn't afraid to play gritty. For a small player (5' 7", 160 ) he took an incredible amount of physical punishment, but never complained or backed away. Even Don Cherry (no lover of Swedes) used to admiringly call Naslund "a tough little bugger".
I honestly think Salming is a little overrated. Sure he was great in the 70s (though Ian Turnbull was always the Leafs best defenceman at playoff time), but from 1980-on he was getting by on his past reputation while his off-ice "distractions" started to affect his on-ice play. He was undeniably great for the first 6 or 7 years of his career, but if only playing great for a short time is held against Ulf Nilsson, it should be held against Salming too.
All in all though, kudos on a well thought out list. It's nice to see somebody else recognizes how consistently effective PJ Axelsson has been over the years. Zetterberg will likely be a consensus top 5 Swede ever when he has a few more years under his belt.
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johnny_rudeboy
Registered User
And he along with Bengt Ã…ke Gustavsson have done a great job with Tre Kronor as well. 2 true winners.
gravytrain6t
Registered User
What about Tomas Sandstrom. He was born in Finland, but grew up in Sweden and whenever he had an opportunity to represent a country in any type of tournament it was Sweden. 394 goals, 897 pts in 983 games. Check out his stats in 86/87, 88/89, 90/91, 92/93 and 95/96. I have no doubt, Sandstrom would have put up even higher numbers but he was also a very gritty player for his size. Being a Rangers fan, I remember back in the late 80's he was the main target for opposing teams to antagonize and "take runs" at. I still remember the words of John Davidson. "If these teams are going to try and get under Sandstrom's skin to throw him off his game. It will not work. It only makes Sandstrom an angrier player and get back at you the best way. On the score board." That was true. The more teams tried to bully Sandstrom, the more he would become determined to put up points and score goals. I think that was biggest mistake by opposing teams. At least in his Rangers years. I can't comment on his years with the Kings and Penguins. On many nights, they may have been better off leaving Sandstrom alone, because if not, it was like waking up a bear who's hungry for goals.
I also put Tomas Sandstrom in high regard because although I never wanted to see him leave NY. We did get a Hall of Famer in return, in Bernie Nichols. That led to a deal in which, the Rangers traded one Hall of Famer for IMO, an even better Hall of Famer in Mark Messier.
I also put Tomas Sandstrom in high regard because although I never wanted to see him leave NY. We did get a Hall of Famer in return, in Bernie Nichols. That led to a deal in which, the Rangers traded one Hall of Famer for IMO, an even better Hall of Famer in Mark Messier.
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Pear Juice
Registered User
Henrik Zetterberg is closing in on some of the people in this list imo. Probably the most complete of the swedish forwards currently in the NHL. Remember he has a Conn Smythe, swedes are not very well represented in the finer awards (Smythe, Hart) so it is certainly an impressive achievement. Also two cup-rings. I would probably include him instead of Sundström or Eklund.
If nothing else he will definitely belong once his career is finished. I can imagine him actually breaking into the top 10 with another award and/or cup.
VanIslander
A 19-year ATDer on HfBoards
defensively-excellent skaters are often overlooked, especially in stats
DayWalk3r
YouTube Guru
When was this list updated?
Zetterberg at 50th place with a Conn Smythe and a Stanley Cup under his belt?
pnep
Registered User
Canadiens1958
Registered User
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