My opinion of Swedish hockey players is almost competely dependent on which Swedish hockey player you refer to. I prefer not to let nationality inform my expectations of a player before I see him or evaluations after I do. I just like to watch them play. When I see Zetterberg I don't think primarily about him being Swedish, for example.
The only time that ever really interests me is seeing how countries select/run their Olympic program and development programs, or when people are scouting prospects from different regions.
Otherwise it inevitably leads to some xenophobia-tinged diatribe somewhere or another...
Culturally, on the other hand, it's interesting. The biggest names in three Canadian cities in the past two decades are all Swedes: Sedins in Vancouver, Alfredsson in Ottawa, and Sundin in Toronto. Coincidence? Do Swedish players like Canada's health care and thus stay in Canada more often than other players? I have no idea. It has crossed my mind from time to time, though.
This part suggests that you prefer to be blind to the obvious cultural differences between various countries that help determine the values and success of the individual players. Obviously Sweden is a very successful society, which promotes high social values. Their players reflect that for the most part, they are rarely involved in contract disputes and are low maintainance players. Even the negative sterotypes of Swedish players being soft, is not from them being afraid it is more from them having a higher moral code then many of their opponents, though Sandstrom & U. Samuelsson must have been Viking throwbacks.
There are exceptions to every pattern i think with Eastern Europeans you need to build a friendly environment for them to succeed. Detroit did this with Russians, Pittsburgh with Czechs perhaps the society is so different you need more than one guy for them to feel comfortable. The difference in contract negotiations is obvious. Has a Swede/Finn ever held out? Canadians/Americans hold out quite often and Russians/Czechs seem to do it regularly.
So basically my viewpoint/sterotype of Swedish players is that they are great team players but generally are even better people. They are both a product and a credit to their society.
Basically IMO some people and societies quoting Cory S. shirt "are better at life" than others. That is not politically correct where all people and societies need to be considered equal regardless of how they are or how they behave. I think Canadian and American societies are moving in the direction of Sweden "fair society", so current hockey values are becoming more in line with traditional Swedish hockey players. I would say Sweden is a leader in social progress so i would expect their players to continue to shine as the league becomes more regulated.
An interesting stat i read years ago stated that Murder/suicide rates in countries are often inverse to each other. Sweden had the lowest murder rates but the highest suicide rates while the U.S was the opposite. Adds nothing to this conversation but it is interesting why that would be.