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Sweden: a land of meatballs, IKEA and vikings. Oh yeah, and also a land of elite-level hockey players. Yes, ever since Borje Salming joined the league as the first ever Swede to make it to the NHL in the ‘70s, Sweden has produced numerous cup-winning NHL all-stars. This more than likely culminated in a shocking gold medal victory at the 2006 Olympics in Torino.
Up-and-coming Swedes within the NHL comparable to Gabriel Landeskog, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jonas Brodin and Elias Lindholm aren’t in this checklist due to their entry-level contracts falling short of the top 10. More unusually, seasoned vets like Daniel Alfredsson don’t make this top 10 checklist either, as Alfie is simplest making $3.5 million this 12 months. Regardless, there are nonetheless various NHLers in all other positions and roles at the ice that turn out that Sweden is still very a lot a superpower within the hockey international.
Quite a lot of these players have won the Stanley Cup, while others have been fortunate enough to obtain particular person accolades such because the Hart Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy, and the Viking Award. Haven’t heard of the final one? That’s no longer unexpected. But it’s a trophy voted on through Swedish players within the NHL and it's related minor leagues for the most efficient Swedish participant of that NHL season. In other words, Sweden is continuous to supply top quality NHLers, and it doesn’t seem like that’s changing anytime quickly. With the Olympics in Sochi coming up, the Swedes are indisputably a pressure to be reckoned with on the international stage – just have a look at their gold medal win eight years ago in Torino.
Below are the 10 players from the Scandinavian country which can be top-of-the-line their nation has to provide the NHL. Let’s have a look.
10. Loui Eriksson (Boston Bruins - $4.6 million)
After seven seasons in Dallas with the Stars, Loui Eriksson is now plying his NHL trade with the Bruins because of his involvement in the Tyler Seguin change. Eriksson, who makes $4.6 million this 12 months, competed in the 2011 All-Star Game and has played for Sweden frequently at the IIHF World Hockey Championships, winning gold closing 12 months in the match his local country co-hosted with Finland. A loose agent in 2016, Eriksson has seen a bit of a lower in production over the past couple seasons, and his 2013-14 campaign has noticed him spend a fair bit of time on the Bruins’ IR with a concussion.
9. Johan Franzen (Detroit Red Wings - $5 million)
He is probably not the flashiest participant in the league in comparison to other NHLers of his ilk, but for a guy now in his mid-30s, Johan Franzen has unquestionably kept up constant level totals in most of his NHL profession up to now. The Red Wings forward is making $Five million this year, and his very good play at both ends of the ice in addition to his puckhandling skills had been rewarded with a freelance going in the course of the 2019-20 season. Franzen has also played for his country on a variety of events, closing playing for Sweden at the 2012 World Championships, as well as at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
8. Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers - $5.one hundred twenty five million)
This Rangers goalie has constantly been known as one of the very best in the recreation at his place, and it’s not onerous to look why. Henrik Lundqvist has led Sweden to an Olympic gold medal in 2006, received the Vezina Trophy in 2012, and has made it to the All-Star Game thrice. With a freelance this 12 months of about $5.a hundred twenty five million, King Henrik will see his salary greater than double next season with the Rangers, as he'll be making about $Eleven million in New York in 2014-15 – making him the highest-paid goaltender within the NHL.
7. Erik Karlsson (Ottawa Senators - $5.Five million)
What’s maximum exceptional about Erik Karlsson’s NHL profession so far is that he’s already one of the crucial league’s elite defensemen at the ripe younger age of 23, having gained the Norris Trophy in 2012. This offensive defenseman struggled with accidents ultimate season, but frequently places up a point in line with recreation over the last three seasons – an extraordinary ability for a defenseman of any kind. Karlsson, who makes $5.5 million this 12 months, has also performed in the All-Star Game two times, and gained the “Viking Award”; an award given to the best Swedish NHL player each and every season voted through all Swedish players in the NHL and minor leagues.
6. Tobias Enstrom (Winnipeg Jets - $5.75 million)
A former eighth-round draft pick out in 2003, Tobias Enstrom has accomplished what many players taken many rounds earlier than him within the NHL Entry Draft could now not: becoming a top-pairing defenseman in the most productive hockey league on the planet. Enstrom’s salary this year comes as much as about $5.75 million, and his play with the Jets has been constant. He has regularly logged large mins in spite of the team’s mediocrity at the ice. Enstrom additionally competed in the 2010 Olympics with Sweden in Vancouver – unfortunately then again, he won’t be doing the same this year in Sochi as he pulled his name out of the working for his or her roster.
5. Nicklas Backstrom (Washington Capitals - $6 million)
His taste of play was compared to that of Swedish hockey great Peter Forsberg upon being drafted into the league by means of the Capitals. While that’s rather prime praise, Nicklas Backstrom’s elite playmaking talents have translated ever so smoothly to the NHL over his six years within the league. Not to be perplexed with the similar-named Finnish goalie in Minnesota, Backstrom – who makes $6 million this 12 months and has a freelance operating thru 2019-20 – played in the All-Star Game in 2008-09, and he and Alexander Ovechkin have formed a rather dynamic duo in Washington. The simplest factor that’s left for both of them now's successful a cup.
4. Niklas Kronwall (Detroit Red Wings - $6 million)
Known league-wide as one of the strongest hitters in the NHL, Niklas Kronwall has had a beautiful decorated profession with the Red Wings on the age of 33, a minimum of relating to awards received. He and the Red Wings went the entire strategy to the Cup in 2008, and Kronwall received an Olympic gold medal in 2006, and a gold medal within the IIHF World Championships that very same 12 months – making him a member of the unique “Triple Gold Club”. With a wage this yr of $6 million, Kronwall is below contract in Detroit until 2018-19.
3. Henrik Sedin (Vancouver Canucks - $6.1 million)
Known as the playmaker as opposed to his extra goalscoring twin brother Daniel, Henrik Sedin continues to put out excellent performances for the Canucks even deep in his 30s, and he’s appearing no signs of in reality slowing down. His point manufacturing could have slipped a little bit over the last couple years, but the $6.1 million-making Henrik has had a occupation that has observed numerous accolades – excluding a Stanley Cup – come his approach: an Olympic gold medal, a Hart Trophy, an Art Ross trophy, and 3 trips to the All-Star Game. On top of that, he’s the Canucks’ all-time main scorer; one thing his brother can’t brag about.
2. Daniel Sedin (Vancouver Canucks - $6.1 million)
He’s were given more goalscoring prowess than his dual brother Henrik, but Daniel Sedin’s array of accolades as a Canuck and as a Swedish international are just as impressive as his brother’s. He’s received the Ted Lindsay Award, the Art Ross Trophy (one year after Henrik gained the same award), has been to the All-Star Game two times, and has an Olympic gold medal besides. His salary is equal to his brother’s this season ($6.1 million), and his contract runs thru 2017-18. He and his brother’s ability to play off each and every other seamlessly has reaped huge rewards for each the Sedins and the Canucks ever since Brian Burke made certain Vancouver drafted both of them together in 1999.
1. Henrik Zetterberg (Detroit Red Wings - $7.Five million)
At 33 years of age, the Red Wings captain might still have moderately a few years left within the tank, however not too much left to turn out. Henrik Zetterberg has received a Stanley Cup in 2008, has played within the All-Star Game, has won an Olympic gold medal (and will compete for Sweden in Sochi this February) and has a Conn Smythe trophy to his name as smartly. His wage of $7.5 million this season is proof of Zetterberg’s fatal skills with the puck and as a playmaker. To do all this after being drafted in the 7th around of the 1999 entry draft – arguably the weakest of all time – is rather merely outstanding.
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