Niklas_Hjalmarsson

Niklas Hjalmarsson

Niklas Hjalmarsson

Swedish ice hockey player (born 1987)

Niklas Hjalmarsson (born 6 June 1987) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey defenceman who last played for HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

Quick Facts Born, Height ...

He previously also played for the Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted in the fourth round (108th overall) by the Blackhawks in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Hjalmarsson won three Stanley Cups (2010, 2013, and 2015) as well as a silver Olympic medal with Sweden at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Playing career

Chicago Blackhawks

Hjalmarsson was drafted 108th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. He played professionally for three years in the Elitserien with HV71.

In the 2007–08 season, his first in North America, Hjalmarsson made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks. After spending the majority of the season with the Rockford IceHogs, Chicago's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, he procured a regular spot on the roster after defenceman James Wisniewski's trade to the Anaheim Ducks.

Hjalmarsson scored his first career NHL goal against Ty Conklin of the Detroit Red Wings.[citation needed]

Hjalmarsson became a key part of the Blackhawks' lineup late into the 2008–09 season and to begin the 2009–10 season. In 2009–10, he played 77 games in the regular season and all 22 in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the team, averaging over 19 minutes played per game, switching between the second and third defensive pairings. Over that time, he recorded a production value (PROD) of a point roughly every 45 minutes of it, while his season PROD was 89 minutes. During the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, a slapshot Hjalmarsson took was redirected by teammate Andrew Ladd to give Chicago a 3–2 lead in Game 6 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals; the team won the game in overtime, 4–3, and eventually the Stanley Cup.[1]

Hjalmarsson brings the Stanley Cup to Eksjö, Sweden, after the Blackhawks won the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals

On 9 July 2010, shortly after the end of the season, Hjalmarsson signed a four-year, $14 million offer sheet with the San Jose Sharks.[2] Three days later, however, on 12 July, the Blackhawks announced that they would match the offer sheet. Hjalmarsson became the first NHL defenceman in 13 years to receive an offer sheet as a restricted free agent, and, critically, Chicago's matching of the offer meant that they no longer had enough cap space to re-sign goaltender Antti Niemi, who coincidentally ended up joining the Sharks later that off-season.[citation needed]

During 2012–13 NHL lockout, Hjalmarsson played in Italy's Serie A and in the IIHF Continental Cup with HC Bolzano.

During game 7 of the Western Conference's semifinal series against the Detroit Red Wings, with the score tied at 1–1 late in the third period, Hjalmarrson scored what appeared to be a go-ahead goal with 1:47 left in regulation time, but referee Stephen Walkom called offsetting penalties on Detroit's Kyle Quincey and Chicago's Brandon Saad just before the puck went in, so the goal was disallowed. Brent Seabrook went on to score the game-winning goal in overtime, to win the series for the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks won the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals. During the 2013 off-season, Hjalmarsson signed a five-year extension with the Blackhawks, at an annual average salary of $4.1 million.[3]

The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup again in 2015, making Hjalmarsson one of only seven players to be part of the 2010, 2013, and 2015 Stanley Cup victories.

Arizona Coyotes and initial retirement

After the 2016–17 season, his 10th year with the Blackhawks, Hjalmarsson's tenure with the club came to an end as he was dealt to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Connor Murphy and Laurent Dauphin on 23 June 2017.[4] Hjalmarsson was named an alternate captain for the Coyotes to begin the 2017–18 season.[5] On 1 July 2018, Hjalmarsson signed a two-year, $10 million contract extension with the Coyotes.[6]

On 25 July 2021, Hjalmarsson retired from professional ice hockey after 14 seasons in the NHL.[7][8]

Return to HV71

After one season away from professional play, Hjalmarsson came out of retirement to re-sign with HV71 on 10 November 2022.[9] After the 2023 season Hjalmarsson retired once again.[10]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

More information Regular season, Playoffs ...

International

Quick Facts Medal record, Men's ice hockey ...
More information Year, Team ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Niklas Hjalmarsson's player profile". Hockey-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  2. [2]
    "Sharks sign free agent D Hjalmarsson to offer sheet". TSN. Associated Press. 9 July 2010. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  3. [3]
    "Blackhawks agree to terms with Hjalmarsson". Chicago Blackhawks. 5 September 2013. Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  4. [4]
    "Coyotes acquire Hjalmarsson from Chicago for Murphy, Dauphin". Arizona Coyotes. 23 June 2017. Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  5. [5]
    "Coyotes Announce Leadership Group for 2017-18 Season". NHL.com. 4 October 2017. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  6. [6]
    "Coyotes Sign Hjalmarsson to Two-Year Contract Extension". NHL.com. 1 July 2018. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  7. [7]
    "Former Blackhawks D Niklas Hjalmarsson is retiring from NHL". 26 July 2021. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  8. [8]
    "Niklas Hjalmarsson retires from NHL". National Hockey League. 25 July 2021. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  9. [9]
    "Niklas Hjalmarsson klar för HV71" (in Swedish). HV71. 10 November 2022. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  10. [10]
    "Niklas Hjalmarsson avslutar hockeykarriären". 5 April 2023. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
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