Swedes May Safely Graze

Most Swedish superstars in the NHL are walking on three legs: Sundin, Naslund, Lidstrom, Holmstrom, Nylander, and Alfredsson are all past their primes. Mr. Glass has been useless for some time. As talented as Lundqvist, Zetterberg, and Franzen undoubtedly are, three men aren't enough to carry a generation. Luckily for them, the pipeline won't dry out any time soon.


Lost in all of the hype over Tavares, Hedman, and Duchene is the fact that during the last few years, the quantity and quality of Swedish prospects has ridden an enormous high. Seven Swedes -- a number equal to the last three years combined, and a new record for the Yellow and Blue -- were selected in the first round of this year's entry draft.

Sweden produced an average of 1.2 first rounders between 2001 and 2005, and not one Swede was taken in the first round of the 2004 draft. None of the first round selections during those five years were anything to write home about; Robert Nilsson is probably the best of the bunch. In the last four years, though, Sweden has produced an average of 3.5 players taken in the first round, including Nick Backstrom and Victor Hedman as the headlining acts.

Incidentally, the Caps have chosen a Swede in the first round of the draft for three of the last four years: Backstrom in 2006, Gustafsson in 2008, and Johansson in 2009.

It's a good time to love Swedish hockey.

One more thing: You know the joke about the dumb Swede who drives on the wrong side the interstate and peels the shells off of M&M's?

Obviously #1 is the highest pick.
--Victor Hedman

Well, we don't draft them for their deductive reasoning.