The Hockey Corridor of Fame (HHOF) was established in 1943, with the primary gamers inducted in 1945. There’s a false impression concerning the HHOF as a result of most gamers enshrined have had illustrious careers within the NHL. The HHOF is for worldwide gamers, too; nonetheless, only some gamers exterior of North America get acknowledged for his or her contributions to the sport on the world stage.
Vladislav Tretiak, from the Soviet Union/Russia, was the primary participant inducted into the HHOF and not using a Canadian or American passport. Typically thought-about essentially the most excellent goalie ever, he remained the one non-North American participant within the HHOF till 1996, when Sweden’s nice Börje Salming earned induction.
Ultimately, the gates opened to superstars born and skilled in Europe who both jumped the pond to play within the NHL or earned recognition for his or her achievements in worldwide competitions. Nonetheless, Salming remained the one participant from his Nordic homeland with a plaque in Toronto. He lastly acquired some firm with a couple of new gamers, incomes their ticket to immortality in 2012, 2014, and 2015.
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As of the Class of 2023, there are 306 gamers within the HHOF, simply 22 of whom have been born exterior North America, with eight from Sweden. When Salming was inducted in 1996, he was alone for nearly twenty years. Nonetheless, as extra Swedisb-born established themselves as elite gamers within the NHL and worldwide competitions through the twenty first century, the nation’s inclusion into the HHOF has gone from one to eight in simply 11 years.
1996 HHOF Class – Börje Salming (Kiruna, Sweden)
Salming was one of many first European-born and skilled gamers to return to North America and succeed within the NHL.
He began his skilled hockey profession in Sweden’s Division 2 in 1967 as a member of Kiruna AIF. After three seasons, Salming superior to the highest division in 1970 and received the league championship in 1971 and 1972 with Brynäs. On Could 12, 1973, he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs after being found by scout Gerry McNamara. On Oct. 10, 1973, Salming made his NHL debut, incomes an help in a 7-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Furthermore, after 39 factors in 75 video games, he completed third within the Calder Trophy voting and fifth within the Norris Trophy voting.
Over the subsequent six seasons, Salming set profession highs in factors (78 in 1977) and video games performed (80 in 1978), incomes an All-Star choice yearly. He by no means received the Norris Trophy, however throughout this stretch, he by no means completed decrease than fourth within the voting and was runner-up in 1977 and 1980.
Associated: Remembering Borje Salming: “King” of Maple Leafs’ Defensemen
Salming performed 1,099 video games with the Maple Leafs (third all-time), scoring 148 objectives and including 620 assists (a franchise file) for 768 factors (fourth). He by no means shied away from contact and racked up 1,292 penalty minutes (fifth). When his time in Toronto ended, he signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pink Wings, suiting up for 49 video games in 1989-90.
Upon retirement, Salming obtained a number of accolades, together with enshrinement into the Hockey Corridor of Fame (1996) and the Worldwide Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Corridor of Fame in 1998. The Hockey Information listed him as No. 74 within the high 100 Best NHL Gamers, and the Maple Leafs retired his No. 21 jersey in 2006. In 2008, the IIHF named him a member of the Centennial All-Star workforce.
Salming made headlines in July 2022 when he was recognized with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s illness. Months later, he made his first public look, informing the world that he may not communicate and needed to obtain his meals via a feeding tube. Earlier than his passing on Nov. 22, 2022, his household created the Böjre Salming ALS Basis, a long-lasting tribute to all those that proceed to battle the incurable illness.
2012 HHOF Class – Mats Sundin (Bromma, Sweden)
Mats Sundin turned the primary European-born participant to be chosen first general in an NHL Entry Draft when the Quebec Nordiques known as his title on Jun. 17, 1989. As of 2022, he stays certainly one of solely two Swedish gamers (Rasmus Dahlin, 2018) drafted from the highest spot.
In 1989, as a member of Djurgårdens IF in Sweden, Sundin received a league championship earlier than transferring to North America in 1990. He debuted on Oct. 4, scoring a purpose in his first sport. Two seasons later, in 1992-93, he set a career-high with 114 factors earlier than Quebec dealt him to the Maple Leafs on the 1994 Draft.
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When he landed in Toronto, Sundin was already a star on the rise. Throughout his 13 years with the Maple Leafs, he turned a Corridor of Famer, 10 as workforce captain. Though he solely received one award throughout his time with the membership, he did change into the franchise’s chief in objectives (420) and factors (987). Thought-about top-of-the-line gamers within the illustrious historical past of the Maple Leafs, Sundin by no means led his membership to a Stanley Cup Remaining look, making him one of many sport’s finest by no means to elevate the Silver Chalice.
Upon retirement in 2009, Sundin remained the one Swedish participant to attain 500 objectives (564) and acquire over 1,300 factors (1,349). He ranks second in video games performed (1,346), third in assists (785), and sixth in penalty minutes (1,093) amongst Sweden-born gamers. Internationally, Sundin was captain of the Sweden workforce that received Olympic Gold on the 2006 Turin Video games. He additionally earned gold medals on the World Championships in 1991, 1992, and 1998, together with silver medals in 1990 and 2003.
In his first 12 months of eligibility, 2012, the HHOF welcomed Sundin earlier than the IIHF known as in 2013. The Maple Leafs retired his jersey No. 13 in 2011, and the NHL named him one of many 100 Best Gamers in league historical past.
2014 HHOF Class – Peter Forberg (Örnsköldsvik, Sweden)
Peter Forsberg started his skilled hockey profession with MoDo Hockey in Sweden, first on the junior stage after which as a senior participant. The Philadelphia Flyers drafted him because the sixth general decide within the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, the very best European participant chosen that 12 months. Earlier than the celebrity even made his NHL debut, the Flyers traded him to the Nordiques in a package deal for Eric Lindros, who refused to signal with Quebec.
Whereas in Sweden, Forsberg’s popularity grew after successful a gold medal on the 1992 World Championships and back-to-back silver medals on the 1992 and 1993 World Junior Championships. Moreover, on the 1993 event, Forsberg set an IIHF junior file with 31 factors in seven video games, a mark untouched over 30 years later. Nonetheless, his crowning achievement internationally occurred a season later, when he scored the decisive purpose within the shootout to assist Sweden to their first gold medal on the Winter Olympics.
Associated: Revisiting Sweden’s World Junior Championship Historical past
In any case that success, Forsberg lastly got here to North America to play with the Nordiques. He received the Calder Trophy in his rookie season (1995) earlier than successful the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche, who moved from Quebec in 1996. 5 seasons later, he would elevate the Cup once more (2001) regardless of not ending the playoffs after having his spleen eliminated.
In 2003, he turned the primary Swedish-born participant to win the Artwork Ross Trophy (main scorer) and Hart Memorial Trophy (Most Precious Participant). Three years later, Forsberg turned a member of the Swedish workforce that received the Olympic gold medal on the 2006 Winter Video games, including to his worldwide medal depend (9). By this time, he was already a member of the Triple Gold Membership (Stanley Cup, Olympic Gold Medal, and World Championship). Nonetheless, he enhanced his legacy by turning into simply the third hockey participant to earn the honors twice.
Accidents plagued Forsberg’s profession, which reduce into his enjoying time and last profession statistics. Concerning his ranks amongst Sweden gamers all-time, he sits eighth with 885 factors in simply 708 video games and twelfth general in penalty minutes with 690. His last profession plus/minus score is plus-238, second to Niklas Lidstrom’s plus-450. In NHL rankings, Forsberg’s 1.25 points-per-game common ranks twelfth all-time.
Forsberg retired from the NHL in 2011, and the Avalanche raised his jersey No. 21 to the rafters later that 12 months. In 2013, he was inducted into the IIHF Corridor of Fame earlier than incomes his place within the HHOF (2014) in his first 12 months of eligibility. Later, in 2017, Forsberg was named one of many 100 Best NHL Gamers.
2015 HHOF Class – Nicklas Lidström (Vasteras, Sweden)
The Pink Wings discovered their franchise defenceman, Nicklas Lidström, with the 53rd decide within the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. After enjoying within the Sweden Elitserien and successful a World Championship in 1991, he made his NHL debut on Oct. 3, 1991. For the subsequent 20 seasons, he would patrol the blue line for Detroit, advancing to the playoffs each season of his profession, an NHL file for a participant with one workforce.
Lidström received 4 Stanley Cups in 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008, turning into the primary European-born and skilled captain to hoist the Cup in 2008. Between 2001 and 2011, he would win the Norris Trophy seven instances, with three-peats from 2001-2003 and 2006-2008, along with his final one in 2011. He ranks second all-time in wins behind Bobby Orr, who received the award eight instances from 1967-1975.
Throughout his profession, Lidström earned NHL All-Rookie honors in 1992, performed in 12 All-Star video games, and was named to 10 first All-Star workforce alternatives. In 2002, he turned the primary European to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. As a defenceman, Lidström ranks fourth all-time in Pink Wings historical past with 1,142 factors, simply certainly one of 4 gamers with over 1,000 factors. He’s second behind Gordie Howe in video games performed (1,687), third in assists (878), and eleventh in objectives (264).
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Internationally, Lidström earned 4 medals, incomes his place within the Triple Gold Membership, due to a 1991 World Championship and 2006 Olympic Gold Medal. He’s credited with the successful purpose in 2006 and earned an Olympic All-Star workforce choice.
Lidström holds at the very least 13 information with the Pink Wings and 18 NHL information. In 2014, the Pink Wings retired his jersey No. 5, and the IIHF welcomed him into their Corridor of Fame. He was inducted into the Michigan Sports activities Corridor of Fame earlier than the HHOF honored him with a plaque in 2015. A number of years later, the IIHF named Lidström to the All-Time Sweden Crew in 2020.
2022 HHOF Class – Daniel Alfredsson (Vasteras, Sweden)
Daniel Alfredsson is undoubtedly the very best skater within the historical past of the Ottawa Senators, main each main class, objectives (426), assists (682), and factors (1,108). On high of that, he was the franchise’s longest-serving captain, carrying the “C” on his sweater from 1999 to 2013. Sadly, he didn’t play his total profession in Canada’s Captain Metropolis, signing with the Pink Wings for one season in 2013-14.
Alfredsson’s rookie season, 1995-96, noticed him win the Calder Trophy with 61 factors in 82 video games, turning into solely the second Swedish to win the award after Forsberg the earlier 12 months. Along with the Calder, he additionally received the King Clancy Award in 2011-12 and the Mark Messier Management Award in 2012-13. Furthermore, he represented the Senators at six All-Star Video games.
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On the worldwide stage, Alfredsson was a standout participant throughout his period with Sweden, successful two World Championship Silver Medals (1995, 2004), two World Championship Bronze Medals (1999, 2001), and an Olympic Gold (2006) and Silver Medal (2014). Throughout the lockout in 2004, he performed within the Elitserian with Frölunda HC, scoring essentially the most objectives (12) and factors (18) en path to a Le Mat Trophy win.
Due to his contributions on and off the ice, Alfredsson was inducted into the IIHF Hockey Corridor of Fame in 2018, adopted by the HHOF in 2022. Concerning his place amongst Sweden-born gamers, he ranks second to Sundin in objectives (444) and factors (1,157) whereas sitting behind Lidstrom, H. Sedin, Sundin, and Nicklas Backstrom in assists (713).
2022 HHOF Class – Henrik Sedin (Vasteras, Sweden)
Henrik Sedin was drafted third general on the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, one spot after his twin brother Daniel. Because the set-up artist of the 2, it’s no shock that Henrik ranks first in each main scoring class with the Vancouver Canucks besides objectives. As of 2024, his place in workforce historical past contains essentially the most video games performed (1,330), assists (830), and factors (1,070).
Henrik additionally had the privilege of serving as workforce captain, a job he held from 2010 to 2018. Below his management, the Canucks received the Presidents’ Trophy in back-to-back years (2011, 2012), finally shedding in Recreation 7 of the Stanley Cup Remaining in 2011. His checklist of NHL achievements contains an Artwork Ross Trophy (2010) and the Hart Trophy (2010). Moreover, Henrik received the King Clancy Trophy twice (2016 and 2018) and skated in three All-Star Video games.
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Sadly, Henrik didn’t win the Stanley Cup throughout his enjoying days, stopping him from becoming a member of the Triple Gold Membership. However, he received an Olympic Gold Medal (2006) and a World Championship (2013). Henrik received a TV-Pucken Gold Medal (1995) and Greatest Ahead (1996) in Sweden. In Elitserien, he was voted the league’s finest participant in 1999 when MoDo Hockey misplaced within the championship collection. In his second season, he was an All-Star, voted Sweden’s Junior Participant of the 12 months, and received one other Silver Medal after one other loss within the Elitserien Remaining.
As of 2024, Henrik has but to be inducted into the IIHF Corridor of Fame. However with a number of worldwide accolades, together with two World Championship Bronze Medals (1999 and 2001), main the U20 WJC event with 13 factors in 2000, and successful Sweden’s Greatest Participant Award in 2010, his induction into the HHOF solely furthers his case to be within the IIHF Corridor of Fame sometime.
2022 HHOF Class – Daniel Sedin (Vasteras, Sweden)
Daniel Sedin is the Canucks all-time main purpose scorer, with 393 tallies, whereas rating behind his brother Henrik in each different class. In the present day, the twins stay the one gamers in Vancouver historical past to gather extra than a thousand profession factors.
Throughout his 17-year profession, Daniel received an Artwork Ross (2011) and Lester B. Pearson Award (2011) and claimed a King Clancy Award in 2018. He participated in three NHL All-Star Video games. As a result of he was nearly inseparable from his brother, their achievements are similar. Nonetheless, their worldwide resumes are somewhat bit completely different.
In 1995, Daniel received a TV-Pucken Gold Medal, and in 1998, he was voted Greatest Ahead within the U18 EJC, successful a Gold Medal and main the event with essentially the most factors. Daniel was the Elitserien Greatest Participant inside a 12 months, successful a silver medal and being named Swedish Junior Participant of the 12 months.
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The next season, he began within the league’s All-Star Recreation, scored essentially the most objectives within the playoffs, and received a Silver Medal for the second consecutive season. In the meantime, he scored essentially the most objectives on the U20 WJC event and was named to the Sweden All-Star Crew.
Like Henrik, Daniel’s trophy case contains Olympic Gold and Silver Medals, two World Championship Bronze Medals, and a Gold Medal. He’s not a member of the IIHF Corridor of Fame however has a resume worthy of induction. The Sedin brothers rank within the high 5 when it comes to factors amongst Sweden gamers, whereas Daniel ranks fifth in objectives and Henrik twenty first. As playmakers, Henrik is second, and Daniel is sixth.
2023 HHOF Class – Henrik Lundqvist (Vasteras, Sweden)
Henrik Lundqvist is the most recent Swedish-born participant inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame. As arguably the best European-born netminder in skilled hockey historical past, he’s undeniably the very best goalie to play within the NHL and by no means win the Stanley Cup. The one-time Vezina Trophy winner (2012) got here shut in 2014, main the New York Rangers to the Remaining, solely to lose in 5 video games.
Henrik, referred to as “The King,” performed his total 15-year profession on Broadway with the Blueshirts. He ranks first amongst netminders in video games performed (887), wins (459), losses (310), shutouts (64), minutes performed (51,615:51), and factors (27). Concerning Lundqvist’s place in NHL historical past, he’s ninth in video games performed, sixth in wins, fifteenth in losses and seventeenth in shutouts.
Regardless of solely successful the Vezina Trophy as soon as in his profession, he was a top-three finalist on 4 events and ranked among the many high 10 from 2005 to 2015. He performed in 5 NHL All-Star Video games and was named to the league’s All-Rookie Crew in 2006.
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As one other legendary participant from Sweden who by no means received the Stanley Cup, Lundqvist’s work in his native nation and worldwide hockey ranks among the many better of all time. His prolonged resume contains an Olympic Gold (2006) and Silver Medal (2014), plus a World Championship, which he received along with his twin brother Joel in 2017.
Earlier than taking his act to North America, Lundqvist was a two-time J20 SM Gold Medalist (2000 and 2001), plus received a U18 WJC Bronze Medal, a Viking Cup Prime Goaltender Award, and was named Swedish Junior Participant of the 12 months. In Elitserian, he was a two-time league champion (2003 and 2005), voted the Swedish Goalie of the 12 months in 2003, 2004, and 2005, whereas turning into the Elitserian Most Precious Participant in 2005. He was an All-Star quite a few instances and led the league in GAA and SV% twice.
By getting inducted into the HHOF in 2023, Lundqvist turned the primary Swedish netminder to obtain the dignity and is just one of three goalies born exterior North America in addition to Tretiak and Dominic Hasek to have a plaque in Toronto. He was compelled into early retirement in 2020 after studying he required coronary heart surgical procedure and wouldn’t be able to dealing with the on a regular basis routines of knowledgeable hockey participant. He documented his journey and restoration in Open Coronary heart.
The 2025 Hockey Corridor of Fame Class and Past
Proper now, the highest 5 highest-scoring Swedish-born gamers are all within the HHOF. Backstrom is the one energetic participant (at the moment on a go away of absence with the Washington Capitals) from his house nation with 1,000 factors (1,033). When he retires, the debates will start on whether or not he earns a plaque, too.
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In the meantime, the subsequent participant with a stable likelihood of getting a name sometime is Henrik Zetterberg, who’s seventh all-time in factors and has a variety of {hardware} in his trophy case. Ought to these two make it in, the nation’s top-eight gamers, based mostly on factors, would all be collectively in Toronto.
A handful of gamers, together with Erik Karlsson (San Jose), Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay), Mika Zibanejad (New York), Filip Forsberg (Nashville), and William Nylander (Toronto), are nonetheless engaged on their HHOF resumes.
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