The early 1990s a huge onslaught of European hockey players move to the NHL. Though Swedes were no strangers to the NHL, they joined the Russians, Czechs, Finns and other Eastern European players. In the first round of the 1992 entry draft, the Calgary Flames selected a Swedish right winger Niklas Sundblad as the #19 pick overall. Sundblad was a highly regarded prospect and began playing with the St John Flames in 1993. After three seasons in the AHL, he got his chance to play in the NHL with the Flames. He only played 2 games in the 1995-96 season and did not record any points. The next seaon he moved back to Europe and played for TPS Turku in the Finnish league, followed by seasons in the Swedish and German leagues. He played the 2003-04 season with Malmo IF of the Swedish Elite League.
Posted by hplayerz
at 11:21 AM EDT
