10 Former NHLers Playing in Sweden This Season

According to statistics obtained from EliteProspects.com, 76 former NHL players will play in the Sweden Hockey League (SHL) this year. Although most of these skaters are not well known, 18 played at least 100 games in the NHL, and several others were first-round draft picks. 

Of course, when someone doesn’t land a contract in North America, many other professional leagues across the globe have opportunities. Ultimately, one of the premier destinations is the SHL, which is about to start its 48th season of operations. Although most skaters in the league are from Sweden, many international players also play. 

Considering the number of former NHL players skating in professional leagues worldwide, we looked at some of the more veteran players who are dressing in the SHL in 2023-24. 

10. Oscar Fantenberg (Linköping HC)

NHL statistics: 124 GP 5 G – 14 A – 19 PTS

Oscar Fantenberg was an undrafted defenseman who debuted in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings in 2017-18. After just 73 games, the team traded him to the Calgary Flames, where he played 15 games before signing as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks. 

Eventually, Fantenberg left North America after the 2019-20 season to play in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with SKA St. Petersburg. Although his time in Russia was short (two years), he returned to the SHL, suiting up with Linköping HC, assuming the role of captain for the upcoming season. Interestingly, Linköping HC is his third SHL team, having previously played with HV71 and Frölunda HC from 2012 to 2016. 

9. Joakim Ryan (Malmö Redhawks)

NHL statistics: 145 GP 4 G – 20 A – 24 PTS

The San Jose Sharks drafted Joakim Ryan with the 198th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. After five seasons, he made his debut and played two seasons with the Sharks before leaving to play with the Kings and Carolina Hurricanes. 

Although Ryan spent most of his North American career bouncing between the NHL and the American Hockey League (AHL), he left the continent to join the Malmö Redhawks in the SHL for the 2021-22 season. Thus far, the New Jersey native, with Swedish lineage, has 46 points in 104 SHL games. 

8. Jhonas Enroth (Örebro HK)

NHL statistics: 153 GP 50-69-16 2.84 GAA .909 SV% 

Jhonas Enroth was a second-round pick (46th overall) of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Eventually, he would debut with the club in 2009-10, playing six years in upstate New York before moving on to the Dallas Stars, Kings, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Although his NHL career was brief, just 153 games, Enroth left North America to play with Dinamo Minsk in the KHL while spending some time (three games) in the ICE Hockey League (International Central European Hockey League. 

During the 2018-19 season, he debuted with Örebro HK in his native Sweden, playing ten games before assuming the starting role in 2020-21. Since returning to the SHL, he’s played in 121 games with a 72-48-0 record, winning the Honken Trophy as Swedish Goal of the Year in his first season with the club. 

7. Brandon Davidson (Rögle BK)

NHL statistics: 180 GP 9 G – 14 A – 23 PTS

Brandon Davidson is an Alberta native whom the Edmonton Oilers drafted in the sixth round (162nd overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. As a professional hockey player in the Western Hockey League (WHL), AHL, ECHL, and NHL since 2009, he’s played at all levels in North America, last dressing in the AHL with the Rochester Americans and Cleveland Monsters in 2022-23.

However, Davidson hasn’t played in the NHL since 2020-21 with the Sabres, eventually opting to pursue opportunities in Sweden, playing seven games with Färjestad BK in 2022-23. Now, he’ll play with Rögle BK when the new season starts.

6. Anton Lander (Timrå IK)

NHL statistics: 215 GP 10 G – 25 A – 35 PTS

Anton Lander played his entire NHL career with the Oilers, suiting up for 215 games with the club that drafted him as the 40th overall pick in the 2009 Entry Draft. Eventually, he left North America after the 2016-17 season to play in the KHL, suiting up for two teams and winning the league’s championship in 2017-18. 

As a fourth-round pick (114th overall) of the Oilers in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, he eventually suited up for the team after stints with the Coyotes and Kings. However, after just 67 games in 2018-19, he left Edmonton to play with the Flames and Sabres. 

1. Anton Strålman (Leksands IF)

NHL statistics: 938 GP 63 G – 230 A – 293 PTS

Anton Strålman is the latest Swedish-born (Tibro, SE) player to leave the NHL and return home to skate in the SHL. After 16 seasons in North America with seven different clubs, he most recently played with the Boston Bruins in 2022-23, suiting up for eight games. 

Statistically, the 37-year-old leaves the NHL just 63 games shy of 1,000 and seven points short of 300. As a seventh-round pick (216th overall) of the Maple Leafs in 2005, Strålman returns to the SHL for the first time since the 2006-07 season, when he played with Timrå IK, where he had 26 points in 98 games.  

Many Elite Players Call the SHL Home

As mentioned, there are many options for those pursuing professional hockey outside North America. Although 73% of players in the SHL are Swedish-born, eight different countries make up the other 27%. Even though every hockey player dreams of winning the Stanley Cup, the majority never get a chance. Ultimately, skating in the NHL is a privilege and the goal of many who seek professional hockey as an occupation. Luckily, the players on this list spent time in the world’s best league and will continue pursuing opportunities at the highest level in the SHL this season.