The growth of European NHL players – as international talents reworked the league | NHL news

Europeans grew up with ice. Europeans become unsurpassed with hockey on ice, as they come from cold countries where winter temperatures can lower below -40 degrees Celsius. Growing in such cold and harsh conditions makes them easier to work on ice than those with temperate regions.
Almost 50% of new national hockey players were Europeans in 2019-2020 NHL season. Talent rushes from Sweden, Russia, Finland and the Czech Republic. In 1970, there were hardly two Europeans – Ulf Steriner and Yaroslav Girik. By 1980, the number of NHL European players increased to 50. In 1990 it was numbered double – 100. And in the 21st century it became 5 times – 500! So far, more than 1,300 Europeans have been playing NHL. Statistics speaks for themselves. Review interesting data from the official website of the Euro-Hockey Club for the NHL 2019-2020 season:

These were the latest statistics of Europeans in NH to the 2019-2020 NHL season. Now let’s get back to history when Europeans have launched themselves in the field of NHL for the first time.

Ulf Sterner was the first European player to play in NHL

It was January 27, 1965, when Uld Sterner became the first Swedish man to participate in the NHL as a European representative. Unfortunately for ULF Sterner, he did not leave a long impression on the North Americans. And they took him to lack of rigidity, despite the fact that they were skating and agility.

Borje Salming changed the perception of Europeans in NHL

In the 1972 Summit Series against Team Canada, Borge Salming’s defender changed the perception of European players in the National Hockey League (NHL). Salmina represented maple leaves in Toronto and became so popular that it became a domestic name. Salmina paved the way for other Europeans in the NHL. He was the first player to play 1000 Games in NHL! Salming is also a member of the Hockey Hall of Glory.

The World Hockey Association helped Europeans stay in the National Hockey League in the mid-1970s

Philadelphia Flayers and Boston Brinz won NHL games in the mid-1970s because of intimidation, and Europeans were not used to the physical aspect of hockey on ice. In order to overcome this, the WA (World Hockey Association) was founded. Who was looking for many talents in Sweden. About it wrote a lawyer based on Toronto, William McMurt. An excerpt from his article: “Talking to numerous players in NHL and WHA, they feel that most advertising and selling game overlaps battles and quarrels by learning the crowd about skill and sophistication. If they continue to encourage the current trends in hockey, where it is likely to be secondary to actual hockey skills.

At the end of the 1970s, which united with the NHL, thereby increasing the growth of European NHL players

The four clubs of WHA, namely – Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordikes, Winnipeg Jets and whaling new England, merged with the NHL and became NHL franchises. This merger attracted the attention of Winnepeg Jets to Scandinavian players like Anders Hedberg, Ulf nilssonAnd the Czech Center of Vaclav Nedomansky. Not only they, but also one of the best NHL, the left winger Bobby Hull Chicago Blackhox, who recently died at the age of 84 after 2 stages CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy).

The beginning of the 1980s marked the rise of Europeans in the NHL through the Soviet Union (Eastern Europe and Asia)

The Cold War lasted and the Americans were not open to the players of the Soviet Union, but some players stood out as the goalkeeper of the Soviet Union Vladislav Tretyak. European player Vladislav Tretyak She won a lot of recognition internationally, but never put her hands on the Stanley Cup. The Government of the Soviet Union did not allow Vladislav Tretyak to play in the NHL, even if he was called to Montreal Canadians in 1983.

The ability to ride Esa Tikkanen and Jari Kurri was unsurpassed

European players experienced a boom in the NHL when players such as Esa Tikkanen and Jari Kurri earned a spotlight and showed their unmatched skills. It was the time when Wayne GretkThe highest scorer in the NHL career entered the NHL kingdom and never left. Gretsky is the most popular NHL player even today, thanks to his different comparisons with Alex Ovechkin Washington. Alex Ovechkin will soon win the great, then in his career in Wayne Gretsky’s career 894. Ovechkin is only nine, we repeat, nine career heads of NHL from Wayne Gretsky’s record – 894!
In any case, returning to the European history of the NHL – Swedish star, European player and goalkeeper Pell Lindberg, headed his team, Philadelphic flyers to win the Stanley Cup in 1985! The world could have more recognition from Lindberg, but he was killed in a transport accident, and his team had seriously influenced it. This marked the difficult European presence on the ice.

After 5 years, European players have officially prepared for NHL

Rugs Sundin He was the first European player to be developed in the 1989 NHL entry project in Quebec Nordic. Sundin became the only Swedish player who reached 500 heads and the first reached 1000 points! Then many went. Chicago Blekhoux was elected Chicago Blackhox Dominic Hasek. Hasek had a unique flopping style. He had both concentration and flexibility – never been a witness to the North Americans.

In the 1990s the dominance of Finnish, Swedes and Czechs in NHL

Finnish player Teem Selanna Putting Jets Winnipeg, put the puck 76 times in the 1992-1993 NHL season and punched the most scored in the same record of the season. The Czech player Yaromir Jagr was a continuous right tribal – the best and the best. The Swedish player Niklas Leadstra was called a hybrid defender for being the best scorer as well as a defender. Other Europeans included Pavel Bur from Russia, who scored 432 goals in 702 NHL games!

Last European players in the National Hockey League

At the moment there is no discussion in the NHL without mentioning Alexander Ovechkin. He went into the NHL when he was very young. Yevgeny Malkin also had a similar path. They were both stopped today. For 39 years, Alexander Ovechkin plays the capital of Washington when their hockey on the ice left winger and captain. While 38 years old, Yevgeny Malkin plays for the Pittsburgh penguins as their hockey center and an alternative captain. They both have no plans to leave the ice!
Europeans have encountered challenges while joining the NHL, but they continue to surprise everyone internationally.
Also read: Desimazal NHL MVP Bobby Hull had the 2nd CTe when he died in 2023, researchers confirmed | NHL News – The Times of India