Europeans have made their mark on the NHL
It’s hard to imagine the National Hockey League without its European stars, but until the late 1970s, there were few players from outside North America in the world’s top league.
The 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union opened many eyes to how far European hockey had come and the emergence of the World Hockey Association in the 1970s gave many a platform to show their skills.
Now there are Europeans on every NHL club.
In the latest edition of NHL 100, we look at Europeans who have made their mark. ULF STERNER: The Swedish winger became the first European born and trained player to skate in the NHL when he joined the New York Rangers in 1964-65. He played only four games. BORJE SALMING: The defenceman became the first European to become an impact player in the NHL when he joined the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1973. The Swede went on to play 1,148 games over 17 seasons and was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996. ANDERS HEDBERG AND ULF NILSSON: The Swedish duo joined the WHA’s Winnipeg Jets in 1974, skating on a line with superstar Bobby Hull. Both signed in 1978 with the Rangers. VACLAV NEDOMANSKY: The Czechoslovak centre was 30 when he became the first player to defect from a Soviet Bloc country to play for the WHA’s Toronto Toros. He jumped to the Detroit Red Wings in 1977 and played seven seasons. THE STASTNY BROTHERS: Peter and Anton defected from Czechoslovakia to the Quebec Nordiques in 1980 and the oldest brother, Marian, joined them a year later.
VIACHESLAV FETISOV: The star Soviet defenceman was granted permission to play in the NHL in 1989.
MATS SUNDIN: The Nordiques made the centre the first European to be chosen first overall in the NHL draft in 1989. He entered the Hall of Fame in 2012.
TEEMU SELANNE: Among records likely never to be broken — the Finnish winger’s 76 goals as a rookie in 1992-93 with Winnipeg.
PAVEL BURE: The Russian Rocket debuted with the Vancouver Canucks in 1991 and went on to post two 60-goal seasons and three other 50-plus goal campaigns.
JAROMIR JAGR: Still going at 45, the Czech winger won the Stanley Cups in his first two seasons in Pittsburgh in 1991 and ’92.
JARMO KEKALAINEN: In February 2013, the Finn who got into only 55 NHL games as a player became the league’s first European GM with the Columbus Blue Jackets.