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Niklas HjalmarssonSwedish professional ice hockey player, defenseman
Date of Birth: 06.06.1987
Country:  Sweden |
Content:
Biography of Nicklas Hjalmarsson
Nicklas Hjalmarsson is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenseman who is best known for his achievements with the American team, the Chicago Blackhawks. He has won two Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks, making them the highlight of his career. However, Hjalmarsson has also played for Swedish teams, and in 2014, he won a silver medal at the Sochi Olympics.
Early Career
Nicklas Hjalmarsson began his professional career with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2005 when he was selected 108th overall in the NHL Draft. However, he didn't immediately join the team and spent the next few seasons playing for IK Oskarshamn and HV71. Despite this, the Chicago Blackhawks had plans for Hjalmarsson and eventually called him up to the main roster.
Chicago Blackhawks
Hjalmarsson made his NHL debut during the 2007-2008 season, primarily playing for the Blackhawks' affiliate team, the Rockford IceHogs, in the American Hockey League. He scored his first NHL goal against the Detroit Red Wings, beating Chris Osgood. Hjalmarsson solidified his place in the Blackhawks' lineup during the 2008-2009 season and became a key player for the team.
In the following season, Hjalmarsson played in 77 games and was a reliable defenseman in the playoffs, averaging over 19 minutes of ice time per game. His assist to Andrew Ladd in the sixth game of the Stanley Cup finals helped the Blackhawks secure a 3-2 victory in overtime. Ultimately, the Blackhawks won the championship that year.
In 2010, Hjalmarsson and the Chicago Blackhawks once again won the Stanley Cup. However, on July 9 of the same year, he signed a four-year offer sheet with the San Jose Sharks worth $14 million. The Sharks believed Hjalmarsson would be a valuable addition to their team. The Blackhawks had a week to match the offer, and if they didn't, Hjalmarsson would join the Sharks, and the Blackhawks would receive two compensatory draft picks.
On July 12, the Chicago Blackhawks announced their intention to match the offer sheet, making Hjalmarsson the first defenseman in 13 years to receive such an offer as a restricted free agent. The decision, however, prevented the Blackhawks from re-signing Finnish goaltender Antti Niemi, who ended up joining the Sharks.
During the NHL lockout in the 2012-2013 season, Hjalmarsson played for the Italian team HC Bolzano in the Serie A and in the IIHF Continental Cup. In 2013, the Chicago Blackhawks once again won the Stanley Cup, and this victory made Hjalmarsson the tenth Swedish player in history to win the Cup multiple times.
International Career
Nicklas Hjalmarsson has also represented Sweden in international competitions. His notable achievement was participating in the 2014 Winter Olympics, where Sweden won the silver medal, narrowly losing to Canada in the final with a score of 0-3.
