Niklas Hjalmarsson

Niklas Hjalmarsson
Born	June 6, 1987 (1987-06-06) (age 24) Eksjö, SWE
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Defense
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Chicago Blackhawks HV 71 (SEL)
NHL Draft	108th overall, 2005 Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career	2004–present

Niklas Hjalmarsson (born June 6, 1987) is a Swedish ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League.

Playing career

Hjalmarsson was drafted 108th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. He played professionally for 3 years in the Elitserien with HV71.

In the 2007–08 season, his first in North America, Hjalmarsson made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks. After spending the majority of the season with the Rockford IceHogs, he procured a regular spot on the roster with James Wisniewski's trade to the Anaheim Ducks.

He scored his first NHL goal against Chris Osgood of the Detroit Red Wings.

Hjalmarsson became a major installment into the Blackhawks lineup late in the 2008-2009 season and coming into the 2009-2010 season. He played 77 games in the regular season and all 22 in the playoffs for the team, tallying over 19 minutes per game, switching between a position in the second and third lines of defensive pairings. Over that time, he recorded a production value (PROD) of a point roughly every 45 minutes of it, while his season PROD was 89 minutes. A slapshot of Hjalmarsson's was redirected by Andrew Ladd to take a 3-2 lead in game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals where his team won in 4-3 in overtime.

He won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010.

On July 9, 2010 Hjalmarsson signed an offer sheet with the San Jose Sharks for 4 years and $14 million.^[1] On July 12 the Chicago Blackhawks announced that they would match the offer sheet. Hjalmarsson was the first defenseman in 13 years to receive an offer sheet as a restricted free agent.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2004–05	HV71	SEL		14	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	HV71	SEL		4	1	2	3	0		12	0	1	1	4
2006–07	IK Oskarshamn	Swe-1		8	1	2	3	6		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	HV71	SEL		37	2	0	2	24		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		47	4	9	13	31		12	0	4	4	8
2007–08	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		13	0	1	1	13		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		52	2	16	18	53		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		21	1	2	3	0		17	0	1	1	6
2009–10	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		77	2	15	17	20		22	1	7	8	6
2010–11	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		80	3	7	10	39		7	0	2	2	2
AHL totals				99	6	25	31	84		12	0	4	4	8
NHL totals				191	6	25	31	72		46	1	10	11	14
SEL totals				55	3	2	5	24		12	0	1	1	4

References

1. ^ "Sharks sign free agent D Hjalmarsson to offer sheet". TSN. 9 July 2010. http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=327071. Retrieved 9 July 2010. 

See also

• List of NHL players who have signed offer sheets

External links

• Niklas Hjalmarsson's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Niklas Hjalmarsson's Hockey-Reference page

Persondata
Name	Hjalmarsson, Niklas
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1987-06-06
Place of birth	Eksjö, SWE
Date of death
Place of death