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NHL Draft

Swedes in the NHL Draft Through the Years

Here we collect 53 NHL Drafts from 1974 through 2026. During that period, 898 Swedes were selected, including 101 in the first round and 9 among the top three picks. Mats Sundin (in 1989) and Rasmus Dahlin (in 2018) are the highest-selected Swedes of all time, at number 1. Close behind are Daniel Sedin (in 1999), Victor Hedman (in 2009), Gabriel Landeskog (in 2011), Leo Carlsson (in 2023), and Ivar Stenberg (in 2026) who were selected at number 2.

The most Swedes were selected in 2020, when 30 players were picked. 2026 had the most Swedish first-round picks with 7.

See every draft year, and statistics on the best Swedish draft years, below.

2020s

177 Swedes

2026JUN 26–JUN 27 · Buffalo, NY, USA

Cohort: 2008

SJS#2Ivar Stenberg

2025JUN 27–JUN 28 · Los Angeles, CA, USA

Cohort: 2007

CHI#3Anton Frondell

2024JUN 28–JUN 29 · Las Vegas, NV, USA

Cohort: 2006

ANA#35Lucas Pettersson

2023JUN 28–JUN 29 · Nashville, TN, USA

Cohort: 2005

ANA#2Leo Carlsson

2022JUL 7–JUL 8 · Montreal, QC, CAN

Cohort: 2004

VAN#15Jonathan Lekkerimäki

2021JUL 23–JUL 24 · Virtual

Cohort: 2003

DET#6Simon Edvinsson

2020OCT 6–OCT 7 · Virtual

Cohort: 2002

DET#4Lucas Raymond

Swedish draft statistics

The best Swedish drafts of all time

Highest draft picks

1#1Mats Sundin (C)1989QUE

2#1Rasmus Dahlin (D)2018BUF

3#2Daniel Sedin (L)1999VAN

4#2Victor Hedman (D)2009TBL

5#2Gabriel Landeskog (L)2011COL

6#2Leo Carlsson (C)2023ANA

7#2Ivar Stenberg (L)2026SJS

Most Swedes in round 1

Most Swedes overall

Best draft classes→The best Swedish draft classes by NHL career output.First round→Every Swedish first-round selection, ordered by pick number.Teams→Which NHL teams have drafted the most Swedes?

From draft pick to NHL contract – what an entry-level contract means and how salary, bonuses and AAV work.

2010s

244 Swedes

2019JUN 21–JUN 22 · Vancouver, BC, CAN

Cohort: 2001

EDM#8Philip Broberg

2018JUN 22–JUN 23 · Dallas, TX, USA

Cohort: 2000

BUF#1Rasmus Dahlin

2017JUN 23–JUN 24 · Chicago, IL, USA

Cohort: 1999

VAN#5Elias Pettersson

2016JUN 24–JUN 25 · Buffalo, NY, USA

Cohort: 1998

BUF#8Alexander Nylander

2015JUN 26–JUN 27 · Sunrise, FL, USA

Cohort: 1997

MIN#20Joel Eriksson Ek

2014JUN 27–JUN 28 · Philadelphia, PA, USA

Cohort: 1996

TOR#8William Nylander

2013JUN 30 · Newark, NJ, USA

Cohort: 1995

CAR#5Elias Lindholm

2012JUN 22–JUN 23 · Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Cohort: 1994

ANA#6Hampus Lindholm

2011JUN 24–JUN 25 · St. Paul, MN, USA

Cohort: 1993

COL#2Gabriel Landeskog

2010JUN 25–JUN 26 · Los Angeles, CA, USA

Cohort: 1992

CHI#35Ludvig Rensfeldt

2000s

182 Swedes

2009JUN 26–JUN 27 · Montreal, QC, CAN

Cohort: 1991

TBL#2Victor Hedman

2008JUN 20–JUN 21 · Ottawa, ON, CAN

Cohort: 1990

OTT#15Erik Karlsson

2007JUN 22–JUN 23 · Columbus, OH, USA

Cohort: 1989

CGY#24Mikael Backlund

2006JUN 24 · Vancouver, BC, CAN

Cohort: 1988

WSH#4Nicklas Bäckström

2005JUL 30 · Ottawa, ON, CAN

Cohort: 1987

NJD#23Niclas Bergfors

2004JUN 26–JUN 27 · Raleigh, NC, USA

Cohort: 1986

PIT#31Johannes Salmonsson

2003JUN 21–JUN 22 · Nashville, TN, USA

Cohort: 1985

DAL#33Loui Eriksson

2002JUN 22–JUN 23 · Toronto, ON, CAN

Cohort: 1984

TOR#24Alexander Steen

2001JUN 23–JUN 24 · Sunrise, FL, USA

Cohort: 1983

PHX#11Fredrik Sjöström

2000JUN 24–JUN 25 · Calgary, AB, CAN

Cohort: 1982

BOS#7Lars Jonsson

1990s

145 Swedes

1999JUN 26 · Boston, MA, USA

Cohort: 1981

VAN#2Daniel Sedin

1998JUN 27 · Buffalo, NY, USA

Cohort: 1980

STL#24Christian Bäckman

1997JUN 21 · Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Cohort: 1979

ANA#18Michael Holmqvist

1996JUN 22 · St. Louis, MO, USA

Cohort: 1978

FLA#20Marcus Nilson

1995JUL 8 · Edmonton, AB, CAN

Cohort: 1977

FLA#88Daniel Tjärnqvist

1994JUN 28–JUN 29 · Hartford, CT, USA

Cohort: 1976

VAN#13Mattias Öhlund

1993JUN 25 · Quebec City, QC CAN

Cohort: 1975

Supplemental Draft

NYR#8Niklas Sundström

1992JUN 19 · Montreal, QC CAN

Cohort: 1974

Supplemental Draft

NYR#48Mattias Norström

1991JUN 21 · Buffalo, NY USA

Cohort: 1972

Supplemental Draft

PHI#6Peter Forsberg

1990JUN 15 · Vancouver, BC CAN

Cohort: 1970

Supplemental Draft

PHI#40Mikael Renberg

1980s

123 Swedes

1989JUN 16 · Bloomington, MN USA

Cohort: 1969

Supplemental Draft

QUE#1Mats Sundin

1988JUN 10 · Montreal, QC CAN

Cohort: 1970

Supplemental Draft

VAN#33Leif Rohlin

1987JUN 13 · Detroit, MI, USA

Cohort: 1969

NJD#23Ricard Persson

1986JUN 21 · Montreal, QC, CAN

Cohort: 1968

NJD#66Anders Carlsson

1985JUN 15 · Toronto, ON, CAN

Cohort: 1967

NYR#7Ulf Dahlén

1984JUN 9 · Montreal, QC, CAN

Cohort: 1966

BUF#18Mikael Andersson

1983JUN 8 · Montreal, QC, CAN

Cohort: 1965

HFD#61Leif Karlsson

1982JUN 9 · Montreal, QC, CAN

Cohort: 1964

BUF#30Jens Johansson

1981JUN 10 · Montreal, QC, CAN

Cohort: 1963

MTL#19Jan Ingman

1980JUN 11 · Montreal, QC, CAN

Cohort: 1961

STL#138Roger Hägglund

1970s

27 Swedes

1979AUG 9 · Montreal, QC, CAN

Cohort: 1959

NYI#25Tomas Jonsson

1978JUN 15 · Montreal, QC, CAN

Cohort: 1958

WSH#55Bengt-Åke Gustafsson

1977JUN 14 · Montreal, QC, CAN

Cohort: 1957

NYI#121Harald Lückner

1976MAY 27 · Montreal, QC, CAN

Cohort: 1956

CGS#5Björn Johansson

1975JUN 3 · Montreal, QC, CAN

Cohort: 1955

BOS#140Bo Berglund

1974MAY 28–MAY 30 · Montreal, QC, CAN

Cohort: 1954

TOR#49Per-Arne Alexandersson