1
Mike Modano (C)
CenterInactive
Swedes in the NHL DraftSwedes in the 1988 NHL Draft
Cohort: 1970
Highest selection
#33
VANLeif Rohlin (D)
Swedes selected
14
of 252 picks
In round 1
0
of 14 Swedes
Share of the draft
6 %
of all picks
The 1988 NHL Draft took place on June 10, 1988 in Montreal, QC, Canada. 14 Swedes were selected, including 0 in the first round. Leif Rohlin was the first Swede selected, at number 33 in round 2.
6 of the 14 Swedes (43%) have played at least one NHL game since the draft. The class leaders in NHL games played are Peter Popovic (485 GP, 73 P), Patric Kjellberg (394 GP, 160 P), and Patrik Carnbäck (154 GP, 62 P).
Across the draft archive, the year ranks 15 in Swedes selected and 7 in Swedish first-round selections. The Swedish draft class has combined for 350 points in 1195 NHL regular-season games. That ranks as the 41st best Swedish draft class of all time by total points. None are still active in the NHL today.
The draft's top picks
The first 10 selections
Every drafted Swede
14 Swedes were drafted
14
Swedes
8
Teams
8
Rounds
Round 2
1 PICKS
33
Round 4
2 PICKS
71
Stefan Elvenas (R)Right wing
83
Round 5
2 PICKS
85
93
Round 6
3 PICKS
112
Robert Larsson (D)Defenseman
125
126
Round 7
2 PICKS
127
Markus Akerblom (C)Center
147
Stefan Nilsson (R)Right wing
Round 8
2 PICKS
153
Roger Elvenas (C)Center
161
Johan Salle (D)Defenseman
Round 9
1 PICKS
170
Roger Akerstrom (D)Defenseman
Round 12
1 PICKS
233
Steffan Nilsson (R)Right wing
The draft class in the NHL
Best Swedish players from the 1988 Draft
NHL regular-season statistics: games played, goals, assists, points, plus save percentage, wins, and shutouts for goalies.
Skaters · most points
Patric Kjellberg (L)
Drafted #83MTL
GP
394
G
64
A
96
P
160
Peter Popovic (D)
Drafted #93MTL
GP
485
G
10
A
63
P
73
Patrik Carnbäck (R)
Drafted #125MTL
GP
154
G
24
A
38
P
62
Leif Rohlin (D)
Drafted #33VAN
GP
96
G
8
A
24
P
32
Thomas Forslund (R)
Drafted #85CGY
GP
44
G
5
A
11
P
16
Drafting teams
Teams that drafted Swedish players
Sorted by the number of Swedish players selected.
The road to the NHL
The draft class's NHL debuts
6 of the class's Swedes have made their NHL debuts, the first in 1989-1990. Pick a season to see every debutant.
More about the NHL Draft and the Swedes
Explore Swedish Draft history
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.