1
Joe Thornton (C)
CenterInactive
Swedes in the NHL DraftSwedes in the 1997 NHL Draft
Cohort: 1979
Highest selection
#18
ANAMichael Holmqvist (C)
Swedes selected
15
of 246 picks
In round 1
1
of 15 Swedes
Share of the draft
6 %
of all picks
The 1997 NHL Draft took place on June 21, 1997 in Pittsburgh, PA, USA. 15 Swedes were selected, including 1 in the first round. Michael Holmqvist was the first Swede selected, at number 18 in round 1.
9 of the 15 Swedes (60%) have played at least one NHL game since the draft. The class leaders in NHL games played are Henrik Tallinder (678 GP, 142 P), Kristian Huselius (662 GP, 451 P), and Magnus Arvedson (434 GP, 225 P).
Across the draft archive, the year ranks 14 in Swedes selected and 6 in Swedish first-round selections. The Swedish draft class has combined for 890 points in 2220 NHL regular-season games. That ranks as the 24th 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
15 Swedes were drafted
15
Swedes
14
Teams
9
Rounds
Round 1
1 PICKS
18
Round 2
2 PICKS
47
48
Round 3
2 PICKS
54
Mattias Karlin (C)Center
70
Round 4
2 PICKS
94
Jonas Elofsson (D)Defenseman
105
Marc Kristoffersson (L)Left wing
Round 5
3 PICKS
119
129
John Wikstrom (D)Defenseman
134
Round 6
1 PICKS
143
Henrik Petre (D)Defenseman
Round 7
1 PICKS
175
Round 8
1 PICKS
195
Round 9
2 PICKS
221
240
Par Styf (D)Defenseman
The draft class in the NHL
Best Swedish players from the 1997 Draft
NHL regular-season statistics: games played, goals, assists, points, plus save percentage, wins, and shutouts for goalies.
Skaters · most points
Kristian Huselius (L)
Drafted #47FLA
GP
662
G
190
A
261
P
451
Magnus Arvedson (L)
Drafted #119OTT
GP
434
G
100
A
125
P
225
Henrik Tallinder (D)
Drafted #48BUF
GP
678
G
28
A
114
P
142
Michael Holmqvist (C)
Drafted #18ANA
GP
156
G
18
A
17
P
35
Jonathan Hedström (R)
Drafted #221TOR
GP
83
G
13
A
14
P
27
Goalies · most games
Johan Holmqvist (G)
Drafted #175NYR
GP
99
W
48
SV%
.890
SO
3
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
9 of the class's Swedes have made their NHL debuts, the first in 1997-1998. 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.