1
Vincent Lecavalier (C)
CenterInactive
Swedes in the NHL DraftSwedes in the 1998 NHL Draft
Cohort: 1980
Highest selection
#24
STLChristian Bäckman (D)
Swedes selected
18
of 258 picks
In round 1
1
of 18 Swedes
Share of the draft
7 %
of all picks
The 1998 NHL Draft took place on June 27, 1998 in Buffalo, NY, USA. 18 Swedes were selected, including 1 in the first round. Christian Bäckman was the first Swede selected, at number 24 in round 1.
9 of the 18 Swedes (50%) have played at least one NHL game since the draft. The class leaders in NHL games played are Mikael Samuelsson (699 GP, 346 P), Christian Bäckman (302 GP, 79 P), and Tommy Westlund (203 GP, 22 P).
Across the draft archive, the year ranks 11 in Swedes selected and 6 in Swedish first-round selections. The Swedish draft class has combined for 509 points in 1489 NHL regular-season games. That ranks as the 35th 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
18 Swedes were drafted
18
Swedes
13
Teams
9
Rounds
Round 1
1 PICKS
24
Round 2
1 PICKS
37
Round 3
2 PICKS
78
86
Gabriel Karlsson (C)Center
Round 4
2 PICKS
93
112
Viktor Wallin (D)Defenseman
Round 5
3 PICKS
136
David Ytfeldt (D)Defenseman
142
Calle Steen (R)Right wing
145
Round 6
1 PICKS
160
Round 7
1 PICKS
180
Stefan Lundqvist (L)Left wing
Round 8
3 PICKS
206
207
226
David Petrasek (D)Defenseman
Round 9
4 PICKS
231
Adrian Wischer (C)Center
233
Pelle Prestberg (R)Right wing
235
245
Andreas Andersson (G)Goaltender
The draft class in the NHL
Best Swedish players from the 1998 Draft
NHL regular-season statistics: games played, goals, assists, points, plus save percentage, wins, and shutouts for goalies.
Skaters · most points
Mikael Samuelsson (R)
Drafted #145SJS
GP
699
G
149
A
197
P
346
Christian Bäckman (D)
Drafted #24STL
GP
302
G
23
A
56
P
79
Christian Berglund (L)
Drafted #37NJD
GP
86
G
11
A
16
P
27
Tommy Westlund (L)
Drafted #93CAR
GP
203
G
9
A
13
P
22
Rickard Wallin (C)
Drafted #160PHX
GP
79
G
8
A
11
P
19
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 1998-1999. 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.