1
Steven Stamkos (C)
Center
Swedes in the NHL DraftSwedes in the 2008 NHL Draft
Cohort: 1990
Highest selection
#15
OTTErik Karlsson (D)
Swedes selected
17
of 211 picks
In round 1
3
of 17 Swedes
Share of the draft
8 %
of all picks
The 2008 NHL Draft took place on June 20–21, 2008 in Ottawa, ON, Canada. 17 Swedes were selected, including 3 in the first round. Erik Karlsson was the first Swede selected, at number 15 in round 1.
9 of the 17 Swedes (53%) have played at least one NHL game since the draft. The class leaders in NHL games played are Erik Karlsson (1166 GP, 943 P), Gustav Nyquist (914 GP, 543 P), and Jacob Markström (582 GP, 0 P).
Across the draft archive, the year ranks 12 in Swedes selected and 4 in Swedish first-round selections. The Swedish draft class has combined for 1529 points in 2964 NHL regular-season games. That ranks as the 12th best Swedish draft class of all time by total points. 2 of 17 (12%) are still active in the NHL today.
The draft's top picks
The first 10 selections
Every drafted Swede
17 Swedes were drafted
17
Swedes
14
Teams
6
Rounds
Round 1
3 PICKS
15
21
Anton Gustafsson (C)Center
24
Round 2
1 PICKS
31
Round 4
4 PICKS
102
103
109
121
Round 5
3 PICKS
124
Nicklas Lasu (L)Left wing
125
Kristoffer Berglund (D)Defenseman
143
Stefan Warg (D)Defenseman
Round 6
1 PICKS
162
Jonathan Carlsson (D)Defenseman
Round 7
5 PICKS
196
198
Alexander Deilert (D)Defenseman
199
Emil Sandin (L)Left wing
207
211
Jesper Samuelsson (C)Center
The draft class in the NHL
Best Swedish players from the 2008 Draft
NHL regular-season statistics: games played, goals, assists, points, plus save percentage, wins, and shutouts for goalies.
Skaters · most points
Erik Karlsson (D)
Drafted #15OTT
GP
1166
G
215
A
728
P
943
Gustav Nyquist (R)
Drafted #121DET
GP
914
G
210
A
333
P
543
Mattias Tedenby (R)
Drafted #24NJD
GP
120
G
10
A
20
P
30
David Ullström (L)
Drafted #102NYI
GP
49
G
6
A
7
P
13
Johan Motin (D)
Drafted #103EDM
GP
1
G
0
A
0
P
0
Goalies · most games
Jacob Markström (G)
Drafted #31FLA
GP
582
W
266
SV%
.907
SO
26
Anders Lindbäck (G)
Drafted #207NSH
GP
130
W
45
SV%
.904
SO
3
Joacim Eriksson (G)
Drafted #196PHI
GP
1
W
0
SV%
.806
SO
0
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 2009-2010. 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.