Looking back at Niklas Hjalmarsson

[JoVel]

I remember him as being one of the players who proved that it is possible to make a playoff run, and win the Stanley Cup with only four defensemen.

 

[KAWAIlllI]

Hammer probably still has bumps all over his body from all the shots he blocked.

Actually met him at a wedding recently. He’s very tiny these days, except his huge head

 

[KAWAIlllI]

Always thought of Hjalmarsson as of Icelandic descent with that surname although of course he is Swedish.

I get that, but most Swedish surname consists of ”First name+sson”

 

[Regal]

Why yes, I must be. Thank you for correcting me!

Yandle was also gone by then. Maybe it was Goligoski and someone else. Demers?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Glad he's getting some love in this thread, one of the best I've ever seen do it defensively. Just a total eraser out there, ate pucks like a goalie and just calmly defused bombs night in and night out for years. One of only a handful of dmen who could handle prime Kopitar--it really was only Vlasic, Weber, Hjalmarsson that seemed to be able to just eliminate him with regularity with a combo of good-enough skating, smarts, and physicality.

People will rightfully look at bigger names on the Hawks but I always thought that Seabrook made people often overlook Hjalmarsson as a really, REALLY key part of that squad.

 

[Summer Rose]

Yandle was also gone by then. Maybe it was Goligoski and someone else. Demers?

Must be. Easy to get those Coyotes eras mixed up since they were so bad.

 

[Brookbank]

Hjalmarsson, Tanev, Vlasic, Mitchell, Hamhuis, and Stralman were the best defensive defencemen of that era imo.

Vancouver does not get enough credit for finding Tanev

 

[Mantis]

Hjalmarsson, Tanev, Vlasic, Mitchell, Hamhuis, and Stralman were the best defensive defencemen of that era imo.

Seidenberg was pretty good for a while too. Super underrated because Chara overshadowed him.

 

[AnInjuredJasonZucker]

The spelling of his last name was pretty underrated. A good Hj doesn't get enough credit.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

I get that, but most Swedish surname consists of ”First name+sson”

Sweden and Iceland use sson, while Norway and Denmark use sen.

Andersson for Sweden and Iceland.
Andersen for Norway and Denmark.

 

[Chainshot]

Amazing defensive defenseman, pined for him for years. The only blemish I recall was him boarding Jason Pominville in a game, knocking him out with a concussion. Smart, well-positioned, great stick...

 

[HockeyVirus]

Girardi

I look at him like a David Savard