PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Markus Näslund arrived at the same time as several other incredible hockey players.
The former left forward now pays tribute to Sweden’s continued regrowth.
– We should be happy about what we have, says Näslund to Sportbibeln.
Markus Näslund was a great hockey player during his time as a professional. He was active between 1990-2010, playing 16 of those years in the NHL. In total, there were 1,117 games in the NHL, for the clubs Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers. In that number of games, there were 869 points (395 goals and 474 assists).
Näslund’s tribute
Näslund was born in 1973, and appeared in Modo at the same time as a player who Peter “Fop” Forsberg and Niklas Sundstrom (born 1975).The 1972 generation produced players who Andreas Dackell, Michael Nylander and Daniel Alfredsson. That said, the beginning of the 70s had a good talent development, something Näslund thinks Sweden has maintained in a good way.
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Now it was thirteen years since Näslund ended his professional career. But when he looks at Swedish hockey today, the former Canucks captain is satisfied with the development.
– We produce many talented hockey players, all the time. I’m bad at checking all the way down to those who play junior WCs, 04s, 05s and such. But if you look at Leo Carlson and those who are now coming over, young ones, there will be star players as time goes on. Lucas Raymond earlier, and (Alexander) Holtz, Rasmus Dahlin and so on. So there are many very talented people who come from Sweden in the younger generation as well, says Näslund to Sportbibeln.
Karlsson and Hedman
The 1990s also produced a lot of talented players. Näslund lifts two of them.
– After all, we have two of the best slopes in the world Erik Karlsson and Victor Hedman also since before. So I think we should be very proud that we are constantly producing such fantastic players in such a small country, he says.
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Näslund finds it difficult to suggest anything Swedish hockey can do better, but focuses on the positive.
– After all, we have to do good things because we manage to produce so many talented guys. If you still compare with Canada – they are often the ones you compare yourself to the most because they are probably the leading nation – but if you look at practitioners, they have so many more than we have. So I think we should be happy with what we have and what we are achieving right now.
READ MORE: That’s why Markus Näslund broke with the New York Rangers and turned down SEK 30 million: “It was more important”
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