Magnus Hellberg finally got his chance in the Ottawa Senators.
Then he won outright.
The Swede thus wrote a piece of NHL history.
Magnus Hellberg’s summer was reasonably turbulent, and perhaps not optimal for a new season. The Swede left the NHL and the New York Rangers in 2017 to play in the KHL, and he remained there until this spring. After Russia started a war with Ukraine, Hellberg had to leave his team, HK Sochi, and ended up in the Detroit Red Wings.
Highly praised
This summer he was again a free transfer, and he then signed for the Seattle Kraken. But shortly thereafter, the goaltender was placed on waivers, and then the Ottawa Senators chose to strike, and Hellberg finally got his new club. But it has taken some time for the Swede to get his first start at the club. In the first five games of the season, Hellberg had to guard the bench, but tonight he got the chance – and he took it.
Hellberg made 29 saves in his Ottawa debut against the Dallas Stars, which the Senators won 4-2. Hellberg was highly praised for his performance and did not try to hide how happy he was afterwards.
– I am more experienced and more mature now. I have developed every aspect of my game. I think I’m playing my best hockey in my career right now, he says to the NHL’s official website.
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Set a new record
And with the win, Hellberg set a somewhat unexpected and odd NHL record. When he made his Rangers debut in 2017, Hellberg won the game. Last spring, he made just one start for Detroit – and even that game he won. With tonight’s win, Hellberg became the first goaltender in NHL history to win his first game with three different clubs.
Hellberg is now looking forward to putting the turbulence of this summer behind him – and is now hoping for even greater confidence in the future.
– I have a drive to play at the highest level and I feel that I can play full-time in this league. I’m happy that everything worked out this summer and that I get to play here, says Hellberg.
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