NHL-podden med Bjurman och Ekeliw · Aftonbladet Sportbladet

Avsnitt 487 – Special: Bästa svenskarna i alla lag på 2000-talet

·1 hr 28 min·7 clips
Per Bjurman and Jonathan Ekeliw rank the three best Swedes in every NHL team since 2000.
1. NHL-podden avsnitt 487 is a special ranking episode: the top three Swedish players for each of the 32 NHL franchises since the 2000-01 season, inspired by NHL.com's own century-ranking series. 2. Hosts are Per Bjurman and Jonathan Ekeliw; Bjurman notes he is lying down on the sofa mid-episode due to lack of sleep, which becomes a running joke. 3. The episode's stated rules exclude any player whose significant contributions predate 2000-01, removing legends like Mikael Renberg (Flyers), Mats Sundin's best years (partly eligible), and Mikael Telven. 4. For Anaheim, Jonathan Ekeliw's controversial top-three choice is Samuel Påhlsson — despite fewer points than Teemu Selanne, Rickard Rakell, and Hampus Lindholm — because his checking line with Rob Niedermeyer and Travis Moen was 'decisive' in the 2007 Stanley Cup. 5. Boston Bruins' top three features Pebben Axelsson (557 games), Loui Eriksson (best years of his career there), and Linus Ullmark (Vezina Trophy wins qualify him despite a short tenure). 6. Buffalo's list is led by Rasmus Dahlin, described as potentially the greatest Swedish player in franchise history; Henrik Tallinder's 532 shutdown games and Viktor Olofsson's three 20-goal seasons round out the three. 7. Calgary's debate centers on Mikael Backlund (1000+ games, team captain, franchise icon), Elias Lindholm, and Rasmus Andersson — with Kristian Huselius mentioned as a high-point-per-game player who was traded away by Mike Keenan. 8. The hosts note Carolina has a 'taco' named after Jesper Fast — the only Raleigh Swedish player to earn such recognition — and that Victor Rask had a good career-start ruined by injury. 9. Chicago's list focuses on players from the dynasty years: Niklas Hjalmarsson (described as 'one of the best defensive defensemen in the NHL, not just among Swedes'), Johnny Oduya, and Marcus Kruger — with Mikael Nylander's 173 games and 129 points in Chicago's weakest era also noted. 10. Colorado's debate is framed as a 'taste question' between Peter Forsberg (198 games, 264 points in the 2000s alone, including a last-game points-lead snub of Marcus Näslund) and Gabriel Landeskog (738 games, team captain, Stanley Cup winner) — the hosts put Forsberg first. 11. Detroit Red Wings generates the episode's deepest debate: Nicklas Lidstrom (Norris Trophies, Conn Smythe 2002 and 2008) versus Henrik Zetterberg (Conn Smythe, 1000+ games), with Holmstrom, Kronwall, and Lucas Raymond competing for third. 12. Edmonton's top Swede is declared Tommy Salo — described as one of the best goalkeepers of his era, often overlooked in the shadow of Henrik Lundqvist — and Oskar Klefbom's career cut short by injuries is mourned. 13. Tampa Bay features Victor Hedman as the undisputed number one, described as 'one of the great club icons'; Fredrik Modin (Stanley Cup 2004) is celebrated as still welcomed back to Tampa for meet-and-greets. 14. New York Rangers creates a three-way debate: Henrik Lundqvist (retired jersey, all franchise records), Mika Zibanejad (modern era), and Mikael Nylander (point-per-game peak alongside Jagr in the early 2000s). 15. Ottawa Senators features Daniel Alfredsson (850 games in the 2000s, team captain, close to the 2007 Final) and Erik Karlsson (double Norris Trophy, the 2017 'played on one leg' season described by the coach using 'biblical terms'). 16. Pittsburgh's list centers on Patrik Hornqvist and Carl Hagelin's dual Stanley Cup wins, with Dick Tärnström noted as the only Swede to win Pittsburgh's internal points race — in the team's worst era, before Crosby arrived. 17. The Toronto discussion pits Mats Sundin (539 games, 533 points, five conference finals wins as captain) against William Nylander (more matches and points in the 2000s window), with Sundin placed first as the greater leader. 18. Vancouver is anchored by Daniel and Henrik Sedin as given first/second, with Marcus Näslund — who Forsberg beat in the 2000-01 points race 'in the final game' — taking third. 19. The episode covers all 32 franchises including newer organizations like Seattle (too short a history for a full top three), Utah/Arizona (Oliver Ekman-Larsson as the clear number one with 388 points versus Fredrik Sjostrom's 73), and Vegas. 20. Long-term Swedish hockey fans and NHL historians will find the most value in this special; those looking for current news, standings coverage, or non-Swedish player analysis should look to other episodes.
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