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spt_NHL_Redwings.sPubDate = "6/9/2008 7:28:16 AM GMT";
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spt_NHL_Redwings.appHeader = "Swedish players led Detroit's surge to Stanley Cup";
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spt_NHL_Redwings[i++] = new Array("","Introduction","Nicklas Lidstrom is the first European captain to win the Stanley Cup.","http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/j/apmegasports/200806042245819507375-pf.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Doug Pensinger", "Getty Images", "273", "346", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NHL_Redwings[i-1].body = "Years ago, when Sweden was underachieving in yet another international hockey tournament, veteran forward Kent Nilsson summed up the woes of his homeland. \"The trouble with Sweden,\" Nilsson suggested, \"is that there are too many Swedes in the lineup.\"
Too many Swedes spoil the Stanley Cup broth, a popular theory propagated in NHL circles for years. That notion was completely dispelled by the 2007-08 Detroit Red Wings.
The Stanley Cup champions went eight-deep in Swedes, including some of the best players from that country ever to skate in the NHL. NBCSports.com contributor Bob Duff takes a special at look at them.
";
spt_NHL_Redwings[i++] = new Array("","Nicklas Lidstrom","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NHL/Red%20Wings%20Pics/080503_Nicklas-Lidstrom.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Bruce Bennett", "Getty Images", "358", "243", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NHL_Redwings[i-1].body = "Notable: Detroit captain is a 5-time Norris Trophy winner as the NHL’s best defenseman and is a finalist again this season. Only Hall of Famers Bobby Orr (8) and Doug Harvey (7) have won the award more times. Four-time Stanley Cup winner captured Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in '02 and is the European-trained NHLer with the most playoff games. Olympic gold medalist in '06 has also played more playoff games than any player in Detroit history. Led NHL defensemen in scoring (70 points) and plus-minus (\+40) this season. First European-born and trained captain to lead a Cup champ.
Quotable: \"A classy individual. When you talk about people who exude what a hockey player should be, people like Nick come to the forefront.\"
- Nashville Predators coach Barry Trotz
";
spt_NHL_Redwings[i++] = new Array("","Henrik Zetterberg ","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NHL/Red%20Wings%20Pics/080503_Henrik-Zetterberg.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Doug Pensinger", "Getty Images", "355", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NHL_Redwings[i-1].body = "Notable: Conn Smythe Trophy winner as MVP of the playoffs scored team-high 27 points in the postseason. Finalist for the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward along with linemate Pavel Datsyuk. Set career highs in goals (43) and points (92) this season. Olympic gold medalist in '06 posted 18 points during Detroit’s first 10 games this season, one shy of club record.
Quotable: \"He’s so crafty and not afraid to try things. He’s fast, strong and such a good player. You can't really say anything bad about him.\"
- Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Suter
";
spt_NHL_Redwings[i++] = new Array("","Tomas Holmstrom ","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NHL/Red%20Wings%20Pics/080503_Tomas-Holmstrom.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Dave Sandford", "Getty Images", "358", "240", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NHL_Redwings[i-1].body = "Notable: Selected 257th overall in the '94 NHL entry draft, Holmstrom was a late-bloomer. No one owns the front of the other team’s net like Tomas the Tank Engine, who rides the edge of the blue paint in the goal crease, putting his gigantic red behind in the goalie’s face and all that netminder can do is hope that Holmstrom didn’t opt for chili as his pre-game meal. Olympic gold medalist in '06 and 3-time Stanley Cup winner. Has hit the 20-goal plateau three consecutive seasons. First emerged as a prime-time playoff performer when Detroit won the '98 Cup, posting 19 points and 7 goals, two more than he’d scored during the regular season.
Quotable: \"He’s a heart-and-soul Red Wing. He makes his teammates better by how hard he competes. He’s become an excellent player.\"
- Detroit coach Mike Babcock
";
spt_NHL_Redwings[i++] = new Array("","Johan Franzen ","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NHL/Red%20Wings%20Pics/080503_Johan-Franzen.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Gregory Shamus", "Getty Images", "358", "239", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NHL_Redwings[i-1].body = "Notable: Known as 'Mule' in the Wings' dressing room, Franzen developed into a thoroughbred in 2008. Scored 9 goals in second-round sweep of Colorado, including back-to-back hat-tricks, breaking Detroit playoff series mark of 8 established by Gordie Howe in 1949. Not drafted until he was 24, he scored just 22 goals during first two NHL seasons. Scored 6 GWG in March to break club mark for GWG in a month. At 220 pounds, he’s Detroit’s beefiest forward and like Tomas Holmstrom, has a nose for the net.
Quotable: \"I think he’s got all the attributes to be a complete player in the league. He’s scoring goals where he’s just being patient and going to the front of the net. He’s playing with a ton of confidence.\"
- Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom
";
spt_NHL_Redwings[i++] = new Array("","Niklas Kronwall ","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NHL/Red%20Wings%20Pics/080503_Niklas-Kronwall.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Gregory Shamus", "Getty Images", "358", "251", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NHL_Redwings[i-1].body = "Notable: Oft-injured defender missed all of last spring’s playoffs with a fractured tailbone, but led all defensemen in assists (15) during the playoffs. Olympic gold medalist in '06 was Detroit’s top draft pick (29th overall) in '00. Fifth among NHL defensemen with a \+25 rating. First European-born and trained defenseman to win the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s top defenseman (2004-05). Big-time hitter is one of Detroit’s more physical blue-liners. Older brother Staffan plays defense for Toronto.
Quotable: \"I would say that I'm a guy who enjoys the physical play. When you can jump up and really step into a guy, it feels good. It's fun.\"
- Niklas Kronwall
";
spt_NHL_Redwings[i++] = new Array("","Mikael Samuelsson ","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NHL/Red%20Wings%20Pics/080503_Mikael-Samuelsson.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Dave Sandford", "Getty Images", "358", "235", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NHL_Redwings[i-1].body = "Notable: Journeyman winger signed with Detroit as a free agent in September of 2005 and finally found a home, scoring a career-high 23 goals during his first season as a Red Wing. Previous stops with San Jose, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh and Florida before settling in with the Wings. Olympic gold medalist in '06 scored twice in Detroit’s series-clinching Game 4 win at Colorado and twice in the Game 1 victory over Pittsburgh in Cup finals. Known as a streak scorer, hard shooter plays the point on Detroit’s second power-play unit. Has been traded for Alexei Kovalev, Adam Graves and Marc-Andre Fleury during his NHL career.
Quotable: \"He’s an elite player offensively and defensively. He can skate. He can score.\"
- Detroit coach Mike Babcock
";
spt_NHL_Redwings[i++] = new Array("","Andreas Lilja ","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NHL/Red%20Wings%20Pics/080503_Andreas-Lilja.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Dave Sandford", "Getty Images", "358", "248", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NHL_Redwings[i-1].body = "Notable: Started the playoffs among Detroit’s top six blue-liners, but his spotty play relegated Lilja to press-box duty midway through the opening round against Nashville. But he returned to the ice and eventually played all six games in the Stanley Cup finals. Lilja’s turnover led to Teemu Selanne’s OT winner for Anaheim in the pivotal fifth game of last spring’s Western Conference finals. Originally selected 54th overall by Los Angeles in the 2000 NHL entry draft. Established a career high with 15 points for Detroit in 2005-06.
Quotable: \"His hockey sense and his ability to play the game are better than his hands.\"
- Detroit coach Mike Babcock
";
spt_NHL_Redwings[i++] = new Array("","Jonathan Ericsson","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NHL/Red%20Wings%20Pics/080503_Jonathan-Ericsson.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Brian Bahr", "Getty Images", "358", "256", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NHL_Redwings[i-1].body = "Notable: Youngest of Detroit’s eight Swedes at 24 is more a part of the future than right now, though he did get into eight games this season due to injury and is on the playoff roster. Scored his first NHL goal Feb. 26, 2008 against the Edmonton Oilers. Taken with the 291st and final pick of the 2002 NHL entry draft. Large presence at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds. Earned selection to the American Hockey League All-Star game this season. Played center until the 2001-02 season. Blends European skill level with North American passion for physical play.
Quotable: \"I think he has the potential to be an outstanding player. He’s intelligent and he skates, good, shoots good and passes good.\"
- Detroit coach Mike Babcock
";
// END editorial data