After sitting out the entire 2021-22 season, Niklas Hjalmarsson is preparing to return to hockey for the 2022-23 campaign.
The 35-year-old, who last played for the Arizona Coyotes in 2020-21, is preparing for a comeback with his hometown HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). While no longer a great NHL defender by the end of his career, he should have no problem contributing to HV71 in a big way, assuming he is fully healthy.
“I go by Husqvarna Garden every day and think about what it would have been like to play in HV71 and I really want to give this a chance,” said Hjalmarsson. “Otherwise, I will regret it in the future.”
Hjalmarsson played several years in the HV71 program before heading over to North America back in 2007. In fact, in his draft year in which he was selected in the fourth-round (108 overall) by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2005, he logged 14 games with HV71 in the SHL.
Though he was somewhat forgotten about during the final few seasons of his career with the Coyotes, Hjalmarsson was regarded as one of the best shut down defensemen in the NHL during his prime with the Blackhawks. He was a player that then head coach Joel Quenneville could always count on to match up against other teams’ top opposition, while also throwing him out on each and every penalty kill. Not only was he fantastic at breaking up offensive rushes, but he was amongst the league leaders in shot blocks each and every season.
Though Hjalmarsson may not receive as much credit for the Blackhawks three most recent Stanley Cup wins compared to players such as Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, fans of the team know just how vital he was to each and every one of those championships. Perhaps he still has a bit of those winning ways left in him and is able to bring success to HV71 this season.
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