Anders Hedberg (born 25 February 1951) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey player who was one of the first European-born players to make an impact in North America. Along with countryman Ulf Nilsson, Hedberg signed a contract to play for the Winnipeg Jets in the World Hockey Association (WHA) in 1974, after having represented both Modo Hockey and Djurgårdens IF in his native Sweden. Hedberg subsequently played during seven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Rangers. He was twice voted best junior in Sweden and as such the only one^{[clarification needed]} (1969 and 1970) and is a graduate from the Stockholm School of Physical Education (GIH).

Anders Hedberg
Anders Hedberg at the Swedish Sports Awards inside the Stockholm Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden in January 2013
Born	(1951-02-25) 25 February 1951 (age 71) Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Modo AIK Djurgårdens IF Winnipeg Jets New York Rangers
National team	Sweden
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	1967–1985
Medal record Representing  Sweden Men's ice hockey European Junior Championships 1968 Finland 1970 Switzerland World Championships 1970 Sweden 1972 Czechoslovakia 1973 Soviet Union 1974 Finland

Playing career

Hedberg was an instant sensation in the WHA, recording 100 points in 65 games in his first season, and playing alongside established superstar Bobby Hull. He scored at least 50 goals and 100 points in his other three WHA seasons, peaking with 70 goals and 61 assists in 1976-77 despite only playing 68 games that year.

Hedberg played a starring role as the Jets won the Avco World Trophy titles in 1976 and 1978. In the summer of 1978, Nilsson and Hedberg signed with the NHL's New York Rangers for $2.4 million, one of the first open acknowledgements that the quality of the WHA was on par with the NHL, making a merger with the WHA possible just one season later. Hedberg recorded 856 professional points in North American hockey over 751 games, and retired from the Rangers in 1985. In 1979 took part in "Challenge Cup" Tournament as a Player of NHL Team vs USSR National Team.

Post-playing career

After his active career, Hedberg became an assistant to general manager Craig Patrick of the New York Rangers, the first European to have a front office job in the NHL.[1] Between 1991 and 1997 he worked as a scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs before moving up to the position as assistant general manager from 1997 to 1999.

In 2000, he was appointed general manager of the Swedish national ice hockey team and joined the Ottawa Senators as Director of Player Personnel in 2002-07.[2] In August 2007, he returned to the New York Rangers as the Head Professional European Scout. He was elected to the Swedish Hockey Hall of Fame on 11 February 2012.[3]

Awards and achievements

• Swedish Junior Player of the Year (1969 and 1970)
• Named Best Forward at EJC-A (1970)
• Lou Kaplan Trophy winner (1975)
• WHA Second All-Star Team (1975 and 1978)
• WHA First All-Star Team (1976 and 1977)
• Avco Cup championships (1976 and 1978)
• Played in the 1976 Canada Cup and 1981 Canada Cup tournament
• Bill Masterton Trophy winner (1985)
• Played in NHL All-Star Game (1985)
• Inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1997
• Honoured Member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
• In the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats, was ranked No. 36 all-time of the 901 New York Rangers who had played during the team's first 82 seasons[1]
• Inaugural member of the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame.[4]
• Scored 50 goals in 50 games in 1977

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

References

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database

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