Anders Hedberg

Anders Hedberg (born February 25, 1951, in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden) is a retired professional player who was one of the first European-born and raised players to make an impact in North America. Along with countryman Ulf Nilsson, Hedberg signed a contract to come over to play for the Winnipeg Jets in the World Hockey Association in 1974, after having played for both Modo Hockey and Djurgårdens IF in his native Sweden. Prior to the mid-seventies, Europeans generally did not come to play in the National Hockey League, as the cartel of NHL owners had poor (some would say xenophobic) opinions of Europeans and European hockey. Players such as the Czecholsovakian-born but Canadian-raised Stan Mikita were the exception.

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.

Hedberg played a starring role as the Jets won 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, further weakening the struggling WHA which would cease operations after just one more season. Hedberg recorded 856 professional points in North American hockey over 751 games, and would retire from the Rangers in 1985.

After his active career, Hedberg has among other things worked as an assistant to general manager Craig Patrick of the New York Rangers and as a scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and was also the general manager of the Swedish national men's ice hockey team between 2000 and 2002. He was the North American/European hockey co-ordinator of the Ottawa Senators for 3 years, and in August, 2007, returned to the New York Rangers as the Head Professional European Scout.

Awards and Achievements

 * Swedish Junior Player-of-the-Year (1969 & 1970)
 * Named Best Forward at EJC-A (1970)
 * Lou Kaplan Trophy Winner (1975)
 * WHA Second All-Star Team (1975 & 1978)
 * WHA First All-Star Team (1976 & 1977)
 * Avco Cup Championships (1976 & 1978)
 * Played in the 1976 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