Injury in January ends three-time Stanley Cup champion's playing career
Niklas Hjalmarsson, one of Sweden's most accomplished hockey players, has announced his official retirement from the sport after an injury suffered in January. Hjalmarsson left the NHL in 2021 after winning three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks during his career. He took a year off, and then returned to the lineup of HV71 Jonkoping of the SHL, the team he played for before being drafted into the NHL by Chicago. Unfortunately, a hit from Emil Larssons of Orebro in January cut Hjalmarsson's return short, as he was only able to play 17 games in Sweden before being forced to announce his retirement.
"It has taken a while, Hjalmarsson said of his symptoms in a video on HV71's website. "Last week was the first time I felt completely one hundred percent. I was wondering and a little scared when it went on for so long."
Hjalmarsson said while he won't play anymore, he's interested in returning the sport he loves in a different role.
"I will see if I come back to another role in the future. I love hockey, that's what I've done and that's what I can do. Some kind of coach would be exciting to try."
With his name etched on the Stanley Cup three times, Hjalmarsson is widely regarded in his home country as one of Sweden's greatest hockey players. Only Nicklas Lidstrom, Tomas Holmstrom, Anders Kallur, and Stefan Persson have won the Cup more times than Hjalmarsson, each of them with four victories.
Source: AftonBladet
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