The current captain and star of the Toronto Maple Leafs. A Swede, he was drafted first overall by the Quebec Nordiques in 1989, the first European ever to be the first NHL draft pick. He wears number 13.

What makes him a great hockey player is his combination of size and speed. At 6'4" and 225 pounds, he has excellent puck-handling skills and agility. He uses a straight stick, different from the curved ones most players use today. This gives him excellent backhand shots and passes, possibly the best in the NHL right now, as well as the ability to shoot very accurately at the top corners of the net. This mix of shooting and passing makes him a playmaker as well as a scorer, the skills of a center.

Left the Swedish league 1990 in spite of being under contract with Djurgådens IF. He was banned from the Swedish National Hockey Team for all future.

When Quebec didn't make it* to the Stanley Cup playoffs in 1991, he was forgiven, since he was then available for the Hockey World Championships where he was badly needed in the Swedish team. He went on to make Sweden Champions of the World with several classic goals, most notably his 2-1 on a breakaway between the legs of Soviet goalkeeper, after feinting Fetisov. It still gives me goosebumps to think of it.

* (Remember that the Quebec franchise was one of the worst teams in the NHL at this time. Only after it was moved to Colorado did they become successful.)