Anton Strålman (born 1 August 1986) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman for HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Strålman has also played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the organization that drafted him in the seventh round, 216th overall, in 2005, as well as the Columbus Blue Jackets, the New York Rangers, the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Florida Panthers, the Arizona Coyotes, and the Boston Bruins.

Anton Strålman
Strålman with the Tampa Bay Lightning in December 2014
Born (1986-08-01) 1 August 1986 (age 38)
Tibro, Sweden
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
SHL team
Former teams
HV71
Timrå IK
Toronto Maple Leafs
Columbus Blue Jackets
New York Rangers
Tampa Bay Lightning
Florida Panthers
Arizona Coyotes
Boston Bruins
National team  Sweden
NHL draft 216th overall, 2005
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 2003–present
Website stralman.com

Playing career

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Strålman with the Blue Jackets in October 2009.

Strålman was selected on 30 July 2005, by the Toronto Maple Leafs as their fifth draft choice, 216th overall. He was picked in the seventh and final round of the post-lockout 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Earlier the same year, on 4 April, Strålman had signed a two-year contract with Timrå IK of the Swedish Elitserien.[1]

During the following 2005–06 season, Strålman adapted to Elitserien quickly and became a team regular. On 20 January 2006, this effort was recognized when he was named the third of four candidates for the 2006 Elitserien Rookie of the Year. The award was eventually won by forward Nicklas Bäckström.[2]

Toronto Maple Leafs (2007–2009)

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On 16 May 2007, Strålman signed a three-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He made his North American professional debut on 6 October 2007, with the Toronto Marlies, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Maple Leafs, and made his NHL debut on 23 October in a home game against the Atlanta Thrashers.[3][4] On 21 March 2008, he scored his first career NHL goal in a game against the Buffalo Sabres, then recorded his first multi-goal game against the Montreal Canadiens on 29 March.

Columbus Blue Jackets (2009–2011)

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During the 2009 off-season, Strålman was traded twice. On 27 July, he was traded to the Calgary Flames, along with Colin Stuart and a seventh-round draft pick in 2012, in exchange for Wayne Primeau and a second-round pick in the 2011. Several months later, on 28 September, he was traded by the Flames to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a third-round pick in 2010.

New York Rangers (2011–2014)

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As a free agent after the 2010–11 season, Strålman was on a try-out contract with the New Jersey Devils, but did not stick with the team when the final team roster was released. On 3 November, he then signed a one-year contract with the New York Rangers.[5] As a restricted free agent at the end of the season, he initially planned to bring the Rangers to a salary arbitrator, but on 26 July 2012, he signed a two-year, $3.4 million contract with New York. During the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs, Strålman helped the Rangers reach the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals, where they were ultimately defeated by the Los Angeles Kings in five games.

Tampa Bay Lightning (2014–2019)

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On 1 July 2014, Strålman left the Rangers organization as an unrestricted free agent and signed a five-year, $22 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.[6] In the 2014–15 season, he set career-highs in goals (9), assists (30) and points (39) in his first season with the Lightning, helping the team reach the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals. During the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals, the Lightning defeated his former team, the Presidents' Trophy-winning New York Rangers, in seven games before ultimately getting defeated by the Chicago Blackhawks in six games in the Finals.

 
Strålman with the Rangers in March 2013.

On 27 November 2015, Strålman played in his 500th career NHL game in a 2–4 Lightning loss to the Washington Capitals.[7] On 25 March 2016, Strålman suffered a non-displaced fracture of his left fibula, during a 7–4 win over the New York Islanders.[8]

Florida Panthers (2019–2021)

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After five seasons with the Lightning organization, Strålman left as a free agent to sign a three-year, $16.5 million contract with the Florida Panthers on July 1, 2019.[9]

Arizona Coyotes (2021–2022)

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On 26 July 2021, Strålman was traded to the Arizona Coyotes along with Vladislav Kolyachonok and a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for a 7th-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.[10]

Boston Bruins (2022–2023)

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As a free agent at the conclusion of his contract with the Coyotes, Strålman went un-signed over the summer. Approaching the 2022–23 season, he initially joined the Boston Bruins training camp and pre-season on a professional tryout before agreeing to a one-year, $1 million contract on 11 October 2022.[11]

Post NHL playing career

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Strålman signed a one-year contract with HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) on 15 July 2023.[12]

International play

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On 2 March 2016, the Swedish Ice Hockey Association named Strålman to its roster for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Strålman was joined by Lightning teammate Victor Hedman. The tournament ran from 17 Sep to 1 October 2016, in Toronto.[13]

On 15 April 2017, the Swedish Ice Hockey Association invited Strålman to its roster for the 2017 IIHF World Championship. However, he was awaiting medical clearance.[14] On 18 April 2017, it was announced that Strålman was cleared to play for team Sweden in the tournament.[15] On May 21, 2017, Strålman helped team Sweden capture gold in a 2-1 victory over Canada.[16]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2002–03 Skövde IK SWE.2 U20 46 20 9 29 38
2003–04 Skövde IK SWE.3 27 4 8 12 18 10 3 1 4 4
2004–05 Skövde IK SWE.2 41 9 9 18 34 9 1 2 3 6
2005–06 Timrå IK SEL 45 1 4 5 28
2005–06 Timrå IK J20 3 0 0 0 4
2006–07 Timrå IK SEL 53 10 11 21 34 7 1 3 4 10
2007–08 Toronto Marlies AHL 21 0 11 11 22
2007–08 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 50 3 6 9 18
2008–09 Toronto Marlies AHL 36 7 9 16 24 6 1 2 3 0
2008–09 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 38 1 12 13 20
2009–10 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 73 6 28 34 37
2010–11 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 51 1 17 18 22
2011–12 New York Rangers NHL 53 2 16 18 20 20 3 3 6 4
2012–13 New York Rangers NHL 48 4 3 7 16 10 0 0 0 0
2013–14 New York Rangers NHL 81 1 12 13 26 25 0 5 5 4
2014–15 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 82 9 30 39 26 26 1 8 9 8
2015–16 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 73 9 25 34 20 6 1 0 1 2
2016–17 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 73 5 17 22 20
2017–18 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 80 4 14 18 18 17 1 4 5 8
2018–19 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 47 2 15 17 8
2019–20 Florida Panthers NHL 69 5 14 19 14 4 0 0 0 2
2020–21 Florida Panthers NHL 38 3 6 9 8 5 0 0 0 0
2021–22 Arizona Coyotes NHL 74 8 15 23 12
2022–23 Boston Bruins NHL 8 0 0 0 2
2022–23 Providence Bruins AHL 17 0 4 4 0
2023–24 HV71 SHL 48 2 14 16 10
SHL totals 146 13 29 42 72 7 1 3 4 10
NHL totals 938 63 230 293 287 112 6 20 26 28

International

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Medal record
Representing   Sweden
Ice hockey
World Championships
  2017 Germany/France
  2009 Switzerland
Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2005 Sweden WJC 6th 5 0 0 0 2
2006 Sweden WJC 5th 6 0 1 1 6
2007 Sweden WC 4th 9 1 1 2 0
2008 Sweden WC 4th 8 4 3 7 31
2009 Sweden WC   7 1 4 5 6
2016 Sweden WCH   4 1 1 2 6
2017 Sweden WC   10 0 4 4 4
Junior totals 11 0 1 1 8
Senior totals 38 7 13 20 47

Awards

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  • Elitserien 2005–06 Rookie of the Year nominee in 2006.

References

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  1. ^ "Lovande back klar" (in Swedish). Timrå IK. 4 April 2005. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2007.
  2. ^ "Anton Strålman, Årets rookiekandidat" (in Swedish). Swedish Ice Hockey Association. 20 January 2006. Archived from the original on 8 October 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2007.
  3. ^ "Gamesheet: Rochester at Toronto – Oct 6, 2007". American Hockey League. 6 October 2007. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2007.
  4. ^ "Recap – Thrashers 5, Maple Leafs 4, SO". National Hockey League. 23 October 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2007.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Rangers sign Defenceman Stralman to one-year deal". TSN. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  6. ^ "Lightning sign Anton Stralman". Tampa Bay Lightning. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  7. ^ Brown, Katie (27 November 2015). "Capitals extend win streak to four, defeat Lightning". NHL.com. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  8. ^ Pack, Joe (25 March 2016). "Anton Stralman out indefinitely with fractured leg". SportsNet.ca. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  9. ^ "Panthers agree to terms on a 3-year contract with Anton Stralman". Florida Panthers. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  10. ^ "Coyotes acquire Stralman, Kolyachonok from Panthers". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Bruins sign Stralman to one-year contract". The Sports Network. 11 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  12. ^ "ANTON STRÅLMAN KLAR FÖR HV71". HV71. 15 July 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  13. ^ Peters, Chris (2 March 2016). "World Cup of Hockey: Erik Karlsson leads loaded early Sweden roster". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  14. ^ "Quick Strikes: Victor Hedman to play for Sweden at IIHF World Championship". rawcharge.com. SB Nation: Raw Charge. 15 April 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  15. ^ "Quick Strikes: Anton Stralman to play for Sweden at IIHF World Championship". rawcharge.com. SB Nation: Raw Charge. 18 April 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  16. ^ "Sweden defeats Canada in shootout to win 2017 IIHF world title". rawcharge.com. SB Nation: Raw Charge. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
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