Anders Hedberg’s Hall of Fame case is very similar to that of his countryman’s, Ulf Nilsson. Both came to North America at the same time. Both dominated the WHA and won Avo Cups. And then they left the Jets together for the Rangers, where they had some team success and less individual success. (And lots of injury problems.)
Are his WHA numbers enough?
Find out:
Career:
- NHL:
- 1978-85; 7 seasons, 6 quality
- 172G, 225A for 397P, +53 in 465 games; 29.8 PS
- Not drafted
- Era: Of the 138 players to play in at least 410 games (5 seasons) between 1978 and 1985, Hedberg is
- 48th in Goals
- 40th in GPG
- 59th in Assists
- 53rd in APG
- 53rd in Points
- 46th in PPG
- 51st in Plus/Minus
- 52nd Offensive Point Shares
- 77th in Point Shares
- 82-game average: 30G, 40A for 70P, +9
- 3-year peak (‘78-’81): 80-game average of 33G, 42A for 75P, +12
- Playoffs: 22G, 24A for 46P, +16 in 58 games
- Adjusted:
- Hockey-Reference:
- 139G, 183A for 322P
- 82-game average: 25G, 32A for 57P
- Vs X: Not on leaderboards
- Hockey-Reference:
- Never traded.
- WHA:
- 1974-78, 4 seasons, all quality
- 236G (5th All Time), 222A (24th) for 458P (11th), + 206 (2nd) in 286 games
- Hedberg is 1st All Time in GPG but doesn’t have enough points for the PPG leaderboard
- 80-game average: 68G, 62A for 128P
- 3-year peak (‘75-’78): 80-game average of 67G, 64A for 130P
- Playoffs:
- 35G (3rd All Time), 28A (16th) for 63P (7th), +27 in 42 games
- Hedberg is 2nd All Time in GPG and 3rd in PPG (he doesn’t have enough assists to qualify for the APG leaderboard)
- Hockeyttan [Top Swedish league prior to the Swedish Elite League]:
- 1967-74; 7 seasons,
- 55G, 48A for 103P in 99 games
- [data is too confusing to figure out a 3 year peak]
- Playoffs: 16G, 19A for 35P in 34 games.
Accomplishments:
- NHL:
- Masterton (‘85)
- Scored 30 goals four times, 25 goals five times, 20 goals six times
- Tallied 40 assists twice
- Scored 70 points three times, 60 points four times, 50 points six times
- 1 All Star Game appearance
- WHA:
- Kaplan (‘75) [i.e. WHA Calder]
- Led the league in Goals once, Top 5 three times, Top 10 every season he was in the league
- Led the league in GPG once, Top 5 every season he was in the league
- Scored 70 goals once, 60 goals twice, 50 goals every season he was in the league
- Top 10 in Assists twice
- Top 10 in APG twice
- Tallied 60 assists once, 50 assists three times, 40 assists every season he was in the league
- Top 5 in Points twice, Top 10 every season he was in the league
- Led the league in PPG once, Top 5 three times, Top 10 every season he was in the league
- Scored 130 points once, 120 points twice, 100 points every season he was in the league
- Led league in Plus/Minus once, Top 5 three times
- Hockeyettan:
- Led the league in Assists once
- Top 5 in Points once
- Other:
- Swedish Junior Player of the Year (‘69, ‘70)
Great Teams
- NHL:
- Top 3 Forward (by points) on one Final Four (‘81 Rangers)
- Top 6 Forward (by points) on one Runner Up (‘79 Rangers)
- WHA:
- Best Player (by points) on one Champion (‘78 Jets) and one Runner Up (‘77 Jets)
- Top 3 Forward (by points) on Champion (‘76 Jets)
- World Championships:
- Top 3? Forward (by points) on two Bronzes (‘72, ‘74 Sweden)
- Top 6? Forward (by points) on one Runner Up (‘70 Sweden) and one Bronze (‘73 Sweden)
- European Junior Championships:
- “Best Forward” award on one Bronze (‘70 Sweden)
- Top 3? Forward on one Bronze (‘68 Sweden)