Boston Bruins goalie Niklas Svedberg (72), of Sweden, makes a save as he is pressured by New York Islanders left wing Josh Bailey, left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Boston, Thursday Oct. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) ORG XMIT: MACK105

By: Mark Allred                Follow Me On Twitter @BlackAndGold277

Niklas Svedberg   9-4-89

The story of Svedberg started off with great promise as a possible steal for the Boston Bruins as he was heavily scouted out of the Swedish Elite League and signed as an undrafted free agent to a three-year entry-level deal in May of 2012. Bruins management and scouts looked like geniuses after completing his first year of North American professional hockey with the top minor-pro affiliate of the B’s in the American Hockey League and his performance was simply amazing and award winning.

Svedberg’s first two seasons with the Providence Bruins showed great progression in his development showcasing his attributes and athleticism, posting a 37-8-2 record in 48 games played in 2012-13 and the following 2013-14 campaign with a 25-15-4 effort. Abiding by the National Hockey League’s mandated salary cap and the fact that the Bruins are always at the ceiling, the Bruins signed the goaltender after one career game which was a victory back in January of 2014 with a win against the Nashville Predators. As a sign of desperation and a decent sample size minor-pro career in the AHL, the B’s locked the Stockholm, Sweden native up to a one-year one-way NHL contract to step in and be the backup for starting netminder Tuukka Rask at a low annual average value number.

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After two full seasons in Providence posting a 62-23-6 record, 2.40 Goals-Against-Average, .917 Save Percentage, and after winning the Baz Bastien Memorial Award as the best netminder in the AHL for the 2012-13 season the NHL Bruins club came calling as both sides seemed ready for a promising NHL career. Playing as an NHL rookie during the 2014-15 season, promising wasn’t the word that came to team from many as he failed to give the adequate rest for the starter Rask appearing in 18 games posting a 7-5-1 record and did not return to the Bruins organization.

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To find his game the then 27-year-old 6′-0″ 183-pound goaltender chose to sign in the Kontinental Hockey League with the Ufa Salavat Yulayev club where the last two seasons he’s appeared in 101 games posting a 43-26-15 record. Svedberg signed as a free agent in July of this year to return to the NHL for a second tour of duty this time with the Minnesota Wild organization and will be heavily involved in challenging for a backup role at camp this fall to set up a potential Devan Dubnyk – Svedberg 2017-18 goaltending tandem.

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In 19 career NHL games, Svedberg has a record of 8-5-1 with a GAA of 2.31, and save% of .920. His career numbers in the KHL are 43-36-15 with a 2.65 GAA and .907%.

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