- Niklas Hjalmarsson is a retired Swedish Ice Hockey player who played for the Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes of the NHL.
- The 37 year old retired in July 2021 after playing 821 games, and scoring 25 goals with 147 assists for 172 points.
- He and his ex-wife, Elina Cassel’s marriage of five years ended in divorce yet, it produced two boys, Theo and Oliver.
Niklas Hjalmarsson apparently last played in the NHL for the Black Hawks where he gave a stellar performance before deciding to ‘hang up his skates’ in 2021. He started his Ice Hockey career in Sweden with HV71 before moving to the NHL where he played for teams like the Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes. The Swedish-born hockey player was drafted into the NHL by The Blackhawks in the 4th round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
The Blackhawks legend won three Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013, and 2015 while he was with the Blackhawks, and also a silver medal with Sweden at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
Here is all you need to know about Niklas Hjalmarsson, his personal life, and his Hockey career.
Who Is Niklas Hjalmarsson?
He is a retired professional Ice Hockey player that was born on the 6th day of June 1987 in Eksjö, Sweden to his parents Sivert and Eva Hjalmarsson. The 37 –year-old professional Ice Hockey player’s career started when he spent three years playing in Sweden with HV71 after Chicago Blackhawks drafted him in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft as 108th overall.
Before the Eksjö native made his NHL debut for the Blackhawks in the 2007/2008 season, he was with Rock Ice Hogs, an affiliate of Chicago’s American Hockey league.
Late into the following season, he became a regular face on the Blackhawks lineup. And by the 2009/10 season, the defenseman featured regularly in 77 games and 22 in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the club.
He later played in the Italian Serie A for HC Bolzano during the 2013/14 NHL lockout. And during the 2013 off-season, the Blackhawks offered him a five-year contract extension with a yearly wage of $4.1 million.
The 37 year-old was traded to the Arizona Coyotes for Connor Murphy and Laurent Dauphin in June 2017. The following year, he signed a two-year contract extension worth $10 million.
In July 2021, the defenceman retired after playing professional hockey for 14 seasons in the NHL. During his playing career, Hjalmarsson played 821 games, scored 25 goals, and gave 147 assists for 172 points.
How He Met And Married His Ex-wife
Hjalmarsson was once married to Elina Hjalmarsson. The marriage took place in 2013 after they dated for many years. Apparently, the pair first met when they were 18 years old when they had just finished High school.
They finally decided to tie the knot in 2013. Their marriage was quite a simple event considering that it happened when Hjalmarrson’s career was reaching its peak.
The Truth About His Divorce From Ex-Wife Elina Hjalmarsson
Five years into the marriage, it became obvious the marriage was going to crash, and so it did. Reportedly, the divorce was sought for by Hjalmarsson’s ex-wife yet, it proved to be a very difficult decision according to her.
Many had perceived that they were enjoying a happy marriage not knowing that they were facing problems.
While their divorce was caused by differences, one of the challenges that widened the cracks is the opinion that everyone had about it. Ever since the divorce, the retired Hockey player’s ex-wife now goes by the name Elina Casell.
See Also: Elina Hjalmarsson Was Niklas Hjalmarsson’s Wife- Bio, Kids, Divorce, 5 Facts
Niklas Hjalmarsson Made A Net Worth of $12 Million From His Career
Hjalmarsson,37 made a good amount of money from his active playing days. His money comes from all the lucrative deals with all the teams he played and also from endorsement deals.
In 2013, He was making $4.1 million annually for five years in a contract extension with the Blackhawks. In addition, he earned $10 million for two years in another extension with the Arizona Coyotes. All these contributed to his estimated net worth of $12 million.
Did You Know These Intriguing Details About Niklas Hjalmarsson?
1. Niklass Hjalmarrson has Two Sons with his Ex-wife
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The former Swedish hockey player and his ex-wife had two sons, Oliver and Theo. They welcomed their oldest, Theo on April 14th, 2014, while the youngest, Oliver was born on April 9th, 2017. Both parents are doing a hands-on job of raising their two children despite having divorced.
Notably, the two boys have not shown signs of following in their father’s footsteps to play professional hockey. Yet, they have a modeling career like their mother.
In January 2021, Hjalmarsson’s ex-wife announced on her Instagram that she has been signed to a model and talent agency with her sons.
2. He is Still Close with his Ex-wife
After their five-year-old marriage ended in 2018, Niklas and Elina, his ex-wife have remained close. Reports claim she used to take the boys to their father’s games while he was still an active player despite the fact that they were no longer together.
3. Niklas Broke a 13 year Record to Become a Free Agent
Like many athletes, Hjalmarsson found himself reconsidering his stay with the BlackHawks after the 2009/2010 season. He wanted to leave the Blackhawks for San Jose Sharks in a 4-year offer sheet worth $14 million.
The Sharks had made a move but on the 9th July 2010, The Black hawks seized back their defenceman when they made an offer matching the sheet. The Blackhawks made their announcement on 12th July, three days after the deal with the Sharks.
Thereafter, the Eksjö native set a record of becoming the first NHL defenceman in 13 years to receive an offer sheet as a restricted free agent.
4. How Tall is Niklas Hjalmarsson?
Hjalmarsson stands tall on a height of 6 ft 3 inches(1.91m) which is slightly above the average of 6ft for most hockey players. Many argue that the height and weight of a hockey player are insignificant to his skills on the ice.
Whatever the case, Niklas’s body weight of 89kg (197lbs) and his height complemented his defensive skills on the ice making him one of the best defencemen in the NHL.
5. Niklas Hjalmarsson is a Chicago Blackhawks Legend
Till his retirement in 2021, Niklas gave a stellar performance for his team, the Chicago Blackhawks. As a result of his incredible record, many now regard him as a legend of the Blackhawks. At the retirement of the former Swedish Ice Hockey, he had played 821 games, scored 25 goals, and gave 147 assists for 172 points. Out of these games, he played 623 in the regular season and 128 during playoffs.
During his 10 season stint with the Blackhawks, he had won three Stanley Cups, and although, he never scored incredible goals, he was a fantastic defenceman. He blocked 298 shots. When he was traded to the Arizona Coyotes, the Blackhawks only hoped they would find his replacement.
Complete Profile of Niklas Hjalmarsson
| Niklas Hjalmarsson | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Niklas Hjalmarsson |
| Date of Birth | 6 June 1987 |
| Age | 37 years |
| Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
| Birth place | Eksjö, Sweden |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Education | NA |
| Profession | Former Professional Ice Hockey |
| Father | Sivert Hjalmarsson |
| Mother | Eva Hjalmarsson |
| Siblings | NA |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Spouse/Partner | Elina Hjalmarsson (m. 2013–2018) |
| Girlfriend | NA |
| Kids | Oliver Hjalmarsson, Theo Hjalmarsson |
| Religion | NA |
| Estimated Net Worth: | $12 million |
| Source of net worth | Ice Hockey career |
| Height | 6feet 3inches (1.91m) |
| Weight | 89kg |
| Eye color | Dark Brown |
| Hair color | Brown |
| Social media | NA |
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