Fabian Brunnström

Fabian Brunnström (born 6 February 1985) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Dallas Stars and Detroit Red Wings.

Fabian Brunnström
Fabian Brunnström in 2013.
Born (1985-02-06) 6 February 1985
Helsingborg, Sweden
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 206 lb (93 kg; 14 st 10 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shot Left
Played for Färjestads BK
Dallas Stars
Detroit Red Wings
Frölunda HC
Leksands IF
Rungsted Seier Capital
National team  Sweden
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2005–2017

Playing career

Brunnström began playing professionally in Sweden's third highest hockey league with Jonstorps IF in 2005–06, scoring 44 points in 38 games. The following year, he joined Borås HC, helping their promotion to the second-tier Allsvenskan with a league-leading 73 points in 41 games.

Fabian Brunnström in 2009.

In 2007–08, Brunnström began garnering attention from the NHL while playing in the top-tier Elitserien with Färjestads BK.[1] Undrafted by an NHL club, he was an unrestricted free agent in the NHL. Negotiations with Brunnström came to a head towards the end of the season, with the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks widely considered to be the initial front-runners in landing him.[2][3] Canucks general manager Dave Nonis was reportedly close to signing Brunnström, but was fired before the deal could take place.[4][5]

After completing the season with 37 points in 54 games, Brunnström eventually signed with the Dallas Stars on 8 May 2008 to a two-year entry level contract. The deal was reportedly close to US$850,000 annually with bonus incentives that could increase his salary to US$2.5 million.[6]

After being a healthy scratch in his first two games with the Stars,[7] Brunnström became the third player in NHL history to score a hat trick in his debut game on 15 October 2008, joining Alex Smart of the Montreal Canadiens (14 January 1943) and Réal Cloutier of the Quebec Nordiques (10 October 1979), and later joined by Derek Stepan of the New York Rangers (9 October 2010), Auston Matthews (who scored four) of the Toronto Maple Leafs (12 October 2016) and Ryan Poehling of the Montreal Canadiens (6 April 2019). Brunnström was credited with the game-winning goal, helping the Stars to a 6-4 win over the Nashville Predators.[8] He also scored a fourth goal in his debut game which was disallowed.[9]

Brunnström was placed on waivers by Dallas on 15 October 2010. He was assigned to the Stars' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Texas Stars on 18 October, after he cleared waivers.

On 13 January 2011, Brunnström was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Mikhail Stefanovich.

On 17 August 2011, the Detroit Red Wings signed Brunnström to a pro tryout contract. Making the Red Wings' 2011–12 starting roster, on 3 October 2011, Detroit signed Brunnström to a one-year two-way contract which assured him $105,000 in AHL and $600,000 at the NHL level. He was, however, a healthy scratch for all but one of the Red Wings' first nine games, and on 30 October 2011 was placed on waivers.[10]

In 2012, he signed with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), during the 2013–14 season, he transferred to fellow SHL side Leksands IF. After a short stint with the Malmö Redhawks and after sitting out the 2015–16 season, he re-signed with the Redhawks on 1 June 2016.[11]

After a years hiatus, Brunnström returned to the professional circuit for one last season in 2016–17, playing with Rungsted Seier Capital in the Danish Metal Ligaen. He scored 25 points in 37 games, before injury ended his season. He announced his retirement after helping Seier Capital claim the Danish championship.[12]

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06 Jonstorps IF Div.1 38 21 23 44 8 — — — — —
2005–06 Rögle BK Allsv 3 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2006–07 Borås HC Div.1 41 37 36 73 28 8 1 5 6 4
2007–08 Färjestads BK SEL 54 9 28 37 16 12 1 0 1 6
2008–09 Dallas Stars NHL 55 17 12 29 8 — — — — —
2008–09 Manitoba Moose AHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2009–10 Dallas Stars NHL 44 2 9 11 10 — — — — —
2009–10 Texas Stars AHL 8 1 4 5 2 — — — — —
2010–11 Texas Stars AHL 37 11 10 21 16 — — — — —
2010–11 Toronto Marlies AHL 35 4 10 14 4 — — — — —
2011–12 Detroit Red Wings NHL 5 0 1 1 4 — — — — —
2011–12 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 45 12 23 35 41 — — — — —
2012–13 Frölunda HC SEL 51 9 9 18 24 6 1 1 2 2
2013–14 Frölunda HC SHL 4 0 2 2 2 — — — — —
2013–14 Leksands IF SHL 46 9 7 16 18 2 0 0 0 0
2014–15 Leksands IF SHL 38 8 10 18 16 — — — — —
2014–15 Malmö Redhawks Allsv 8 2 6 8 4 12 1 4 5 4
2016–17 Rungsted Seier Capital DEN 37 9 16 25 12 — — — — —
SHL totals 193 35 56 91 76 20 2 1 3 8
NHL totals 104 19 22 41 22 — — — — —

References
  1. "Fabian Brunnstrom, the next Daniel Alfredsson?". The Hockey News. 23 November 2007. Archived from the original on 28 October 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  2. "Brunnstrom-mania hits NHL". The Globe and Mail. 24 April 2008. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  3. "Valentine desires: Teams are sweet on Swedes". Sporting News. 9 February 2008. Archived from the original on 18 April 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  4. "Canucks close to inking Fabian Brunnstrom". CBC. 12 April 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  5. "Red Wings not regrouping after Nashville goals - Top prospect spurns Red Wings". 14 April 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  6. "Stars win Fabian Brunnstrom sweepstakes". CBC. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  7. "Fabian Brunnstrom ready to make NHL debut with Dallas Stars". Star Telegram. 14 October 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  8. "Newcomer's historic debut sparks Stars victory". Star Telegram. 15 October 2008. Archived from the original on 24 May 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  9. "Brophy tracks 50 memorable NHL first goals - Peterborough Examiner - Ontario, CA". Archived from the original on 7 June 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  10. Red Wings' Brunnstrom waived and waiting - Sacramento Living - Sacramento Bee
  11. "Fabian Brunnström återvänder till Malmö Redhawks". Malmö Redhawks. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  12. "Time to move on!" (in Swedish). Facebook. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
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