Lars-Erik Sjöberg

Lars-Erik "Taxen" Sjöberg (4 May 1944 – 20 October 1987) was a Swedish ice hockey defenceman. He played in Sweden from 1962 to 1974 (Leksands IF 1962–65 and 1967–69, Djurgårdens IF Hockey 1965–67, and Västra Frölunda IF 1969–74), and in North America for the Winnipeg Jets in the WHA and NHL from 1974 to 80.

Lars-Erik Sjöberg
Born (1944-05-04)4 May 1944[1]
Falun, Sweden[1]
Died 20 October 1987(1987-10-20) (aged 43)[1]
Uppsala, Sweden[1]
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight 179 lb (81 kg; 12 st 11 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Left
Played for Leksands IF
Djurgårdens IF Hockey
Västra Frölunda IF
Winnipeg Jets
National team  Sweden
Playing career 1962–1980
Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Ice hockey
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 1969 Sweden
Silver medal – second place 1970 Sweden
Silver medal – second place 1973 Soviet Union
Bronze medal – third place 1971 Switzerland

Sjöberg won the Golden Puck as the Swedish player of the Year in 1968–69 and was named best defenceman at the 1974 World Ice Hockey Championships.[2] He was the first non-North American born and raised captain in the NHL, wearing the "C" for the Winnipeg Jets during their first season in the NHL. He was nicknamed "The Professor" and "The Little General" while playing for the Jets. Sjöberg captained the Swedish national team at the 1976 Canada Cup.[3]

Sjöberg was working as a scout for the New York Rangers when he died of cancer in 1987.[4] To honour him the Rangers each year gives out the Lars-Erik Sjöberg Award to the best rookie in the training camp.[5]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1962–63 Leksands IF SWE 6 1 0 1 0 — — — — —
1963–64 Leksands IF SWE 14 0 2 2 2 7 1 1 2 0
1964–65 Leksands IF SWE 14 1 2 3 2 14 0 1 1 4
1965–66 Djurgårdens IF SWE 20 1 3 4 0 3 0 1 1 0
1966–67 Djurgårdens IF SWE 21 4 7 11 2 3 0 1 1 0
1967–68 Leksands IF SWE 21 3 3 6 — 7 1 3 4 2
1968–69 Leksands IF SWE 19 6 2 8 4 7 0 1 1 0
1969–70 Västra Frölunda IF SWE 14 2 1 3 10 — — — — —
1970–71 Västra Frölunda IF SWE 13 8 4 12 6 — — — — —
1971–72 Västra Frölunda IF SWE 27 4 11 15 4 — — — — —
1972–73 Västra Frölunda IF SWE 14 1 6 7 0 — — — — —
1973–74 Västra Frölunda IF SWE 41 4 35 39 21 — — — — —
1974–75 Winnipeg Jets WHA 75 7 53 60 30 — — — — —
1975–76 Winnipeg Jets WHA 81 5 36 41 12 13 0 5 5 12
1976–77 Winnipeg Jets WHA 52 2 38 40 31 20 0 6 6 22
1977–78 Winnipeg Jets WHA 78 11 39 50 72 9 0 9 9 4
1978–79 Winnipeg Jets WHA 9 0 3 3 2 10 1 2 3 4
1979–80 Winnipeg Jets NHL 79 7 27 34 48 — — — — —
SWE totals 224 35 76 111 51 41 2 8 10 6
WHA totals 295 25 169 194 147 52 1 22 23 42

International
Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1968 Sweden OLY 7 0 0 0 4
1969 Sweden WC 9 3 2 5 2
1970 Sweden WC 10 1 1 2 0
1972 Sweden OLY 6 1 1 2 2
1972 Sweden WC 10 1 1 2 0
1973 Sweden WC 10 1 2 3 2
1974 Sweden WC 9 1 0 1 2
1976 Sweden CC 5 0 3 3 6
Senior totals 66 8 10 18 18

Awards and achievements

References
  1. Lars-Eric Sjöberg. Swedish Olympic Committee
  2. Iihf Directorate Awards And Most Valuable Player. hockeycanada.ca
  3. "NHL Player Search – Player – Lars-Erik Sjoberg". Legends of Hockey. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  4. "Lars-Erik Sjoberg". The New York Times. 21 October 1987. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  5. "Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award". New York Rangers. Archived from the original on 30 January 2008. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  6. "WHA Hall of Fame Members". Archived from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
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