The New York Rangers announced today that Nils Lundkvist is the recipient of the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award. This is given out annually by the media to the top rookie in Training Camp.
Per the NYR Press Release:
The New York Rangers announced today that defenseman Nils Lundkvist has been named this year’s winner of the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award, which is given annually to the top Rangers rookie in Training Camp as selected by the media.
Lundkvist, 21, led all Rangers rookies this preseason with three points (three assists) in four games. His three points were tied for the most among New York defensemen and third most among all Rangers skaters.
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Nils Lundkvist wins opening night roster spot
Lundkvist won the final spot on defense to start the season with his strong performance in camp. He will be with Nemeth as the third pairing and he should also man the point for PP2.
Lundkvist came over from Sweden as advertised. A smooth skater with a great shot and positionally strong in all three zones. His ability to quarterback the Rangers second power play unit was a key differentiator. It took him some time to acclimate to the smaller ice surface, but he did so quickly.
“It’s been an adjustment,” Nils said after his first exhibition game. “You need to play more at the central of the ice. Back home (in Sweden) when you’re in the dots you have a lot of space. When you’re out there, you’re close to the boards – so it will be an adjustment. It’s getting better and better.”
Lundkvist’s strong preseason makes him the latest Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award winner
In the preseason opener against the Islanders on Sept. 26, Lundkvist was one of two Rangers (Adam Fox) to skate in over 20 minutes with 21:11 TOI. On Oct. 1 in New Jersey, Lundkvist found his way on the scoresheet with an assist on fellow Swede, Mika Zibanejad’s goal. Playing in the second of a back-to-back on Oct. 2, in Boston, Lundkvist helped lead the Rangers to their overtime win with two assists in the first period of that game. For his final act of the preseason, Lundkvist recorded a shot in 18:44 minutes of ice time in the Blueshirts’ 6-2 win against New Jersey at Madison Square Garden.
Per NYR PR
LARS-ERIK SJOBERG AWARD WINNERS
- 1988 Mike Richter
- 1989 Troy Mallette
- 1990 Steven Rice
- 1991 Tony Amonte
- 1992 Peter Andersson
- 1993 Mattias Norstrom
- 1994 Mattias Norstrom
- 1995 Niklas Sundstrom
- 1996 Eric Cairns
- 1997 Marc Savard
- 1998 Manny Malhotra
- 1999 Kim Johnsson
- 2000 Filip Novak
- 2001 Dan Blackburn
- 2002 Jamie Lundmark
- 2003 Dominic Moore
- 2005 Henrik Lundqvist
- 2006 Nigel Dawes and Brandon Dubinsky
- 2007 Marc Staal
- 2008 Lauri Korpikoski
- 2009 Matt Gilroy
- 2010 Derek Stepan
- 2011 Carl Hagelin
- 2013 Jesper Fast
- 2014 Anthony Duclair
- 2015 Oscar Lindberg
- 2016 Jimmy Vesey
- 2017 Filip Chytil
- 2018 Lias Andersson
- 2019 Adam Fox
- 2021 Nils Lundkvist
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