Who's better? The Red Wings or the Swedes? Oh Wait, that's the Same Team.

Erin McLaughlin by Senior Analyst Written on May 29, 2009

Slide 1 of 10

TURIN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 24:  Tomas Holmstrom #96 of Sweden celebrates with his teammates Mikael Samuelsson #37 and Henrik Zetterberg #40 after he scored the seventh goal in the third period during the semi final of the men's ice hockey match between Swede
Brian Bahr/Getty Images

With the Stanley Cup finals a day away, hockey fans are excited about the rematch between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Swedish Olympic Team. Oh I meant to say the Detroit Red Wings. But hey, Wings or Swedes what's the difference? One team is the defending Gold medal champions and one team is the defending Stanley Cup Champions.

The thing of it is that it is practically the same team. Yes I know that Pavel Datsyuk, Chris Osgood, Marion Hossa and some others aren't Swedes. I am also aware that Henrik Lundqvist, Mats Sundin, and Peter Forsberg aren't Red Wings.

However if you look at many of the key players for both the Wings and the Swedes, there are so many common names that it is no wonder both of these teams win. The players are so familiar with each other.

Let's take a look at some of the key players that play great for both the Detroit Red Wings and the Swedish Olympic Team.

Niklaus Lidstrom

26 May 1997: Goaltender Mike Vernon and defenseman Niklaus Lidstrom of the Detroit Red wings take care of the puck as right wing Scott Young of the Colorado Avalanche gives chase during a playoff game at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Red Wings

The captain of the Red Wings and is one of the leaders for the Swedes as well.

Henrik Zetterburg

DETROIT - MAY 27:  Henrik Zetterberg #40 (R) of the Detroit Red Wings recieves the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl from NHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Jim Gregory after the Red Wings won 2-1 in overtime against the Chicago Blackhawks during Game

This guy is a goal machine for both the Red Wings and the Swedes.

Tomas Holmstrom

CHICAGO - MAY 22:  Tomas Holmstrom #96 of the Detroit Red Wings celebrates after Jonathan Ericsson #52 scored a goal in the second period against the Chicago Blackhawks during Game Three of the Western Conference Championship Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup

Holmstrom is a force in front of the net for the Wings. He does the same thing in the Olympics.

Johan Franzen

CHICAGO - MAY 24:  Johan Franzen #93 of the Detroit Red Wings skates with the puck as Brent Seabrook #7 the Chicago Blackhawks slides head first down the ice behind him during Game Four of the Western Conference Championship Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup

Franzen is another scoring threat for both the Stanley Cup Champs and the Gold Medal winners.

Display_image

Mikael Samuelsson

CHICAGO - MAY 24:  Valtteri Filppula #51 of the Detroit Red Wings celebrates with Marian Hossa #81, Tomas Holmstrom #96 and Mikael Samuelsson #37 after Filppula scored a goal in the second period against the Chicago Blackhawks during Game Four of the West

Samuelsson is another great forward for both the Wings and the Swede's.

Niklas Kronwall

DALLAS - JANUARY 12:  Left wing Jere Lehtinen #26 of the Dallas Stars places a hip check on Niklas Kronwall #55 of the Detroit Red Wings in the first period at the American Airlines Center on January 12, 2009 in Dallas, Texas.  (Photo by Ronald Martinez/G

Kronwall is an enforcer on defense in both Detroit and Sweden.

Jonathan Ericsson

CHICAGO - MAY 24:  Patrick Sharp #10 of the Chicago Blackhawks reaches for the puck against Jonathan Ericsson #52 of the Detroit Red Wings during Game Four of the Western Conference Championship Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 24, 2009 at th

Ericsson is another solid defenseman that is a key member of both the Swedes and the Wings.

(0)
...
Share This  
Crop_45x45
or to post this comment

0 Comments

There are no comments yet. Get the conversation started by leaving the first comment

Loading more comments...
posted just now
  • Loading...
  • Nobody has liked this comment yet
Cancel

This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete

247
reads

0
comments

written on May 29, 2009 Rankings/List

Top Stories from NHL.com

NHL on B/R | Official Partners

The best Red Wings newsletter on the web

Subscribe Now

We will never share your email address


CBS Sports Official Partner
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Getty Images.
Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Getty Images is strictly prohibited.