Andreas Dackell

This is Andreas Dackell. He was a very solid defensive winger, far tougher than his size and penalty minutes suggested.

Dackell was a subtly valuable role player. He had good hockey sense and was very sound defensively. He protected pucks well, killed penalties nicely, and could always be counted on to protect a lead in the last minute of play.

Though he scored some timely and big goals, offensively Dackell never broke out. Like so many Swedes he did not shoot enough. He also lacked the speed to breakaway for loose pucks.

At 5'10" and 190lbs Dackell was not big by any stretch, and definitely not a banger and crasher. But he finished his checks and was never intimidated, not even when famously crushed by Philadelphia's Eric Lindros, who was like twice his size. Dackell was concussed and suffered facial cuts, but he returned with enthusiasm.

Dackell left his native Brynas of the SEL to join Ottawa in 1996. For the next 5 years he was a perfect third line right winger, chipping in his usual 15 goals and 35 points.

In 2001 he joined the Montreal Canadiens, though his game slowly deteriorated in three seasons with the Habs. In 2004 he returned to Brynas where he continued to play until 2009.

Andreas Dackell quietly played in 613 NHL contests, scoring 91 goals and 159 assists for 250 career points. He added another 5 goals and 10 points in 44 playoff games.

Dackell was also part of Sweden's gold medal winning 1994 Olympic team.