After 13 years, nearly 700 games and one Stanley Cup championship, Mikael Samuelsson has left the NHL and signed in the Swedish league.
The 37-year-old veteran has joined with Djurgarden, the club announced on Tuesday. The move completes Samuelsson’s circle, so to speak, as he started out playing in the Swedish league (for Sodertalje and Frolunda) before moving to North American in 2000.
A well-traveled journeyman -- spending time in San Jose, New York, Florida, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Vancouver -- Samuelsson enjoyed most of his success with the Red Wings, capturing Lord Stanley’s Mug in 2008, scoring 13 points in 22 playoff games. His best individual season, however, came with Vancouver during the 2009-10 campaign, when he found chemistry with fellow Swedes Henrik and Daniel Sedin and scored a career-high 30 goals.
Samuelsson leaves the NHL with 346 points in 699 regular season games and an impressive 60 points in 104 playoff contests.