Florida's Kristian Huselius
Is on the Stick

by NHL | June 27, 2002

In 1997, the Florida Panthers made Kristian Huselius their No. 2 pick in the NHL Entry Draft when they took him with the No. 47 pick overall. Huselius was touted as the best stickhandler in the draft, but after his rookie season in 2001-2002, he proved that his skills went far beyond that. Huselius finished third overall in rookie scoring during the 2001-2002 season playing on a young Florida Panthers team.

Huselius hails from Stockholm, Sweden and when first drafted by Florida in 1997, he decided to remain in his native country to sharpen his hockey skills. While playing in the Swedish League for Farjestad for two seasons, Huselius saw limited ice time, but managed to score eight points in 28 games. Near the end of the 1998-1999 season he was traded to Vastra Frolunda, also a member of the Swedish League, and scored four points in the final 20 games of the season.

During the 1999-2000 season, Huselius finally found his niche with Vastra Frolunda, leading his team in goals and points. Later that year in the World Championships in St. Petersburg, Florida, he led the Swedish National Team in goals and tied for third in points.

Although the Panthers hoped he would play for its AHL team during the 2000-2001season, Huselius decided to stay in Sweden for one more season. This decision enabled him to accomplish something no other player had ever done in Swedish League history, which was to lead League in every offensive category, including goals, assists, power-play goals, short-handed goals and game-winning goals. After struggling just two years earlier, Huselius was now the most dominant offensive player in the League. He spent one season with the Swedish National Team during the 2001-2002 season before he felt ready for the National Hockey League.

During his first NHL season, Huselius finished third among rookies in goals and points and tied for fourth in assists. During the 2001-2002 season he also led the Panthers in goals and after the trade of Pavel Bure to the New York Rangers, Huselius became one of the primary offensive players on the team. After a history of success in Sweden and a stellar rookie season, the future is looking extremely bright for Kristian Huselius.

What is the biggest difference between living in the United States and Sweden?
"It's so much bigger here. The United States is just so much bigger than Sweden. It's the size."

You played for a team in Sweden called Vastra Frolunda. What exactly does Vastra Frolunda mean?
"Frolunda is a part of Gothenburg, where the team is located. So you can say it's a small village or something in Gothenburg. Vastra is like 'west' so West Frolunda."

Which NHL players do you like to watch the most when you're just being a fan?
"Oh, there's a lot of players. Of course I like to watch the Swedish players because I might know them and you read and heard a lot of them when I came here. Of course there is (Mario) Lemieux and (Jaromir) Jagr. The Swedish players, like (Mats) Sundin, (Peter) Forsberg and (Niklas) Lidstrom are always fun to watch."

What is usually going through your head when you step onto the ice for your first shift of the game?
"You're so focused, you try to be in the game right away, so you're focused and you don't think that much. But you want to be alert and in the game."

Is there any particular reason why you wear the number 22?
"I had 22 in Vastra Frolunda."

Who or what influenced you the most in getting where you are today?
"My parents, of course and some coaches I had in my years in Hammarby and Frolunda."

If you could eat dinner with one famous person in history, who would it be?
"That's a tough question. I don't know, it's hard to say. Maybe the Swedish king or something. He's a famous guy in Sweden."

If you weren't a hockey player, what would you be doing now?
"I don't know. I've always wanted to play hockey and I started to play hockey as a kid. I always dreamt of being a hockey player, so I have no idea."

Kristian's hometown is Osterhaninge, Sweden.

What's your favorite part of being a professional athlete?
"The thing is that you can do what you've always wanted to do and that's great. I'm real happy that I can play hockey and get paid for doing something I always wanted to do. That's the best part."

If you were stuck on a deserted island and you could only have three things with you, what would you choose?
"Three things? Probably a cell phone, something to eat maybe and my girlfriend."

What is the best advice anyone's ever given you?
"My dad used to say 'be happy as long as you can,' that's probably it."