Fabian Brunnström Explained

Played For:Färjestads BK
Dallas Stars
Detroit Red Wings
Frölunda HC
Leksands IF
Rungsted Seier Capital
Ntl Team:Sweden
Draft:Undrafted
Position:Left Wing
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:206
Birth Date:6 February 1985
Birth Place:Helsingborg, Sweden
Career Start:2005
Career End:2017

Fabian Brunnström (born 6 February 1985) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Dallas Stars and Detroit Red Wings.

Playing career

Brunnström began playing professionally in Sweden's third highest hockey league with Jonstorps IF from 2005 to 2006, scoring 44 points in 38 games. The following year, he joined Borås HC, helping their promotion to the second-tier Allsvenskan with a league-leading 73 points in 41 games.

In 2007–08, Brunnström began garnering attention from the NHL while playing in the top-tier Elitserien with Färjestads BK.[1] Undrafted by an NHL club, he was an unrestricted free agent in the NHL. Negotiations with Brunnström came to a head towards the end of the season, with the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks widely considered to be the initial front-runners in landing him.[2] [3] Canucks general manager Dave Nonis was reportedly close to signing Brunnström, but was fired before the deal could take place.[4] [5]

After completing the season with 37 points in 54 games, Brunnström eventually signed with the Dallas Stars on 8 May 2008 to a two-year entry-level contract. The deal was reportedly close to US$850,000 annually with bonus incentives that could increase his salary to US$2.5 million.[6]

After being a healthy scratch in his first two games with the Stars,[7] Brunnström became the third player in NHL history to score a hat trick in his debut game on 15 October 2008, joining Alex Smart of the Montreal Canadiens (14 January 1943) and Réal Cloutier of the Quebec Nordiques (10 October 1979), and later joined by Derek Stepan of the New York Rangers (9 October 2010), Auston Matthews (who scored four) of the Toronto Maple Leafs (12 October 2016) and Ryan Poehling of the Montreal Canadiens (6 April 2019). Brunnström was credited with the game-winning goal, helping the Stars to a 6-4 win over the Nashville Predators.[8] He also scored a fourth goal in his debut game which was disallowed.[9]

Brunnström was placed on waivers by Dallas on 15 October 2010. He was assigned to the Stars' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Texas Stars on 18 October, after he cleared waivers.

On 13 January 2011, Brunnström was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Mikhail Stefanovich.

On 17 August 2011, the Detroit Red Wings signed Brunnström to a pro tryout contract. Making the Red Wings' 2011–12 starting roster, on 3 October 2011, Detroit signed Brunnström to a one-year two-way contract which assured him $105,000 in AHL and $600,000 at the NHL level. He was, however, a healthy scratch for all but one of the Red Wings' first nine games, and on 30 October 2011 was placed on waivers.[10]

In 2012, he signed with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), during the 2013–14 season, he transferred to fellow SHL side Leksands IF. After a short stint with the Malmö Redhawks and after sitting out the 2015–16 season, he re-signed with the Redhawks on 1 June 2016.[11]

After a year’s hiatus, Brunnström returned to the professional circuit for one last season in 2016–17, playing with Rungsted Seier Capital in the Danish Metal Ligaen. He scored 25 points in 37 games, before injury ended his season. He announced his retirement after helping Seier Capital claim the Danish championship.[12]

Career statistics

Team League GP GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06Jonstorps IFDiv.1382123448
2005–06Rögle BKAllsv30002
2006–07Borås HCDiv.1413736732881564
2007–08Färjestads BKSEL549283716121016
2008–09Dallas StarsNHL551712298
2008–09Manitoba MooseAHL10000
2009–10Dallas StarsNHL44291110
2009–10Texas StarsAHL81452
2010–11Texas StarsAHL3711102116
2010–11Toronto MarliesAHL35410144
2011–12Detroit Red WingsNHL50114
2011–12Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL4512233541
2012–13Frölunda HCSEL5199182461122
2013–14Frölunda HCSHL40222
2013–14Leksands IFSHL4697161820000
2014–15Leksands IFSHL388101816
2014–15Malmö RedhawksAllsv82684121454
2016–17Rungsted Seier CapitalDEN379162512
SHL totals 19335569176202138
NHL totals 10419224122

Notes and References

  1. Fabian Brunnstrom, the next Daniel Alfredsson?. 15 October 2008. 23 November 2007. The Hockey News. https://web.archive.org/web/20081028130236/http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/11323-Fabian-Brunnstrom-the-next-Daniel-Alfredsson.html. 28 October 2008. dead.
  2. Web site: Brunnstrom-mania hits NHL. https://archive.today/20120525184339/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080424.WBhockeyblog20080424202720/WBStory/WBhockeyblog/. dead. 25 May 2012. 15 October 2008. 24 April 2008. The Globe and Mail.
  3. Valentine desires: Teams are sweet on Swedes. 15 October 2008. 9 February 2008. Sporting News. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080418045727/http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=349723. 18 April 2008.
  4. Web site: Canucks close to inking Fabian Brunnstrom. 15 October 2008. 12 April 2008. CBC.
  5. Web site: Red Wings not regrouping after Nashville goals - Top prospect spurns Red Wings. 15 October 2008. 14 April 2008.
  6. Web site: Stars win Fabian Brunnstrom sweepstakes. 15 October 2008. 8 May 2008. CBC.
  7. News: Fabian Brunnstrom ready to make NHL debut with Dallas Stars. 15 October 2008. 14 October 2008. Star Telegram.
  8. News: Newcomer's historic debut sparks Stars victory. 15 October 2008. 15 October 2008. Star Telegram. 24 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200524183655/http://www.star-telegram.com/stars/story/977993.html/. dead.
  9. Web site: Brophy tracks 50 memorable NHL first goals - Peterborough Examiner - Ontario, CA . 27 October 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120607062851/http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3347817 . 7 June 2012 . dead .
  10. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/30/4017058/red-wings-brunnstrom-waived-and.html Red Wings' Brunnstrom waived and waiting - Sacramento Living - Sacramento Bee
  11. Web site: Fabian Brunnström återvänder till Malmö Redhawks. Malmö Redhawks. 1 June 2016.
  12. Web site: Time to move on! . . 25 April 2017 . 25 April 2017 . Swedish.