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Best NHL Players From Denmark and Norway

Denmark and Norway represent the smallest Nordic hockey nations in the NHL, with Denmark fielding 17 all-time players and Norway just nine. Despite tiny player pools, both have punched above their weight with high-impact stars and rapidly improving development pipelines. The combined story is about how fewer than 30 total NHLers have still produced a Hart-level scorer, a Stanley Cup hero, and modern snipers who could redefine Nordic ceilings.

January 25, 2026

Denmark: Small Nation, Big Impact

From Fringe to Franchise Players

Denmark's NHL footprint was negligible until the 2000s, when Frans Nielsen became the first Dane to stick as a regular.

Nielsen carved out a 925-game career with 473 points and a reputation as one of the league's best shootout specialists. His longevity opened doors for the next generation of Danish players.

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Top 5 Danish NHL Players:

1. Nikolaj Ehlers

Denmark's all-time leading scorer with 520+ points (225 goals, 295 assists) in 674 games. At age 28, he's on trajectory to push past 1,000 points, challenging the notion that small nations can't produce elite skill.

Career Highlights:

Winnipeg Jets franchise star
Speed and transition dominance
Power-play finishing
$6 million+ annual salary
Consistent 60-70 point producer

2. Lars Eller

424 points in 1,116 games as durable two-way center. Most famous for scoring Stanley Cup-clinching goal for Washington (2018), making him the only Dane with a Cup-winning tally.

Legacy:

Stanley Cup champion (2018)
Cup-clinching goal scorer
Two-way center credibility
Over 1,100 games played

3. Frans Nielsen

925 games, 473 points. First Danish regular NHLer, one of league's best shootout specialists. Opened doors for future Danish players.

Career:

New York Islanders mainstay
Elite shootout performer
Reliable center
Franchise pioneer

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4. Oliver Bjorkstrand

384 points (172 goals) in 624 games. Consistent 25-goal, 50-point winger in Columbus and Seattle. Quietly effective offensive producer.

Production:

Multiple 20+ goal seasons
Reliable middle-six winger
172 career goals
Still active, building totals

5. Jannik Hansen

200+ points in 600+ games. Reliable middle-six winger who provided depth scoring and defensive responsibility for Vancouver.

Denmark's Rising Pipeline

Future Stars

Denmark's development is accelerating with emerging talent:

Mads Sogaard:

Goaltender in Ottawa system
Could become Denmark's first full-time starter
Represents goaltending growth

Jonas Rondbjerg:

Vegas Golden Knights prospect
Forward development
Next generation

Frederik Dichow:

Anaheim Ducks system
Goaltending depth

The Danish pipeline suggests the 17-player total will double within a decade as youth programs expand.

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Norway: The Zuccarello Era

One Genuine Star

Norway's NHL story is even more concentrated: nine all-time players, but one genuine star who dwarfs the rest.

Mats Zuccarello is the undisputed Norwegian GOAT with 690 points (217 goals, 473 assists) in 904 games, completely outpacing the next-closest Norwegian, Espen Knutsen (111 points in 207 games).

Top 5 Norwegian NHL Players:

1. Mats Zuccarello

690 points in 904 games. Playmaking, power-play vision, and durability have made him franchise player in Minnesota and $6 million per year center.

Career Highlights:

690 career points
Minnesota Wild star
Elite playmaker
Power-play specialist
Highlight-reel ambassador for Norway

2. Espen Knutsen

111 points in 207 games. First Norwegian All-Star (2002), first Norwegian to score NHL goal. Broke ground for future Norwegians.

Pioneer Status:

First Norwegian All-Star
First Norwegian goal scorer
Proved Norwegians could compete
200+ NHL games

3. Ole-Kristian Tollefsen

Physical enforcer-style presence. Showed Norwegians could handle NHL's rougher edges with toughness and physicality.

4. Andreas Martinsen

Depth forward who added NHL games played to Norwegian totals. Multiple seasons in NHL providing fourth-line minutes.

5. Patrick Thoresen

Skilled forward who played multiple NHL seasons. Added to Norwegian NHL presence in 2000s.

Norway's Future

Thin But Promising

Only Zuccarello remains active among established Norwegian NHLers, but recent draft picks signal potential breakthrough:

Stian Solberg:

2024 first-round pick
Defenseman prospect
Future hope

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard:

2024 first-round pick
Forward prospect
Development pipeline

These prospects represent Norway's best chance at producing second NHL star to complement Zuccarello's legacy.

Combined Nordic Impact

Punching Above Weight

Despite minimal numbers, Denmark and Norway have produced notable talent:

Combined Stats:

Denmark: 17 players, 2,591 points in 6,055 games (0.43 PPG)
Norway: 9 players, 895 points in 1,718 games (0.52 PPG)
Total: 26 players vs. Sweden's 429 and Finland's 274

Per-Capita Success: Norway's 0.52 PPG actually exceeds many larger nations on per-player basis, driven by Zuccarello's elite production.

Development Growth

Expanding Base

Both nations are investing in hockey infrastructure:

Denmark:

10,000+ registered players (up from under 5,000 in 2000)
Youth program expansion
Professional league (Metal Ligaen) improving
NHL presence inspiring youth

Norway:

10,000+ registered players (similar growth)
Elite league development
Youth hockey growing
Zuccarello effect inspiring new generation

This growth suggests both nations could double their NHL presence within a generation.

Milestone Context

Statistical Outliers

Every game played by Danish or Norwegian player represents statistical rarity:

Comparison:

Sweden: 429 all-time NHL players
Finland: 274 all-time NHL players
Denmark: 17 all-time NHL players
Norway: 9 all-time NHL players

Each Danish or Norwegian NHLer is roughly 15-20 times rarer than Swedish or Finnish counterpart.

The Verdict

Small Nations, Big Dreams

Denmark and Norway prove that hockey excellence isn't limited to traditional powerhouses. Ehlers and Zuccarello have shown small nations can produce NHL stars who compete at highest levels.

As youth programs grow and development infrastructure improves, both nations are positioned to expand their NHL presence significantly over the next decade.

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