Niklas Hjalmarsson spent a decade as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks, winning three Stanley Cups and proving to be the backbone of the team’s defense, and now he’s finally saying his goodbyes after being traded to the Arizona Coyotes.
Hjalmarsson, who was traded to the Coyotes just before the NHL Draft in June, penned a touching goodbye to the city of Chicago on Instagram, reliving the birth of his children, his marriage, and the three Cups that he won in the Windy City:
“This sums up me and my family’s 10 years in Chicago. The experience(s) have been absolutely fantastic,” he said. “Playing in front of a sold out United Center every game in front of the most passionate fans in the league. It’s been a privilege playing with the amazing group of guys on the team and the organization that has treated us like family.
“It’s sad to leave Chicago, but I’m now excited for a new adventure in Arizona. Thank you to everyone who made these years so memorable,” he added.
During his time in Chicago, Hjalmarsson scored 23 goals and added 120 assists, played on three Stanley Cup champions, and represented Sweden in the Olympic Games.
He was traded to the Coyotes in June in exchange for defenseman Connor Murphy and forward Laurent Dauphin.
