Ricard Persson
Ricard Lars Persson ( born August 24, 1969 in Östersund ) is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player who was active from 1995 to 2002 for the New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators in the National Hockey League. Since July 2010 he has worked as a scout for the Minnesota Wild.
- 3.1 International
Career
Persson started his career in 1984 at Östersund IK in the second highest Swedish league. His good performances meant that he was three years later obliged by Leksand IF of the Elitserien. NHL Entry Draft 1987, he was selected in the second round by a total of 23 position by the New Jersey Devils. He won with the Malmo IF in the season 1993/94 the Swedish championship in the Elitserien. In 1995 he received a contract with the New Jersey Devils, in the subsequent period, however, Persson played mainly for their farm team, the Albany River Rats in the American Hockey League. In November 1996, he was discharged in a barter to the St. Louis Blues and the defender has won both inserts for the Blues in the NHL and ice age at the Worcester IceCats in the AHL. In the 1999/2000 season he won with the Blues, the Presidents' Trophy as the best team point of the season, before the team failed in the first round of the playoffs in seven games to the San Jose Sharks. In July 2000, he signed as a free agent contract with the Ottawa Senators. During the 2000/ 01 season Persson missed with an ankle injury for several months of the regular season.
In August 2002, the Swedish defender was committed by the Polar Bear Berlin. The then 32- year-old received a one year contract. In the season 2004/ 05 he won with the polar bears, the German championship in the German Ice Hockey League. In April 2005 he signed with EC KAC a three year contract with an opt-out clause after two years. With its Japanese Club Ice Hockey Team Ōji he sat down in March 2008 in the third play-off final at last year's champion Nippon Paper Cranes 3-2.
In the summer of 2009, he signed with SG Cortina in the Italian Serie A1 a contract for one year. In July 2010 he finished his playing career and was Scout at the Minnesota Wild.
Internationally
For Sweden, Persson took part in the World Ice Hockey Championship 2000, where he remained no points in seven games and received six penalty minutes. During his junior time he had represented his country at the U18 European Championship in 1987 and won the Swedish selection the gold medal. In addition, Persson took the Swedish youth team at the Junior World Championships in 1988 and 1989. In the latter tournament he contributed nine points scorer in the silver medal win and was awarded as the best defender of the tournament in the connection and elected to the All- Star team.
Awards and achievements
Career Stats
Internationally
Played for Sweden in:
- European Junior 1987 ( gold medal )
- World Junior Championship 1988
- World Junior Championship 1989 ( silver medal )
- World Championship for Men 2000
( Key to Career statistics: Sp or GP = Games Played, T or G = goals scored, V or A = achieved assists; Pts or Pts = scored points scorer, SM or PIM = received penalty minutes, / - = Plus / Minus balance sheet; PP = scored majority gates; SH = scored shorthanded goals, GW = achieved victory gates; Play-downs/Relegation 1 )