Article I Can't Read: Colorado Signs Swedish Bad Boy
by Joe Dunman on Jun 12, 2008 12:04 PM MDT
in News
46 comments
Who is Per Ledin? Apparently, he's a Swedish hockey player who, according to every single thing I've read about him in the last two and a half minutes, is an "agitator." I wonder how much agitating one can do in the National Hockey League if one only speaks Swedish.
Cue the Swedish Chef jokes. Du Bork Bork.
This is all over the HF Boards and the Avs forum right now, so I had to jump on. Word is that Ledin has signed a $600,000, one-year, one-way contract with the Avs. One-way means he won't be playing in the minors, kiddos.
According to the article:
Per Ledin, 29, är framme vid målet – en plats i NHL.
Nästa säsong spelar han för Peter Forsbergs klubb Colorado.
Ledin tog sitt andra SM-guld i våras med HV 71. Hans framfart i slutspelet gav eko till förbundskapten Bengt-Åke Gustafsson som tog med grovjobbare Ledin till VM i Kanada.
I can discern a couple of things. First, Colorado is Peter Forsberg's club, and second, Per Ledin is 29 years old. See, I'm obviously bilingual. I better renegotiate my salary since I'm now pretty much qualified to be the US ambassador to Sweden.
At any rate, I'm treating this news with some serious skepticism, especially since Per Ledin is apparently one of the guys in this photo. Not that there's anything wrong with that...
(Hat tip to Americanario)
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uh oh
This will undeniably change my chances for the Offseason Diagnosis which I made before I read about this news…
Does anyone know what Swedish team he was on before signing, what his numbers were (the swedish league doesn’t do 2nd assist, right?) and if there’s any hope he might kick Tyler “On which side are you supposed to hit those red metal bars” Arnason ass on the street?
Speaking of Arny. I just noticed he had 2 play-off goals. Am I that good at mentally blocking him out already?
Also, in NHL08 (PC) I traded him for the Oilers’ first draft pick. Fools
26 Card Jet
I say BOOO based solely on the fact that he appears to be wearing a Yashin/Hlinka-like turtleneck in the above photo. Haven’t the Avalanche learned their lesson?
According to other sources (Avs Forums)...that picture was a response, in jest after a rival teams fans starting chanting something about him being the other guys girlfriend. So at least he seems to have a sense of humor.
He doesn’t have the best point production, but if he really is an agitator he could come in handy.
Tommelot: look here for his numbers
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=47259
"The difference between a successful person and others,
is not a lack of strength,not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will."
-Vince Lombardi-
Zap is never off-topic
Americanario, Thanks for the link.
Mike, Turtlenecks are cool if you’re french. Why would they not work for the swedes?
They’re not less odd then the french, and always neutral!
To (hopefully, my memory is lacking) Quote Zap Brannigan:
“With the enemy you at least know where they stand. What makes a good man go neutral? Lust for gold? Power? Or were you just born with a heart full of neutrality?”
26 Card Jet
Here in the US, nothing is cool if it’s French. I don’t make the rules.
Go Avs! Let's get some goals!
I think what has me worried is that he played 27 games for the ECHL Baton Rouge Kingfish in 2000-01 and then returned to Sweden in the middle of the season. I’m just curious why he left?
He also sign with Columbus back in ‘06, but the contract was rejected by the NHL for errors…
"The difference between a successful person and others,
is not a lack of strength,not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will."
-Vince Lombardi-
I think what has me worried is that he played 27 games for the ECHL Baton Rouge Kingfish in 2000-01 and then returned to Sweden in the middle of the season. I’m just curious why he left?
Have you ever been to Baton Rouge? Trust me, if I could choose between Baton Rouge or Sweden, I’d be adding a’s and those little dots to my name in a heartbeat…
ECHL
I have fond memories of the ECHL. The first “live” hockey game I went to was ECHL. The Mississippi Seawolves. I was accompanied by a certain member of this blog, if I remember correctly…
I don’t know if it is all that bad…I still enjoy going to Las Vegas Wranglers games (ECHL). If only they had beaten the Cyclones and won the Kelly Cup this year. However, I grew up (ok went through High School) watching the Las Vegas Thunder of the AHL.
"The difference between a successful person and others,
is not a lack of strength,not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will."
-Vince Lombardi-
by Americanario on Jun 13, 2008 8:15 AM MDT up reply actions
I have fond memories as well, don’t get me wrong. Here in Louisville we had the Ice Hawks for a long time, and one of the best minor league players ever – Sheldon Gorski. He had 110 points in 55 games with Louisville in 91-92 but never got called up.
But, the ECHL in general, today, isn’t all that great. Just sayin’.
Go Avs! Let's get some goals!
I ran the text through an online translator and got this (and no, I’m not cleaning it up sheerly for comedic effect):
Pers Vacant , 29, is there wide goal – a place in NHL. Next season am acting he for Peter Forsbergs club Colorado. Vacant taken sits second SM – gold in våras with HV 71. His foregone in endgame gave echo to förbundskapten Bengal Åke Gustafsson as taken with grovjobbare Vacant to VM in Kanada.
Where it says “Vacant” it should say “Ledin” – but you shouldn’t judge him for that.
Bring hockey back to Louisville!
Hoo boy
Good to know that the Swedish surname “Ledin” translates to “vacant.” Just what the Avs need.
Go Avs! Let's get some goals!
Hlinka
was Czech for “soft, lazy, turnover machine,” but I didn’t read anything into that either.
by Bob in Boulder on Jun 12, 2008 1:42 PM MDT up reply actions
Is it just me
or does he look creepy/scary in that picture? “Death Glory” on the stick?! This guy has to be awesome just because of that!
is there a difference when it comes to Tom Green?
"The difference between a successful person and others,
is not a lack of strength,not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will."
-Vince Lombardi-
by Americanario on Jun 13, 2008 8:16 AM MDT up reply actions
I guess if he’s worse that expected he takes Parker’s spot on the excersize bike during games. I was hoping to reserve that bike for Arnason but I guess this guy gets the job. I don’t like any mystery player coming over on a pure one-way deal. That’s 600k of cap money commited for a guy we aren’t sure can play in the NHL.
My translation
I don’t know Swedish, but I’m pretty darn good with Germanic languages, so here is my translation of the front page snippet:
“Per Ledin, 29, är framme vid målet – en plats i NHL.
Nästa säsong spelar han för Peter Forsbergs klubb Colorado.
Ledin tog sitt andra SM-guld i våras med HV 71. Hans framfart i slutspelet gav eko till förbundskapten Bengt-Åke Gustafsson som tog med grovjobbare Ledin till VM i Kanada.”
“Per Ledin, 29, ............... – a spot in the NHL.
Next season he will play for Peter Forsbergs club, Colorado (Avalanche).
Ledin won Swedish League gold with (the team) HV 71. He…..............played in the World Championships in Canada.”
Not very good, but better than nothing…
Mir ist egal.
It’s better than what I could have come up with.
And what kind of team is called HV71? Combined with the advertising all over the uniforms, I want a whole lot of nothing to do with European hockey.
Go Avs! Let's get some goals!
Interesting thing i noticed
i was playing NHL 08(Xbox360) in goalie mode so i decided to play HV71, aparently Ledin wasn’t on the side at the start of the year(I tried downloading new rosters and my game started freezing so he might be with the roster update) but the HV71 uniforms have the Husqvarna sponsors all over it. I would have thought EA would be too cheap to get the rights to sponsor logos for the swedish teams.
Copy right laws aren’t the same in every country…Maybe EA doesn’t have to get the rights?
"The difference between a successful person and others,
is not a lack of strength,not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will."
-Vince Lombardi-
by Americanario on Jun 13, 2008 6:36 PM MDT up reply actions
An Interesting Character...
Ledin is on guy on the left
Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm I don’t know what to say
by Angélique C. Murray on Jun 13, 2008 11:45 PM MDT reply actions
His Wikipedia page explains it. The photo was to mock the fans:
Ledin is known for his physical style of play and formed during the 2005–06 Elitserien season, together with linemate Emil Kåberg, a duo called The Bruise Brothers.
During 2006 Elitserien finals against the Frölunda Indians, Frölunda’s fans started to chant “Kåbergs flickvän heter Per Ledin” (“Kåberg’s girlfriend is named Per Ledin). The Bruise Brothers responded by posing for a photo after winning the final, covered in gold paint, presenting the cup and Ledin kissing Kåberg’s chin.
by Mike the Avs Fan on Jun 14, 2008 12:48 AM MDT up reply actions
You might not have to worry about him only speaking Swedish – English is taught in all Swedish schools from very early, and indeed you have to pass an English language test to be accepted to high school (along with maths and Swedish).
So there’s a pretty good chance he’s got enough English to agitate at will. Hell, he probably speaks better English than most hockey players…
That’s a good point. I always forget the European tendency to know more than one language. I’m an American, so I barely know one language.
Go Avs! Let's get some goals!
I only wish we would support language more here in the US. But the majority of students in this country think everyone else should learn/speak English. They see no value in learning another language. In Europe you are often so close to another country you almost have to learn your neighbor’s language…
"The difference between a successful person and others,
is not a lack of strength,not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will."
-Vince Lombardi-
by Americanario on Jun 15, 2008 1:53 PM MDT up reply actions
If people are living in said country(America/Australia/European country) they should know the main language, I can’t stand the fact so many asian people living in Australia don’t know English. It’s even worse when you have to work with them in the building industry since you have to talk to the other trades to find out whats happening, when it’s happening and what needs doing and when you encounter someone who can’t speak the language it makes everything so much harder.
I absolutely agree that people should know the “home” language. I am a big advocate of making English the official language of the U.S. I completely understand how frustrating (and dangerous) it is to work on a construction site and not be able to communicate to half the other workers (or in my case have to spend half your time translating – because I speak 2 languages) because they don’t speak the language. Unfortunately I also understand why many citizens of countries such as the U.S. and Australia refuse/have no desire to learn another language. Once those people who don’t know English find out you speak their language, many of them refuse/stop trying to speak English because they now expect you to translate.
I hate being pulled out of my classroom (I am now a teacher) to help the office staff translate for some parent who is hasn’t bothered to learn English. There is no excuse in the U.S. when there are so many methods available to help them learn. My job is to teach students, not to translate.
"The difference between a successful person and others,
is not a lack of strength,not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will."
-Vince Lombardi-
by Americanario on Jun 16, 2008 11:49 AM MDT up reply actions
If you begin teaching children additional languages when they’re really young, it’s not only easier for them to learn, but it spares them of the mentality you describe. They don’t develop that until later. I’ve never met a four year-old who thought the world should have to learn English just to make his life easier.
You get the kids started early, like they do in much of Europe, and that sense of entitlement would disappear. It’s not the kids, they don’t know any better. They only reflect what they’ve been taught.
Go Avs! Let's get some goals!
They only reflect what they’ve been taught.
I shudder for the children of Red Wing fans…
...not because they are Detroit fans, but because of the raping, and pillaging they have to do to survive in that city.
What do you mean nobody lives there anymore?
Where do they live?
Really?
Then why are they still Wings fans?
The education system is that bad?
Who knew?
This is the point where i’d brag about how good Europe is, but the only 2 languages I fluently speak are Dutch and English.
As soon as you pick maths, Physics and Chemistry in High School in Holland you pretty much don’t have to do any other languages.
Which is good for me, cus I really HATE memorizing words.
The only reason I speak English is cus of family in America, Flicks and an English ex-girlfriend. I don’t know, English and Dutch come natural to me, where I struggle to ask someone’s name in french or german.
They do say Dutch is one of the hardest languages to learn. My aunt called her dog “Roggel”, because she knew no Americans would be able to pronounce it (it means “spit” in English).
YES, I HAVE QM TEST TOMORROW, STOP BEING ANNOYED AT MY RANDOM FORUM SPAMMING :P
26 Card Jet
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