Last year, Anaheim Ducks won the Stanley Cup with 16 Canadians on its roster and early on, it seemed that other NHL teams were cranking out Ducks copies in an attempt to win the Stanley Cup. And here we are again, with Detroit winning the Stanley Cup, with eight Swedes on its roster, and at least four, five, ok, let’s make it six, fine, seven, in prominent roles on the team.

Nicklas Lidstrom became the first European captain to wait for Phil and Craig walk down the red carpet, and then accept the Stanley Cup.

Then there was Henrik Zetterberg, who now, as a seventh-round draft pick, looks like the steal of the century. The Conn Smythe Trophy takes him up form star to bona fide superstar. Pretty good from a player who represents a generation of Swedish players that wasn’t supposed to have any. He will be the next captain of the Red Wings … when Lidstrom retires. He may have to wait a few more years, though.

It’s the Red Wings, and the Penguins with their firepower and young stars that give hockey hope. Everybody tries to emulate the winners, and the winner of this series, who ever it may be, is worth being imitated. There’s speed, skill, grit, great goaltending, and then there’s some more speed and skill.

It doesn’t mean that there have to be Swedes on every team.

Finns, Russians, and Czechs will also be fine.

I’m kidding, of course. It really doesn’t matter anymore where the players come from as long as they can play. Really. But the days of the Ogie Ogilthorpes are over. For now, at least.

Until some GM somewhere puts together a team that intimidates its opponents, scares them to death – and wins.

I’m guessing there won’t be Swedes on that team, though.