A host of NHL players have migrated to Sweden during the NHL lockout, but they have yet to help rocket their teams to the top of the standings in either of the country’s top two leagues.
Swedish Hockey standings 2012: NHL players stuck in middle of pack
The two major Swedish hockey leagues are peppered with NHL players, but their teams are mired in the middle of the standings.
Scott Rovak-US PRESSWIRE
In Elitserien, the country's No. 1 league, HV71 is atop the standings with 36 points as it holds a three-point lead over second-place Lulea HF. Neither team features an NHL player, though, and you have to go all the way down to fifth place to find a team with an NHL player. That team is Brynäs IF, and sports Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Franson. Following Brynäs IF in the standings is MoDo Hockey, which features Alexander Steen of the St. Louis Blues and has totaled 28 points so far this season. Meanwhile, Matt Duchene of the Colorado Avalanche plays for Frölunda HC, who are currently in eighth place with 21 points.
In Allsvenskan, the league's second-tier league, leader Leksand IF is atop the league with 34 points. In third place is Vasteras, which features Calgary Flames center Mikael Backlund and Patrik Berglund of the Blues. In seventh place with 26 points is Mora IK, which features Anze Kopitar of the Calgary Flames, who are one point ahead of Södertälje SK, which has Carl Hagelin of the New York Rangers and Matt Read of the Philadelphia Flyers. Södertälje is three points ahead of of Djugarden IF and Douglas Murray of the San Jose Sharks
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