Swedish defender Henrik Tallinder, whose career spanned over 20 years in the NHL, Swedish, Swiss and Finnish leagues, today announced his retirement from TPS of the Finnish Liiga, four years removed from his last game in both the NHL and with Tre Kronor.

Tallinder was drafted in 1997 by the Buffalo Sabres from AIK of the Swedish league, joining the Sabres full-time in 2002-03. Tallinder would spend seven full seasons with the Sabres before joining the New Jersey Devils in 2010, seeing only parts of three seasons before returning to Buffalo in 2013. He would only spend one season back with the Sabres, however, failing to find another NHL home, prompting his return to Europe, where he would spend part of a year with the Zürich Lions of the Swiss League, and three seasons with TPS. Tallinder, an always reliable stay at home defender, retires with 142 points in 678 career NHL games, along with 86 points in 215 Liiga games.

Tallinder first joined the Juniorkronorna at the Under-18 European Championships in 1996, playing for the under-20 team at both the 1998 and 1999 World Juniors, before making his senior Tre Kronor debut in 2000. Tallinder would only play in three world tournaments for Tre Kronor, being the 2010 and 2014 Olympic Games (winning Silver at the latter in Sochi), and at the 2013 World Championship in Stockholm, where he helmed the blueline that won Sweden their ninth World Championship title.

Over the course of his career, Tallinder won the IHLC four times – twice on the 2000-01 Euro Hockey Tour (his first season with Tre Kronor), at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and finally with his Gold Medal win at the 2013 Worlds. We wish Henrik and his family the very best for his retirement and the things to come!

Photo Credit: Expressen – IIHF – HHOF – IOC