Zibanejad shared an interesting NSFW take on the difference between playing in Sweden and the NHL

BarDown Staff

New Yorks Rangers forwards Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. , Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images

It’s safe to say New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad appreciates his roots.

The 26-year-old is in the midst of another strong campaign (26 points in 22 games), and from the sounds of it, it has a lot to do with the country he grew up playing the game in. Zibanejad is part of the small percentage of players who’ve been exposed to hockey culture in both North America and Europe, and he’s convinced that things are a bit tougher on the other side of the pond in Sweden. In a profile by SVT Sport, Zibanejad touched on the difference in work ethic between Swedish and North American hockey. Just a head’s up, this includes some NSFW language.

Mika Zibanejad: "In Sweden everything was about how hard you worked, playing every game like you were going into battle. In the NHL everyone just look at the numbers. You can play like shit but easily get away with it if you get two assists" → https://t.co/qgGy0XLIqA pic.twitter.com/451yImTRbp
— Heart of NHL (@HeartofNHL) December 22, 2019

So… maybe this explains why the Swedes always play so well together at the Olympics?

Before heading to the NHL, the 2011 sixth overall pick spent two seasons in the Swedish Elite League’s Djurgardens IF Stockholm. Zibanajed isn’t the first, and definitely won’t be last to express the difference between playing here and over in Sweden. Norris Trophy winner Victor Hedman shared some interesting insight in his Players Tribune article from 2016.

The following is an excerpt from The Players’ Tribune:

Swedish hockey players are incredibly competitive, and it’s because of that close-knit community. In Sweden, you’re not playing hockey against strangers. Most of the time you’re playing against your friends. And who do you want to beat more than your friends?

In Sweden, you play on a bigger ice surface, so you have the time and space to be creative and daring. In the NHL, it’s not just that the surface is smaller, it’s that the speed of the game is faster than you can ever imagine in your head.

It's clear that hockey culture is pretty different between here and over in Sweden. Do you agree with his take?

(H/T SVT Sport)