Calle Johansson
Encyclopedia
Carl Christian "Calle" Johansson (born 14 February 1967) is a retired professional ice hockey
defenceman
who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League
between 1987 and 2004. He has worked as hockey colour commentator for Swedish Canal+
but starting with season 2006–07 appointed as assistant coach for Frölunda HC
in the Swedish Elitserien
.
by the Buffalo Sabres
, he was picked 14th overall by the Sabres in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft
. His first season, 1987–88, was a good one, as he compiled 38 assists and 42 points and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team
. However, the next season he was traded to the Washington Capitals
along with a second round draft choice in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft
for Clint Malarchuk
, Grant Ledyard
, and a sixth round draft pick in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft
.
Johansson prospered in Washington, as he became one of Washington's best defenceman over the next 15 seasons. Although he was behind the shadow of higher profile defencemen in Washington, such as Scott Stevens
, Rod Langway
, Kevin Hatcher
, Al Iafrate
and Sergei Gonchar
, he was a solid contributor for the club. In the 1992–93 NHL season, Johansson was part of the defense core in Washington that set a new record for team defence scoring. Although Hatcher, Iafrate and Sylvain Côté
all scored over 20 goals, Johansson helped get to the record with his seven goals.
Johansson was part of the Washington team that made their improbable run to the Stanley Cup
finals in 1998, but the Capitals were defeated by the Detroit Red Wings
.
Johansson retired after the 2002–03 NHL season, but the Toronto Maple Leafs
persuaded him to come back and help their team in their playoff run the next season. However, the Leafs failed to win the Cup, and Johansson retired for good after the playoffs.
. He was doing both Elitserien
and NHL
games and was one of the two main colour commentators at Canal+, the other one being former Tre Kronor
coach Anders "Ankan" Parmström
. Canal+ lost the Swedish broadcasting rights for NHL to the Viasat Group ahead of the 2009–2010 season. Together with former Canal+ commentator Niklas Holmgren, with whom Calle has developed a great chemistry when commentating, they subsequently signed for Viasat where they now continue in the same manner as when at Canal+.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
between 1987 and 2004. He has worked as hockey colour commentator for Swedish Canal+
C More Entertainment
C More Entertainment is a premium television company, operating under the banner CANAL+, that targets the Nordic Countries and with one separate channel in Sweden ....
but starting with season 2006–07 appointed as assistant coach for Frölunda HC
Frölunda HC
Frölunda Hockey Club, also known as the Frölunda Indians, are a Swedish professional ice hockey club based in Gothenburg. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Elitserien, where they have played the majority of the seasons during its existence. The last time they played in the...
in the Swedish Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
.
Playing career
Johansson was drafted out of SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
by the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
, he was picked 14th overall by the Sabres in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft
1985 NHL Entry Draft
The 1985 NHL Entry Draft was the first draft outside of Montreal. The event was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, and attended by 7,000 fans. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the...
. His first season, 1987–88, was a good one, as he compiled 38 assists and 42 points and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team
NHL All-Rookie Team
The NHL All-Rookie Team is chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association from the best rookies in the National Hockey League at each position for the season just concluded based on their performance in that year...
. However, the next season he was traded to the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
along with a second round draft choice in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft
1989 NHL Entry Draft
The 1989 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 17 at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota. Some believe that the Detroit Red Wings' 1989 draft was the most successful ever, with 5,721 total NHL games played by the players selected.-Selections by round:...
for Clint Malarchuk
Clint Malarchuk
Clint Malarchuk , is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League between 1981 and 1992, and is currently an assistant coach with the Calgary Flames...
, Grant Ledyard
Grant Ledyard
Grant Stuart Ledyard is a former National Hockey League defenceman. He was never drafted in the NHL Entry Draft.Ledyard made his NHL debut in the 1984–85 season with the New York Rangers. A journeyman, he played with nine NHL teams during his career. He spent the most time with the Buffalo...
, and a sixth round draft pick in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft
1991 NHL Entry Draft
The 1991 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 22 at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. A total of 264 players were drafted. The draft was famous for the controversy surrounding star first overall draft pick, touted by some observers to be The Next One, Eric Lindros, who was drafted by the...
.
Johansson prospered in Washington, as he became one of Washington's best defenceman over the next 15 seasons. Although he was behind the shadow of higher profile defencemen in Washington, such as Scott Stevens
Scott Stevens
Ronald Scott Stevens is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman. Stevens played 22 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Washington Capitals, St. Louis Blues, and the New Jersey Devils...
, Rod Langway
Rod Langway
Rod Cory Langway is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played for the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League and Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association...
, Kevin Hatcher
Kevin Hatcher
Kevin John Hatcher is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the NHL for 17 seasons between 1984 and 2001 for the Washington Capitals, Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes...
, Al Iafrate
Al Iafrate
Albert Anthony Iafrate is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the National Hockey League between 1984 and 1998. He is perhaps most famous for his rocket slap shot that set the NHL Skills Competition record, which stood for 16 years, at . The record was broken in...
and Sergei Gonchar
Sergei Gonchar
Sergei Viktorovich Gonchar is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League...
, he was a solid contributor for the club. In the 1992–93 NHL season, Johansson was part of the defense core in Washington that set a new record for team defence scoring. Although Hatcher, Iafrate and Sylvain Côté
Sylvain Cote
Sylvain Côté is a former professional ice hockey player who spent 19 seasons in the NHL, the majority of them with the Washington Capitals. He also played for the Hartford Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars...
all scored over 20 goals, Johansson helped get to the record with his seven goals.
Johansson was part of the Washington team that made their improbable run to the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
finals in 1998, but the Capitals were defeated by the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
.
Johansson retired after the 2002–03 NHL season, but the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
persuaded him to come back and help their team in their playoff run the next season. However, the Leafs failed to win the Cup, and Johansson retired for good after the playoffs.
Television career
After retiring the second time around, Johansson continued to work as a colour commentator and did studio analysis during game intermissions on Swedish Canal+C More Entertainment
C More Entertainment is a premium television company, operating under the banner CANAL+, that targets the Nordic Countries and with one separate channel in Sweden ....
. He was doing both Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
and NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
games and was one of the two main colour commentators at Canal+, the other one being former Tre Kronor
Swedish national men's ice hockey team
The Swedish men's national ice hockey team, or Tre Kronor , as it is called in Sweden, is one of the most successful ice hockey teams in the world...
coach Anders "Ankan" Parmström
Anders Parmström
Anders "Ankan" Parmström is a Swedish former ice hockey player and coach, who currently serves as a hockey expert analyst on the Canal Plus television network in Sweden....
. Canal+ lost the Swedish broadcasting rights for NHL to the Viasat Group ahead of the 2009–2010 season. Together with former Canal+ commentator Niklas Holmgren, with whom Calle has developed a great chemistry when commentating, they subsequently signed for Viasat where they now continue in the same manner as when at Canal+.
Awards
- Swedish Champion with IF BjörklövenIF BjörklövenIF Björklöven is a Swedish professional ice hockey club in Umeå, Västerbotten, in northern Sweden...
in 1987. - Named to the NHL All-Rookie TeamNHL All-Rookie TeamThe NHL All-Rookie Team is chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association from the best rookies in the National Hockey League at each position for the season just concluded based on their performance in that year...
in 1988. - Gold medal at the 19911991 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships-Final Round:-Consolation Round:No team was relegated because of the expansion to twelve teams.-World Championship Group B :...
and 1992 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships1992 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships- Group 2 :- Consolation Round 11-12 Place :Poland was relegated to Group B.- Quarterfinals :- Semifinals :- Match for third place :- Final :-World Championship Group B :Played in Klagenfurt April 2-12...
. - Named to the World Cup of HockeyWorld Cup of HockeyThe World Cup of Hockey is an international ice hockey tournament. Inaugurated in 1996, it is the successor to the previous Canada Cup, which ran from 1976 to 1991...
All-Star Team in 19961996 World Cup of HockeyThe first World Cup of Hockey , or 1996 World Cup of Hockey, replaced the Canada Cup as one of the premier championships for professional ice hockey ....
.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1983–84 | Frölunda HC Frölunda HC Frölunda Hockey Club, also known as the Frölunda Indians, are a Swedish professional ice hockey club based in Gothenburg. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Elitserien, where they have played the majority of the seasons during its existence. The last time they played in the... |
SEL Elitserien Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden... |
28 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 10 | — | – | — | – | — | ||
| 1984–85 | Frölunda HC | Swe-2 | 30 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 16 | — | – | — | – | — | ||
| 1985–86 | IF Björklöven IF Björklöven IF Björklöven is a Swedish professional ice hockey club in Umeå, Västerbotten, in northern Sweden... |
SEL | 17 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | — | – | — | – | — | ||
| 1986–87 | IF Björklöven | SEL | 30 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | ||
| 1987–88 | Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
71 | 4 | 38 | 42 | 37 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1988–89 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 47 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 33 | — | – | — | – | — | ||
| 1988–89 | Washington Capitals Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup... |
NHL | 12 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1989–90 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 70 | 8 | 31 | 39 | 25 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 | ||
| 1990–91 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 80 | 11 | 41 | 52 | 23 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 8 | ||
| 1991–92 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 80 | 14 | 42 | 56 | 49 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 1992–93 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 77 | 7 | 38 | 45 | 56 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 1993–94 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 84 | 9 | 33 | 42 | 59 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | ||
| 1994–95 | EHC Kloten Kloten Flyers The Kloten Flyers are an ice hockey team based in the city of Kloten in Switzerland. They originated from the EHC Kloten. The team participates in the National League A and is known for its promotion of young players.... |
Swiss-A | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | — | – | — | – | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 46 | 5 | 26 | 31 | 35 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 1995–96 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 78 | 10 | 25 | 35 | 50 | — | – | — | – | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 65 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 16 | — | – | — | – | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 73 | 15 | 20 | 35 | 30 | 21 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 16 | ||
| 1998–99 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 67 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 22 | — | – | — | – | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 82 | 7 | 25 | 32 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2000–01 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 76 | 7 | 29 | 36 | 26 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2001–02 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | — | – | — | – | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 82 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 22 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2003–04 | Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 8 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| NHL totals | 1109 | 119 | 416 | 535 | 519 | 105 | 12 | 43 | 55 | 44 | ||||
International play
Johansson has played for Sweden in the following competitions:- 1983 European Junior Championships
- 1984 European Junior Championship
- 1986 World Junior Championship
- 1987 World Junior Championship (bronze medal)
- 1991 Canada Cup1991 Canada CupThe 1991 Canada Cup was a professional international ice hockey tournament played in September 1991. The finals took place in Montreal on September 14 and Hamilton, Ontario on September 16, and were won by Canada. The Canadians defeated the USA in a two game sweep, to win the fifth and final Canada...
- 1991 World ChampionshipIce Hockey World ChampionshipsThe Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
(gold medal) - 1992 World Championships (gold medal)
- 1996 World Cup of Hockey1996 World Cup of HockeyThe first World Cup of Hockey , or 1996 World Cup of Hockey, replaced the Canada Cup as one of the premier championships for professional ice hockey ....
- 1998 Winter OlympicsIce hockey at the 1998 Winter OlympicsIce hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics was played at The Big Hat and Aqua Wing Arena in Nagano, Japan.-Men's tournament:The 1998 Olympic men's ice hockey tournament was the first in which professional players from the National Hockey League were allowed to participate, allowing national teams to...
International statistics
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Sweden | EJC | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| 1984 | Sweden | EJC | 5 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| 1986 | Sweden | WJC | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 1987 | Sweden | WJC | 6 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
| 1991 | Sweden | WC Ice Hockey World Championships The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European... |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 1991 | Sweden | CC 1991 Canada Cup The 1991 Canada Cup was a professional international ice hockey tournament played in September 1991. The finals took place in Montreal on September 14 and Hamilton, Ontario on September 16, and were won by Canada. The Canadians defeated the USA in a two game sweep, to win the fifth and final Canada... |
6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 1992 | Sweden | WC Ice Hockey World Championships The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European... |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1996 | Sweden | WCH 1996 World Cup of Hockey The first World Cup of Hockey , or 1996 World Cup of Hockey, replaced the Canada Cup as one of the premier championships for professional ice hockey .... |
4 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
| 1998 | Sweden | Oly Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics was played at The Big Hat and Aqua Wing Arena in Nagano, Japan.-Men's tournament:The 1998 Olympic men's ice hockey tournament was the first in which professional players from the National Hockey League were allowed to participate, allowing national teams to... |
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Junior int'l totals | 23 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 22 | ||
| Senior int'l totals | 23 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 20 | ||
See also
- NHL All-Rookie TeamNHL All-Rookie TeamThe NHL All-Rookie Team is chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association from the best rookies in the National Hockey League at each position for the season just concluded based on their performance in that year...
- List of NHL players with 1000 games played