Should someone compile a list of the best all-time hockey players from Sweden, Kent Nilsson often gets left out. Nilsson was a largely forgotten international star whose professional path may have made him the forgotten man. After a few years lighting up the Swedish league, Nilsson joined the WHA and the Winnipeg Jets, where he was instantly among that organization’s elite. Following the merger of the WHA and NHL, Nilsson joined the Flames, where, in the 1980-81 season, he had a career-high 131 points. This remains the record of both a Swedish-born player and a member of the Calgary Flames.

Although Peter Bondra was not born in Slovakia (he moved there when he was three years old), he is one of the best players to have ever emerged from the Eastern European nation. After four years in the Czech league, Bondra joined the Washington Capitals and, after a few years, emerged as their best offensive threat. The Slovakian Sniper not only possessed deadly shot accuracy, but he was also blessed with fantastic speed.

Gary Suter started off with a bang, winning the Calder Trophy with the Calgary Flames. Suter continued to rack up points for the Flames, and the star was able to hoist the Stanley Cup in 1989. Year after year, Gary Suter was among the league leaders in points by a defenseman. With a career garnering 844 points, he is among the elite and is in the conversation when discussing the best American-born defenseman ever. Had he ever won a Norris trophy, he would have likely seen his chances increase by a wide margin.

In the era of star centers, it is easy to forget about Bobby Smith. As a player who once scored more points than Wayne Gretzky to win the OMJHL scoring title, Smith entered the NHL with a bang, winning the Calder Trophy with the Minnesota North Stars. Smith was a quiet star in the NHL, whose leadership and passing skills seemed to go unnoticed, except during playoff runs with Minnesota and Montreal. Smith finished his career with over 1,000 points, but he seemed to do so without much fanfare.