The Chicago Blackhawks are the 2015 Stanley Cup Champions. Watching the game from Los Angeles, it felt good to connect and share the win with the hometown team. There were heavy rains and extensive flooding back in the Chicagoland area. My own mother texted, “The basement is flooded and the frig died but the Hawks may have their cup!!! I am sitting with a beer in hand!!” Watching a feed from WGN, I saw the massive crowd outside Wrigley Field and one priceless reaction.

So many accolades went out to the players themselves. Duncan Keith, deservedly, won the Conn Smythe Trophy; commentators praised Coach Quenneville’s strategy; and much applause went towards Corey Crawford for his performance. But it’s easy to focus on who holds the shiny trophy and who gets the most replays for goals scored. Throughout the regular season and playoffs, many different players made key plays. The workhouses, like Hossa, Seabrook, and Hjalmarsson, keep play going and push their team. Their consistency lets the team’s shooters and superstars do their thing.

28-year-old Swede, Niklas Hjalmarsson has played tight, solid, and consistent defense this series. He whacks away at the opposing team’s puck, stalling their forecheck. “The Hammer.” He locks down his team’s forecheck at the point, passing often, and passing to guys in crucial ice positions.

His shot-blocking capability has been noted on numerous occasions. The Secret Service agent within him dives in or clenches up, taking the fast shot without hesitation. Hjalmarsson does pay for it. Crunched over, it takes him the distance to get back to the bench just to be able to stand up straight.

Out of all Blackhawks players, he plays his role most judiciously. There were moments where he could have rushed the net after taking possession of a runaway puck. But, he waited for the line change. On the defense, he stays in his zone and guards it like his own home. Even after he hits away the puck from the other side of the net, he quickly returns to his post.

He plays clean hockey as well. Rarely does he get penalized and rarely does he hit. He plays the puck. He reads the man.

There were times where I wished he took more shots at the point and rushed the net. He has the size, the speed, and the smarts to produce more scoring chances. He could easily be a duplicate Duncan Keith in my opinion.

Hjalmarsson wears the number 4 jersey well. It’s nice knowing there’s a committed Scandinavian on the ice.