Fredrik Olausson

Career

Olausson played with certainty and calmness and was known for a good feel for the game. He first represented Sweden on February 9, 1986, against the Soviets in Stockholm. Drafted 81st overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1985 NHL entry draft, he later played for the Edmonton Oilers, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings. He won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2002 and reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2003 with Anaheim. During the 2006 Elitserien playoffs, he suffered a torn knee ligament in the third quarterfinal game with HV71 against Mora IK, but continued playing with a specially designed knee protection. After that season, he moved back to Karlstad and signed a one-year contract with Färjestads BK in July 2006, the same club he had played for from 1984 to 1986 before joining the Jets. In December 2006 he reportedly underwent two surgeries, and on February 27, 2007, it was reported that he would retire due to primary sclerosing cholangitis; he received a liver transplant in the summer of 2007. He was named assistant coach of HV71 for the 2009–10 season.