Updated 07.30 | Published 07.12
NEW YORK. A rookie from Värmland scored his first goal at Madison Square Garden last night.
No, not Leo Carlsson.
It was Adam Edström who, in his NHL debut for the New York Rangers, put a puck in.
– It’s something I’ve dreamed about all my life, he told Sportbladet after the 5-1 victory against Anaheim.
When Adam Edström, 23, woke up yesterday morning, he thought he would be playing AHL hockey with the Hartford Wolf Pack in the evening – and he was even more convinced of that after a morning practice with the same team.
But then the call came from Manhattan: Illness ravaged the Rangers squad ahead of their Friday game against the Anaheim Ducks, so he had to call a driver and arrange to be driven the two hours to New York.
There, as late as during the warm-up, it was not 100 percent certain that he would actually make his NHL debut, but in the end Nick Bonino announced that he could not play.
fullscreenAdam Edström became the goalscorer in his NHL debut. Photo: Seth Wenig/AP
“Very special”
At that moment, a lifelong wait for an appearance in the world’s best league was over for the Värmlander who, before coming to North America last spring, first played in Mora and then in Rögle.
– I tried to keep my nerves under control, in the end it’s just a hockey game and I’ve played a lot of hockey in my days, but it’s clear that it was very special at the beginning, he says when we meet him in the dressing room afterwards.
It was even more special at the end, because it wasn’t enough that it was a 5-1 victory in the debut – when three seconds remained, Adam splashed in his first goal as well.
– I received a good pass from Barclay Goodrow in the middle and time was running out so I just tried to send the puck towards the box, he continues.
– It’s something I’ve dreamed about all my life.
full screen Photo: Seth Wenig / AP
The coach lyrical
The roughly two-meter-tall guy played the majority of the match in a chain with the AHL-familiar duo Will Cuylle Jonny Brodzinski and was generally responsible for an excellent effort.
Coach Peter Laviolette is downright lyrical when he comments on his new Swede.
– I think Adam played a great game, he had several shots on goal, put in a couple of solid tackles and was fast, he says.
The 23-year-old is also happy with himself.
– Yes, I just tried to play my game and I think I did what I could according to my conditions, he says.
Mika Zibanejad also scored, in customary fashion with a resounding direct shot on the power play, and also assisted on one of the two goals that friend Chris Kreider directed in – moving him into third place in the all-time interior scoring league.
2023-12-16 06:12:37
#Swede #impact #NHL #debut #Dream
