While coming up with a list of the top 10 best Swedish hockey players of all time was certainly easier than counting down the top 10 Canadian hockey players of all time, it still required some decision making. Though Swedish hockey players had made their way over to the NHL before, it wasn't until Borje Salming arrived in the 1970s that we started to see Swedish hockey players arrive en masse in the NHL. Since that time there have been an ever increasing number of Swedish hockey stars crossing to match their talent against players from the best hockey nations in the best hockey league in the world. With each passing year more and more Swedish hockey players can be found among the NHL's elite, and in 2008, superstar Swedish defenseman, Nicklas Lidstrom became the first European player in the history of the NHL to captain his team to a Stanley Cup. Today stars like Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Henrik Zetterberg, and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist are among the best at their positions. With an Olympic gold in 2006 in Turin, and as one of the favorites to medal again at this year’s 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver the future looks bright for Swedish hockey. Let’s take a look at the pioneers of this great hockey nation. Here are my picks for the best Swedish hockey players ever:

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10 - Hakan Loob

This diminutive winger made Swedish hockey history when he became the first Swede to record 50 goals in a single season in the NHL, accomplishing the feat as a member of the Calgary Flames in the 1987-88 season. The following season he would rack up 85 points in 79 games, and help the Calgary Flames capture their first and only Stanley Cup. After reaching the pinnacle of professional hockey, he decided to call it a career, going back to his native Sweden to continue his professional hockey career at home. He racked up 429 points in 450 career NHL games, and an additional 501 points in 405 career Swedish Elite League games.

9 - Markus Naslund

Nazzy had a respectable 52 points in 66 games the year he was traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Vancouver Canucks for Alex Stojanov, it what was one of the most lopsided trades in NHL history. It took Naslund a few years to really hit his stride in Vancouver, but once he found his game and his confidence he quickly rose to superstar status, and for a few years was the most dominant player in the game, taking the Lester B. Pearson award in 2003 after a brilliant 104 point campaign. He is the Canucks' all time leader in career goals and points, and is an easy choice for a spot on this list.

8 - Pelle Lindbergh

This acrobatic goalie was on his way to NHL superstardom when he was tragically killed in an automobile accident. He played only 3 full seasons with the Flyers, but in the 1984-85 campaign he racked up 40 wins, and captured the Vezina trophy as the NHL's best goaltender, the first European goalie in league history to do so. One can only wonder what this great keeper would have accomplished had he been able to enjoy a full NHL career.

7 - Daniel Alfredsson

Number 7 on the list is public enemy number one in Toronto. Daniel Alfredsson, captain of the Ottawa Senators, has slowly improved year after year to become one of the best two way players in the game. In the 2006-07 campaign he put the team on his back, leading them all the way to the Stanley Cup finals. He has been a consistent scoring threat for the Senators, racking up 970 points in 984 career NHL games. His accomplishments aren't just limited to the NHL though. He has played for the Swedish international team in 12 different tournaments, including the 2006 Olympics where he was an alternate captain on the Swedish team that captured the Olympic gold medal.

6 - Mats Naslund

Yes, there was another Naslund racking up points in the NHL long before Markus came along. Mats Naslund lit up opposing teams for 8 seasons as a member of the Montreal Canadiens, racking up huge point totals, despite his tiny 5'7" 161 lb frame. He twice broke the 40 goal mark, including in the 1985-86 season when he had 110 points, and helped the club win the Stanley Cup that year. Like so many other Swedish born players who come to North America he decided to return to Sweden while still at the peak of his career. After 4 years back home he returned for one more brief crack at the NHL, signing with the Boston Bruins, but played only 34 games that year before calling it a career.

5 - Kent Nilsson

"The Magic Man" starts off the top half of the list of the top 10 Swedish hockey players of all time with a little style. This crafty Swede truly had magic hands and was one of the most dynamic offensive players the NHL has ever seen. He took a different route to the NHL than most Swedish born players. He joined the NHL's rival league, the WHA, playing for the Winnipeg Jets for 2 seasons, scoring more than 100 points both years. When the WHA folded he was claimed by the Atlanta Flames, who later became the Calgary Flames. Nilsson lit it up for the Flames, twice getting over 100 points, including an incredible 131 point campaign that still stands as a team record to this day. Nilsson would later go on to stints with the North Stars and Oilers, capturing a Stanley Cup ring in 1987 before returning to Europe.

4 - Borje Salming

This imposing looking Swede was the first true Swedish NHL superstar, and is an icon in his home country. He joined the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1973-74 season and quickly became one of the league's most dominant offensive defensemen. He played for than 1,100 games during his NHL career, racking up 787 career points. His number 21 is one of a select few jerseys to be retired by this legendary franchise. People reading and wondering why this guy didn't win any Norris trophies during his Hall of Fame career have to remember that a couple of guys named Orr and Robinson were playing at a pretty high level themselves at this time. Had Salming entered the league in a different era no doubt he would have earned his fair share of individual hardware.

3 - Mats Sundin

It was tough to put Sundin at number 3 on the list of the top 10 best Swedes. This hulking Swedish forward has been a consistently dominant player at both the NHL and International level. As a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs he was the longest serving European captain in NHL history, and though he was unable to lead them to Stanley Cup glory he is the Leaf's all time leader in both goals and points, impressive achievements considering how long this franchise has been around. Though his brief stint in Vancouver may have tainted his legacy somewhat people should remember that in the prime of his career big Mats was one of the most dominant players in the game. In all Sundin amassed 1,349 points in the NHL before his retirement following the 2008-09 season, and captured an Olympic gold medal as part of the Swedish national team in the 2006 Olympics.

2 - Peter Forsberg

Before there was Alexander the Great there was Peter the Great, and this slick stickhandling Swede is among the most talented players the league has ever seen. Few players in NHL history could dominate with the puck down low like Foppa could when he was in his prime. Not only did he have incredible hands, but he didn't shy away from the physical side of the game either, smashing opponents to the ice during fierce puck battles. Unfortunately, this physical style of play led to an injury plagued career, which has kept Forsberg from putting up even more incredible numbers. Still, his career stats aren't anything to sneeze at. He has 885 points and is a whopping +242 in just 706 NHL games. He has been even better in the playoffs, pouring in 171 career playoff points, the most by a Swedish born palyer, in helping Colorado to 2 Stanley Cups. Though a chronic foot problem may have permanently derailed Forsberg’s NHL career, there is no question he is one of the best players of all time, of any nationality.

1 - Nicklas Lidstrom

There is only one logical choice for the number 1 spot on the list of the top 10 best Swedish hockey players of all time. Nicklas Lidstrom is a machine for the Detroit Red Wings, almost never making a mistake while quietly dominating at both ends of the ice. He has helped his Detroit Red Wings win 4 Stanley Cups over his time with the club, including 2008 when he became the first European captain to lead his team to the cup. He has won 6 Norris trophies as the NHL's best defenseman. Only Bobby Orr and Doug Harvey have won more. He has potted 1,032 career points, the most by a Swedish born defenseman. He has a Conn Smythe, a World Championship gold medal, and an Olympic gold medal. I could go on and on, but you get the point. Nicklas Lidstrom is simply the greatest Swedish hockey player of all time.

With the puck set to drop on Team USA's 2010 Winter Olympic Games today at noon PST vs. Switzerland it seemed an appropriate time to count down the top 10 best USA hockey players of all time.

Though hockey falls far behind baseball, basketball, and football in the hearts and minds of most Americans, as a nation they have still produced many incredibly talented players, and after the 1980 Miracle on Ice have really enjoyed a surge of interest in the sport that has led to success at the international level on a regular basis these days. At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Team USA looks to do some damage with exciting young players like Patrick Kane, Zach Parise, Phil Kessel, Paul Stastny and Bobby Ryan leading the way. Many on the list of the best American hockey players would merit consideration for a spot in the top 10 all time at their respective positions. Read on to see who made the cut:

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10 - Phil Housley

One of the most underrated hockey players of all time, Phil Housley racked up 1,232 points over the course of his career as a defenseman! Yet, despite his remarkable numbers he rarely gets mentioned when the game's greatest defensemen are being discussed. Granted, he had some troubles on the defensive side of the puck, but so did Paul Coffey. Housley might have not quite been in Coffey's league when it came to offensive output, but he didn't play with the legends that Coffey did either.

9 - Joe Mullen

This native New Yorker was a pioneer of American hockey, becoming the first U.S. born player to ever reach the 500 goal and 1,000 point totals for a career. Though small in stature, Mullen's fearless style and nose for the net made him a key component on 3 Stanley Cup championship teams, and his achievements make him a lock for a spot on the list of the top 10 American hockey players of all time.

8 - Rod Langway

Technically born in Taiwan while his father was stationed there with the U.S. military, Rod Langway is still a full-blooded American citizen, and is one of the best rearguards to ever play the game of hockey. He won a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens before being involved in a blockbuster trade that saw him go to the Washington Capitals and become the cornerstone of that team's defensive core. During his time with the Caps he would win 2 Norris trophies as the NHL's best defenseman, and was so dominant in the position he finished 2nd to Wayne Gretzky for the Hart trophy in 1982.

7 - Jeremy Roenick

I'm always surprised when so-called hockey experts ignore Roenick when listing great U.S. born players. In my opinion he is an easy selection for a spot on the list of the top 10 American hockey players of all time, and with a little bit of Stanley Cup success might have earned an even higher spot. With over 1,200 career points, and 9 All-Star Game appearances it is hard to imagine why he gets so little respect.

6 - Mike Richter

Don't let this guy's baby-face fool you. During his playing career, Mike Richter was one of the fiercest competitors in the game, and it took a fractured skull to chase him away from the game he loved. Athletic, acrobatic and always entertaining, Richter helped the New York Rangers break one of the worst droughts in professional sports history when he backstopped them to the Stanley Cup in 1994, ending 54 years of haplessness.

5 - Mike Modano

Probably the most electrifying American born player ever to pick up a hockey stick, Mike Modano was one of the most feared forwards in the league throughout the 90s, flying through the neutral zone on highlight reel rushes on a regular basis. Though he has lost a step in recent years, he is still an offensive threat. He is the all time leader in goals and points for an American born player, and has a Stanley Cup ring on his resume to boot.

4 - Frank Brimsek

Though the majority of the best U.S. hockey players have arrived in the NHL ever since the 1980 Miracle on Ice really sparked interest in the sport, there were a few good American born hockey players in the distant past as well, and Frank Brimsek was the best of them. Any goalie with the nickname, Mister Zero is surely deserving of a spot on the list of the top 10 American hockey players of all time. He earned 10 shutouts and won the Calder trophy as rookie of the year in his first season with the Bostron Bruins. He would go on to help the Bruins win the Stanley Cup that year. In his career he would win 2 Stanley Cups, 2 Vezina trophies, and be named to 8 All Star teams.

3 - Chris Chelios

Will this guy ever stop playing hockey? Chris Chelios is the ultimate hockey warrior, and for years he was one of the most feared defenders in the NHL. At 47 years of age he can no longer bully opposing forwards like he used to, but his incredible fitness and his knowledge of the position more than make up for his diminished strength and speed. Amazingly, though he couldn’t crack an NHL roster this season he swallowed his pride and suited up for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. Talk about love of the game! Though he hasn't put up the huge offensive numbers of some other d-men who played in his era, his 948 career points are more than respectable. 3 times in his career he has been awarded the Norris trophy, and in his 2007-08 season with the Detroit Red Wings he won the 3rd Stanley Cup of what will inevitably be a Hall of Fame career.

2 - Pat LaFontaine

One of the most talented players I ever saw play the game, this guy could have put up staggering numbers if concussions hadn't cut short his career. Despite never having the opportunity for a long NHL career, his achievements during his relatively short career rank him second on my list of the top 10 American hockey players of all time. He racked up 1,013 points in just 865 career games, including a prolific season in 1992-93 where he totaled a whopping 148 points. Had he been able to play a full career there is no question in my mind this guy would be the all time leader among American players in all major stats categories.

1 - Brian Leetch

Some might be surprised I have Leetch in my top spot, but few players of any nationality have dominated the game from the defensive position like Brian Leetch did. The best way to describe him would be as a quarterback on ice. The puck went to him, and he was the one who determined how the play would unfold. Though many recall Mark Messier's great leadership, and Mike Richter's great goaltending when the Rangers won the cup in 1994, it was actually Brian Leetch who won the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP that year. With 1,028 points in just 1,205 career games, 2 Norris trophies and a Calder trophy to go along with his Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe I think my selection of Brian Leetch as the greatest USA hockey player of all time is adequately explained.

All business up front, party in the back. Perhaps no hairstyle in history has been as celebrated and as mocked as the humble mullet. Musicians like Billy Ray Cyrus and actors like David Faustino (Bud Bundy) have certainly done their part in raising mullet awareness. However, in no other facet of life is the mullet more prevalent than in the world of athletics. Legends like relief pitcher Dennis Eckersley, tennis ace Andre Agassi, and NFL linebacker Brian Bosworth (okay, maybe not so legendary) have all rocked the hairstyle in their time. However, if one sport can truly claim ownership of the mullet, it has to be hockey. In the 80s, short hair was the exception, not the rule, and most players had a magnificent mane flowing out from under the back of their helmets. The style became so popular the term “Hockey Hair” (pretty much interchangeable with “mullet”) was coined.

With so many players in the 80s and early 90s sporting this legendary hairdo, coming up with a list of the top 10 best hockey mullets was indeed a challenge. I think I’ve come up with the best of the era, but in the event I’ve overlooked some obvious candidate please feel free to point out my omission(s) in comments. Enjoy this trip down memory lane. I know I did.

10 – Wayne Gretzky

Not only is he the greatest hockey player of all time, but the man known as The Great One had a great mullet also back in the days of the high-flying Oilers. Though known as perhaps the smartest player to ever play the game, Gretzky proved he was just as dumb as many of his more cement-handed fellow NHLers when it came to personal grooming and style. Some of Gretz’s teammates like Marty McSorley tried to copy his hairdo, perhaps hoping his secret lay in his flowing locks. I wonder if that spectacular mane helped him land Janet Jones?

9 – Ron Duguay

There might be something to my theory that the mullet was instrumental in helping hockey players hook up with hot women. Wayne got Janet Jones, but Ron Duguay trumped him, meeting and eventually marrying supermodel Kim Alexis. I firmly believe that had helmets been mandatory back in his playing days Ron Duguay would have hung up his hockey stick, and pursued a different career path that would let him flaunt his God-given gift. Thankfully for the fans, such a rule was not in place, so we were treated to Duguay in his full resplendence. Really, who needs a helmet when you have all that hair to protect you?

8 – Brian Engblom

This former Montreal Canadien and Washington Capital star defenseman is a rare specimen indeed. He actually rocked a better mullet as an analyst than he ever did as a hockey player. I mean, just look at that thing. That is a work of art! Best of all is the fact that he refused to let the mullet die, wearing it proudly long after the 80s had come and gone. Whether his stand was bravery, stubbornness, or just pure naivety is up to you to decide, but I for one applaud him. I just never get tired of looking at that picture.

7 – Wendel Clark

Pound for pound I don’t believe there was a tougher man to ever play the game than Wendel Clark. Well, to be fair, you’d have to be tough to get away with a hairdo like that. Hard to believe that is a draft day picture. He must have hit puberty when he was seven years old! Wendel gets bonus points for rocking the rare, but impressive mullet mustache combo. Whatever you do, don’t get in the way of him and his Chunky!

6 – Michal Handzus

I don’t know if this falls under the traditional definition of the mullet, as it is longer up front than your typical example of the hairdo. Still, even if the “business up front” has a pretty lax dress code the massive “party going on in the back” more than makes up for it. Handzus also gets some bonus points as one of the brave souls sporting a 2000s era mullet. Must have a great respect for the history of hockey I guess.

5 – Mike Ricci

The man that topped our previous list of the Top 10 Ugly Hockey Players definitely had some help from his hair in nabbing that dubious title. It may seem like I am unfairly picking on Ricci here, but to be honest he is one of my favorite hockey players of all time, and I respect him immensely for the gritty effort he put forth on the ice each and every night. However, this list is supposed to be completely objective, and regardless of the admiration I have for him as a hockey player it would be a glaringly obvious oversight if I were to leave him off this list.

4 - Ryan Smyth

This inclusion was a no-brainer for the list of the top 10 best hockey mullets of all time. No other hockey player has worn a mullet with as much pride as the (sadly former) Captain Canada. During his playing days as an Edmonton Oiler Ryan Smyth was an enormous fan favorite. Some might claim this was because of his clutch play, his fearlessness, his skill and his unearthly determination. Sure, all that played a role, but the main reason has to be his obstinate refusal to cut his hair in the face of ridicule. Way to wear that mullet with pride, Ryan!

3 – Al Iafrate

One of the biggest characters in the sport of hockey in his day, Al Iafrate refused to let male pattern baldness dictate his hair style of choice. Undaunted when the bulk of the hair fell out of the top of his head, Iafrate kept the party going in the back, helping forge a new brand of mullet – the skullet. What really put the cherry on top of that legendary hairdo was the little island of hair he left at the front – like a little Charlie Brown squiggle. Yes, he may have had one of the hardest slapshots of all time, but his greatest achievement inarguably has to be the cultivation of that magnificent do.

2 – Barry Melrose

As good as the other entrants on the list are this battle of the mullets was really a two horse race all the way along. Though Melrose did have a brief NHL career as a player, playing 300 games in the show with the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings he really became a rock star back in the 90s as the bench boss of the Wayne Gretzky-led Los Angeles Kings. His hairdo from that era is as pure a definition of a mullet as you will ever find. When his coaching days he moved to the broadcast booth, and he certainly gives fellow former player turned broadcaster Brian Engblom a run for his money for best hockey analyst mullet.

1 – Jaromir Jagr

Sorry Barry but even you can’t compete with that. That is more than a mullet. Using the French pronunciation (Moo-lay) might get you closer to the true magnificence of Jagr’s hair. Pillowy soft the top seems to defy gravity, and no doubt there was never a shortage of women lining up to run their hands through that dark waterfall cascading down his back. Yes, it might not adhere to the classic definition like Melrose’s, but its greatness can’t be denied and makes Jagr an easy choice for the title of best hockey mullet of all time.