Niklas Kronwall is a Swedish professional ice hockey

Ice hockey

Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...

 defenceman

Defenceman (ice hockey)

Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...

, an alternate captain for the Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...

 of the National Hockey League

National Hockey League

The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

 (NHL). He has gained notoriety for being an open ice hitter and started his career in Järfälla HC

Järfälla HC

Järfälla HC is an icehockey club from Järfälla, Stockholm, Sweden. The club is one of the biggest in Stockholm with over 450 players.Internationally, it is most famous for being the parent club of Niklas Kronwall, Staffan Kronwall, Mikael Tellqvist and Marcus Nilson who all have played in the NHL....

.

His younger brother Staffan

Staffan Kronwall

Staffan Kronwall is a professional ice-hockey defenceman for Djurgårdens IF of the Swedish Elitserien. He previously played for the Calgary Flames and has also played with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League .-Playing career:Kronwall represented Sweden at...

 plays for Djurgårdens IF

Djurgårdens IF Hockey

Djurgårdens IF Hockey are a professional ice hockey team based in Stockholm, Sweden. They are the ice hockey department of the sports club Djurgårdens IF. The department was formed in 1922 with the help of Wilhelm Arwe and have since then become Sweden's most successful team, having won the Swedish...

.
Niklas Kronwall was selected in the 1st round, 29th overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft

2000 NHL Entry Draft

The 2000 NHL Entry Draft was held from June 24 to 25 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, following the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft on June 23 for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild...

 by the Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...

. He continued to play for Djurgårdens IF

Djurgårdens IF Hockey

Djurgårdens IF Hockey are a professional ice hockey team based in Stockholm, Sweden. They are the ice hockey department of the sports club Djurgårdens IF. The department was formed in 1922 with the help of Wilhelm Arwe and have since then become Sweden's most successful team, having won the Swedish...

 until he came to North America in 2003.