Patric Hörnqvist

Patric Gösta Hörnqvist (; born 1 January 1987) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Florida Panthers.

Hörnqvist won his first Stanley Cup championship when the Penguins defeated the San Jose Sharks in six games in the 2016 Stanley Cup Final. In 2017, Hörnqvist scored the Cup-winning goal against his former team, the Predators, as the Penguins repeated as Stanley Cup champions.

Playing career

Early career Hörnqvist was born on 1 January 1987 in Sollentuna in Stockholm, Sweden. He began playing hockey in local Sollentuna-club Gillbo IF, and also played minor hockey in Solna SK. Hörnqvist later moved on to play junior hockey in Väsby IK Hockey. He was part of Stockholm/Röd's team in the 2002 TV-pucken and also made some appearances in Väsby's senior team the same season. Hörnqvist played two additional seasons with Väsby, but when head coach Charles Berglund was acquired by Djurgårdens IF in 2004 as assistant coach, Hörnqvist followed.

He played a few games for Djurgården's J20 team during the 2004–05 season and was drafted by Nashville Predators in the seventh round, 230th and last overall in the 2005 NHL entry draft. Hörnqvist made his Elitserien debut on 26 September against Timrå IK and played 47 games out of 50 during the 2005–06 Elitserien season scoring five goals and seven points. He became the Elitserien Rookie of the Year in 2007 after a successful second season in Djurgården's regular team, scoring 23 goals and 34 points.

Hörnqvist signed on a three-year contract with Nashville in May 2007 but had already chosen to stay for another season in Djurgården during the previous month. He played another good season scoring 18 goals and 30 points in 53 games; and participated in his first Elitserien playoff when Djurgården met Linköpings HC in the quarterfinals. These games did not go well for Hörnqvist; he recorded only one assist, and his team lost the series 4–1.

Nashville Predators (2008–2014) Hörnqvist moved to North America for the 2008–09 NHL season in hopes of making the Predators' roster. However, he struggled and was assigned to their minor league affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he spent most of the year. He scored his first NHL goal on 15 October 2008 against Marty Turco of the Dallas Stars, in one of his 28 NHL games that year. Hörnqvist broke out in the 2009–10 NHL season, leading the Predators in goals (30) and tying for the team lead in points with 51.

After the completion of the Predators' lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, Hörnqvist was re-signed to a five-year contract extension on 30 April 2013.

Pittsburgh Penguins (2014–2020)

Hörnqvist, along with Nick Spaling, was traded on 27 June 2014, to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward James Neal. This trade united him with Sidney Crosby. Crosby and Hörnqvist were drafted in the same year (2005), but Crosby was drafted first and Hörnqvist last.

As the 2014 season started, Hörnqvist was on the Penguins first line with Crosby and Chris Kunitz. He scored his first goal with the Penguins in his first game against the Anaheim Ducks. After returning from an injury and with additional in-season trades, Hörnqvist was on the first line with Crosby and David Perron.

On 29 February 2016, Hörnqvist recorded his first career hat-trick and added an assist in a 6–0 win over the Arizona Coyotes. On 13 April 2016, Hörnqvist recorded his first career playoff hat-trick and added an assist in a 5–2 win over the New York Rangers. Hörnqvist won his first Stanley Cup when the Penguins defeated the Sharks in six games in the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.

On 11 June 2017, Hörnqvist scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal against his former club the Predators in game six, winning his second consecutive Stanley Cup. Hörnqvist recorded nine points in 19 postseason contests.

On 27 February 2018, Hörnqvist signed a five-year, $26.5 million contract extension with the Penguins that would keep him under contract until the 2022–23 season.

On 4 December, Hörnqvist scored 3 goals within 2:47 minutes to help lead the Penguins 6–3 over the Colorado Avalanche. His hat-trick was the fastest recorded in Penguins history.

Florida Panthers (2020–2023) On 24 September 2020, Hörnqvist's six-year tenure with the Penguins ended after he agreed to waive his no-trade clause and was dealt to the Florida Panthers, in exchange for Mike Matheson and Colton Sceviour.

Hörnqvist's 2022–23 season ended when he suffered a concussion on 3 December 2022, after appearing in 22 games and recording three points.

Hörnqvist announced his retirement from his 18 year professional career on 29 June 2023.

Hörnqvist won his third Stanley Cup in 2024 as a scout and development consultant with the Panthers.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2002–03 Väsby IK Div.1 61120 ————— 2003–04 Väsby IK SWE.3 U20 107101730 ————— 2003–04 Väsby IK Div.1 32851326 ————— 2004–05 Väsby IK Div.1 2812122436 ————— 2004–05 Djurgårdens IF J20 53032 ————— 2005–06 Djurgårdens IF J20 42132 41232 2005–06 Djurgårdens IF SEL 4752736 ————— 2006–07 Djurgårdens IF SEL 4923113438 ————— 2006–07 Djurgårdens IF J20 ————— 725714 2007–08 Djurgårdens IF SEL 5318123058 50116 2008–09 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 4917183544 114486 2008–09 Nashville Predators NHL 2825716 ————— 2009–10 Nashville Predators NHL 8030215140 20114 2010–11 Nashville Predators NHL 7921274847 122136 2011–12 Nashville Predators NHL 7627164328 101342 2012–13 HC Red Ice NLB 977148 ————— 2012–13 Djurgårdens IF Allsv 102356 ————— 2012–13 Nashville Predators NHL 244101414 ————— 2013–14 Nashville Predators NHL 7622315328 ————— 2014–15 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 6425265138 52132 2015–16 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 8222295136 24941310 2016–17 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 7021234428 1954918 2017–18 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 7029204958 10561122 2018–19 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 6918193726 40008 2019–20 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 5217153236 41120 2020–21 Florida Panthers NHL 4414183239 623512 2021–22 Florida Panthers NHL 6511172819 101124 2022–23 Florida Panthers NHL 2212313 —————SHL totals 149462571132 50116NHL totals 901264279543466 10628255388

International

Awards and honours Awards Year RefNHL Stanley Cup champion 2016, 2017 (as player)2024, 2025 (as executive)