Mikael Samuelsson

Karl Mikael Samuelsson is a Swedish former professional ice hockey right winger and current player development coach for the Vancouver Canucks. Samuelsson began his career in Sweden, starting with small town team IFK Mariefred, followed by Södertälje SK as a junior in 1994. He went on to also play for Swedish teams IK Nyköping, Frölunda HC and Brynäs IF. After being selected 145th overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks, he moved to North America for the 2000–01 NHL season. Samuelsson spent short stints with the Sharks, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers, before returning to Europe during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. As NHL play resumed, Samuelsson signed with the Detroit Red Wings, where he enjoyed individual and team success, winning the Stanley Cup with the club in 2008. After four seasons in Detroit, he signed with the Vancouver Canucks in July 2009. He enjoyed the two most successful individual seasons of his career with Vancouver, recording back-to-back 50-point campaigns in 2009–10 and 2010–11. In his third year with the club, he was traded to the Panthers for his second stint in Florida. At the end of the season, he re-signed with the Red Wings in July 2012.

23 December 1976

Born on the same birth date (23 December 1976): Brad Lidge • Dimitrios Mavrogenidis • Jamie Noble • Joanna Hayes

Born on the same birth day (23 December): Balázs Dzsudzsák • Bertrand Gachot • Brian Teacher • Carla Bruni • Catriona Le May Doan • Cody Ross • Dick Weber • Emperor Zhenzong • Grace Knight • Harry Judd • Jan Jakob Lodewijk ten Kate • János Murkovics • Karine Polwart • Noella Leduc • Onofre Marimón • Pierre Brissaud • Quentin Bryce • Reed Alexander • Richard Conner • Robert Bly • T. J. Oshie • Víctor Martínez (baseball)

Born in the same month (December 1976): Bhaichung Bhutia • Brad Lidge • Daimí Pernía • Jen Golbeck • Kristina Groves • Leland Chapman • Luís Carreira • Matthew Shepard • Patrick Müller (footballer) • Tomotaka Okamoto (singer) • Éric Bédard