Meet Sabres Swedish defenseman Laurence Lundberg

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) - A lot of people think of the Badlands Sabres as a team who recruits its players from a regional pool, and while that's the case, there's one player from Sweden who brings a fresh perspective to the rink each day.

"I think it's becoming more common," Sabres defenseman Laurence Lundberg said of international players coming to America. "Especially when you see the amount of opportunity you have here to play, college and keep on pursuing your dreams. In Sweden, unless you go pro, you don't have a lot of other options."

Lundberg hasn't given up on his dream quite yet. Coming from Sweden, he's able to introduce a different kind of play to the Americans, while showing he can still compete at a high-level.

"Laurence is a good example of that," Sabres assistant coach Carter Johnson said. "He's got very good skill and just plays the game a different way and I think that helps our team."

He's an all-around talent and more than a one-trick pony.

"He's always a one-man breakout," Johnson added. "He can always skate the puck up in the defensive zone and he's a good power play guy too."

Moving from Europe to Rapid City may sound crazy, but not for Lundberg. Telling 'yes,' to Sabres head coach Brooks Mitzel was about as easy as it could get.

"I guess ignorance was maybe bliss in my situation," Lundberg laughed. "Brooks (Mitzel) just told me I had a good hockey opportunity for me. It wasn't really about the city or coming halfway across the world, it's more the hockey and that didn't take too much convincing."

The defenseman has adjusted well to a new culture and new friends, but still supports his hometown sports and tries to convince his teammates to learn a thing about his country.

"When (the) US was playing Sweden out in the juniors for the world junior championship and the USA won, he had to wear USA jersey the entire day, so that was awesome," Johnson joked.

"Some of the guys are actually trying to learn Swedish on Duolingo, so it seems I've had a good effect on them I guess," Lundberg said.

The Sabres host the Gillette Wild on Friday at 7:05 p.m.