Sweden sets European record for NHL participation, Canada hits record low

Sweden's presence in the NHL is reaching unprecedented levels.

A record 87 Swedish players - or 8.8 percent of the league - played at least one game this season, according to the IIHF.

That's the highest figure ever by a European nation in league history, and the number of European NHL players this season (263) is also the highest of its kind in 10 years.

Canada accounts for 49.2 percent of NHLers, a figure that leads all nations but also represents the lowest Canadian participation level in the history of the league.

There are 241 players from the United States, or 24.3 percent of the 993 NHL players.