Andreas Lilja

Andreas Lilja (born July 13, 1975 in Helsingborg, Sweden) is a professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League.

=Playing career=

=Professional Hockey=

Lilja was drafted in the 2nd round, 54th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. During the 2002-03 NHL Season, Lilja was traded to the Florida Panthers where he played for the remainder of the season. In the summer of 2004, he was signed by the Nashville Predators, but never played for them due to the NHL Lockout, during which he played for Mora IK and the MIF Redhawks of Elitserien, as well as HC Ambri-Piotta of the Swiss National League A. Once the Lockout ended, he was signed to a 1 year deal by the Detroit Red Wings. After playing in all 82 regular season games for the Red Wings in the 2005-06 NHL Season, he was soon re-signed by the team to a two year deal in the summer of 2006. Lilja was re-signed yet again to another two year deal in the summer of 2008. Lilja won the 2008 Stanley Cup as a member of the Red Wings. He is also one of 8 native Swedes who play for the team. He normally sees time on the Red Wings penalty killing unit, and is a skilled shot blocker.

=Suspension due to sex scandal=

In 2005, Lilja, and fellow Swedish hockey players Henrik Tallinder and Kristian Huselius were investigated on suspicion of sexual exploitation. In March 2005, all three players were suspended from the Swedish national team for one year, with Huselius and Tallinder being released by Swedish club Linköping and Lilja being suspended by Swedish club Mora for the rest of the season. Initially police had dropped their investigation two days after the initial charges on February 11, 2005 when a 22-year-old woman accused the trio of raping her February 9, because of a lack of evidence. However, a special prosecutor reopened the case in March, leading to the suspensions. Lilja and the others were cleared in June of that year after a special prosecutor ruled there was no evidence they forced the woman to have sex.