Mattias Öhlund facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mattias Öhlund
Öhlund with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2009
Born	(1976-09-09) 9 September 1976 (age 48) Piteå, Sweden
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	233 lb (106 kg; 16 st 9 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Luleå HF Vancouver Canucks Tampa Bay Lightning
National team	Sweden
NHL Draft	13th overall, 1994 Vancouver Canucks
Playing career	1992–2011
Medal record Representing  Sweden Ice hockey Winter Olympics Gold 2006 Turin World Championships Gold 1998 Switzerland Silver 1997 Finland Bronze 2001 Germany World Junior Championships Silver 1994 Czech Republic Silver 1996 United States Bronze 1995 Canada

Mattias Öhlund (born September 9, 1976) is a former professional ice hockey player from Sweden. He was a defenceman, which means he played a key role in defending his team's goal. Öhlund played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Vancouver Canucks and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Before joining the NHL, Öhlund played in Sweden. He was picked by the Canucks in the 1994 NHL Draft. He later helped his Swedish team, Luleå HF, win a championship in 1996. Öhlund started his NHL career in 1997 and played for the Canucks for 11 years. He became one of their top defencemen. He finished his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning, retiring in 2011. Mattias Öhlund was known for his strong play, even though he faced many injuries during his career.

He also played for the Swedish national team in many big tournaments. He won silver medals at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He also earned a gold medal at the World Championships and another gold at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Mattias Öhlund's Hockey Journey

Starting in Sweden

Mattias Öhlund began his hockey career in his hometown with Piteå HC. He played two seasons there. He was a big, fast defenceman, and many NHL teams noticed him. The Vancouver Canucks chose him as their first pick in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.

Instead of going straight to the NHL, Öhlund stayed in Sweden. He joined Luleå HF, a top team in the Elitserien. In his first season, he scored 16 points in 34 games. The next year, Luleå HF won the Le Mat Trophy, which is the championship for the Swedish league. This was their first league championship ever.

Joining the Vancouver Canucks

Öhlund on the road with Vancouver.

Four years after being drafted, Öhlund signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Vancouver Canucks had one week to match the offer or lose him. They decided to match the contract, and Öhlund officially joined the Canucks on August 7, 1997.

Öhlund played his first NHL game in Japan on October 3, 1997. This was part of a special event for the 1998 Winter Olympics. He scored his first NHL goal and got his first assist soon after. As a rookie, he led Canucks defencemen in points. He won the Babe Pratt Trophy as the Canucks' best defenceman. He was also nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's best rookie. He finished second in the voting.

In his second season, Öhlund was chosen for the 1999 National Hockey League All-Star Game. He played for the World team and scored a goal and an assist. He continued to lead the Canucks' defencemen in scoring.

Overcoming Injuries

Before the 1999–2000 season, Öhlund suffered a serious eye injury when a puck hit him. He missed 38 games and had surgery. He returned later that season and again won the Babe Pratt Trophy. The next year, he had another eye surgery and missed more games. Despite these challenges, he kept playing well.

In the 2001–02 season, Öhlund played 81 games and set a career high with 36 points. He also played in his first Stanley Cup playoffs. He faced more injuries, including a knee injury in 2002–03. In the 2003–04 season, he scored a career-high 14 goals and played all 82 games for the first time. He won the Babe Pratt Trophy again.

The 2004–05 NHL season was cancelled due to a lockout. Öhlund briefly played for his old team, Luleå HF, in Sweden. When the NHL returned, he continued to be a strong player for the Canucks. He led their defencemen in goals and won the Babe Pratt Trophy for the fourth time.

Öhlund with the Canucks in 2009.

In 2007, Öhlund received his first suspension for hitting an opponent with his stick. After returning, he became the Canucks' all-time leader in goals for a defenceman. He later had knee surgery and missed the rest of the 2007–08 season.

By the 2008–09 season, Öhlund was the longest-serving player on the Canucks. He was named an alternate captain. He also became the Canucks' all-time leader in points for a defenceman. He played all 82 games that season, showing his dedication.

Over 11 seasons with the Canucks, Öhlund set team records for goals and points by a defenceman. He was also a mentor to younger players, especially fellow Swedish defenceman Alexander Edler.

Playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning

In 2009, Öhlund signed a seven-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was brought in to help guide young players, like Swedish defenceman Victor Hedman. Öhlund was named an alternate captain for the Lightning.

He faced more injuries with the Lightning, including ankle and knee problems. Despite these issues, he was a key defenceman, often playing the most minutes on the team. In his first season with the Lightning, he had 13 assists in 67 games.

In the 2010–11 season, Öhlund continued to battle knee problems. He played 72 games and had 5 assists. The Lightning made it to the playoffs that year. Öhlund scored his first goal with the Lightning in the playoffs. He helped his team reach the Eastern Conference Finals, which was a very exciting time for him.

Before the 2011–12 season, Öhlund's knee problems got worse. He had more surgeries and was placed on injured reserve. He was unsure if he could continue playing. His contract with the Lightning ended in 2016, but he did not play again after 2011 due to his injuries.

In 2016, Mattias Öhlund was honored by the Canucks and added to their Ring of Honour. This recognized his great contributions to the team.

International Hockey Career

Öhlund proudly represented Sweden in many international tournaments.

Junior Tournaments

He played in three World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. In 1994, he helped Sweden win a silver medal. In 1995, they won a bronze. In 1996, he earned his second World Junior silver medal and was named the tournament's Best Defenceman. He was also chosen for the Tournament All-Star Team.

Senior Tournaments

Öhlund joined the Swedish senior national team for the World Ice Hockey Championships in 1997, where they won a silver medal. The next year, in 1998, he helped Sweden win a gold medal at the World Championships. In 2001, he contributed to Sweden earning a bronze medal.

He also played in three Winter Olympics. In 1998, Sweden was surprisingly eliminated early. In the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Öhlund helped Sweden win a gold medal. He got injured during the tournament and couldn't play in the final game. However, he still received a gold medal from the Olympic committee. His teammates even offered him their medals if he didn't get one!

Öhlund also played in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

Personal Life

Mattias Öhlund grew up in Piteå, Sweden. He looked up to Börje Salming, another famous Swedish defenceman who played in the NHL. Mattias is married to Linda, and they have a daughter named Hannah and a son named Viktor. They live in Tampa during the hockey season and return to Piteå in the summer.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

All-Star Games

Awards and Honors

NHL Awards

International Awards

Vancouver Canucks Team Awards