Mats Näslund nicknamed "
Le Petit Viking", is a retired Swedish
ice hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player. He played as a
left wingWinger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
.
NHL career
Näslund was selected in the second round as the 37th overall pick in the 1979
NHL Entry DraftThe NHL Entry Draft is an annual meeting in which every franchise of the National Hockey League systematically select the rights to available amateur ice hockey players who meet draft eligibility requirements...
, by the
Montreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
. After three more years of playing hockey in Sweden, he joined the Canadiens for the 1982–83 NHL season. He was the first European-born player to ever play for the Canadiens.
In his rookie season of 1982–83, Näslund recorded 71 points in 74 games, finishing third on the team in scoring behind
Guy LafleurGuy Damien "The Flower" / "Le Démon Blond" Lafleur, OC, CQ is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player who is widely regarded as one of the most naturally gifted and popular players ever to play professional ice hockey...
and
Ryan WalterRyan William Walter is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League...
. That year, he was recognized as the left winger on the
NHL All-Rookie TeamThe NHL All-Rookie Team is chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association from the best rookies in the National Hockey League at each position for the season just concluded based on their performance in that year...
.
His offensive abilities quickly endeared him to Montreal fans, and he was given the nickname of "Le Petit Viking" (The Little Viking), a reference to his Nordic heritage and his diminutive stature. Teammate
Mario TremblayMario Tremblay is a former professional ice hockey player and former coach in the National Hockey League...
jokingly said on the arrival of Näslund that they only received one half of a player and the other half would arrive later.
Näslund's best
NHLThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
season came in 1985–86. He recorded 43 goals and 67 assists for 110 points, the first Montreal player to top 100 points since Lafleur in 1979–80, and the last Canadien to reach 100 points as of the
2009–10 seasonThe 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
or finish in the top 10 of NHL scoring. His 67 assists were an
NHLThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
record for a left winger until
Kevin StevensKevin "Artie" Stevens is a retired ice hockey player and current NHL scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played left wing on a line with Mario Lemieux during the Penguins' Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992...
of the
Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
recorded 69 in 1991–92. In the 1986 Stanley Cup playoffs, the speedy Näslund led all Montreal scorers with 19 points as the Canadiens won their 23rd
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
championship, their first since 1979. He continued to lead the Montreal Canadiens in scoring through the 1986–87 season, however his output was lower than the that of the preceding season.
During his NHL career, Näslund was an infrequent visitor to the penalty box. Never logging more than 19 penalty minutes in any season during his career, his gentlemanly play was recognized when he was voted the winner of the 1988
Lady Byng Memorial TrophyThe Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability"...
, beating
Wayne GretzkyWayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
in the voting. During the
1988 NHL All-Star GameThe 39th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held in the St. Louis Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, home to the St. Louis Blues, on February 9, 1988.-Lemieux makes his mark:...
, his five assists established a record, and he was instrumental in helping
Mario LemieuxMario Lemieux, OC, CQ is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006...
set the All-Star Game record with six points.
After a sub-par 1989–90 season, worn down by the relatively long NHL seasons, Näslund left the Canadiens to return to Europe. He played one year in
SwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, followed by three seasons in his native Sweden. He returned to the NHL to play for the Boston Bruins in the lockout shortened 1994–95 season, and retired from hockey thereafter.
Näslund ranks twelfth on the Canadiens all-time scoring list, with 612 points in 617 regular season games.
Though sometimes assumed to be the brother of former
NHLThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player
Markus NäslundSten Markus Näslund is a Swedish ice hockey general manager for Modo Hockey and a retired professional winger. He played in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers, as well as in the Elitserien with Modo Hockey...
, the two are actually not related.
Career statistics
| |
|
Regular season |
|
Playoffs |
| Season In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
|
Team |
League |
GP |
G In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to...
|
A In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal...
|
Pts Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one...
|
PIMA penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,...
|
GP |
G |
A |
Pts |
PIM |
| 1975–76 |
Timrå IKTimrå IK is a Swedish ice hockey team from Timrå, who currently plays in the top division, Elitserien. Seasons in the top division include 1956–57 to 1975–76, 1977–78, 1981–82, and 2000–01 until present.-History:...
|
SEL Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
|
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1977–78 |
Timrå IK |
SEL |
35 |
13 |
6 |
19 |
14 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1978–79 |
Brynäs IF Brynäs IF is a professional Swedish ice hockey team from Gävle. The club plays in the highest Swedish league , and has done so since 1960.-History:...
|
SEL |
36 |
12 |
12 |
24 |
19 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1979–80 |
Brynäs IF |
SEL |
36 |
18 |
19 |
37 |
34 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
| 1980–81 |
Brynäs IF |
SEL |
36 |
17 |
25 |
42 |
34 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1981–82 |
Brynäs IF |
SEL |
36 |
24 |
18 |
42 |
16 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1982–83 |
Montreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
|
NHLThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
|
74 |
26 |
45 |
71 |
10 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| 1983–84 |
Montreal Canadiens |
NHL |
77 |
29 |
35 |
64 |
4 |
15 |
6 |
8 |
14 |
4 |
| 1984–85 |
Montreal Canadiens |
NHL |
80 |
42 |
37 |
79 |
14 |
12 |
7 |
4 |
11 |
6 |
| 1985–86 |
Montreal Canadiens |
NHL |
80 |
43 |
67 |
110 |
16 |
20 |
8 |
11 |
19 |
4 |
| 1986–87 |
Montreal Canadiens |
NHL |
79 |
25 |
55 |
80 |
16 |
17 |
7 |
15 |
22 |
11 |
| 1987–88 |
Montreal Canadiens |
NHL |
78 |
24 |
59 |
83 |
14 |
6 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
2 |
| 1988–89 |
Montreal Canadiens |
NHL |
77 |
33 |
51 |
84 |
14 |
21 |
4 |
11 |
15 |
6 |
| 1989–90 |
Montreal Canadiens |
NHL |
72 |
21 |
20 |
41 |
19 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
| 1990–91 |
HC Lugano |
Swiss-A |
31 |
27 |
29 |
56 |
|
11 |
4 |
9 |
13 |
|
| 1991–92 |
Malmö IF |
SEL |
39 |
15 |
24 |
39 |
10 |
10 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
| 1992–93 |
Malmö IF |
SEL |
33 |
11 |
21 |
32 |
10 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 1993–94 |
Malmö IF |
SEL |
40 |
14 |
30 |
44 |
8 |
11 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
| 1994–95 |
Boston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
|
NHL |
34 |
8 |
14 |
22 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Elitserien totals |
294 |
124 |
155 |
279 |
145 |
29 |
7 |
8 |
15 |
8 |
| NHL totals |
651 |
251 |
383 |
634 |
111 |
102 |
35 |
57 |
92 |
33 |
International career
Näslund is one of Swedish hockey's all-time great players, and as such represented his country at numerous international tournaments. As a junior, he represented Sweden at the 1978 and 1979 World Junior Hockey Championship, winning a silver medal in 1978 and a bronze medal the following year.
Näslund would go on to participate in five
World Hockey ChampionshipsThe Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
, winning a bronze in 1979, a silver in 1981 and a gold in 1991, his last appearance at the event. Because the World Championships occur at the same time as the Stanley Cup playoffs, Näslund was often not available for the event during his best years in Montreal. His sole appearance as an active NHL player came in 1983.
Näslund did get the chance to play for Sweden against the NHL's best players at the 1984, 1987 and 1991 Canada Cup, the forerunner to the
World CupThe World Cup of Hockey is an international ice hockey tournament. Inaugurated in 1996, it is the successor to the previous Canada Cup, which ran from 1976 to 1991...
. The Swedes lost to Canada in the finals of the 1984 event. They reached the semifinal game in both 1987 and 1991, losing to the
USSRThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and Canada respectively.
Näslund also participated in two
Winter OlympicsThe Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
, in
1980The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932...
and
1994The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...
. Sweden won the bronze medal in 1980 and the gold medal in 1994, that year defeating Canada in a memorable shootout. The gold medal in 1994 gave Näslund the distinction of having won the Stanley Cup, World Championship and Olympic Championship in his career, and (along with
Håkan LoobPer Håkan Loob is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player who is currently the president of hockey operations of Färjestads BK in the Swedish Elitserien, for whom he played much of his playing career....
and
Tomas JonssonTomas Jonsson, is a former ice hockey player from Sweden. He is the current head coach of EfB Ishockey in the Danish AL-Bank Ligaen and assistant coach for the Danish national ice hockey team...
) becoming the first member(s) of the
Triple Gold ClubThe Triple Gold Club is a term used to describe ice hockey players and coaches who have won an Olympic Games gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and the Stanley Cup, the championship trophy of the National Hockey League...
.
As
general managerGeneral manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
for the
Swedish national men's ice hockey teamThe Swedish men's national ice hockey team, or Tre Kronor , as it is called in Sweden, is one of the most successful ice hockey teams in the world...
, Näslund helped construct the gold medal-winning team at the
2006 Winter Olympics-Leading scorers:-Leading goaltenders:Goalkeepers with 40% or more of their team's total minutes.-Awards:Antero Niittymäki was named the most valuable player and received the Directorate Award for best goaltender of the tournament. Directorate Awards also went to Teemu Selänne for best forward, and...
.
Awards, honors and championships
- World Junior Ice Hockey Championship All-Star Team, 1978
-Blue group:-Group B:-Group A:-Gold medal game:-Leading scorers:-Tournament awards:-Blue group:-Group B:-Group A:-Gold medal game:-Leading scorers:-Tournament awards:-Blue group:...
- Golden Puck (Swedish Player of the Year), 1980
- Swedish league champion, 1980, 1992, 1994
- NHL All-Rookie Team
The NHL All-Rookie Team is chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association from the best rookies in the National Hockey League at each position for the season just concluded based on their performance in that year...
, 1983
- Played in NHL All-Star Game, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989 (injured, did not play)
- NHL Second All-Star Team, 1986
- Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
champion, 1986The 1986 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the Calgary Flames in their first Final appearance and the Montreal Canadiens in their 32nd. The Canadiens would win the best-of-seven series four games to one, to win their twenty-third Stanley Cup, and their seventeenth in their...
- Lady Byng Trophy, 1988
- World Champion, 1991
-Final Round:-Consolation Round:No team was relegated because of the expansion to twelve teams.-World Championship Group B :...
- Olympic gold medal, 1994
Ice hockey at the 1994 Winter Olympics was held at the Fjellhallen in Gjøvik and the Håkons Hall in Lillehammer, Norway. The competition, held from February 12 to February 27, was won by Sweden and Canada as runner-up.-Final rankings:Source:* Gold -...
External links