Mattias Ohlund: "It is a little bit warm for a dog."

I was surprised to read an article on Ohlund in the Vancouver Sun, considering that OHlund isn't a Canuck anymore. Regardless, it was nice to get an update on how he's doing. I guess the Ohlund family isn't minding the heat (except for Eros, their labrador). In Tampa news, I've heard about Victor's giveaways but nothing on Ohlund's play. I guess that's a good thing. I'm sad that I can't watch any of his games.

Anyway, here's the Elliott Pap article on Mattias.

Mattias Ohlund in a sunshine state with Bolts

Former Canuck D-man enjoying new role, and going to the rink in shorts
Mattias Ohlund was trying not to rub it in but it still sounded totally outrageous.

“It’s 91 degrees and sunny here right now,” the ex-Vancouver Canuck announced Monday, happily giving the weather report from his new home in Tampa, Fla. “We had a little bit of rain and lightning when we first got here but it’s been pretty much in the 90s for the last month. So there is nothing to complain about. Actually, our dog might be the only one complaining. It is a little bit warm for a dog.”

After 11 seasons as a Canuck, Ohlund opted for a gigantic leap to the U.S. south and a non-traditional hockey market. A lucrative seven-year deal worth $26.25 million certainly didn’t hurt but Ohlund insisted he wanted something completely different. He has it now. He’s even wearing a new digit on his jersey, No. 5.

“It’s been very good,” he said of the transition. “Obviously we loved Vancouver but it’s been a nice change both on and off the ice. We are really enjoying all the new experiences.”

One of those “new” experiences is driving to the practice rink in shorts and a T-shirt. That, Ohlund noted, is not among the toughest things to take.

“You adjust easily,” he chuckled. “But even though you go to the rink in shorts and a T-shirt, once you get inside, you have no idea what it’s like outside. It feels like you could be anywhere.”

Ohlund, 33, is an integral part of a revamped Lightning blueline. He has four assists and is a plus-1 in nine games — Tampa is 3-3-3 — and he has been partnered with much touted rookie and fellow Swede Victor Hedman since the season began.

It’s no secret Lightning GM Brian Lawton wanted Ohlund to mentor Hedman, just as Ohlund had done in Vancouver with the likes of Brent Sopel and Alex Edler.

Hedman was drafted second overall last June. Not coincidentally, he has four assists and is a plus-1, numbers identical to Ohlund.

“Victor is a very, very talented guy,” Ohlund said. “He still has a lot to learn but, for being 18, he’s very mature and obviously he has a ton of skill. So it’s been fun playing with him.”

The Lightning don’t play in Vancouver this season so Ohlund’s only chance to skate in a meaningful game at GM Place will be during the Olympics. He is hoping to be selected and likely will if he remains healthy.

He was a member of the

2006 gold-medal winning Swedish team although he

didn’t suit up for the final in Turin due to injury.

“Absolutely, I would like to play in the Olympics,” Ohlund stated. “They haven’t picked the team yet but I’m obviously hoping to make it. After playing so many years in Vancouver, that would be a lot of fun. It feels like a long ways away, which it’s not, but it feels like it because we have so many games before that.”

Only 52 more, to be exact, and the 49th will be a home game against the Canucks. Ohlund admits he is keeping a keen eye on his ex-mates and talks regularly to a few of the boys.

“I watch the highlights and I watched a little bit of their game against Edmonton,” he said. “I know they had a rough start to the season but they’ve played a lot better lately. They have a great team there.

“Our team? We’ve had some good games and some not-so good games. This is a team here that’s been close to the worst record in the league the last two years so we have a long way to go. But I do feel we’re going to be able to compete for a playoff spot.”

Whatever the case, Ohlund is clearly happy to be feeling the heat, not the rain, during an NHL season.

I miss Ohlund already

So Ohlund is supposed to be taking part in Tampa Bay's prospect camp autograph signing July 11, 2009. Wow. That was fast. Goodbye mountains, rain, snow, hounding press attention. Hello... sun, beach, hurricanes? Hmm, what's Tampa Bay known for?

TAMPA - Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman, the No. 2 overall pick in last week's NHL Draft, headlines the additions to an updated list of players who will attend a prospect camp in Tampa next week.

Hedman, 18, will take the ice for the first time in a Lightning jersey during the week-long event, which begins on July 9.

The team is designing a special Hedman T-shirt for the occasion, to be given away free to the first 200 people who attend an intrasquad scrimmage on July 11. Voting for one of three potential designs is being conducted on the team's Twitter page at www.twitter.com/TBLightning.

The camp, which is open to the public, will run from July 9-15 at the St. Pete Times Forum. The scrimmage/skills competition will be from 7-9 p.m. on July 11, with newly signed free agents Mattias Ohlund and Matt Walker expected to join the prospects to sign autographs before and after the scrimmage session.

Ohlund with reporters

This is a blog posting from a reporter following the Lightning Bolts at Mattias Ohlund: "My best years are in front of me"

Here is some of Mattias Ohlund's conference call with reporters:

Opening statement: I think it’s a great opportunity for me. I was ecstatic when they called and I felt from the beginning this is the place I wanted to be. It felt right and felt like something I wanted to be part of. Having said that I’m also grateful for the 11 years I played with Vancouver. It’s a great place to play. It’s a great organization. I made a lot of friends there, friends for life. But having said that I felt it was time for me to move on and I’m excited about the future.

On mentoring draft choice Victor Hedman: I’m real excited about joining him. I never met victor to be honest but I heard so many good things about him. I was sitting tonight with Daniel and Henrik Sedin and they’re from the same hometown and know him quite well. They had nothing but good things to say about him as a person and a hockey player.

On Hedman’s reputation in Sweden: Victor has a great reputation. He’s from the same town as a lot of NHL hockey players. The Sedins (Daniel and Henrik) and Markus Naslund are three of them. I spoke to the three of them about him and hear only good things about him. I’ve barely seen him play. I saw the world junior championships a few games they played and noticed he was an extremely skilled player. I heard only good things about him as a person and I’m looking forward spending the next few years with him.

On creating a relationship with Hedman: You make a phone call. I’m sure I’m going to be calling him and talking to him the next few days after things settle down. You share your experiences you had when you were younger. I made mistakes when I was young and hopefully I learned from them and I can prevent him from making th same ones. It’s a tough league to play in he’s got a lot to learn. I’m excited to be a small part of getting him started here.

Advice he would give Hedman: First of all realize how lucky we all are to be in this league. It’s a great league to be part of. Come in with a smile on his face regardless of whether he had a tough day the night before. You got to realize your extremely lucky to be part of this league.

Is he a good fit for Tampa?: Tampa has a very talented hockey team. They have a talented group of guys. I do think I can help out with a lot of experience and be a big part of helping their D corps. I feel like I have my best years ahead of me and I’m extremely excited about my next little while here.

Is there a mental adjustment going to a bad team?: This team won a Stanley Cup not too far away and they have some guys who were part of that team. Last year they didn’t have a great year. Obviously, I’d like to be part of turning things around here, and I do feel like I bring a lot to the hockey club. But in fairness, we only played them once last year and I haven’t seen them play over the years tons. I do feel like I can be part of hopefully bringing this team on the right track again.

When did he realize he needed to leave the Canucks?: I felt maybe last year that, in this business when you have a year left or just over a year left, you realize you might be heading in this direction to unrestricted free agency and we had some discussions but in all honesty I never really felt a big interest from their side. I might be wrong. I think it was mutual. I felt I needed a change. I had a great 11 years I have no hard feelings. But I just felt I needed a change. I’m not sure exactly when that happened but it was a while back.

It’s going to be a big change but I’m excited about it. I’m curious how it’s going to be. I haven’t spent a lot of time down there and I know it’s going to be different. Positive thoughts and I’m looking forward to it.

What will he miss about Vancouver?: It’s a fantastic place to live. We raised two wonderful kids in Vancouver and they have a lot of friends and we have a lot of friends we met through our kids’ schools and stuff, and we’re going to miss that. But that’s part of life. Just because you move to a different city, you won’t keep your friends. I met a lot of people in Vancouver I know I’m going to be in contact with the rest of our lives.

How did GM Brian Lawton sell you on Tampa?: Brian spoke about there team and the city of Tampa and it’s a very talented hockey club, and I do feel like I can bring a lot to this hockey team with my experience. I’m 32 years old I feel like I have my best years ahead of me and to be able to help Victor Hedman out is an important part of my job. So there’s a lot of stuff I’m excited about.

Is Tampa Bay's ownership situation troublesome?:: No, I spoke to Brian and I felt like this was a good situation for me. I felt this was the team that wanted me and wanted me to be a big part of the organization and that’s all I needed to hear.

I do feel like I have my best years ahead of me and I’m going to push to get better and better every year. If I can help some young guys out with my experience, that’s great.