Ohlund Article - Ohlund on Naslund's Jersey retirement

OK, so I'm playing a bit o' catchup. Won't post about Ohlie's Oct knee related missed attendance but I can always count on Iain M to write an Ohlund piece (Van Sun Dec 10/10). Man, I wish I could've been here to watch the ceremony. I wonder if someone youtubed it. Hmm..

Blue-liner bolts back to Vancouver for first time in rival's jersey
Mattias Ohlund is excited to witness Naslund's jersey retirement, but says he's thinking more about his health and less about homecoming

It is the long-overdue return of one of the greatest Canucks, the Swede who came to regard Vancouver as home and bled his team's many-changing colours for more than a decade.

Finally, there will be acknowledgment what this warrior did for the National Hockey League team. Hopefully, Markus Naslund won't mind sharing the spotlight for a second or two Saturday with Mattias Ohlund.

Ohlund will be an honoured guest at Naslund's retirement ceremony, but won't be wearing a tuxedo as he'll be playing against the Canucks about an hour later.

The 34-year-old defencemen is playing in Vancouver for the first time since a seven-year free-agent contract took him to the Tampa Bay Lightning 17 months ago.

"The one thing you do miss is being in a hockey market," Ohlund said before the Lightning travelled to Edmonton for tonight's game against the Oilers. "Our fans in Tampa are very good but we play a lot of games [in the Southeast Division] against teams like Atlanta and Florida, which are struggling attendance-wise.

"So that's one thing you miss -- playing games in hockey markets like Calgary and Edmonton and, of course, Vancouver. But the fans in Tampa have been great. The attendance at our games is not that different than Vancouver."

Ohlund said he is looking forward to seeing his friend Naslund honoured before tonight's game, but actually hasn't spent much time thinking about his return to Vancouver.

The Lightning have played a pile of road games since October -- Tampa is near the end of a 21-game stretch that included only five home dates -- and Ohlund is trying to find health and form following off-season knee surgery.

He missed the first eight games of the season, the third time in four years Ohlund has had a significant injury setback, and he may not get anywhere near the end of that $26.25-million contract that expires when he is 39.

"I've been struggling with injuries the last few years, so I'm just taking it a day at a time," Ohlund said. "I enjoy hockey as much as I did seven or eight years ago, but health-wise, as you get older, it becomes more of an issue."

Ohlund's average ice time of 18:13 is four minutes fewer than last season and nearly seven minutes below his career average. He has just two assists in 20 games, and hasn't scored a goal since leaving the Canucks.

His 11 seasons in Vancouver included 770 games and 325 points, the most by a Canuck defenceman. It's quite possible had he re-signed in Vancouver and surpassed 1,000 games, Ohlund's number might have been retired, too, because there isn't much debate he was the best defenceman in team history.

And yet, Ohlund said he is happy in Tampa and has no regrets about leaving.

"It was time for me to move on," he said. "I was ready for the change."

Ohlund said he was in Vancouver last May so his son, Victor, could have continuing nonlife threatening treatment at BC Children's Hospital. The family, which includes his daughter Hannah and wife Linda, is planning a Vancouver vacation next summer.

"We didn't have a ton of playoff success, but we had some great teams there," Ohlund said. "I'm very happy for Markus and excited to be a small part of that event. He's a great person, got a great family and I'm very happy for him."

Saturday's ceremony begins at 6:10 p.m. to accommodate NHL guidelines that demand pre-game retirement ceremonies be finished before regular warm-up times for the teams. CBC has moved the opening faceoff to 7:30 p.m., so a packaged version of Naslund's ceremony can be televised nationally, starting about 7 p.m.

Merry Christmas! 800th game for Mattias

Well, it's the holiday season! It's the only time of the year that I choose to be more like my old self.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

Dec 23, 2009 marked Ohlie's 800th NHL game. Here's to another 800!

Here's an article on Ohlie by Erik Erlendsson at the Tampa Tribune - I love how he still gets appreciated down in Tampa.

Ohlund making an impact with Bolts
Dec 26, 2009
For the past decade, Lightning fans had heard of Mattias Ohlund in name only.

He was the steady defensive stalwart for the Vancouver Canucks.

The numbers never jumped out - 325 points in 770 career games. And when the Canucks' top players were discussed, it was Markus Naslund, Brendan Morrison, Todd Bertuzzi, Trevor Linden or more recently Roberto Luongo who immediately came to mind.

Even if Ohlund was a barely recognizable name to Lightning fans before signing a seven-year free-agent contract last summer, the rugged blue liner hasn't wasted time making an impression.

Ask Henrik Zetterberg, the Red Wings superstar who is on the shelf after he leaned in for a puck only to take the brunt of a vicious - and clean - shoulder check from Ohlund on Dec. 17 that left him with a partially separated shoulder.

Or Phil Kessel, who in his first game back following offseason shoulder surgery, made the mistake of coming across Ohlund's blue line with his head down only to be greeted with a devastating hit that knocked him backwards onto the ice.

Those are the extreme examples of what Ohlund brings with his physical presence as he patrols the Lightning blue line.

"I knew he was physical, but this year he's had some huge hits," captain Vinny Lecavalier said. "But obviously not watching him out west, it's like, now you know that's why when you see in the playoffs, guys going after him, it's because that's how physical he is."

Andrej Meszaros knew Ohlund was much more than just a name on the roster. While the 24-year-old defenseman played one year of junior hockey in Vancouver, he remembers hearing of Ohlund's reputation.

"I used to watch the Canucks, so he was great for them, and he's been great for us, too. We are lucky to have him," Meszaros said.

The Lightning and Ohlund have been a perfect match from the moment he hit the free-agent market. Tampa Bay was in need of a veteran leader for a young defensive unit, while also wanting somebody to serve as a mentor for rookie Victor Hedman, who was selected second overall in the 2009 draft.

In need of a change after feeling he was no longer wanted in Vancouver, Ohlund was seeking a new challenge.

Ohlund certainly has delivered, despite only seven assists and no goals in 30 games this season. He has provided the leadership the team envisioned, taken to his mentor-like role for Hedman and been the same steady presence he was during his decade with Vancouver, leading the team in average ice time at 24 minutes, 2 seconds per game.

"He's been a solid guy with a workmanlike attitude each game," Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said. "His physical play, too, is something that the other team will have his name circled and tell each other to be careful coming through the middle.

"And when you have players like that, you put on the brakes a little bit more through the neutral zone, where sometimes you are going through on your heels a little bit, and that's just enough to slow teams down. It's nice to have those guys on your team."

Ohlund said adjusting to a new situation has been every bit the challenge he expected, but he also knows that he can give more as the season goes on.

"I don't think that I've played my best. I want to be able to give more and do more than I have," he said. "But I've been feeling better and better and hopefully my own personal game can improve. I do have that level and obviously I want to play a little bit better."

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.

Another article giving some love to Ohlund

And because we love Mattias Ohlund around here, here's an article WOOTing Ohlie from Tony Gallagher:

All-round fine effort by prime-time Ohlund
April 20, 2009

ST. LOUIS — With 34 seconds remaining in the game here Sunday night, Mattias Ohlund made his only mistake of the evening when he put too much mustard on a clearing effort and iced the puck.

Everything else, pretty much gold. And while some say he’s slipped a little bit as he’s gotten older, he hasn’t slipped far if you watched him closely while the Vancouver Canucks were taking a guzzle hold on this series.

“What can you say?” said Sami Salo about Ohlund with a smile. “Big on penalty kill, big minutes, big-time player. That’s what it’s all about.”

In typical Ohlund fashion, he played down every aspect of his performance, which saw him take over for the normal lion on the kill, Willie Mitchell, on the left side of both two- man disadvantages — evidently the officials feeling such situations are acceptable as a way of getting the Blues into this series.

But with Ohlund looking every bit in his prime since the playoffs started, it just wasn’t happening for St. Louis, the big Swede blasting pucks around the boards, blocking shots, slipping little backhand clearing passes up the middle and generally making life more bearable for Roberto Luongo, who normally would have been trying to catch bullets in his teeth in such a situation.

“If you analyze why we’re taking all these penalties, I don’t really know what it is — whether we’re not moving our feet or what — but killing them off is a big part of the playoffs and with Willie our main PK guy, I had a little more work on that than normal. But I’ve felt pretty good most of the year and tonight we got it done on the kill.”

Ohlund managed to chip in the Canucks’ first goal on the power play, as well, although he was feeling like the goalie in the commercial who has the horseshoes drop out of his shorts afterwards.

“It was lucky, I mean I hardly hit the puck at all and it just kept going,” said the big Swede, who would love to stay with Vancouver next season but may be worth more than the Canucks can afford, given all the emerging talent that needs to fit under the umbrella.

Salo talked about how important it is to win faceoffs and pointed to Ryan Johnson’s great night on the draw, but after the win on those shorthanded situations the defenceman’s response to possession is crucial. Ohlund was at his best, coolly picking spots and hammering pucks out, getting far more ginger on those pucks than he did on the seeing-eye goal, all of which he’ll take, thank you.

“I’ve never felt we’ve done enough in playoffs here in Vancouver on the teams I’ve been on and that’s something we’d all like to change,” he said.

They appear to have set off in the right direction, and Ohlund is one of men leading the way.

Damn straight!

Game 4 tomorrow!

Well, I obviously haven't been at a computer long enough to make a post for awhile.

The Canucks are up 3-0 in the series. Mats Sundin is injured with a mysterious lower body injury and missed game 3 and is questionable for game 4. Jannik Hansen came into the lineup (yay!) and Ryan Kesler was moved to the third line. Mattias Ohlund had the first Canucks goal which came at a good time as we were down 1 and the Blues had their feet over us.

Here's a swedish article from January that pretty much says everything we already knew - nothing is happening but Ohlund will command big money if the Canucks don't re-sign him and he goes into free agency..

Mattias Öhlund kräver högre lön - kan lämna Vancouver i sommar

VANCOUVER. Mattias Öhlund är Vancouvers bäste back.
Men efter elva säsonger i Canucks kan det här vara hans sista månader i klubben.
Förhandlingarna om ett nytt kontrakt har nämligen strandat.
- Nu har det gått så långt att det lockar att testa marknaden som unrestricted free agent i sommar, säger Öhlund till HockeyExpressen.se.

Han tjänar den här säsongen 28 miljoner kronor och vill ha ett rejält lönelyft i sitt nästa NHL-kontrakt.
Hans marknadsvärde lär ligga kring 40-52 miljoner kronor.
"Ligger stilla just nu"

Öhlund är Canucks trotjänare i försvaret. Han sliter i alla uppställningar - förstafemman, box play och power play.
Något som hans agenter J.P Barry och Claes Elefalk påtalat under förhandlingarna med Vancouvers nye klubbdirektör, Mike Gillis.
Själv säger Öhlund nu när halva säsongen gått:
- Vi har inte förhandlat speciellt mycket senaste tiden, den där biten ligger stilla just nu. Men Canucks måste väl fatta någon form av beslut om min framtid ganska snart.
Canucks riskerar bli utan pengar

Vad han syftar på är trading deadline den 3 mars.
Om klubben inte lyckas skriva ett nytt kontrakt med sin svenske backklippa före sommaren riskerar man att förlora honom till något annat NHL-lag utan ersättning 1juli.
Problemet för Canucks är att Öhlund har en klausul om "no-trade" i sitt nuvarande kontrakt.
Det innebär att man inte kan byta bort honom utan hans medgivande.
Stannar i NHL

Och sedan landslagskompisen Mats Sundin anslutit till laget har Öhlund inga tankar på att flytta på sig.
- Då ska det vara till något verkligt speciellt lag, men som jag ser det i dag vill jag avsluta säsongen här i Vancouver.
Några tankar på att som 32-åring packa ihop och flytta hem till Sverige för gott i sommar har han inte.
- Nej, jag vill fortsätta i NHL i några år till.
- Helst här i Vancouver, men kommer vi inte överens är jag beredd att flytta på mig i sommar.

Av Gunnar Nordström

4-1 Canucks v. Avalanche

Boy, things have been busy! I managed to do an update to the Mattias Ohlund Appreciation Page (the first one in months). Prepping for a friend's wedding takes a lot of time and work. Thank goodness it'll be over with next week.

As for the Canucks, that last game against the Avs was a bit disconcerting. After the 1st period, it looked like we might end up losing to the last team in the Western conference (not that that would be a surprising occurance) but after the Canucks' second goal, it looked like the Avs wilted. 4-1 Canucks = 5th in the Western Conference still.

I almost missed this quote from Iain's article on Daniel Sedin getting stitched up and heading back out after a high stick took out a tooth:

"It's not easy to get a stick in the mouth and then come right back out and score a goal by going to the front of the net, sacrificing yourself," Luongo, the Canuck captain said. "He's the toughest Swede in the league."

We though that honour belonged to Canuck defenceman Mattias Ohlund.

"It did," Luongo said. "But he lost his title."

"I never had it," Ohlund said, "but I'll give it to Daniel on that one."

And here's another Ohlund article on nhl.com

Tony Gallagher on Ohlund

Here's a great one from Tony Gallagher from March 18..:

VANCOUVER- There was a certain poetry in the fact the Vancouver Canucks set a franchise record for consecutive victories at home on a night when Mattias Ohlund enjoyed one of the most deserved standing ovations in the 38-year history of this NHL team.

This most consistent of understated hard rock defencemen has been through thick and thin in his years with this franchise. It started when Vancouver had the right to match a Toronto offer when former GM Pat Quinn was trying to beat Ohlund for a few thousand dollars on his rookie contract. Quinn finally had to spend the money when Leaf GM Bill Watters at the time forced the issue with an attempt to poach the promising star.

Ohlund's been nothing but gold since he arrived and it's as though he's being somewhat rewarded for all his hard work with this team. Where it all ends up this season remains to be seen - as does his future in this league given he'll be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the campaign - but for his years here the best way to describe him is with two words: captain material. He's never been named captain of course but you certainly get the feeling he received strong consideration at the outset of this season and had fellow Swede Markus Naslund not been the proceeding holder of the position, he might well have had a C on his jersey when he stood at the Vancouver bench Tuesday night acknowledging the fans' heart felt salute.

In his 11 years on the West Coast there's never been a night when he didn't give absolutely everything he had, and what he had was a whole lot of talent which had so many manifestations it's hard to pick what he's done best. Was it the great intimidation he provided with open ice hits? Was it his ability to move the puck, clear the front of the net, handle the other team's top forward or lead the franchise in points for a defenceman?

He's done it all and he's still doing it and if by some chance the dollars can be worked out at the end of the season, GM Mike Gillis would like nothing more for him to keep doing it for the foreseeable future. And so would his teammates.

``We've played together all of about three shifts in our three years together as teammates because they like to keep us apart but he's been a great teammate, composed, quiet and he's led the team in goals and points as well,'' says fellow defenceman Willie Mitchell. ``I don't think he knew exactly what was going to happen but we knew they'd do something so we were all kidding him before the game. I don't think he's too comfortable taking credit like that.''

Indeed he was not.

``It was really nice that it came on a night when the team is playing so well and we're having a lot of fun,'' said Ohlund of the salute for becoming the club's all-time leading scorer as a defender. ``We feel good about our team but we've felt good about it before and not had the kind of playoff success we'd hoped for. Obviously we're hoping this year will be different.''

Ohlund's 62-year old father Kenneth, who used to coach him as a youngster as he came up through the Swedish club system, would have been proud watching on the satellite at four in the morning back home.

``They get about 30-35 games a year live and he's up for all of them,'' says Ohlund of his dad

Ohlund has been through all kinds of injuries over the years yet shown remarkable durability through all the hurts a physical defenceman will suffer over so many years, not the least of which were the serious eye problems early in his career which could well have kept him out of the hearts of Vancouver fans.

Yet he persevered, maybe took a little less money to stay with the Canucks in a couple of his deals to help bring this team to where it is this season. He'd like to see it go a lot further of course, but that chapter hasn't yet been written. What he's done to date however will almost certainly guarantee more standing ovations from these fans in the future, whether he's wearing a Canuck uniform or returning some day in a suit after his retirement.

I need some distance in this relationship..

My resolution for this year's playoffs is that I will not become 100% emotionally invested in the success of the Canucks. Being a Canucks fan is like being in a goddamned relationship. You experience elation, pain, heartbreak, fury and but really.. you're just a 3rd party to the whole thing. Ridiculous!

This Province article from Ed Willes March 4, 2009 really captures the reality of the Ohlund situation I think. Thanks Ed.

Ohlund will be remembered no matter what
Pending UFA might go, might stay but will always be blueline horse

After 11 seasons and 751 regular-season games, the best defenceman in Vancouver Canucks' history understands the future holds no guarantees.

And he's OK with that. Back at the start of this season, it was made clear to Mattias Ohlund there's a fundamental difference in the way the Canucks interpret his value and the way he interprets his value. He believes he's a front-line NHL defenceman and should be compensated as such.

The Canucks, who already have four proven blueliners under contract for next season, have a slightly different take on things.

But far from being a source of angst, that knowledge has been liberating to the 32-year-old Ohlund. Six months ago, he went through his dark night of the soul and now he's at peace with his circumstances. Whatever happens will happen. And if that means a new team and a new start, it won't for a second diminish Ohlund's affection for a place he's called home for over a decade.

"This is a positive thing," Ohlund said before Tuesday night's 4-2 win over the Minnesota Wild. "I'm not sitting around feeling sorry for myself because I know how lucky I've been the last 11 years.

"I'm excited about the future. I'm excited about the uncertainty. This hasn't been a distraction. It's way past that. I've had a lot of times to reflect on things."

And in that reflection there's been little room for sorrow.

Ohlund, as the faithful know, is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer after 11 seasons of meritorious service to the Canucks. The organization has said it won't ask him to waive his no-trade clause for today's deadline, which means they run the risk of losing him without compensation this summer.

But, despite some wild rumours to the contrary, GM Mike Gillis and his staff have seemingly made the determination that Ohlund is more valuable to the Canucks in their playoff drive than he is as a trade bauble.

That's also the way the system should work. Ohlund earned the no-trade clause and he's earned the right to sell himself on the open market. The Canucks, for their part, have options of their own and they don't believe Ohlund is a fit in their future payroll at front-line dollars.

It's nothing personal. It's just business. It's also possible Ohlund will return to the Canucks next season.

As of this writing, it's just not very likely.

"I see myself as a good player, a player you'd want to have on your team," Ohlund said. "Maybe they have a different feeling, but I don't want to be kept around just because I've been here a long time.

"Maybe when I'm 36 I'll feel that way."

"He wants to play this thing out," said his agent J.P. Barry. "This might be the last thing he does with this team and he wants to help them win."

To that end, Ohlund hasn't enjoyed a vintage season. When healthy, he's knocked off 10-goal, 30-point, 25-minutes-per-game campaigns like clockwork.

But this year, much of his offence has been supplanted by young Alex Edler and Ohlund sits with just four goals and, more significantly, 21:45 of ice time per game, third among Canucks' defencemen.

"I'd like to play more," he said. "That's no secret."

Still, Ohlund doesn't believe his game has dropped off. Changed, yes. Deteriorated, no.

"I'm going to be honest," he said. "I think my season has been pretty good. My role has changed. But that's part of the business."

There's that word again.

In the right circumstances, Ohlund still believes he's that blueline horse who commands the big minutes and the big dollars. It remains to be seen, of course, if another team shares that conviction and, if they do, this will be Ohlund's last season in Vancouver.

But he'll be remembered here, remembered as a player who embodied the qualities of consistency and reliability.

There was never anything particularly flashy about Ohlund's game. He simply showed up for battle each night, lined up against the other team's best and played his heart out.

Maybe that sounds like it can be replaced. Maybe it's a lot more difficult than it seems.

An old Mattias Ohlund article from 1997

I had bookmarked a few old articles on Ohlund that I promised myself that I would eventually get to posting. Unfortunately, the sites and links died and the Ohlund articles were lost. Sigh. Anyway, here's one from when Pat Quinn matched Toronto's offer sheet on Mattias Ohlund back in 1997.

Canucks match offer sheet for Swedish D Mattias Ohlund
Posted: Thur August 7, 1997 at 4:24 p.m. EDT CNN Sports Illustrated

The Vancouver Canucks today opted to match the offer sheet for Swedish defenseman Mattias Ohlund, signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs last Friday.

Ohlund, who was the 13th overall selection in the 1994 NHL draft by Vancouver, agreed to a five-year contract worth $10 million with a signing bonus in excess of $7.5 million, according to IMG, which represents Ohlund.

Vancouver had seven days to match the offer entirely or make a deal with Toronto to deal his rights. Now that the Canucks have matched the offer, Ohlund cannot be traded for one year.

"Mattias has proven to be a solid player in international hockey and we look forward to having him play for our team this season," said Canucks president and general manager Pat Quinn. "He possesses a high skill level that will make him a valuable NHL player."

The 20-year-old Ohlund was voted the best defenseman at the past World Junior Championship tournament, and earned second all-star team honors at the World Championships in Finland.

He recorded seven goals and nine assists in 47 games last season for Lulea of the Swedish Elite League.

Ohlund interviewed by Gary Raible

Yay for CDC for putting this up finally! The last question and answer did make me chuckle. Such a diplomatic answer from Mattias. Don't worry Mattias - The Mattias Ohlund Appreciation Page is simply a consolidation of publicly available information. I do try to stay away from getting too personal and getting into family stuff. It was a personal project after an SEO course to design a webpage to make it to #1 in Google ranking.

-------------------------
A Rare Breed
Mattias Ohlund, the 31-year old defenceman from Pitea, Sweden has spent his entire NHL career in Vancouver. Canucks fans have watched Ohlund grow as an NHLer right before their eyes, from starting his career three years after being drafted in 1994, to overcoming a potentially career-threatening eye injury in 1999, to becoming the team’s most consistent defenceman.

Ohlund finished his 10th season with the Canucks in 2007-08 and he is still as unassuming as the first day he arrived. He is one of the NHL’s most underrated defencemen and continues to be one of the players most appreciated by the Vancouver hockey family.

RAIBLE: How meaningful is it to have played for the same team for the length of your NHL career?

OHLUND: It means a lot. I love Vancouver, I like living here. I’ve played with a lot of great players over the years, a lot of good coaches. My family has grown up here, my kids are in school, and we’ve become part of the community to the point where our trips back to Sweden are more “visits” than going home to live in the off-season.

RAIBLE: You realize, you’re part of a “vanishing breed,” playing for the same team you started your NHL career with?

OHLUND: Well, players leave, for different reasons. Some become unrestricted free agents, some are traded away. Obviously, I have been treated very well by management here and it’s been a mutual situation. A player has to want to play in the same place for a long time and, as I say, I’ve loved it here for so many years.

RAIBLE: Does this speak to your consistency as a hockey player?

OHLUND: I would like to think so. You try to do your best each and every night but sometimes you leave the rink feeling like you didn’t have a very good game. I think you have to look at yourself in the mirror and say you tried your best and worked your hardest. I take a lot of pride in trying to be consistent in what I do.

RAIBLE: Did you even expect to play 10-plus years in the NHL?

OHLUND: No, absolutely not. When I was drafted in ’94 at 17 or 18, I just dreamed of making it in the Swedish Elite League. At 20, that dream became the NHL and the Canucks. I had a five-year deal to begin with, but after a couple of years of losing, you see yourself just finishing out the contract and going home. Now, five or six years later, you’re hoping you’re in the middle of your career.

RAIBLE: When does an athlete start to consider how much of a career he has left?

OHLUND: I don’t know, but I know that today, I am having a lot more fun than I did when I was 20-years old. There will be a point where the team doesn’t want you to come back, or you will have to quit because of injury.

RAIBLE: I’m sure the Vancouver fans would want you to still be around for a chance to play for Sweden at Vancouver in 2010.

OHLUND: Yeah, I’ve played in three Olympics already and it’s been a lot of fun. It would be a tremendous honour, and quite an experience, to be a part of an Olympic hockey event in Vancouver.

RAIBLE: How has your life changed in the last decade, both on and off the ice?

OHLUND: Well, my life away from the rink now includes my wife and two kids and I have a great family. I now have to work harder to be in the kind of shape you need to be in to play this game. I have to pay attention to what I’m eating and how I train in the off-season. The training methods have changed so much, as well. The first four years here, we never made the playoffs, so after you make them, you realize how much fun it is and as you get older, you appreciate how much the playoffs mean to you. Hopefully, there is a Stanley Cup Championship in the not-too-distant future.

RAIBLE: Hasn’t the game changed a lot in the last decade, especially for defencemen?

OHLUND: Absolutely, and especially since the lockout. You have to be able to skate, you can’t just be big and strong and use your stick or use your hands and arms as much as you could before. The game is definitely more challenging for us, because the League wants to create more scoring.

RAIBLE: Another thing that’s changed in the last 10 years is the attention that is paid to the players, and the exposure the game has in many forms of media, like the growth of the Web. Did you know that there is a website that is “Dedicated to the Appreciation of Mattias Ohlund?”

OHLUND: I did not know that. Yes, it is crazy today, with all the media interest since I came into the League 10 years ago. That’s just society in general, how much information is available, and is out there. Being a player in this city, it has never been a problem; the fans have been great. I enjoy playing here; hopefully there is a mutual respect between me and the fans.

A couple of Articles..

A couple of good articles..

Trevor Linden in the Prince George Gazette

Bob Goodenow and the whole NHLPA lockout and Saskin scandal in Sports Business Journal