Tomas Sandström

Tomas Sandström
Sandström wearing a pair of headphones, 2009
Sandström in 2009
Born (1964-09-04) September 4, 1964 (age 60)
Jakobstad, Finland
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Left
Played for New York Rangers
Los Angeles Kings
Pittsburgh Penguins
Detroit Red Wings
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
National team  Sweden
NHL draft 36th overall, 1982
New York Rangers
Playing career 1982–2002

Tomas Sandström (born September 4, 1964) is a Finnish-born Swedish former professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1984 to 1999. Born in Finland, Sandström grew up in Fagersta, Sweden. A skilled power forward, he was effective when healthy but his career was marred by injuries due to his physical style of play.

He was a member of the 1997 Stanley Cup winning Detroit Red Wings team, and assisted on Darren McCarty's game-winning goal in the deciding Game 4.

Olympic medal record
Representing  Sweden
Men's ice hockey
Bronze medal – third place 1984 Sarajevo Ice hockey

Playing career

Sandström was selected 36th overall by the New York Rangers in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. Sandström played 983 career NHL games, scoring 394 goals and 462 assists for 856 points, and also registered 1,193 career penalty minutes. Sandström won the Stanley Cup in 1997 with the Detroit Red Wings, assisting on Darren McCarty's game-winning goal in Game 4 of the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers.

After being acquired with Tony Granato by the Los Angeles Kings in January 1990 for former 70-goal scorer Bernie Nicholls,[1] the two newest additions to Los Angeles combined with Wayne Gretzky to form a potent top line in Los Angeles. The line displayed its full dominance in the 1990 first round series against the defending Stanley Cup champion and the Western Conference regular season champion Calgary Flames, particularly in game 4, with both Sandström and Granato along with Dave Taylor scoring hat tricks while Gretzky had a goal and five assists in a 12–4 rout.[2][3][4]

Sandström suffered through several serious injuries during his tenure with Los Angeles. In a February 28, 1990 game that set the NHL record for most penalties in a game with 85, he was punched by the Edmonton Oilers' Glenn Anderson, leaving him with a broken cheekbone.[5] A collision with Edmonton's Craig Muni caused a fractured leg in the 1991 Smythe Division Finals.[6] Doug Gilmour of the Toronto Maple Leafs slashed and fractured Sandström's forearm in November 1992.[7] Sandström was a key component of the Kings' run to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, after missing most of the regular season with a broken jaw. Sandström finished third in playoff scoring behind Wayne Gretzky and Doug Gilmour.

On February 16, 1994, Sandström was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with Shawn McEachern, in exchange for Marty McSorley and Jim Paek[8]

On January 27, 1997, Sandström was traded by the Penguins to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Greg Johnson.[9] He assisted on Darren McCarty's game-winning goal in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

In August 1997, Sandström signed as a free agent with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim,[10] where he would spend the last two seasons of his NHL career.

Today, Sandström works as a firefighter in Skanör, Sweden.[6]

Achievements

  • All-Star Selection, Forward, 1983 IIHF world junior hockey championships[11]
  • Named to the 1985 NHL All-Rookie Team.
  • Selected to two NHL All-Star Games: 1988 and 1991
  • In the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats, was ranked No. 70 all-time of the 901 New York Rangers who had played during the team's first 82 seasons[12]
  • Won the Stanley Cup in 1997 with the Detroit Red Wings.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1979–80 Fagersta HK SWE.2 6 1 1 2 0 — — — — —
1980–81 Fagersta HK SWE.3 20 23 5 28 — — — — — —
1981–82 Fagersta HK SWE.2 32 28 11 39 74 — — — — —
1982–83 Brynäs IF SEL 36 23 14 37 50 — — — — —
1983–84 Brynäs IF SEL 34 19 10 29 81 — — — — —
1984–85 New York Rangers NHL 74 29 30 59 51 3 0 2 2 0
1985–86 New York Rangers NHL 73 25 29 54 109 16 4 6 10 20
1986–87 New York Rangers NHL 64 40 34 74 60 6 1 2 3 20
1987–88 New York Rangers NHL 69 28 40 68 95 — — — — —
1988–89 New York Rangers NHL 79 32 56 88 148 4 3 2 5 12
1989–90 New York Rangers NHL 48 19 19 38 100 — — — — —
1989–90 Los Angeles Kings NHL 28 13 20 33 28 10 5 4 9 19
1990–91 Los Angeles Kings NHL 68 45 44 89 106 10 4 4 8 14
1991–92 Los Angeles Kings NHL 49 17 22 39 70 6 0 3 3 8
1992–93 Los Angeles Kings NHL 39 25 27 52 57 24 8 17 25 12
1993–94 Los Angeles Kings NHL 51 17 24 41 59 — — — — —
1993–94 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 27 6 11 17 24 6 0 0 0 4
1994–95 Malmö IF SEL 12 10 5 15 14 — — — — —
1994–95 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 47 21 23 44 42 12 3 3 6 16
1995–96 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 58 35 35 70 69 18 4 2 6 30
1996–97 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 40 9 15 24 33 — — — — —
1996–97 Detroit Red Wings NHL 34 9 9 18 36 20 0 4 4 24
1997–98 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim NHL 77 9 8 17 64 — — — — —
1998–99 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim NHL 58 15 17 32 42 4 0 0 0 4
1999–2000 Malmö IF SEL 42 16 13 29 28 6 3 2 5 10
2000–01 Malmö IF SEL 50 17 9 26 90 8 3 3 6 60
2001–02 Malmö IF SEL 37 8 7 15 40 5 0 1 1 6
SEL totals 211 93 58 151 303 19 6 6 12 76
NHL totals 983 394 463 857 1,193 139 32 49 81 183

International

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1982 Sweden EJC 5 5 2 7 16
1983 Sweden WJC 7 9 3 12 —
1984 Sweden WJC 7 4 3 7 12
1984 Sweden OLY 7 2 1 3 6
1984 Sweden CC 8 1 1 2 2
1985 Sweden WC 10 3 6 9 18
1987 Sweden WC 8 4 6 10 6
1989 Sweden WC 10 4 3 7 14
1991 Sweden CC 6 1 2 3 8
1998 Sweden OLY 4 0 1 1 0
Junior totals 19 18 8 26 —
Senior totals 53 15 20 35 54

References

  1. ^ Steve Springer (January 21, 1990). "Nicholls Goes to Rangers : Kings: They get right wingers Sandstrom and Granato for third-leading scorer in NHL. McNall, Vachon say it will improve defense". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  2. ^ "KINGS BLAST FLAMES TO BRINK, 12-4". Washington Post. 2024-01-01. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  3. ^ Springer, Steve (1990-04-11). "Kings Pull Triple-Triple, 12-4 : L.A.'s Three Hat Tricks Break Playoff Record : Hockey: Gretzky gets a goal and four assists. Club leads series against Flames, three games to one". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  4. ^ Barnes, Mike (April 11, 1990). "Kings 12, Flames 4 - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  5. ^ "85 Penalties For Kings And Oilers". The New York Times. 2 March 1990. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  6. ^ a b Peng, Shaun (6 January 2017). "50 Forgotten Stories: 'Super Swede'". NHL.com. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  7. ^ Dillman, Lisa (29 November 1992). "Kings Tend to Gilmour, Lose to Maple Leafs, 3-2". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  8. ^ Dillman, Lisa (16 February 1994). "McSorley Feels Like a King : Hockey: Trade brings him back to the team he helped spark to Stanley Cup finals. Sandström, McEachern go to Penguins". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  9. ^ "Sandstrom Traded". Washington Post. 28 January 1997. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  10. ^ "Larionov Will Stay With Detroit". The New York Times. 2 August 1997. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  11. ^ Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009-10, p.515, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Canada, ISBN 978-1-55468-621-6
  12. ^ Cohen, Russ; Halligan, John; Raider, Adam (2009). 100 Ranger Greats: Superstars, Unsung Heroes and Colorful Characters. John Wiley & Sons. p. 72. ISBN 978-0470736197. Retrieved February 3, 2020.