Top 50 Canucks players of all time: #14 – Mattias Ohlund

Join us this summer as we count down the top 50 Vancouver Canucks players of all time! #14: Mattias Ohlund

Before we begin, did anyone else know that Ohlund’s first name is actually Kenneth? Or was that just me?

Anyway.

Drafted 13th overall in the 1994 NHL Draft, the Canucks had to wait until October of 1997 to see the debut of their young Swedish defenceman. However, showing his maturity and poise on display, Ohlund quickly became a top-pairing blueliner for the Canucks. In his rookie campaign, Ohlund scored seven goals and 30 points while averaging 22:43 minutes of ice time in 77 games. Ohlund went on to finish second to only Sergei Samsonov for the Calder Trophy.

His second year was steady, as Ohlund increased his point totals by five and pushed his average time on ice to over 26 minutes, cementing himself as the Canucks’ top blueline minute muncher. Ohlund’s 1999-2000 season was cut short after a deflected puck struck him in the eye. He would require surgery that would restrict him to just 42 games, but he still managed to produce 20 points.

Returning fully healthy for the 2000-2001 season, Ohlund was awarded with an ‘A’ on his sweater, as he retook his role as a leader and the team’s top defenceman. He recorded 28 points in 65 games and helped Vancouver reach the playoffs for the first time since 1995-1996. Unfortunately for Ohlund and the Canucks, they would get swept by the Presidents’ Trophy and eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the Colorado Avalanche. Although they didn’t register one win, Ohlund finished with four points in four games.

Ohlund remained as consistent as could be over the following three seasons (2001-2002, 2002-2003 and 2003-2004), registering anywhere between 29 and 36 points. During that stretch, he set a new career-high in goals with 14 in 03-04, while averaging his consistent 25+ minutes per night in all three seasons. He was never a prolific point producer, despite quarterbacking the power play, but his reliable defensive play made him a coach’s dream, as he could be trusted in all situations.

Following the lockout, Ohlund’s role with the team shifted somewhat. He was still the undisputed number one Canucks defenceman – logging over 25 minutes for yet another season – but this time he was paired with young blueliners Kevin Bieksa and Lukas Krajicek to help mentor them as they develop. That seemed to work as the Canucks finished with the most points in franchise history. Ohlund led all Canucks defencemen in postseason points, tallying seven over 12 games.

Now in his 10th NHL season at the age of 31, his body is starting to catch up to him. Ohlund played just 56 games as he suffered through knee and elbow injuries, yet finished one point behind Sami Salo for the lead in points by a defenceman. However, the Canucks fell short of the playoffs, finishing last in the Northwest Division.

In what turned out to be his final season in Vancouver, Ohlund managed to play a full 82 games, but lost his power play spot to a young Alex Edler. His point totals dipped to just 25, but still provided veteran leadership, guiding the next wave of great Canucks blueliners. However, the club fell short in the second round yet again, which was the furthest the Canucks would go in the postseason with Ohlund on the team. In that offseason, Ohlund would sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the final two years of his career before retiring in 2011.

Ohlund spent 11 years in Vancouver, playing in 770 games, which ranks ninth all-time. When he left Vancouver, Ohlund ranked first in goals and points by a Canucks defenceman. Today, he ranks second in goals (93), sixth in assists (232), third in points (325) and first in average time on ice (24:34) – although another defenceman could rank higher before they started tracking ice time in 1997-1998 – of Canucks rearguards.

The Swedish defenceman will be remembered for his leadership and dedication to the Canucks, as well as his ability to log heavy minutes night in and night out. And every time you go into Rogers Arena, you’ll be reminded of his Canucks legacy, as in December 2016, Ohlund was inducted into the Ring of Honour.

Our previously ranked top 50 Canucks of all time:

#50 – Curt Fraser
#49 – Dave Babych
#48 – Martin Gelinas
#47 – Chris Oddleifson
#46 – Jannik Hansen
#45 – Ivan Boldirev
#44 – Gary Smith
#43 – Jacob Markstrom
#42 – Orland Kurtenbach
#41 – Harold Snepsts
#40 – Darcy Rota
#39 – Thatcher Demko
#38 – Geoff Courtnall
#37 – Dennis Ververgaert
#36 – Petri Skriko
#35 – Dan Hamhuis
#34 – Doug Lidster
#33 – Patrik Sundstrom
#32 – Brendan Morrison
#31 – Richard Brodeur
#30 – Sami Salo
#29 – André Boudrais
#28 – Kevin Bieksa
#27 – Don Lever
#26 – Bo Horvat
#25 – Brock Boeser
#24 – Dennis Kearns
#23 – Ed Jovanovski
#22 – Greg Adams
#21 – Cliff Ronning
#20 – JT Miller
#19 – Tony Tanti
#18 – Jyrki Lumme
#17 – Elias Pettersson
#16 – Alex Burrows
#15 – Alexander Mogilny