Battling Holmstrom looks ahead with Detroit

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2000

By Lucas Aykroyd

Although Tomas Holmstrom of the Detroit Red Wings takes his share of abuse screening NHL goaltenders, you don’t normally see the 26-year-old left wing from Pieta hobbling around. But that’s what he did in the Detroit dressing room after the Wings rallied to tie the Vancouver Canucks 3-3 at GM Place on 19 January. Still nursing a left knee injury that cut short his team iron man streak, the 6-0, 200-pound Holmstrom chipped in an assist on the tying goal, which brought him up to 22 points in 41 games. He played solid defensive hockey despite logging only 6:19 of ice time. Now in his fourth season with the Wings, Holmstrom embraces the team-oriented philosophy that brought the Stanley Cup to Detroit in 1997 and 1998. And why wouldn’t he? When the gritty Lulea forward was drafted 257th overall in 1994, he could never have expected to enjoy such success at the NHL level. Holmstrom told EuroReport’s Lucas Aykroyd he’s confident Detroit will get back on the Cup track this year.

EuroReport: In the last ten games, your team has struggled at 3-5-2. What’s been the problem?

Tomas Holmstrom: It’s hard to say. We’ve gone into every game working hard. Some nights, we haven’t got the bounces. Yes, we’ve been in a bit of a slump. But tonight was really good for us, the way we battled back.

EuroReport: How do you feel about the way the season has gone for you personally?

Holmstrom: So-so. I’d like to put up some more points. My knee injury knocked me out for two weeks, but now I’m starting to feel better and better.

EuroReport: Last year you had 15 goals wiped out due to crease infractions. You must be pretty happy the crease violation rule is gone.

Holmstrom [chuckling]: It’s really good for me and the other guys who go to the net. It’s helped me a lot this year.

EuroReport: The way you go to the net is similar to Dino Ciccarelli, who played several years with the Wings and left just before you arrived. Did you ever watch him and try to emulate his style?

Holmstrom: I saw him the last couple of years before I came over from Sweden, and he was always in front of the net and battling. I can’t compare myself to him, but he was a really good player and he put up some good numbers.

EuroReport: Who was your favorite player when you were growing up?

Holmstrom: Sergei Makarov.

EuroReport: What did you like about him?

Holmstrom: His quickness. I liked watching him with the Russian Five. We saw them all the time. We didn’t have the same opportunity to watch the NHL players.

EuroReport: It must be a thrill for you to play with Igor Larionov now.

Holmstrom: Yeah, I’ve asked Igor a little about how Sergei was. There are lots of stories in this room. I just try to watch and learn every day.

EuroReport: What’s the biggest goal you’ve scored in your hockey career?

Holmstrom: Oh, I don’t know. Maybe in the third game of the finals against Washington, back in 1998. That was one of the better ones. As long as the team wins, that’s the main thing for me.

EuroReport: But 1998 was a great playoff run for you personally, with 19 points. What got you on such a roll?

Holmstrom: You don’t think about it too much. You just go out there and try to keep scoring. I had good linemates. I played with Stevie [Yzerman] and Mac [Darren McCarty] that year, plus Sergei [Fedorov] and Brownie [Doug Brown]. That worked out well for me.

EuroReport: The media guide mentions you’re a carpenter. How did you get into woodwork as a hobby?

Holmstrom: It’s not really my hobby, but I like to do it. I had three years of training back home in Sweden. It’s not what I’d want to do for a job, but I like fixing things and working with wood.

EuroReport: Finally, how has the team dealt with the disappointment of losing in the second round to Colorado last year?

Holmstrom: We came back to training camp really focused. Everyone was in good shape. This year it looks much better. We’re not the Stanley Cup champions anymore, but we know we have to get there again.