Ohlund playing his part with emerging Canucks

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2001

By Lucas Aykroyd

In recent years, every Stanley Cup champion has featured at least two defensemen with elite physical and scoring skills. Rob Blake and Ray Bourque in Colorado. Scott Stevens and Brian Rafalski in New Jersey. Derian Hatcher and Sergei Zubov in Dallas.

So if the Vancouver Canucks aspire to sip from Lord Stanley’s mug in the near future, they have to hope that Swedish veteran Mattias Ohlund keeps contributing at every level along with the blossoming Ed Jovanovski.

Of course, the 25-year-old Ohlund can’t afford to get too far ahead of himself. The Canucks have fumbled around below the .500 mark this season and must work hard to avoid taking a step backwards by missing the playoffs.

“We’ve played way better defensively than we did in the first part of the season, and we’re playing more as a team,” Ohlund told EuroReport recently. “We obviously struggled a lot the first ten games. Now it seems like we’re playing the style of hockey that made us successful last year.”

The Pitea native has received criticism for his inconsistent play this season. While he’s dominated some nights with big hits and crisp outlet passes, he’s also been the goat on a number of giveaways.

He’s on pace to equal the 28 points he tallied last season (8-20-28 in 65 games).

“The whole team has been too much up and down for me to be really happy, but I feel better and better every game,” Ohlund said. “As long as the team’s playing good, it’s easy to feel good out there.”

Logging almost 30 minutes of ice time some nights, the 6-3, 220-pound rearguard plays in every situation. Although he’s regained the strength and weight he lost while recovering from the effects of an eye injury he suffered in 1999, fatigue may account partly for his recent team-low plus-minus of -6.

“With plus-minus, sometimes you’re standing in the corner and you can’t do anything about that,” Ohlund said. “I was on the ice for two or three empty net goals at the end of games. I’d rather be +6 than -6, obviously, but it’s not something that has me concerned.”

As a consummate team player, he focuses on shutting down the opposition’s top forwards. His choice for the team with the toughest forwards to stop is, not surprisingly, the Stanley Cup champions. Ohlund is confident the men in Denver will bounce back from their early season woes.

“We’ve played Colorado a few times, and they’ve got Sakic and Drury and Hejduk. Even without Peter Forsberg, they have a really good team. They’re always tough to play against.”

Ohlund signed a three-year, $8.25 million US contract extension on 5 October that should ensure his future in Vancouver. He’s already spent four years on the West Coast.

“Now I can relax a little bit more,” said Ohlund. “I don’t like to look at stats and goals and points like that. That’s not a focus of my game. But obviously if it’s the last year of your deal, even if you don’t like to think about it, it’s going to be in your mind once in a while. It’s nice not to be concerned about that.”

Named Vancouver’s best defenseman in 1999-2000, Ohlund received another honor when he was among the first eight players selected for Sweden’s 2002 Olympic hockey team. He’s looking forward to suiting up against Canada in Tre Kronor’s tournament opener in Salt Lake City on 15 February.

“Canada has so many good and strong players, so obviously they’re going to have a great team,” said Ohlund. “It doesn’t really matter who they pick. There are going to be four or five teams with an equal chance of winning. It’s just a matter of getting your 24 guys going at the same time. We always have to play on top of our game. Hopefully we’re going to be able to get Forsberg back.”

And when will “Foppa” return from his self-imposed hiatus from hockey?

“No idea. He’s the only guy who knows. If he doesn’t feel like he’s ready to play, he shouldn’t be playing. But I don’t know when it’s going to happen.”

Ohlund is more forthcoming in terms of looking around the Western Conference and identifying this year’s most surprising teams.

“I would have to say Chicago, and Calgary a little bit too,” Ohlund said. “We knew they had good teams. Calgary is a hard-working team, and this year they seem to have all the pieces to be successful. The last few years Chicago didn’t seem to have good team chemistry, but this year they’re really on top of their game.”

Ohlund also has no hesitation in saying what he enjoys most about his job as an NHL hockey player. He has a cooperative, workmanlike attitude that should serve him well as he heads toward recognition among the league’s elite.

“I love coming into the rink and being one of the guys in this dressing room. We’ve got a great bunch of guys here.”