Tomas Sandström

Right winger Tomas Sandström was one of the best Swedes to play in the NHL. He played 983 games from 1984-99, scoring 394 goals and 462 assists for 856 points, also registering 1,193 career penalty minutes. A skilled power forward, Sandström was effective when healthy but his career was marred by injuries due to his physical style of play. Sandström started his hockey career in 1979 with Fagersta HK and from 1982-84 was with Brynäs IF.

Sandström was drafted by the New York Rangers of the NHL in 1983, joining the club in 1984. Sandström played 5½ seasons with the Rangers, until he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in mid-season 1990. But Sandström’s time with the Kings was marred by several serious injuries that included a 1990 fight that left him with a scratched cornea and broken cheekbone and he sustained a broken leg in the 1991 Smythe Division Finals. 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 after legendary Wayne Gretzky and Doug Gilmour.

In the 1993-94 mid-season, Sandström was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins and in the 1996-97 season was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. Although Sandström stayed with the Red Wings only half a season, he won the 1997 Stanley Cup with them. After his short stay with the Red Wings, Sandström joined the Anaheim Mighty Ducks as a free agent and played with them for two seasons. During his 15 NHL seasons, Sandström was awarded the Viking Award as the best Swede in the NHL in 1987 and 1991, was selected to the 1988 and 1991 NHL All-Star Games and was named to the 1985 NHL All-Rookie Team. Sandström finished his career from 1999-2002 with Malmö IF.

Internationally, Sandström won Olympic bronze in 1984 and also was one of the key players for the winning Swedish team at the 1987 World Championship. He was a runner-up at the 1984 Canada Cup and won bronze at the 1989 European Championships. He was awarded the Stora Grabbars Märke (Big Boys’ Badge) #144 in ice hockey and was selected to the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2007. After finishing his sporting career, Sandström worked as a firefighter with the Skanör fire department.