Lars Molin (ice hockey)

Last updated

Lars Molin
Born (1956-05-07) 7 May 1956 (age 67)
Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position Forward
Shot Left
Played for Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
Modo Hockey (SEL)
Örebro HK (SEL)
National teamFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 19741991

Lars-Erik Molin (born 7 May 1956) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey centre. He spent 3 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks between 1981 and 1984, and spent the majority of his career with Modo Hockey in the Swedish Elitserien. Many of his finest accomplishments came for Team Sweden in international play, as he helped his country to several medal finishes at both the Winter Olympics and World Championships during the 1980s.

Contents

Playing career

Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Olympic Games
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1980 Lake Placid Ice hockey
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1988 Calgary Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1987 Austria Team
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1981 Sweden Team

A skilled playmaking forward who was strong on both the powerplay and penalty kill, Molin broke into the Modo senior squad in 1974–75 at the age of 18. Over the next few seasons, he emerged as one of the club's top two-way players, culminating in his selection to play for Sweden at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. At the Olympics, he was one of Sweden's top players, scoring 7 points in 7 games to help the team to a bronze medal. After another strong season with Modo the following year, Molin was signed by the Vancouver Canucks in 1981 to try his luck in the NHL, joining former Modo teammates Thomas Gradin and Lars Lindgren who were already established at the club.

Fresh off representing Sweden in the 1981 Canada Cup, Molin had a strong rookie season in Vancouver in 1981–82, scoring 15 goals and 46 points in 72 games to finish 6th in club scoring. In the playoffs, he fared even better, notching 11 points in 17 games in helping the Canucks in their run to the Stanley Cup finals.

Molin continued his solid play the following year, notching 12 goals and 39 points in 58 games. However, by 1983–84, he had become a fringe member of the squad and slumped to 6 goals and 13 points in only 42 appearances.

His NHL options at an end, Molin returned to Modo for 1984–85, and turned in the highest-scoring season of his Swedish league career, posting 57 points in just 32 games. He continued his strong play with the club for the next few seasons, and experienced another career highlight when he helped Sweden to a Gold Medal performance at the 1987 World Championships. He would also help Sweden to another bronze in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

Now well into his 30s, Molin left Modo in 1988 and dropped down to the Swedish 2nd division with Örebro IK, where he spent the final 3 seasons of his career before retiring in 1991.

In 172 NHL appearances, Molin scored 33 goals and added 65 assists for 98 points. In 11 seasons in the top Swedish division with Modo, he added an additional 142 goals and 142 assists for 284 points in 335 appearances.

Following his career, Molin moved into coaching, with stints at IF Björklöven and Timrå IK.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

   Regular season   Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1973–74 Modo AIK SWE 40000
1974–75 Modo AIKSWE50000
1975–76 Modo AIK SEL 331271922
1976–77 Modo AIKSEL361811292041122
1977–78 Modo AIKSEL361510252421010
1978–79 Modo AIKSEL361316291863146
1979–80 Modo AIKSEL361282034
1980–81 Modo AIKSEL3017133030
1981–82 Vancouver Canucks NHL 72154661101729117
1982–83 Vancouver CanucksNHL5812273923
1983–84 Vancouver CanucksNHL426713420000
1984–85 Modo AIK SWE II 3231265722
1985–86 Modo AIKSEL3419193824
1986–87 Modo AIKSEL348162442
1987–88 Modo AIKSEL2477145441012
1988–89 Örebro IK SWE II33112132681037102
1989–90 Örebro IKSWE II302342653062684
1990–91 Örebro IKSWE II301624402820002
SEL totals2991211072282681662810
NHL totals1723380113371929117
SWE II totals1257112319414818513188

International

YearTeamEvent GPGAPtsPIM
1976 Sweden WJC 42022
1980 Sweden OG 72572
1981 Sweden WC 82354
1981 Sweden CC 52240
1985 SwedenWC51232
1987 SwedenWC91128
1988 SwedenOG70222
Senior totals418152318

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Markus Näslund</span> Swedish ice hockey player

Markus Sten Näslund is a Swedish former professional ice hockey player and former general manager for Modo Hockey of the Swedish Hockey League. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, and New York Rangers, as well as in the Elitserien with Modo Hockey. Nicknamed "Nazzy" by Canucks fans and "Macke" or "Mackan" in his native Sweden, he was known for his offensive skills, particularly his wrist shot and stickhandling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnus Arvedson</span> Swedish ice hockey player

Magnus Karl Olof Arvedson is a Swedish former professional ice hockey left winger who played 7 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks. He also competed in the men's tournament at the 2002 Winter Olympics. He is currently the head coach of Bofors IK in the Swedish HockeyAllsvenskan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Sedin</span> Swedish ice hockey player (born 1980)

Daniel Hans Sedin is a Swedish ice hockey executive and former winger who played his entire 17-season National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Vancouver Canucks from 2000 to 2018. Born and raised in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, Sedin and his identical twin brother Henrik played together throughout their careers; the pair were renowned for their effectiveness as a tandem. During his career, Daniel was known as a goal-scorer, while Henrik was known as a playmaker. Sedin tallied 393 goals and 648 assists in 1,306 games played in the NHL, ranking him as the Canucks' second-highest points scorer all time, behind only his brother Henrik.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henrik Sedin</span> Swedish ice hockey player (born 1980)

Henrik Lars Sedin is a Swedish ice hockey executive and former centre who played his entire 17-season National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Vancouver Canucks from 2000 to 2018. He additionally served as the Canucks' captain from 2010 until his retirement. Born and raised in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, Sedin and his identical twin brother Daniel played together throughout their careers; the pair were renowned for their effectiveness as a tandem. Henrik, a skilled passer, was known as a playmaker while Daniel was known as a goal-scorer. Sedin tallied 240 goals and 830 assists, for 1,070 points, in 1,330 NHL games, ranking him as the Canucks' all-time leading points scorer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mattias Öhlund</span> Swedish ice hockey player (born 1976)

Kenneth Mattias Öhlund is a Swedish former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Vancouver Canucks and Tampa Bay Lightning. Öhlund played two seasons in the Swedish Allsvenskan, the second highest tier of hockey in Sweden, with Piteå HC before being selected by the Canucks 13th overall in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He then joined Luleå HF of the Elitserien, the highest league in Sweden, winning the Le Mat Trophy as league champions in 1996. He began his NHL career with Vancouver in 1997–98, the start of an 11-year tenure with the club in which he became the Canucks' all-time leader in points for a defenceman. Öhlund would play the final two seasons of his professional career with the Tampa Bay Lightning before retiring in 2011. A serious eye injury before his third NHL season was the first of many injuries Öhlund has sustained over his career, and he only played a full season twice in his 13-year NHL career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stan Smyl</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Stanley Philip Smyl is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player. He was selected 40th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft and went on to play his entire NHL career with the team until his retirement in 1991. He featured in the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals with the Canucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samuel Påhlsson</span> Swedish ice hockey player (born 1977)

Samuel Olof Påhlsson is a Swedish former professional ice hockey player who last played with Modo Hockey of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Påhlsson spent the majority of his playing career in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins, Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Vancouver Canucks. He was originally drafted 176th overall by the Colorado Avalanche at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, though he never played for the team.

Thomas Kjell Gradin is a Swedish associate head scout for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL) and a former professional ice hockey centre who played in the NHL and the Swedish Elite League (SEL) from 1975 to 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sami Salo</span> Finnish ice hockey player

Sami Sakari Salo is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman of the National Hockey League (NHL). He began his professional career with TPS of the SM-liiga before being selected by the Ottawa Senators with their last pick in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.

Petri Kalevi Skriko is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player, best remembered for his seasons starring in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks in the 1980s. He is currently a scout for the Calgary Flames.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Ehrhoff</span> German ice hockey player (born 1982)

Christian Ehrhoff is a German professional ice hockey defenceman for Krefeld Pinguine of the German DEL2. In 2018, he won silver at the Winter Olympics. He played more than 800 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) and more than 300 in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) in Germany. He is known primarily as an offensive defenceman with strong skating and shooting abilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxim Lapierre</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Maxim Lapierre is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. Drafted out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), he was selected 61st overall in 2003 by the Montreal Canadiens. He spent parts of his first three professional seasons with the Canadiens' minor league affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League (AHL), before playing his first full NHL season in 2008–09.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russ Courtnall</span> Canadian former ice hockey player

Russell William Courtnall is a Canadian former ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota North Stars, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings between 1984 and 1999. Courtnall was born in Duncan, British Columbia, but grew up in Oak Bay, British Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikael Samuelsson</span> Swedish ice hockey player (born 1976)

Karl Mikael Samuelsson is a Swedish former professional ice hockey right winger and current player development coach for the Vancouver Canucks. Samuelsson began his career in Sweden, starting with small town team IFK Mariefred, followed by Södertälje SK as a junior in 1994. He went on to also play for Swedish teams IK Nyköping, Frölunda HC and Brynäs IF. After being selected 145th overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks, he moved to North America for the 2000–01 NHL season. Samuelsson spent short stints with the Sharks, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers, before returning to Europe during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. As NHL play resumed, Samuelsson signed with the Detroit Red Wings, where he enjoyed individual and team success, winning the Stanley Cup with the club in 2008. After four seasons in Detroit, he signed with the Vancouver Canucks in July 2009. He enjoyed the two most successful individual seasons of his career with Vancouver, recording back-to-back 50-point campaigns in 2009–10 and 2010–11. In his third year with the club, he was traded to the Panthers for his second stint in Florida. At the end of the season, he re-signed with the Red Wings in July 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jannik Hansen</span> Danish ice hockey player

Jannik Hansen is a Danish former professional ice hockey right winger. Hansen began playing professionally at the age of 16 with both the Rødovre Mighty Bulls of the Danish league and the Malmö Redhawks of the Swedish J20 SuperElit and HockeyAllsvenskan leagues. He played three seasons with Rødovre, during which time he was selected 287th overall by the Canucks in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. A year after his selection, he moved to North America to play major junior hockey with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for one season. In 2006–07, Hansen began playing with the Canucks' minor league affiliate, the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (AHL). That season, he was called up by the Vancouver Canucks and became the first Danish citizen to play and register a point in an NHL playoff game. After another campaign spent primarily with Manitoba, Hansen earned a full-time roster spot with the Canucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Edler</span> Swedish ice hockey player

Ulf Niklas Alexander Edler is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman who is an unrestricted free agent. He previously played for the Vancouver Canucks and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted out of Sweden's third-tier ice hockey league by the Canucks in the third round, 91st overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, and played junior ice hockey with Modo Hockey of the J20 SuperElit and the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Leif Johan Rohlin is a former professional ice hockey defenceman who spent 2 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks and enjoyed a long career in Europe. He is currently the General Manager of VIK Västerås HK of the second level of Swedish ice hockey, HockeyAllsvenskan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sebastian Erixon</span> Swedish ice hockey player

Sebastian Erixon is a Swedish former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Representing Sweden in international competition, he has won silver at the 2009 World Junior Championships and bronze at the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships.

Marcus Sörensen is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward for HC Fribourg-Gottéron of the National League (NL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Dahlén</span> Swedish ice hockey player

Jonathan Dahlén is a Swedish professional ice hockey player who is currently with Timrå IK in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Dahlén was rated as a top prospect, and was drafted 42nd overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the San Jose Sharks.