Tomas Sandström

Tomas Sandström (born September 4, 1964) is a Finnish-born Swedish former professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1984 to 1999. Born in Finland, Sandström grew up in Fagersta, Sweden. A skilled power forward, he was effective when healthy but his career was marred by injuries due to his physical style of play.

Tomas Sandström
Sandström in 2009
Born	(1964-09-04) September 4, 1964 (age 60) Jakobstad, Finland
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shot	Left
Played for	New York Rangers Los Angeles Kings Pittsburgh Penguins Detroit Red Wings Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
National team	Sweden
NHL draft	36th overall, 1982 New York Rangers
Playing career	1982–2002

He was a member of the 1997 Stanley Cup winning Detroit Red Wings team, and assisted on Darren McCarty's game-winning goal in the deciding Game 4.

Olympic medal record
Representing  Sweden
Men's ice hockey
	1984 Sarajevo	Ice hockey

Playing career

Sandström was selected 36th overall by the New York Rangers in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. Sandström played 983 career NHL games, scoring 394 goals and 462 assists for 856 points, and also registered 1,193 career penalty minutes. Sandström won the Stanley Cup in 1997 with the Detroit Red Wings, assisting on Darren McCarty's game-winning goal in Game 4 of the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers.

After being acquired with Tony Granato by the Los Angeles Kings in January 1990 for former 70-goal scorer Bernie Nicholls,^[1] the two newest additions to Los Angeles combined with Wayne Gretzky to form a potent top line in Los Angeles. The line displayed its full dominance in the 1990 first round series against the defending Stanley Cup champion and the Western Conference regular season champion Calgary Flames, particularly in game 4, with both Sandström and Granato along with Dave Taylor scoring hat tricks while Gretzky had a goal and five assists in a 12–4 rout.^[2][3][4]

Sandström suffered through several serious injuries during his tenure with Los Angeles. In a February 28, 1990 game that set the NHL record for most penalties in a game with 85, he was punched by the Edmonton Oilers' Glenn Anderson, leaving him with a broken cheekbone.^[5] A collision with Edmonton's Craig Muni caused a fractured leg in the 1991 Smythe Division Finals.^[6] Doug Gilmour of the Toronto Maple Leafs slashed and fractured Sandström's forearm in November 1992.^[7] 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 behind Wayne Gretzky and Doug Gilmour.

On February 16, 1994, Sandström was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with Shawn McEachern, in exchange for Marty McSorley and Jim Paek^[8]

On January 27, 1997, Sandström was traded by the Penguins to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Greg Johnson.^[9] He assisted on Darren McCarty's game-winning goal in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

In August 1997, Sandström signed as a free agent with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim,^[10] where he would spend the last two seasons of his NHL career.

Today, Sandström works as a firefighter in Skanör, Sweden.^[6]

Achievements

• All-Star Selection, Forward, 1983 IIHF world junior hockey championships^[11]
• Named to the 1985 NHL All-Rookie Team.
• Selected to two NHL All-Star Games: 1988 and 1991
• In the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats, was ranked No. 70 all-time of the 901 New York Rangers who had played during the team's first 82 seasons^[12]
• Won the Stanley Cup in 1997 with the Detroit Red Wings.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1979–80	Fagersta HK	SWE.2		6	1	1	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Fagersta HK	SWE.3		20	23	5	28	—		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	Fagersta HK	SWE.2		32	28	11	39	74		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Brynäs IF	SEL		36	23	14	37	50		—	—	—	—	—
1983–84	Brynäs IF	SEL		34	19	10	29	81		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	New York Rangers	NHL		74	29	30	59	51		3	0	2	2	0
1985–86	New York Rangers	NHL		73	25	29	54	109		16	4	6	10	20
1986–87	New York Rangers	NHL		64	40	34	74	60		6	1	2	3	20
1987–88	New York Rangers	NHL		69	28	40	68	95		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	New York Rangers	NHL		79	32	56	88	148		4	3	2	5	12
1989–90	New York Rangers	NHL		48	19	19	38	100		—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		28	13	20	33	28		10	5	4	9	19
1990–91	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		68	45	44	89	106		10	4	4	8	14
1991–92	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		49	17	22	39	70		6	0	3	3	8
1992–93	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		39	25	27	52	57		24	8	17	25	12
1993–94	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		51	17	24	41	59		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		27	6	11	17	24		6	0	0	0	4
1994–95	Malmö IF	SEL		12	10	5	15	14		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		47	21	23	44	42		12	3	3	6	16
1995–96	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		58	35	35	70	69		18	4	2	6	30
1996–97	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		40	9	15	24	33		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		34	9	9	18	36		20	0	4	4	24
1997–98	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	NHL		77	9	8	17	64		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	NHL		58	15	17	32	42		4	0	0	0	4
1999–2000	Malmö IF	SEL		42	16	13	29	28		6	3	2	5	10
2000–01	Malmö IF	SEL		50	17	9	26	90		8	3	3	6	60
2001–02	Malmö IF	SEL		37	8	7	15	40		5	0	1	1	6
SEL totals				211	93	58	151	303		19	6	6	12	76
NHL totals				983	394	463	857	1,193		139	32	49	81	183

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1982	Sweden	EJC		5	5	2	7	16
1983	Sweden	WJC		7	9	3	12	—
1984	Sweden	WJC		7	4	3	7	12
1984	Sweden	OLY		7	2	1	3	6
1984	Sweden	CC		8	1	1	2	2
1985	Sweden	WC		10	3	6	9	18
1987	Sweden	WC		8	4	6	10	6
1989	Sweden	WC		10	4	3	7	14
1991	Sweden	CC		6	1	2	3	8
1998	Sweden	OLY		4	0	1	1	0
Junior totals				19	18	8	26	—
Senior totals				53	15	20	35	54

References

1. Steve Springer (January 21, 1990). "Nicholls Goes to Rangers : Kings: They get right wingers Sandstrom and Granato for third-leading scorer in NHL. McNall, Vachon say it will improve defense". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
2. "KINGS BLAST FLAMES TO BRINK, 12-4". Washington Post. 2024-01-01. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
3. Springer, Steve (1990-04-11). "Kings Pull Triple-Triple, 12-4 : L.A.'s Three Hat Tricks Break Playoff Record : Hockey: Gretzky gets a goal and four assists. Club leads series against Flames, three games to one". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
4. Barnes, Mike (April 11, 1990). "Kings 12, Flames 4 - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
5. "85 Penalties For Kings And Oilers". The New York Times. 2 March 1990. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
6. Peng, Shaun (6 January 2017). "50 Forgotten Stories: 'Super Swede'". NHL.com. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
7. Dillman, Lisa (29 November 1992). "Kings Tend to Gilmour, Lose to Maple Leafs, 3-2". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
8. Dillman, Lisa (16 February 1994). "McSorley Feels Like a King : Hockey: Trade brings him back to the team he helped spark to Stanley Cup finals. Sandström, McEachern go to Penguins". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
9. "Sandstrom Traded". Washington Post. 28 January 1997. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
10. "Larionov Will Stay With Detroit". The New York Times. 2 August 1997. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
11. Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009-10, p.515, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Canada, ISBN 978-1-55468-621-6
12. Cohen, Russ; Halligan, John; Raider, Adam (2009). 100 Ranger Greats: Superstars, Unsung Heroes and Colorful Characters. John Wiley & Sons. p. 72. ISBN 978-0470736197. Retrieved February 3, 2020.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database