onsidering that the Vancouver Canucks

have been winning at an incredible pace

lately, it seems acceptable that a few things
get lost in the shuffle. But against the Colorado
Avalanche last Saturday, the longest-serving
current Canuck, Mathias Ohlund, quietly became
Vancouver’s highest scoring defenseman of all time
with an assist in the 4-2 Canucks’ victory.

Ohlund may very well be playing out his final
games with Vancouver (he’s an unrestricted free
agent this summer and both parties are said to be
miles apart on term and money) but for the last 11
years he’s been one of the team’s most consistent
and solid blueliners.

Ohlund is a rarity in professional hockey today.
He’s played his entire NHL career with just one
team, the Canucks, after being picked in the first
round, 13" overall, back in the 1994 NHL Entry
Draft. Since then he’s posted 322 career points in

757 games.

While Ohlund has slowed down a bit recently,
he’s still a force to be reckoned with. He brings
everything he has every night and while his foot
speed has diminished somewhat and he’s getting
beaten to the outside a little bit more, he’s still a key
part to the Canucks’ club.

Ohlund has no weak areas to his game, but
has battled through a multitude of injuries over the
course of his career. He can quarterback the power
play, has a booming shot, makes solid passes and
can dish out devastating hits when the situation
calls for it. Who can forget his wars with Calgary’s
Jarome Iginla in the playoffs a few years ago? He
can play as both an offensive and defensive-minded
defender who can be counted on to put up good
numbers each and every year. His total of four
goals this season may be a little modest and there is

definitely room for improvement, but more than any
*

 

Garth

McLennan
sports editor

     
 

 

other defenseman on Vancouver, when the Canucks’
are up a goal with one minute to go in the game,
you can be sure that Mathias Ohlund will be on the
ice.

Ohlund has carved out a spot for himself in
Canucks’ history as one of the team’s best ever
defenseman. Certainly he’s proven to be the
most reliable. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like
Ohlund will be back next season. His agent has
stated that he is looking for a contract in the four
to six year range and Canucks’ GM Mike Gillis is
understandably reluctant to commit to that. For all
of Ohlund’s upside, his game has begun to wane a
little bit. Injuries are also a concern.

Regardless of how this summer plays out
for Ohlund though, he’s played his way into the
Vancouver Canucks’ record books.

 

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