Mattias Norström Explained

Played For:AIK
New York Rangers
Los Angeles Kings
Dallas Stars
League:NHL
Position:Defence
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:210
Ntl Team:SWE
Birth Date:2 January 1972
Birth Place:Stockholm, Sweden
Draft:48th overall
Draft Year:1992
Draft Team:New York Rangers
Career Start:1993
Career End:2008

Erik Johan Mattias "Notan" Norström (born 2 January 1972) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey defenceman, currently working for the AIK organization. Norström began his National Hockey League career with the New York Rangers. However, he is most noted for his ten seasons as a member of the Los Angeles Kings for whom he served as team captain from 20012007; he was the team's first non-North American-born captain. Norström played the final season of his NHL career for the Dallas Stars.

Playing career

AIK

As a youngster, he played for several years in the "talent factory" Huddinge IK although this original club was Mälarhöjden/Bredäng Hockey. In his teens he moved from Huddinge to AIK (Stockholm), where he started playing in the senior team from 1991. He was drafted in the second round, 48th overall, by the New York Rangers in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft and began his NHL career in 1993 with that team.

NHL

Norström split his time in the Rangers organization between the parent club and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Binghamton Rangers. On 14 March 1996, he was traded with Nathan LaFayette, Ian Laperrière, Ray Ferraro and a draft pick to the Los Angeles Kings for Marty McSorley, Jari Kurri and Shane Churla. In Los Angeles he developed into a solid stay-at-home defender and anchor of the Kings' blueline. On 1 October 2001, he was appointed team captain after Rob Blake had been traded to the Colorado Avalanche.

During the NHL lockout in 2004–05, Norström played with his previous Swedish team, AIK. The team was playing in the third-tier league, struggling to advance, when Norström arrived. He helped lead them through the playoffs, and to secure a spot in the second tier league the following year.

Norström was originally appointed to the Swedish national team for the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin but had to withdraw due to injury.

When Rob Blake returned to the Kings on 1 July 2006, Norström called him and offered the captaincy back. Blake refused at his presentation press conference and told the media that he regarded "Matty" as the obvious captain and the "core and soul" of the Kings.

Norström was acquired by the Dallas Stars through a trade with the Kings on 27 February 2007, which sent defencemen Jaroslav Modrý and Johan Fransson, a 2008 first round draft pick, a 2007 second round draft pick, and a 2007 third round draft pick to Los Angeles in exchange for Norström, forward Konstantin Pushkarev, a 2007 third round pick, and a 2007 fourth round pick.

On 30 April 2008, he scored the game-winning goal (and first NHL playoff goal of his career) in the first overtime against the San Jose Sharks, allowing the Stars to take a 3–0 series lead.

On 10 June 2008, Norström announced his retirement from hockey.[1] On 20 June 2011, Norström joined the AIK organization as a sports manager and sounding board for Anders Gozzi.[2]

Career achievements

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1990–91Mora IK9112610002
1991–92AIKSEL394482830222
1992–93AIKSEL2201116
1993–94Binghamton RangersAHL55191070
1993–94New York RangersNHL90116
1994–95Binghamton RangersAHL639101991
1994–95New York RangersNHL9033230000
1995–96New York RangersNHL2521322
1995–96Los Angeles KingsNHL1101118
1996–97Los Angeles KingsNHL801212284
1997–98Los Angeles KingsNHL73112139040000
1998–99Los Angeles KingsNHL7825736
1999–2000Los Angeles KingsNHL82113146640006
2000–01Los Angeles KingsNHL8201818601302216
2001–02Los Angeles KingsNHL7929113870004
2002–03Los Angeles KingsNHL8206649
2003–04Los Angeles KingsNHL741131444
2004–05AIKSWE.381014
2005–06Los Angeles KingsNHL774232758
2006–07Los Angeles KingsNHL6227940
2006–07Dallas StarsNHL14022870008
2007–08Dallas StarsNHL6621113401823516
NHL totals903181461646615625754

International

YearTeamEvent GPGAPtsPIM
1992SwedenWJC701110
1996SwedenWC60006
1996Sweden WCH40110
1997Sweden WC1102214
1998Sweden OG40112
1998Sweden WC10000
2000Sweden WC60118
2002Sweden OG40000
2003Sweden WC91238
2004Sweden WCH40000
2005Sweden WC90772
Junior totals701110
Senior totals581141540

Notes and References

  1. Dallas Stars . Norstrom Officially Announces His Retirement . 2008-06-10 . 2008-10-31 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080707062500/http://stars.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=365621 . 2008-07-07 .
  2. Web site: Mattias Norström tillbaka i AIK . . Swedish . 2011-06-20 . 2011-06-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110625063900/http://www.aikhockey.se/Nyheter/Arkiv/2010/Mattias-Norstrom-tillbaka-i-AIK/ . 2011-06-25 .