panoo

2007-08-12 16:00
posted by T.C. Denault

This is part a continuing series of articles entitled – The Forgotten Habs. Each column will focus on a player who was a valuable contributor to the success of the Montreal Canadiens. These players, by and large part have largely been forgotten to the passage of time, and their role in the history of the Canadiens has become a mere footnote in the team’s glorious history. None of these players can be found in the Hockey Hall of Fame, but without them, the history of the bleu, blanc, et rouge, would not be so illustrious.

"In the dressing room, killing time before an Edmonton/Montreal game, Wayne Gretzky fills out an all star game ballot to kill some time before the game starts, and the first name he checks off at left wing is Mats Naslund." - Les Canadiens Jan/Feb. 1986

Steve Shutt, Bob Gainey, Dickie Moore, Toe Blake, Aurele Joliat, Bert Olmstead, Frank Mahovlich, Joe Malone. All honored in the hockey hall of fame, all of them great left wingers that played for the Montreal Canadiens.

But, none of them hold the Canadiens record for most points in a season by a left winger. That honor belongs to a five foot, seven inch, one hundred and sixty pound player born in Sweden, named Mats Naslund.

During the 1980's there was no more popular player in Montreal than Mats Naslund. Given the nickname "the Little Viking", Naslund wowed Montreal fans with his combination of speed, quickness, and determination, and quickly inherited Guy Lafleur's status as the team's most dynamic and biggest offensive star.

"I'd say right now he's the most powerful offensive individual we've had on the team since Guy Lafleur.” - Bob Gainey 1985

Mats Naslund was born on October 31st, 1959 in Timra, a small city located in the northern part of Sweden. Mats hockey skills were obvious at a very early age. When Mats was only six years old he was already playing against boys five years older than him.

In 1975, at the age of sixteen Mats joined Timra's team in the Swedish junior league and suited up for three games. In 1976-77 Naslund scored 28 points in 17 games and was named the Swedish junior player of the year. Mats topped off this banner year by scoring 12 points in 6 games, as part of Sweden's gold medal winning team at the European Junior Championships.

In 1977-78 Naslund resumed his junior playing career with Timra, scoring 19 points in 35 games that season. It was during this year that Mats was chosen to play for team Sweden at the World Junior Championships in Montreal.

The 1978 World Junior Championship was a special moment in hockey history. This tournament represented the international coming out party for Wayne Gretzky, who shared the tournament scoring lead with 10 points. The only other player in the tournament to score 10 points was Mats Naslund.

Naslund was able to lead Sweden to a silver medal, and was named to the tournament's first all star team. For the first time, the name Mats Naslund was being mentioned outside of his home country.

In 1978-79 Naslund made the move up to the Swedish Elite League, playing with Byrnas IF Gavle, a noted league powerhouse, where he scored 24 points in 36 league games. Mats was once again chosen to play for Sweden at the World Junior Championships. His 5 points in 6 games helped propel Sweden to the Bronze medal. Naslund was also asked to play for Sweden at that year's World Championship's, where his 7 points in 8 games helped Sweden win the Bronze medal.

For the first time, Naslund was named to Sweden's World All Star team at the conclusion of the season, an honor he would receive for the next four years running.

Held on August 9th, 1979 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, the 1979 NHL entry draft saw the Montreal Canadiens select Mats in the second round with the 37th overall selection.

These were different times, Mats was one of only six European players selected in the draft. Despite the success of Borje Salming, there were still lingering doubts about Swedish players, foremost their toughness and if they had the ability to survive in the NHL. Combined with his diminutive size there were serious doubts about Naslund's ability to make the NHL, much less succeed in it.

This wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last time, that Mats Naslund's status as a player would be thrown into doubt because of his size. When Mats had been selected to play for Sweden at the World Championship's there had been criticism in many quarters. Like he had before, and like he would do in the future, Mats would silence the critics with his stellar play.

And even though he had been drafted by them the Canadiens were not without doubts themselves. Unlike today when a second round pick would be brought in for a rookie camp, and then be invited to the club's training camp, Mats Naslund wasn't invited to the Canadiens 1979 training camp.

Unbelievably, Mats Naslund would not be invited to the Montreal Canadiens training camp until 1982, a wait of three years.

The mystery behind these three years deepens when you look at Naslund's accomplishments during these three lost seasons.

In 1979-80, Naslund recorded 37 points in 36 games, playing for Brynas IF Gayle. In the playoffs he led his team to the Swedish Elite League Championship, and was the recipient of Sweden’s Golden Puck Award as player of the year.

In the winter of 1980 Naslund was named to team Sweden for the upcoming Olympics held in Lake Placid, New York. He scored 10 points in 7 games, and was able to help Sweden capture the Bronze medal.

And still the Canadiens did not sign him to a contract.

FULL STORY