Mattias Ohlund

Mattias Ohlund is a Swedish defenseman on the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Drafted by Vancouver 13th overall in 1994, Ohlund is the longest serving member of the team. He played three seasons in Sweden with Lulea before joining the Canucks in 1997. He scored 30 points his rookie season and was second place in voting for that season’s rookie of the year. In 2003-04, he set a career high with 14 goals, although in 2001-02, he scored more points, finishing with 26 assists and 36 points. In 2008, he was named an assistant captain to goalie Roberto Luongo. Since Luongo cannot perform some of the official duties of the captain as a goalie, Ohlund, as the longest tenured member of the team, was selected to take ceremonial face-offs for the franchise. In 2008-09, Ohlund turned in another solid season, scoring 6 goals and 25 points, helping to lead the Canucks to the playoffs in his contract year. At the opening of free agency in July of 2009, he was signed by Tampa Bay to help provide veteran leadership and talent on the blueline. Ohlund was an NHL All-Star in 1999.

Ohlund has played for Team Sweden at 10 different international competitions, including World Championships, the World Juniors, the World Cup and the Winter Olympics. He won gold medals at the 2006 Olympics and ’98 World Championships. He won 3 silver medals at the ’94 and ’96 World Juniors as well as the ’97 World Championships. He won 2 bronze medals at the ’95 World Juniors and the 2001 World Championships.