Mats Naslund is a retired Swedish ice hockey player who had a successful career in the National Hockey League (NHL) and in Europe. He was born on October 31, 1959, in Timrå, Sweden, and began his professional career with Timrå IK in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) in 1976.
Naslund played for Timrå IK for six seasons before moving to the Montreal Canadiens in 1982. He quickly established himself as a skilled forward and was named the NHL's rookie of the year in the 1982-83 season. Naslund played for the Canadiens for eight seasons, during which he won two Stanley Cup championships in 1986 and 1993. He was known for his speed, agility, and playmaking abilities, and was a key player on the Canadiens' power play unit.
In 1990, Naslund was traded to the Minnesota North Stars, where he played for one season before returning to Europe to play for Modo Hockey in the SHL. He played for Modo Hockey for three seasons before returning to the NHL to play for the Boston Bruins in 1995. However, he only played one season for the Bruins before retiring from professional hockey.
Naslund also had a successful international career, representing Sweden in numerous international tournaments. He won a silver medal at the 1986 World Championships and a bronze medal at the 1988 Winter Olympics. He also played in the 1991 Canada Cup and the 1992 Winter Olympics.
After retiring from professional hockey, Naslund became a coach and served as the head coach of Modo Hockey from 2006 to 2008. He also worked as a scout for the Montreal Canadiens and as a commentator for Swedish television.
Throughout his career, Naslund was known for his sportsmanship and leadership abilities. He was awarded the Lady Byng Trophy in 1988 for his gentlemanly conduct on the ice and was named the captain of the Montreal Canadiens in 1989. He was inducted into the Swedish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Montreal Canadiens Hall of Fame in 2010.
Overall, Mats Naslund had a successful career as a professional ice hockey player, winning two Stanley Cup championships and representing Sweden in numerous international tournaments. He was known for his speed, agility, and playmaking abilities, as well as his sportsmanship and leadership on and off the ice.
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