Mattias Norström

Erik Johan Mattias "Notan" Norström (born 2 January 1972) is a Swedish retired 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 2001–2007; he was the team's first non-North American-born captain. Norström played the final season of his NHL career for the Dallas Stars.

Mattias Norström
Born (1972-01-02) 2 January 1972
Stockholm, Sweden
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for AIK
New York Rangers
Los Angeles Kings
Dallas Stars
National team  Sweden
NHL Draft 48th overall, 1992
New York Rangers
Playing career 1993–2008

Playing career

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.

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.

Mattias Norström warms up on 2 January 2006, at the Staples Center.

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
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1990–91 Mora IK SWE.2 9 1 1 2 6 1 0 0 0 2
1991–92 AIK SEL 39 4 4 8 28 3 0 2 2 2
1992–93 AIK SEL 22 0 1 1 16 — — — — —
1993–94 Binghamton Rangers AHL 55 1 9 10 70 — — — — —
1993–94 New York Rangers NHL 9 0 1 1 6 — — — — —
1994–95 Binghamton Rangers AHL 63 9 10 19 91 — — — — —
1994–95 New York Rangers NHL 9 0 3 3 2 3 0 0 0 0
1995–96 New York Rangers NHL 25 2 1 3 22 — — — — —
1995–96 Los Angeles Kings NHL 11 0 1 1 18 — — — — —
1996–97 Los Angeles Kings NHL 80 1 21 22 84 — — — — —
1997–98 Los Angeles Kings NHL 73 1 12 13 90 4 0 0 0 0
1998–99 Los Angeles Kings NHL 78 2 5 7 36 — — — — —
1999–2000 Los Angeles Kings NHL 82 1 13 14 66 4 0 0 0 6
2000–01 Los Angeles Kings NHL 82 0 18 18 60 13 0 2 2 16
2001–02 Los Angeles Kings NHL 79 2 9 11 38 7 0 0 0 4
2002–03 Los Angeles Kings NHL 82 0 6 6 49 — — — — —
2003–04 Los Angeles Kings NHL 74 1 13 14 44 — — — — —
2004–05 AIK SWE.3 — — — — — 8 1 0 1 4
2005–06 Los Angeles Kings NHL 77 4 23 27 58 — — — — —
2006–07 Los Angeles Kings NHL 62 2 7 9 40 — — — — —
2006–07 Dallas Stars NHL 14 0 2 2 8 7 0 0 0 8
2007–08 Dallas Stars NHL 66 2 11 13 40 18 2 3 5 16
NHL totals 903 18 146 164 661 56 2 5 7 54

International
Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1992 Sweden WJC 7 0 1 1 10
1996 Sweden WC 6 0 0 0 6
1996 Sweden WCH 4 0 1 1 0
1997 Sweden WC 11 0 2 2 14
1998 Sweden OG 4 0 1 1 2
1998 Sweden WC 1 0 0 0 0
2000 Sweden WC 6 0 1 1 8
2002 Sweden OG 4 0 0 0 0
2003 Sweden WC 9 1 2 3 8
2004 Sweden WCH 4 0 0 0 0
2005 Sweden WC 9 0 7 7 2
Junior totals 7 0 1 1 10
Senior totals 58 1 14 15 40

References
  1. "Norstrom Officially Announces His Retirement" (Press release). Dallas Stars. 2008-06-10. Archived from the original on 2008-07-07. Retrieved 2008-10-31.
  2. "Mattias Norström tillbaka i AIK" (in Swedish). AIK. 2011-06-20. Archived from the original on 2011-06-25. Retrieved 2011-06-20.
Preceded by
Rob Blake		 Los Angeles Kings captain
2001–07		 Succeeded by
Rob Blake
Note: Luc Robitaille served as the captain of the Kings for the team's last home game of the 2005–06 season.
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