Patrick Sundström was born in Skellefteå, Sweden on December 14, 1961. He came from a family of hockey players. Most notably his father Elon, and Uncle Kjell played at the highest level in Sweden while he was growing up. Sundström followed in his father’s skate-strides and played professional hockey in Sweden with IF Björklöven. He only played one game in 1978-79 without registering a point, but he was a regular in the lineup for the following season. Sundström represented Sweden at the 1980 World Junior Championship hosted in Finland. Sundström helped the Swedish team come home with a Bronze Medal with one assist in 5-games. In the 1979-80 season with IF Björklöven, Sundström played 26-games registering 5-goals and 12-points.
By no means was Sundström a top prospect for the NHL Draft in 1980. While european skaters were coming over to North America more frequently, it was still rare to draft a European skater. Before Sundström was selected 175th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 9th round, there were less than 10 European skaters taken and none were taken in the first three rounds.
Sundström stayed in Sweden to further develop his craft and continued playing for IF Björklöven for the 1981 and 1982 seasons. He also was required to fulfil a two-year military obligation with Sweden at the same time. He also represented Sweden at the 1981 WJC in West Germany where Sweden took home the Gold. Sundström had 7-goals in 5-games. In the summer he played for the World Championship team and helped Sweden take home silver in the tournament. Sundström improved his offensive production year-over-year in the SEL and finished his final season with 22-goals and 35-points in 36-games. He also had 7-points in 7-playoff games.
On the summer solstice of 1982, Sundström signed his contract with Vancouver and prepared to join the Canucks for the following season. At 21-years old, Sundström made an immediate impact as an offensive center registering 23-goals and 46-points in 76-games. In his sophomore season with Vancouver, Sundström shifted to the right wing at times and played with Tony Tanti. On February 29, 1984, Sundström set a franchise record that’s still standing when he registered 1-goal and 6-assists in a game against the Penguins. He was the third player in NHL History to score 6-assists in a single road game (Billie Taylor & Bobby Orr). That year, he set a franchise record with 91-points in 78-games. He was recognized as team MVP.
Across the next three seasons with Vancouver, Sundström averaged ~68-points per season and was a top contributor on the team along with Stan Smyl, Tony Tanti, and Petri Skriko. In 1984, Sundström played for Sweden at the Canada Cup. He suffered a broken wrist in the final game and had to miss training camp and the start of the 1984-85 season. After 71-points in 72-games in 1987, Sundström was moved in a blockbuster trade. On September 15, 1987, Sundström was traded to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Greg Adams, Kirk McLean and a swap of 2nd round picks in the 1988 draft.
Sundström spent 5-years with the Devils. In 1987-88 New Jersey made it to the Conference Finals before being eliminated by the Boston Bruins in Game 7. Sundström had 15-goals and 51-points in the regular season, but had a strong playoffs with 7-goals and 20-points in 18-games. In Game 3 of the Division Finals against Washington, Sundström broke Wayne Gretzky’s record for most points in a playoff game when he registered a hat-trick and 5-assists in a 10-4 victory. The only other skater after Sundström to record 8-points in a playoff game was Mario Lemieux in the 1989 playoffs.
Sundström brought his offensive production back up to 69- and 76-points the following two-seasons. He then was struck by injuries in his final two seasons in New Jersey. After suffering a pulled groin and separated shoulder at the end of the 1991 season, he played just 17-games in the 1992 season before being shut down with calcium deposits in his thigh. Sundström then turned down an extension with New Jersey and had a desire to finish his career back home in Sweden.
Sundström returned to IF Björklöven for the 1992-93 season. The team had been relegated to the second-tier in the Swedish hockey leagues and Sundström helped the team gain promotion with 16-goals and 36-points in 37-games. The next year in the top league, Sundström played just 16-games and registered 11-points before officially retiring from playing hockey.
Sundström’s son Alexander went on to have his own hockey career. He was drafted into the NHL by the New Jersey Devils in the 2005 draft at 218th overall. He never played in the NHL, but had a 13-year career in Sweden.
Sundström ranks 22nd all-time in franchise scoring for the Vancouver Canucks. He also ranks 12th in his draft class with 588-points in his NHL Career.
He and Tony Tanti were such a great pair. Between 83-84 and 86-87 they played 300 games together 301 for Tanti and 300 for Sundstrom) each scored exactly 296 points. (Weirdly Sedin like in identical point totals). Tanti was tenth in goals scored in the NHL over those four years with 164 in his 301 games.
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22. Patrick Sundström — 374GP | 133G | 209A | 342P | 1983-1987
Patrick Sundström was born in Skellefteå, Sweden on December 14, 1961. He came from a family of hockey players. Most notably his father Elon, and Uncle Kjell played at the highest level in Sweden while he was growing up. Sundström followed in his father’s skate-strides and played professional hockey in Sweden with IF Björklöven. He only played one game in 1978-79 without registering a point, but he was a regular in the lineup for the following season. Sundström represented Sweden at the 1980 World Junior Championship hosted in Finland. Sundström helped the Swedish team come home with a Bronze Medal with one assist in 5-games. In the 1979-80 season with IF Björklöven, Sundström played 26-games registering 5-goals and 12-points.
By no means was Sundström a top prospect for the NHL Draft in 1980. While european skaters were coming over to North America more frequently, it was still rare to draft a European skater. Before Sundström was selected 175th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 9th round, there were less than 10 European skaters taken and none were taken in the first three rounds.
Sundström stayed in Sweden to further develop his craft and continued playing for IF Björklöven for the 1981 and 1982 seasons. He also was required to fulfil a two-year military obligation with Sweden at the same time. He also represented Sweden at the 1981 WJC in West Germany where Sweden took home the Gold. Sundström had 7-goals in 5-games. In the summer he played for the World Championship team and helped Sweden take home silver in the tournament. Sundström improved his offensive production year-over-year in the SEL and finished his final season with 22-goals and 35-points in 36-games. He also had 7-points in 7-playoff games.
On the summer solstice of 1982, Sundström signed his contract with Vancouver and prepared to join the Canucks for the following season. At 21-years old, Sundström made an immediate impact as an offensive center registering 23-goals and 46-points in 76-games. In his sophomore season with Vancouver, Sundström shifted to the right wing at times and played with Tony Tanti. On February 29, 1984, Sundström set a franchise record that’s still standing when he registered 1-goal and 6-assists in a game against the Penguins. He was the third player in NHL History to score 6-assists in a single road game (Billie Taylor & Bobby Orr). That year, he set a franchise record with 91-points in 78-games. He was recognized as team MVP.
Across the next three seasons with Vancouver, Sundström averaged ~68-points per season and was a top contributor on the team along with Stan Smyl, Tony Tanti, and Petri Skriko. In 1984, Sundström played for Sweden at the Canada Cup. He suffered a broken wrist in the final game and had to miss training camp and the start of the 1984-85 season. After 71-points in 72-games in 1987, Sundström was moved in a blockbuster trade. On September 15, 1987, Sundström was traded to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Greg Adams, Kirk McLean and a swap of 2nd round picks in the 1988 draft.
Sundström spent 5-years with the Devils. In 1987-88 New Jersey made it to the Conference Finals before being eliminated by the Boston Bruins in Game 7. Sundström had 15-goals and 51-points in the regular season, but had a strong playoffs with 7-goals and 20-points in 18-games. In Game 3 of the Division Finals against Washington, Sundström broke Wayne Gretzky’s record for most points in a playoff game when he registered a hat-trick and 5-assists in a 10-4 victory. The only other skater after Sundström to record 8-points in a playoff game was Mario Lemieux in the 1989 playoffs.
Sundström brought his offensive production back up to 69- and 76-points the following two-seasons. He then was struck by injuries in his final two seasons in New Jersey. After suffering a pulled groin and separated shoulder at the end of the 1991 season, he played just 17-games in the 1992 season before being shut down with calcium deposits in his thigh. Sundström then turned down an extension with New Jersey and had a desire to finish his career back home in Sweden.
Sundström returned to IF Björklöven for the 1992-93 season. The team had been relegated to the second-tier in the Swedish hockey leagues and Sundström helped the team gain promotion with 16-goals and 36-points in 37-games. The next year in the top league, Sundström played just 16-games and registered 11-points before officially retiring from playing hockey.
Sundström’s son Alexander went on to have his own hockey career. He was drafted into the NHL by the New Jersey Devils in the 2005 draft at 218th overall. He never played in the NHL, but had a 13-year career in Sweden.
Sundström ranks 22nd all-time in franchise scoring for the Vancouver Canucks. He also ranks 12th in his draft class with 588-points in his NHL Career.
He and Tony Tanti were such a great pair. Between 83-84 and 86-87 they played 300 games together 301 for Tanti and 300 for Sundstrom) each scored exactly 296 points. (Weirdly Sedin like in identical point totals). Tanti was tenth in goals scored in the NHL over those four years with 164 in his 301 games.