Canucks Rewind: Thomas Gradin gets inducted into the Ring of Honour

The Vancouver Canucks have had a magnitude of talented players throughout their tenure in the NHL.

Some brought explosive, jaw-dropping firepower up front, and others patrolled the blueline with tenacity, strength and bone-crushing hits. No matter the position, these franchise stars each displayed enough skill, speed and hockey IQ to stake their claim in the record books.

However, it takes much more than on-ice achievements to land a coveted spot amongst the greats, especially in a city like ours. Very few players will continue to showcase their passion for the game after they hang up the skates, but that’s what makes them the very best.

And you’ll be hard-pressed to find a player more memorable and well-loved in this city than Thomas Gradin, who was rightfully inducted into the Ring of Honour on January 24th, 2011.

Looking back on Gradin’s NHL career

Like many great Swedish players, Gradin began his hockey career with Modo. He suited up for the club for four years, including their first year in the Swedish Elite League in 1975. During that inaugural season, he registered 39 points in 35 games and put himself in a good position for the upcoming 1976 NHL Amateur Draft.

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Gradin was selected 45th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks that offseason, but continued to play in Europe for the next two years after repeated contract complications. This caused worry within the Blackhawks organization, as management was starting to believe that their former 3rd-round selection might not pan out like they had hoped.

Enter the Vancouver Canucks.

Gradin finally made the move to North America in June 1978, after the Canucks acquired his rights from the Blackhawks in exchange for a draft pick. Gradin was one of three European players to make their debut with the Vancouver organization, and he did not waste any time making an impact.

In his first season with his new club, Gradin registered 20 goals and 51 points, centering a line with fellow rookies Stan Smyl and Curt Fraser. He finished second in team scoring that season, and was awarded the Cyclone Taylor Award as team MVP. He even finished 7th in Calder Trophy voting.

This, of course, was only the beginning for Gradin.

The following year, he notched 30 goals and 45 assists for 75 points, once again finishing second in team scoring behind Smyl. He would eventually take over from no. 12, registering 69 and 86 points respectfully during the 1980-81 and 1981-82 seasons. The pair would share the scoring title for the majority of their time in Vancouver, giving fans the chance to witness the growth and dominance of their franchise forwards on a nightly basis.

Gradin had undoubtedly found chemistry with Smyl, but he also proved that he could carry the team on his own when they needed him most.

After putting up a losing record of 30-33-7 during the regular season, not many people pegged the Canucks to make much of a splash in the 1982 playoffs.

Gradin, of course, had other ideas in mind.

He registered 19 points in 17 playoff games, and led the Canucks to their first-ever Stanley Cup Final appearance against the New York Islanders. They were unfortunately swept in four games, but Gradin’s dominance did not go unnoticed. He was easily the best Canuck player during that postseason run, and he ranked fourth in playoff scoring that year, behind the powerhouse trio of Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy and Denis Potvin.

Gradin’s elite play would continue for the next four years.

He notched 86 points for the second consecutive time during the 1982-93 season, and he followed up that elite performance with a career-high 57 assists during the 1983-84 campaign. That same year, he notched his 408th career point, putting him atop the list as the Canucks’ all-time leading scorer, which he held until 1986.

He was named to the NHL All-Star team in 1985, and finished the season with 22 goals and 64 points. This would mark the seventh and final 20-goal season of his career.

Like many players before him, however, Gradin’s prime also came to a close. He entered the 1985-86 season on the last year of his contract, and was demoted to the second line after the arrival of Patrik Sundstrom. He finished the year with a career-low 41 points, eventually signing a one-year deal with the Boston Bruins that offseason.

This would be his last season in the league, as he returned to Sweden for a few more years before officially announcing his NHL retirement in 1990.

Fortunately, this did not mark the conclusion of his tenure with the Canucks organization.

He served as an amateur pro scout from 1994-1998, and was eventually promoted to Head of European Scouting. He held that title until 2007, and was instrumental in drafting players such as Mattias Ohlund, Alexander Edler, and Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

To this day, Gradin holds a top 10 spot for many Canuck records, including goals, assists, hat-tricks and playoff points. He will always be remembered as one of the most skilled and elite players of the 1980’s decade, and his dedication and admiration for this franchise have solidified his eternal place as one of the best athletes in Vancouver’s sports history.