Tomas Holmström

Bengt Tomas Holmström (pronounced [ˈtʊ̌mːas ˈhɔ̂lːmstrœm]; born 23 January 1973) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey left winger who played his entire National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Detroit Red Wings, with whom he won four Stanley Cup championships; in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008.

Tomas Holmström
Holmström with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008
Born (1973-01-23) 23 January 1973
Piteå, Sweden
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Luleå HF
Detroit Red Wings
National team  Sweden
NHL Draft 257th overall, 1994
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 1990–2012

During his playing career, Holmström was widely considered one of the NHL's best at screening the opposition's goaltender, as well as for his physical presence in front of the opposition's net.[1][2]

Playing career

Holmström was first noticed by Detroit Red Wings scout Håkan Andersson in 1993 during a Swedish national team selection camp, where Holmström missed the cut, then again the next year while playing with Boden, where his coach, Niklas Wikegård, told Andersson that Holmström was the team's best player.[3] He was then drafted 257th overall by Detroit in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft and began playing for the Red Wings in the 1996–97 season. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Holmström returned to Sweden to play for his old team, Luleå HF, in the Swedish top flight league, the Elitserien.

Holmström was inducted into the Piteå Wall of Fame in his hometown in 2006.

On 7 April 2007 Holmström scored his 30th goal of the 2006–07 season against the Chicago Blackhawks, reaching the 30-goal plateau in a season for the first time in his career.

Holmström with Detroit in 2007.

Holmström scored 12 points during the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs as the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup for the fourth time in 11 years over the Pittsburgh Penguins. On his day with the Cup, he had his cousin's daughter baptized in it.[4]

During the 2009–10 season, Holmström was initially selected to play in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. A knee injury sustained on 13 February 2010, in a game against the Ottawa Senators, however, prevented him from playing in the tournament. It was announced the next day, 14 February, that he would be replaced by friend and Red Wing teammate Johan Franzén.[5] The announcement came from Sweden Head Coach Bengt-Åke Gustafsson. On 4 June 2010, during the season's subsequent off-season, Holmström agreed on a two-year contract extension to remain in Detroit after an impressive season in which he scored 25 goals, second on the team only to sniper Pavel Datsyuk's 27; Holmström also scored a team-high 13 goals on the power play.

On 12 February 2012 Holmström became only the sixth Red Wing and 272nd NHL player to play 1,000 games.[6]

After the retirement of long-time Red Wings defenceman Nicklas Lidström at the end of the 2011–12 season, Holmström became the last active player from the 1997 and 1998 Stanley Cup-winning Detroit teams to still be active with the team. However, he didn't play a single game after Lidström announced his retirement.

On 22 January 2013 Holmström announced his retirement from professional hockey just hours before Detroit's home opener at Joe Louis Arena against the Dallas Stars in the lockout-shortened season.[7] As of January 2013, Holmström held the following records with the Red Wings: sixth in most regular season games played, fourth in playoff games played and 13th in points scored.[8]

Playing style

During his playing career, Holmström was known for his presence in front of the opposition's goal and his ability to screen the opposing team's goaltender.[9] Because he had to withstand teammates' shots towards goal, as well as efforts from opponents to vacate him from in front of the net, Holmström wore additional padding to protect his body.[10] During a playoff series against the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2009, Detroit Head Coach Mike Babcock said of Holmström, "I think there's [defencemen] out there who think they might actually get to him. That's just not possible."[11]

Due to his obstructive playing style and close proximity to goalies and the crease, Holmström attained a reputation and was often charged with goaltender interference penalties as well as occasionally having goals called back because of his proximity to the goaltender's crease. Holmström himself, as well as Red Wings TV announcers Mickey Redmond and Ken Daniels, often questioned the legitimacy of these calls by the on-ice officials, obviously.[12][13]

Holmström was known to many fans in Detroit by the nickname of "Homer." He acquired the nickname "Demolition Man" while playing in Sweden, where he was also called "Holma."

International play
Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Ice hockey
Winter Olympics
Gold medal – first place 2006 Turin

Holmström has participated in four international tournaments for Sweden:

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1989–90 Piteå HC SWE II 9 1 0 1 4 — — — — —
1990–91 Piteå HC SWE II 26 5 4 9 16 — — — — —
1991–92 Piteå HC SWE II 31 15 12 27 44 — — — — —
1992–93 Piteå HC SWE II 31 17 15 32 30 — — — — —
1993–94 Bodens IK SWE II 34 23 16 39 86 9 3 3 6 24
1994–95 Luleå HF SEL 40 14 14 28 56 8 1 2 3 20
1995–96 Luleå HF SEL 34 12 11 23 78 11 6 2 8 22
1996–97 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 6 3 1 4 7 — — — — —
1996–97 Detroit Red Wings NHL 47 6 3 9 33 1 0 0 0 0
1997–98 Detroit Red Wings NHL 57 5 17 22 44 22 7 12 19 16
1998–99 Detroit Red Wings NHL 82 13 21 34 69 10 4 3 7 4
1999–2000 Detroit Red Wings NHL 72 13 22 35 43 9 3 1 4 16
2000–01 Detroit Red Wings NHL 73 16 24 40 40 6 1 3 4 8
2001–02 Detroit Red Wings NHL 69 8 18 26 58 23 8 3 11 8
2002–03 Detroit Red Wings NHL 74 20 20 40 62 4 1 1 2 4
2003–04 Detroit Red Wings NHL 67 15 15 30 38 12 2 2 4 10
2004–05 Luleå HF SEL 47 14 16 30 50 4 0 0 0 18
2005–06 Detroit Red Wings NHL 81 29 30 59 66 6 1 2 3 12
2006–07 Detroit Red Wings NHL 77 30 22 52 59 15 5 3 8 14
2007–08 Detroit Red Wings NHL 59 20 20 40 58 21 4 8 12 26
2008–09 Detroit Red Wings NHL 53 14 23 37 38 23 2 5 7 22
2009–10 Detroit Red Wings NHL 68 25 20 45 60 12 4 3 7 12
2010–11 Detroit Red Wings NHL 73 18 19 37 62 11 3 4 7 8
2011–12 Detroit Red Wings NHL 74 11 13 24 40 5 1 1 2 2
SEL totals 121 40 41 81 184 23 7 4 11 60
NHL totals 1,026 243 287 530 769 180 46 51 97 162

International
Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
1996 Sweden WC 6th 6 1 0 1 12
2002 Sweden OG 5th 4 1 0 1 2
2004 Sweden WCH 5th 4 3 2 5 8
2006 Sweden OG 1st place, gold medalist(s) 8 1 3 4 10
Senior totals 22 6 5 11 32

Awards

See also

References
  1. St. James, Helene (2008-05-29). "McCarty, Draper, Osgood ... those who stay will be champions". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
  2. Sassone, Tim (2009-04-19). "Bowman sees more net crashing than years ago". Daily Herald. Archived from the original on 2009-05-07. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  3. Manojlovic, Zoran (2005). "Håkan Andersson, scout extraordinaire". hockeysfuture.com. Archived from the original on 2008-07-07. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  4. "Wings' Holmstrom uses Stanley Cup in baptism". TSN. 2008-07-25. Archived from the original on 2008-07-28. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
  5. "Holmström missar OS - Johan Franzén ersätter". 14 February 2010. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  6. "Wings' four-time cup champion Holmstrom retires". National Hockey League. 2013-01-22. Archived from the original on 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  7. "Red Wings' Tomas Holmstrom hangs up his skates". USA TODAY Sports. 2013-01-22. Archived from the original on 2018-12-15. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  8. "Wings' Holmstrom retires: 'I had the greatest job in the world'". The Detroit News. 2013-01-22. Archived from the original on 2013-02-15.
  9. Grossman, Evan (2007). "Hand ... eye ... puck ... stick ... goal!". NHL.com. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
  10. Wigge, Larry (2006). "Cry havoc and let slip Tomas Holmstrom!". NHL.com. Archived from the original on 2008-10-15. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
  11. Khan, Bill (2009). "Whining and complaining doesn't help Columbus Blue Jackets in 4-0 Game 2 loss to Detroit Red Wings". mlive.com. Archived from the original on 2009-04-26. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  12. Malik, George (29 October 2007). "Holmstrom's upset with 'reputation' calls based on goalie theatrics". MLive. Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  13. Shelton, Keith. "Stanley Cup Finals: Tomas Holmstrom vs. the Refs". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
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