Thomas Gradin

Thomas Kjell Gradin (born February 18, 1956) is a Swedish associate head scout for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL) and a former professional ice hockey centre who played in the NHL and the Swedish Elite League (SEL) from 1975 to 1990.

In 1972–73, he transferred to Modo.

Gradin played in Sweden's Division 1 league with Modo for three seasons before the team moved up to the Swedish Elite League (SEL) in 1975.

After scoring 16 goals and 39 points in 35 games in the 1975–76 SEL season, Gradin was selected by the Chicago Black Hawks in the third round, 45th overall, of the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft.

Unable to come to terms on a contract with Chicago, Gradin remained in Sweden for two more seasons before moving to the NHL.

Following his draft, he transferred to AIK in order to accommodate his studies in Stockholm.

Following his rookie season in the SEL, Gradin was selected by the Chicago Black Hawks 45th overall in the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft.

Playing in his first season with AIK in 1976–77, Gradin scored 16 goals for the second consecutive year.

The following campaign, he recorded 37 points, as well as an SEL career-high 22 goals.

After being traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 1978, he moved to North America to begin his NHL career.

In June 1978, the Black Hawks traded Gradin's NHL rights to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a draft pick.

The deal prompted Gradin to move to the NHL three years after his draft.

Along with fellow Swedes Lars Zetterström and Lars Lindgren, the trio became the first Europeans to join the Canucks in team history.

Playing on a line with fellow rookies Stan Smyl and Curt Fraser, Gradin led the team in assists (31) and finished second in team-scoring (51 points) in 1978–79.

His efforts earned him the Cyclone Taylor Award as team MVP, an honour he shared with goaltender Glen Hanlon.

In ensuing seasons, Gradin established himself as arguably the most skilled player in the franchise's history during his era.

He improved to 30 goals and 75 points in 1979–80, ranking second in team-scoring to Smyl's 78 points.

With 69 points the following season (21 goals and 48 assists), led the team in scoring for the first time.

With his 408th point as a Canuck, he passed former teammate Don Lever, who had left the Canucks in 1980.

With 21 goals and a career-high 57 assists, he finished with 78 points on the year.

He repeated the feat in 1981–82 with 86 points, setting a single-season franchise record.

The total broke the mark previously set by Smyl two years prior, though Smyl bettered Gradin's mark with an 88-point campaign the following season.

Over eight seasons in Vancouver, Gradin established himself as the team's all-time leading scorer and competed in the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals, as well as the 1985 NHL All-Star Game.

After a one-year stint with the Boston Bruins, Gradin returned to Sweden, where he finished off his playing career with his former SEL team, AIK.

Gradin continued to play a starring role for the team in the 1982 playoffs, leading the Canucks in post-season scoring with 19 points in 17 games.

Despite entering the playoffs with a losing record (30 wins, 33 losses and 17 ties), the Canucks went on to their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in franchise history.

Playing the two-time defending champion New York Islanders, the Canucks were swept in four games.

Gradin's 19 points ranked fourth in league scoring, behind the Islanders trio of Brian Trottier, Mike Bossy and Denis Potvin.

Continuing to play in the prime of his career, Gradin recorded 86 points for the second straight year in 1982–83.

However, he could not help the Canucks build off of the previous year's playoff success, as the team was eliminated in the first round.

During the 1983–84 campaign, Gradin became the Canucks' all-time leading scorer.

During the 1984–85 season, Gradin earned his first and only appearance in the NHL All-Star Game.

He finished the campaign with 64 points, including his seventh consecutive 20-goal season.

In 1985–86, Gradin was supplanted on the team's top line by countryman Patrik Sundström.

In 1994, Gradin returned to the Canucks organization as a scout.

His efforts in that capacity has helped the team draft such Swedish players as Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Mattias Öhlund, and Alexander Edler.

It also stood as a Canucks record for 12 years until Pavel Bure scored 31 in 1994.

Gradin's career with the organization over the years was distinguished by the team with his induction into their Ring of Honour in 2011.

Born in Sollefteå, Sweden, Gradin played youth hockey for nearby Långsele AIF.

At age 14, he began playing men's hockey for Långsele's Division 3 team.