|
View: Previous | Next
|
| 1982 NHL DRAFT PICK |
 |
Ulf Samuelsson
Selected in
fourth round
No. 67 overall by Hartford Whalers
Born
March 26, 1964
 | Position:
Defense
Height: 6-1 Weight: 195
|
|
| BEFORE THE DRAFT |
Last Team:
Leksand (Sweden)
Birthplace:
Fagersta, Sweden
Hometown: Fagersta, Sweden |
 |
 |
|
| PRE-DRAFT
STATISTICS | | Year |
Team | League |
GP | G |
A | TP |
PIM | | 1980-81 |
Fagersta | Sweden |
22 | 11 |
5 | 16 |
-- | | 1981-82 |
Leksand | Sweden |
31 | 3 |
1 | 4 |
40 |
|
PRE-DRAFT AWARDS AND HONORS
World Junior Championships: 1982 (fifth place)
European Junior
Championships: 1982 (gold medal)
European Junior Championships
All-Star First Team: 1982
Miscellaneous: Grew up in Sweden as a Borje Salming fan, idolizing his
countryman who opened doors to Swedes by becoming NHL star. |
| NHL CAREER |
Debut: October 11, 1984 (Hartford at N.Y.
Rangers)
Numbers: 5 (Hartford); 5
(Pittsburgh); 5 (N.Y. Rangers); 2 (Detroit); 55 (Philadelphia)
Stanley Cup:
1991, 1992.
Status:
Retired February 12, 2001 |
| CAREER NHL STATISTICS |
| Years | Teams |
GP | G |
A | TP |
PIM | | 1984-2000 |
Hartford, Pitt., NYR,
Detroit, Philadelphia | 1,080 |
57 | 275 |
332 | 2,453 |
|
| CAREER NHL PLAYOFF STATISTICS |
| Years |
Teams | GP |
G | A |
TP | PIM |
| 1986-1999 |
HAR, PIT, NYR, DET | 132 |
7 | 27 |
34 | 272 |
|
NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
Hockey News NHL All-Star Third Team: 1986-87 (Hartford)
Hartford Kravitz Award (MVP): 1987-88
Hartford Most Valuable Defenseman: 1986-87, 1987-88
Hartford Emery Edge Award (+/- Leader): 1986-87 (plus-28)
Pittsburgh Penguins Hall of Fame: Inducted
2003
Pittsburgh Defensive Player of Year: 1993-94, 1995
Hartford
Penalty-Minutes Leader: 1988-89 (181)
Pittsburgh
Penalty-Minutes Leader: 1993-94 (199)
Pittsburgh Playoffs
Penalty-Minutes Leader: 1993 (24, tie)
N.Y. Rangers
Penalty-Minutes Leader: 1998-99 (93)
N.Y. Rangers Playoffs
Penalty-Minutes Leader: 1996 (16, tie)
Miscellaneous: Finished 10th in voting for 1986-87 Norris Trophy. ...
Missed part of 1988-89 season with the flu, an illness contracted in
December 1988. ... Scored Stanley Cup-clinching goal in Game 6 of finals for
Pittsburgh in 1991. Samuelsson's goal at 2:00 of the first period gave the
Penguins a 1-0 lead over Minnesota in an 8-0 win on May 25, 1991. ... Missed
start of Pittsburgh's 1991 training camp with broken collarbone, an injury
suffered when hit by Team Canada's 18-year-old Eric Lindros during 1991
Canada Cup tournament game in Toronto. ... Missed
part of 1991-92 season with hip flexor injury, suffered during Pittsburgh's
Oct. 29, 1991, game vs. Washington. ... Missed part of 1991-92 season so
that he could go home to Sweden and attend his father's funeral in November
1991. ... Missed part of 1991-92 season with bone chips in right elbow, an
injury that required surgery on Dec. 12, 1991. ... Missed parts of 1991-92
season with bruised left hand, an injury suffered during Pittsburgh's Feb.
8, 1992, game vs. Los Angeles, and with the flu, contracted in February
1992. ... Missed parts of 1992-93 season with strained shoulder,
suffered during Pittsburgh's Nov. 10, 1992, game at Minnesota, with broken
cheekbone, suffered in fight with Dale Hunter during Pittsburgh's Nov. 27, 1992, game at
Washington, and with bruised knee, an injury suffered while playing with his
son in January 1993. ...
Suspended one game by NHL (automatic suspension) in February 1993 for
getting third non-stick related game misconduct during Pittsburgh's Feb. 13,
1993, game vs. Chicago. The misconduct resulted from his role in a
multi-player brawl at 19:09 of the first period. ... Suspended three
off-days by NHL for stick-swinging incident with Mark Messier during Pittsburgh's March
5,
1993, game at N.Y. Rangers. Both players were given match penalties for the
incident and both were suspended for three off-days and fined $500 by the
NHL on March 18, 1993. As a result, Samuelsson lost $8,697 in salary and
Messier lost $25,545. ... Missed part of 1992-93 season with back spasms, an
injury suffered during Pittsburgh's April 3, 1993, game at Quebec. ...
Scored in overtime on April 7, 1993, vs. Montreal, enabling Pittsburgh to
tie NHL record of 15 consecutive wins. The Penguins broke the record two
nights later. ... Finished fourth among 1992-93 NHL plus-minus leaders with
a plus-36 rating. ... Missed parts of 1993-94 season with knee injury,
suffered during Pittsburgh's Nov. 2, 1993, game at San Jose, and with
bruised foot, an injury suffered during Pittsburgh's Dec. 14, 1993, game vs.
Los Angeles. ... Missed part of 1995 season with bone chips in right elbow,
an injury suffered during Pittsburgh's March 19, 1995, game at Ottawa. The
injury required minor surgery on March 23, 1995. ... Missed part of 1995
season with bruised knee, an injury suffered during Pittsburgh's April 28,
1995, game vs. Boston. ... Missed remainder of 1995 playoffs with broken
ribs, suffered during Game 7 of Pittsburgh's first-round series
vs. Washington on May 18, 1995. ... Missed parts of 1995-96 season with mild
concussion, an injury suffered during N.Y. Rangers' Oct. 14, 1995, game at
Toronto, and with separated shoulder, an injury suffered during N.Y.
Rangers' Oct. 22, 1995, game vs. Ottawa. ... Missed part of 1995-96 season
with bone chips in elbow, requiring arthroscopic surgery on Dec. 27, 1995.
... Missed part of 1996-97 season with sprained knee, an injury suffered
during N.Y. Rangers' Oct. 25, 1996, game at Florida. He did not return to
action until N.Y. Rangers' Nov. 16, 1996, game at Pittsburgh. ... Missed
parts of 1997-98 season with the flu, contracted in October 1997, with
strained rib muscle, an injury suffered during N.Y. Rangers' Nov. 28, 1997,
game at Buffalo, with sprained right knee, an injury suffered during N.Y.
Rangers' Jan. 3, 1998, game at Washington, and with deep cut above left eye,
an injury suffered during N.Y. Rangers' March 28, 1998, game at Pittsburgh.
... Missed part of 1998-99 season with concussion, suffered during N.Y.
Rangers' March 7, 1999, game at Boston. ... Played in his 1,000th career NHL game
for N.Y. Rangers on Jan. 13, 1999, vs. N.Y. Islanders. ... Missed part of 1998-99 season
with broken foot, an injury suffered during N.Y. Rangers' March 21, 1999,
game vs. Pittsburgh. During this time, he was traded to Detroit for two
future draft picks on March 23, 1999. He did not return to action until
Detroit's April 9, 1999, game at St. Louis. ... Paired on defense with Chris Chelios for Detroit toward end of 1998-99 season. ... Traded by Detroit to Atlanta for future
considerations on June 25, 1999, but never played for Thrashers because he
was on the verge of Group III free agency at time of deal and Atlanta was
looking to obtain the compensation draft pick associated with Samuelsson's
signing elsewhere. ... Signed two-year, $4.55 million contract with Philadelphia as
a Group III unrestricted
free agent on Oct. 19, 1999. He took the Flyers' offer because no other team
was willing to give him a two-year deal. ... Missed parts of 1999-00 season
with sprained left shoulder, suffered during Philadelphia's Dec. 5, 1999,
game vs. St. Louis, and with the flu, contracted in February 2000. ...
Missed part of 1999-00 season with shoulder injury, suffered in
Philadelphia's Feb. 15, 2000, game at New Jersey. He did not return until Philadelphia's March 5, 2000, game vs. N.Y. Islanders. ...
Missed remainder of 1999-00 regular season and entire 2000 playoffs with
sprained right knee, an injury suffered during Philadelphia's April 1, 2000,
game at Pittsburgh. ... Struggled with continued knee problems, as well as a
shoulder injury, during
Philadelphia's 2000 training camp. He was unable to play in any 2000-01
season games and eventually decided he wanted to pursue other interests. As
a result, he retired in February 2001 at age 36, leaving the NHL ranked 18th on
its all-time penalty minutes list.
Summer Bummer: Samuelsson missed
Hartford's 1989 training camp and the first third of the 1989-90 regular
season with torn ACL in his left knee, an injury he suffered while engaged
in off-ice training in Sweden on July 16, 1989. In fact, he was jumping back
and forth over a rock as part of his pylometric exercise regimen at the time
the injury took place. At first, the injury required only minor arthroscopic
surgery, but the damage could not be fully repaired by such methods. After
consulting with doctors in North America, Samuelsson was told he could rest
the knee for two months and then test it with a brace or undergo immediate
surgery in Sweden. Hartford doctor Vincent Turco suggested Samuelsson simply
rest the knee, but Samuelsson was confident in his Swedish surgeon. Hartford
general manager Ed Johnston left the decision up to Samuelsson, who chose to
go under the knife. Samuelsson's knee was finally subjected to major
surgery, performed by Dr. Lars Petersson, on Aug. 2, 1989, in Goteborg,
Sweden. Sadly, it took place just a month after Samuelsson's July 1, 1989,
wedding and subsequent honeymoon in Monte Carlo. Swedish doctors said
Samuelsson would not play for six to eight months, and they placed him in a
cast for the first month after surgery. Hartford, however, knew strength and
conditioning coach Doug McKenney could work with Samuelsson to shorten his
recovery time. The hope was to have Samuelsson back by January, but thanks
to his conditioning regime, he came back even earlier. On Nov. 27, 1989, Dr.
Petersson told the Whalers that Samuelsson was ready to play again. Although
unsure he was really ready to come back, Samuelsson made his 1989-90 season
debut for Hartford on Nov. 28, 1989, vs. Buffalo.
The Neely Hit:
Samuelsson's knee-on-knee hit against Boston's Cam Neely during the 1991
Stanley Cup playoffs nearly ended Neely's career and left Samuelsson with
the fans' labels of "dirty player" and "cheap-shot artist" for the remainder
of his NHL career. The incident took place during Game 3 of Pittsburgh's
Wales Conference finals series vs. Boston on May 5, 1991. Although Neely was
able to play in Boston's final three 1991 playoff games, damage to his leg
caused him to develop a degenerative muscle condition in his thigh and kept
him out of all but nine games in 1991-92. Problems related to the injury,
including subsequent knee damage that required surgery, prevented Neely from
ever playing another full season and led to his premature retirement five
years later at age 31. Pittsburgh went on to eliminate Boston from the
playoffs and then beat Minnesota for the Stanley Cup. After Game 3, in which
Neely was hurt, Boston coach Mike Milbury accused Pittsburgh coach Bob
Johnson and the Penguins of "goonism." Six days after the hit, when
Pittsburgh won the series in six games, the teams engaged in the traditional
handshake at center ice. Neely, however, refused to shake Samuelsson's hand.
The gritty Swede became Public Enemy No. 1 in Boston for years to come.
Samuelsson later admitted that he felt bad about the hit on Neely, but did
not believe it was a dirty hit, since Neely had unexpectedly turned his body
into the hit, causing more damage that was ever intended. |
| NON-NHL CAREER |
Post-Draft Teams:
Leksand (Sweden); Binghamton (AHL)
Olympics: 1998 (5-8 place)
NHL-USSR Rendez-vous Series: 1987
Canada Cup: 1991
(fourth place)
World Championships: 1985
(sixth place), 1990 (silver medal)
World Junior Championships: 1983
(fourth place), 1984 (fifth place)
NON-NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
1984-85: Played on AHL regular-season champion (Binghamton).
Miscellaneous: Completed two-year
military commitment in Sweden before coming to North America in 1984. ...
Was among last players cut from Sweden's 1984 Canada Cup team before
arriving at Hartford's 1984 training camp. ... Played with Leksand
(Sweden) during 1994-95 NHL lockout. ... Worked as electrician and banker
while attending school in Sweden during off-seasons of his early NHL playing
days. ... Spent majority of summers in his native Sweden. ... Was active
in charitable causes during his playing days in New York, including work
with Kidney Foundation, for which he staged annual Ulf Samuelsson Golf
Tournament. ... Returned to his home in Morristown, N.J., after retirement
and focused his business efforts on managing a used-car dealership
which he co-owned in Pittsburgh. ... Also scouted NHL players for Team
Sweden and worked as TV color commentator for Swedish television station
during 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Citizenship Dispute:
Samuelsson found himself at the center of an Olympic-sized controversy
during the Nagano Winter Games in February 1998. Samuelsson played in
Sweden's first three games, but as the teams prepared for the medal round,
and Sweden prepared to face Finland, the International Olympic Committee
kicked Samuelsson out of the Games because of a dispute over his
citizenship. The controversy stemmed from Samuelsson's having applied for
and been granted a United States passport during his years in the NHL. This
had been done so he wouldn't have to keep applying for a green card to play
each season in the United States and not because
he intended to give up his Swedish citizenship. However, Samuelsson didn't
realize that although the U.S. allowed for dual citizenship, Sweden did not.
Thus, Samuelsson's U.S. passport technically voided his Swedish citizenship.
The passport protest was filed by the Czechs, who hoped that Sweden would be
forced to forfeit the results of their preliminary round games, thus
enabling the Czech Republic to draw an easier quarterfinal opponent. Russia,
which had finished first in group play, disputed this, saying that they
should not have to play Sweden in the quarters. To resolve the matter, the
IOC's Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Samuelsson could not
continue to play for Sweden, but the Swedes would not have to forfeit any of
their earlier victories. The decision was a harsh blow to Samuelsson, who in
an uncharacteristic moment,
was reduced to tears because he couldn't help his country in a key game.
Rene Fasel, the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation at
the time, called the entire incident "very sad for hockey." |
| HOW HE GOT AWAY |
| TRADE:
Hartford traded Samuelsson, Ron Francis and Grant Jennings to Pittsburgh in
exchange for John Cullen, Jeff Parker and Zarley Zalapski on March 4, 1991. |
|
|
Visit the new
Hockey Draft Central |
HockeyDraftCentral.com is in the middle of rebuilding. You are looking at a page
that is not yet updated but is still part of the old site. Check out the new look.
• New Home Page
|
|
SNAPSHOT '82 | | Total Selected: |
252 | | Forwards: |
152 | | Defense: |
82 | | Goaltenders: |
18 | | Major Junior: |
129 | | Tier II/Jr. B: |
27/4 | | College Players: |
20 | | High School: |
37 |
| Canadian: |
152 |
| Euro-Canadian: |
3 | | USA Citizens: |
62 | | U.S.-Born: |
62 |
| European: |
35 |
| Reached NHL: |
109 |
| Stanley Cup: |
18 | | Hall of Fame: |
0 |
| All-Star Game: |
14 |
| Year-end All-Star: |
4 |
| Olympians: |
37 |
| Picks Traded: |
50 |
|
|
