In 2004, the Tampa Bay Lightning won their first Stanley Cup. And in this feature story from THN's archive, Bolts winger Fredrik Modin was profiled as he quietly went about his business and contributed big-time to Tampa's Cup-winning run.
Twenty years ago, the Tampa Bay Lightning won the first Stanley Cup in franchise history. And in this feature story from The Hockey News’ June 22, 2004 edition (Volume 57, Issue 38), contributing writer Damian Cristodero profiled Lightning winger Fredrik Modin as he helped the Bolts to a championship.
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After coming to the Lightning in 1999, Modin established himself as a terrific secondary scorer, posting a career-high 32 goals in 2000-01. And in Tampa’s Stanley Cup-winning run in 2004, Modin generated eight goals and 19 points in 23 games. And that production justified Modin’s belief in himself.
“I feel like a lot of players are put into brackets,” Modin told Cristodero. “I don’t feel like I’m a one-dimensional player. I think I’m an all-around player. That’s the player I want to be.”
Modin appeared in 898 regular-season NHL games in his career, posting 232 goals and 462 points in that span. And while he never became a marquee talent who gained laurels wherever he played, Modin was happy to contribute quietly
“I have no desire to make sure my name is in the paper everyday,” Modin said. “I’m just so happy with what I’m doing and seeing this team grow. I’m not the kind of guy who sits back and thinks, ’Man, I’m doing all right.’ I don’t think that way. That’s the kind of stuff that drives you.”
MODIN RISES UP
By Damian Cristodero
Fredrik Modin’s 102-mph slapshot has been both a blessing and a curse.
A blessing because, well, who wouldn’t want a shot that can blow past a goaltender before he even has time to flinch; a curse because that rocket, which won the hardest shot competition at the 2001 all star weekend, is all anybody ever saw in Modin.
But after a regular season in which the 29-year-old Swede became one of the NHL’s top power forwards, and a post-season in which he was one of Tampa Bay’s top scorers, it is obvious Modin is more than a pretty slapshot.
“I feel like a lot of players are put into brackets,” said the left winger. “I don’t feel like I’m a one-dimensional player. I think I’m an all-around player. That’s the player I want to be.”
Modin’s leaps and bounds as an impact player have not gone unnoticed by his teammates.
“He is more of an all-around player,” said Lightning center and linemate Brad Richards. “The best part, I find, when he’s playing well is how he battles and turns pucks over. He’s got more roles now. It’s not just an offensive role.”
Modin’s stats bear out Richards’s estimation. Modin scored 29 goals this season, and tallied career highs of 28 assists and 57 points. He also was fourth in the league with a plus-31 rating.
Through the 2004 post-season, Modin’s eight goals and 19 points were good for third in team scoring and fourth in the league. He had just a goal and two points in the Stanley Cup final, but containing his presence in front of the net was no small part of Calgary’s game plan.
“Everything about his game has been raised,” said coach John Tortorella of Modin. “He’s just slowly gotten better and now he really is a power forward.” It has been an interesting trip for Modin, especially considering the Toronto Maple Leafs traded him to Tampa Bay in October 1999 for underachieving defenseman Cory Cross.
And after two seasons in which he scored a combined 31 goals, one fewer than he had in 2000-01, the year he played in the All-Star Game, Modin began this season on the fourth line and had lost his spot on Tampa Bay’s power play.
Modin didn’t like the demotion, but didn’t run to the media and didn’t complain. Well, there was that 15-minute, on-ice meeting with Tortorella in mid-December in which Modin put forth his concerns. But generally, Modin internalized his then-growing frustration.
Trade rumors didn’t help matters. Every time it appeared the Islanders were ready to deal defenseman Roman Hamrlik, Modin was speculated to be the bait.
But Modin had something working for him this season that had not in the past. He was finally healthy.
Numerous injuries limited Modin to 54 games, 14 goals and 31 points in 2001-02. Nagging injuries, combined with a continued recovery from the previous season’s wrist surgery, held him to 17 goals in 2002-03.
Despite those constraints, Modin’s game improved. He battled harder for pucks along the boards in his role as a fourth-liner. That, in turn, got him more and more turns working on the penalty kill, something he did a lot in his native Sweden, but not as much in the NHL.
And he became harder to knock off the puck. And he began to use his stick to pokecheck and clog the passing lanes.
And once the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder regained his scoring A touch and his spot on the second fl line with Richards and Cory
Stillman, “he really became a - dominant two-way player,” said associate coach Craig Ramsay. “During the playoffs he just grabbed this ’Wlr"’ team and took it in all situations. With Freddy it’s not about ’me’, it’s about ’us’. When the team wins, he wins.”
And as his team was in the process of the biggest win of them all, Modin was enjoying every second.
“I’m having a ball,” Modin said.“That’s what it’s all about.”
It is not, Modin said, about numbers or complaining that he should have been a candidate for the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s top defensive forward.
“I just want to be on the ice as much as possible,” he said.“Whatever chance I get, I want to do a good job. If it’s keeping other guys from scoring, I’m happy to do that. If it’s scoring goals, I’m happy to do that, too.
“I know in North America it’s very important to have your stats and get your name out there. I have no desire to make sure my name is in the paper everyday. I’m just so happy with what I’m doing and seeing this team grow. I’m not the kind of guy who sits back and thinks, ’Man, I’m. doing all right.’ I don’t think that way. That’s the kind of stuff that drives you.”
More than just driving the puck.
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