Mats Naslund in 1985-86 (110 points, etc.)

[The Panther]

We don't often mention Mats Naslund as a player with an "outlier" season because he was a consistent offensive force -- and probably the Habs' best forward -- from about 1984 to 1989 (excepting Stephane Richer in 1987-88). But his 1985-86 always jumps out: he scored 110 points, which is 26 more than his second-best total.

Even stranger is that Naslund's 110 points that season remains THE ONLY 100+ point season by any Canadien between 1979-80 and today. That's right: in the past 39 years, Montreal has had exactly one 100-point season, which was Naslund in 1985-86.

Anyway, I was just wondering why his point total was so strong that season? The Habs, of course, would go on to win the Cup, but nobody expected that before the playoffs. The team's 87 points that year was seven fewer than the season prior, and if anything they were slumping as the playoffs started, finishing the season 10-15-2. So this wasn't a notably strong Habs' team. Maybe new coach Jean Perron was a factor? But then Naslund dropped 30 points the next season, under the same guy. It does seem, however, that Montreal's offense was a bit stronger than usual that season, rising to 6th-best in the League. But it's not like any other player peaked: after Naslund, Bobby Smith had 86 points, and then third in scoring is a defenceman (Robinson).

Naslund was a 2nd-team All Star that season, and finished 8th in NHL scoring (bear in mind this is the year Gretzky scored 215, and Mario suddenly arrived with 141).

On Dec. 1st, 1985, NHL scoring leaders were:
1. Gretzky, Edm. 52
2. Lemieux, Pitt. 39
3. Naslund, Mon. 37

On Jan.1st, 1986, it was like this:
1. Gretzky, Edm. 96
2. Lemieux, Pitt. 66
3. Naslund, Mon. 62

By February 1st, 1986, Naslund had 'fallen' to 5th in scoring (behind Coffey and Bossy), and by March 1st, he'd fallen to 8th, which is were he ended up.

Anyway, how'd he do it that one season??

Click to read more...

 

[streitz]

Anyway, how'd he do it that one season??

Well by the looks of it he scored 43 goals and assisted on 67 other goals.

Nah on a serious note, looks like Robinson had a big year that year, his only 80+ point season in the 80's at 34 years old. I'd say not playing for Lemaire helped aswell, Perron played a slightly more offensive system.


I'm actually surprised him and Bobby Smith didn't have more big years in the 80's for MTL, always thought that was a really solid combo.

 

[sr edler]

Both Loob and Näslund were great midget all-round guys team players who could be effective in most all situations. And just like Näslund, Loob also had a season in the NHL where he produced at a higher clip than usual. Probably have something to do with usage. I think Loob played predominantly with Nieuwendyk that year.

 

[MXD]

That will sound very stupid, because it's usually the lesser player who benefits from the better player, but...

Mats Naslund benefitted from a red-hot Kjell Dahlin in the first months of the season. Dahlin had something like 25 goals by the end of december.

 

[tony d]

Naslund was always a good player. To bad he just about retired from the NHL in 1990 because he was close to a ppg player.

 

[sr edler]

Mats Näslund is @MXD's childhood hero, but I'm too polite to ask him how it felt to see him in a Bruins jersey. I've seen Bure in a Rangers jersey though, and it didn't feel anything.

Apparently he works as a carpenter now.

 

[MXD]

Mats Näslund is @MXD's childhood hero, but I'm to polite to ask him how it felt to see him in a Bruins jersey. I've seen Bure in a Rangers jersey though, and it didn't feel anything.

Apparently he works as a carpenter now.

Well he was washed-up at that point. I guess it's a good thing he didn't come back with the Habs.

 

[The Panther]

Mats Naslund benefitted from a red-hot Kjell Dahlin in the first months of the season. Dahlin had something like 25 goals by the end of december.

No, you're probably right because Naslund had about 65 points in the first half but then slowed to his standard pace in the second half.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

Mats Näslund is @MXD's childhood hero, but I'm too polite to ask him how it felt to see him in a Bruins jersey. I've seen Bure in a Rangers jersey though, and it didn't feel anything.

Apparently he works as a carpenter now.

ah, le 'tit viking. my first favourite team was the '89 habs. naslund, chelios, bobby smith, and of course roy. although if i'm being honest 7 year old me was also really high on russ courtnall.

for some reason i'm reminded of this anecdote about elias pettersson being asked who he would play with if he could choose any player.

pettersson: forsberg

interviewer: peter or filip?

pettersson:

... peter.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

That will sound very stupid, because it's usually the lesser player who benefits from the better player, but...

Mats Naslund benefitted from a red-hot Kjell Dahlin in the first months of the season. Dahlin had something like 25 goals by the end of december.

i was going to speculate the same thing. but that's not quite right.

naslund

dahlin

smith

robinson

it looks like naslund was already slowing down in january, while robinson and smith were having their best months and dahlin hadn't yet fallen off a cliff.

one thing you do see going through their month-by-months is montreal's powerplay dried up considerably after december, which is probably the better explanation.

 

[MXD]

25 goals was an exageration...
But Dahlin did slow down significantly.


The powerplay drying up is probably a good explanation why.

 

[Dingo]

ah, le 'tit viking. my first favourite team was the '89 habs. naslund, chelios, bobby smith, and of course roy. although if i'm being honest 7 year old me was also really high on russ courtnall.

for some reason i'm reminded of this anecdote about elias pettersson being asked who he would play with if he could choose any player.

pettersson: forsberg

interviewer: peter or filip?

pettersson:

... peter.

ive been googling looking for this interview since i read your post....
that is hilarious, although i havent found it,

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

ive been googling looking for this interview since i read your post....
that is hilarious, although i havent found it,

it was in swedish. someone on the canucks board translated it

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

25 goals was an exageration...
But Dahlin did slow down significantly.


The powerplay drying up is probably a good explanation why.

i guess my pt was dahlin didn’t turn into a pumpkin until after naslund’s scoring had already fallen back to his usual pace.

 

[Lexus]

If you want a great tribute of Mats Naslund, just watch this.

 

[sr edler]

Well he was washed-up at that point. I guess it's a good thing he didn't come back with the Habs.

Hockeykung på bygget igen

In the article where Mats describes his carpentery he also says (amongst other things): (free translation by ehhedler)

"When you're playing well, then it's fantastic to play in Montreal. But it's a tough city. There are quite a number of players who haven't been able to handle the pressure and moved away"

Did you feel supervised by the public?

"Well..., everyone knew when you were out getting a haircut, or at the bank, or just out walking the city, but there were never any trouble. When people approached you for a conversation it was always positive"

Mats also says he didn't think it was that much fun to coach junior teams after his playing career was done, and that's why he quit. He says he believes many former players sticks within the sport (as scouts or coaches on a lower level) after their playing careers are done because they have no other alternatives. Being a carpenter was a way out of a post-career hockey life, he claims.

Näslund also says his different lives as a hockey star in Montreal and as a carpenter in Sweden aren't that far apart from each other because he never lived the glamorous life as a professional athlete, but a pretty chill and simple family life instead.

 

[FerrisRox]

We don't often mention Mats Naslund as a player with an "outlier" season because he was a consistent offensive force -- and probably the Habs' best forward -- from about 1984 to 1989 (excepting Stephane Richer in 1987-88).

There's no way Richer was the Habs best forward in 1987-88. He scored fifty goals, sure, but Naslund outscored point-wise and was a much more complete player. Bobby Smith also outscored him that year.

 

[FerrisRox]

Well he was washed-up at that point. I guess it's a good thing he didn't come back with the Habs.

22 points in 34 games wasn't a bad showing at all.

 

[BobbyAwe]

If you want a great tribute of Mats Naslund, just watch this.

He looked EXACTLY like Sergei Samsonov (the face I mean).

Watching the vid, I'll bet he was even LESS than 5'7?

 

[Albatros]

We don't often mention Mats Naslund as a player with an "outlier" season because he was a consistent offensive force

It would be kind of silly anyway considering that already his rookie season had set a franchise record that still stands (albeit matched by Dahlin).

Watching the vid, I'll bet he was even LESS than 5'7?

Slander.

 

[streitz]

There's no way Richer was the Habs best forward in 1987-88. He scored fifty goals, sure, but Naslund outscored point-wise and was a much more complete player. Bobby Smith also outscored him that year.

Bobby Smith tends to get underrated, guy was essentially Ron Francis with less longevity. Better in the playoffs too.

 

[The Panther]

There's no way Richer was the Habs best forward in 1987-88. He scored fifty goals, sure, but Naslund outscored point-wise and was a much more complete player. Bobby Smith also outscored him that year.

"There's no way" seems a little strong. Richer's PPG was higher than Naslund's, and he's credited with 11 game-winners that year (to Naslund's 2). Smith and Naslund were overall more consistent and skilled players, I think, but that year was Richer's big break-out and he was the Habs' most exciting player.

(It's probably a bit comparable to Rocket Richard vs. Elmer Lach in 1943-44 and 1944-45. Richard wasn't necessarily the best overall player, but he put bums in the seats.)

 

[FerrisRox]

"There's no way" seems a little strong. Richer's PPG was higher than Naslund's, and he's credited with 11 game-winners that year (to Naslund's 2). Smith and Naslund were overall more consistent and skilled players, I think, but that year was Richer's big break-out and he was the Habs' most exciting player.

(It's probably a bit comparable to Rocket Richard vs. Elmer Lach in 1943-44 and 1944-45. Richard wasn't necessarily the best overall player, but he put bums in the seats.)

Naslund was an excellent two way player and a leader... Stephane Richer.... was not. Bobby Smith outscored him by 15 points and was also a much better two way player. I think you'd have a very hard time finding anyone that really watched the Canadiens consistently that year that would tell you Richer was their best player.

Richer might have been their most "exciting" and there was a group of fans that certainly liked where he was born, but saying he was a better player than Naslund and Smith that season is a tough sell for me.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

Richer might have been their most "exciting" and there was a group of fans that certainly liked where he was born, but saying he was a better player than Naslund and Smith that season is a tough sell for me.

i feel like the montreal fans also rode richer mercilessly for being streaky. the curse of being a french star in that city: the lows can be very low.

what is going on here?

Bobby Smith tends to get underrated, guy was essentially Ron Francis with less longevity. Better in the playoffs too.

that's a good analogy.

 

[streitz]

"There's no way" seems a little strong. Richer's PPG was higher than Naslund's, and he's credited with 11 game-winners that year (to Naslund's 2). Smith and Naslund were overall more consistent and skilled players, I think, but that year was Richer's big break-out and he was the Habs' most exciting player.

(It's probably a bit comparable to Rocket Richard vs. Elmer Lach in 1943-44 and 1944-45. Richard wasn't necessarily the best overall player, but he put bums in the seats.)

Na, Bobby smith with 93 points>>>>>>>>>> Richer with 50 goals and 28 assists.