Kings Article: Tomas Sandstrom: Arguably The Most Underrated Player In LA Kings History

[FrozenRoyalty]

On January 7, the Los Angeles Kings honored former Kings left wing Tomas Sandstrom prior to their 4-3 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild. But by the looks of things, a lot of fans either don't know who he was, or perhaps they just didn't care about him because he played for the Kings almost 25 years ago.

For those of you who fall into either of those categories, you missed one hell of a player.

Sandstrom took some time to speak with Frozen Royalty about his time with the Kings. Even former Kings great Dave Taylor and their retired Hall of Fame athletic trainer Pete Demers shared their thoughts about a player who could do it all, and left it all on the ice in every game.

Read all about it at...

Tomas Sandstrom: Arguably The Most Underrated Player In LA Kings History

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[Choralone]

Damn, I'm sorry no one visited him in his booth, if that's true. He was one of my favorite players, and came over when I started watching the Kings. I was at that game when friggin' Gilmore broke his arm (Gilmore can eat Gretzky's stick all day and night, with apple sauce, Toronto.)

 

[Eye of Ra]

He is 9th in scoring all time in NHL among swedes. Thats really impressing.

But what type of player was he? Physical powerforward? Would he have a impact in todays NHL?

 

[LAK74]

For sure a very talented player, one who really made that early 90's team fun to watch. In two of his seasons with the Kings he was on pace for 50 goals and 100 points, but unfortunately got hurt and didn't play out the entire season. I remember when Gretzky went down in 92/93, Sandstrom's line with Kurri and Robitaille caught fire, and really helped fill the void left by Gretzky's absence.

 

[Rorschach]

He scared Doug Gilmour.

We could use him today on Kopitar's line. In EA NHL, the first US game on Sega Genesis, he was Roenick/Gretzky/Lemieux good.

 

[KingsFan7824]

He scared Doug Gilmour.

We could use him today on Kopitar's line. In EA NHL, the first US game on Sega Genesis, he was Roenick/Gretzky/Lemieux good.

His slapshot was 2nd to none in that game. From the blueline every time. One timer? Forget it. The goalie had no chance. Was the one timer in one of the sequels? Either way.

He could never really stay healthy. Probably because of the way he played. Involved in one of the bigger trades in franchise history. It increased their depth on the wings, but the Kings never found a 2nd center behind Gretzky after Nicholls. They tried, but their attempt was Jimmy Carson 2.0, which didn't work, and Coffey still had a few good years left in him.

The beginning of the end of the Gretzky era was trading McSorley to Pittsburgh for McEachern(although Coffey for Carson might beat it), after matching the offer sheet for McSorley by St.Louis, and then trading McEachern and Sandstrom to Pittsburgh for McSorley(and the great Jim Paek) a couple months later. It just kept going downhill after that.

 

[LAKings88]

I was so bummed when Nicholls was traded.

It was a nice surprise that Granato and Sandstrom turned out so well.

Two spots filled even tho it hurt.

Heroes of my youth.

 

[Choralone]

It increased their depth on the wings, but the Kings never found a 2nd center behind Gretzky after Nicholls. They tried, but their attempt was Jimmy Carson 2.0, which didn't work, and Coffey still had a few good years left in him.

What, you weren't a big Todd Elik fan?

 

[Johnny Utah]

If you followed the Kings during the early 90's like myself, Sanstrom was a stud. I am trying to think who he reminds of me of in today's game...kinda like a cross between Marian Hossa (not as good in his prime though) and Antoine Roussell. He had the skills and could score but also got under people's skin.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

He is 9th in scoring all time in NHL among swedes. Thats really impressing.

But what type of player was he? Physical powerforward? Would he have a impact in todays NHL?

Absolutely. Let's put it this way--seeing all the Landeskog talk coming up around Sandstrom night game me some flashbacks

Guy was a stud and maybe even overrated, but that might have just been my circle of friends drooling over him nonstop. For a franchise that loves guys like Brown, Deadmarsh, and the 2012 blast-you-to-a-pulp Kings, Sandstrom was the prototype (with mountains of skill too, obviously). Really wish I could have been there that night!

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

If you followed the Kings during the early 90's like myself, Sanstrom was a stud. I am trying to think who he reminds of me of in today's game...kinda like a cross between Marian Hossa (not as good in his prime though) and Antoine Roussell. He had the skills and could score but also got under people's skin.

Patric Hornqvist.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Patric Hornqvist.

Definitely as much sandpaper in close, but I think he was way more skilled than Hornqvist.