Thomas Kjell Gradin was born on February 18, 1956 in Sollefteå, Sweden. Gradin started playing men’s hockey at the age of 14 for Långsele in the third division. After scoring 11 goals and 13 points in 13 games, Gradin transferred to Modo where he was a part of the team for five seasons. In 1971-72, Gradin did not play all season because his transfer to Modo was rejected by the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation. Gradin was allowed to play in 1972-73 and he scored 5 goals and an assist in 11 games. In the playoffs with Modo, he scored 3 goals and 4 points in 6 games. It was not until the 1974-75 season when Gradin found regular playing time with Modo. Gradin dressed in 29 games and scored 16 goals and had 31 points. In Gradin’s draft year, he scored 16 goals again but set a career-high in points with 39. He was then selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1976 NHL Draft 45th overall.
Chicago failed to agree to terms with Gradin, so he stayed in Sweden and transferred from Modo to AIK in the SEL. For the third consecutive season, Gradin scored 16 goals and had 28 points in 36 games. In 1977-78, Gradin improved offensively and set new highs with 22 goals and 37 points in 36 games. On June 16, 1978, Vancouver agreed to trade either their 1979 or 1980 2nd round pick to Chicago in exchange for Gradin.
Gradin debuted in the NHL at 22-years old in the 1978-79 season. He scored two goals and an assist in his debut game. He was one of the first Swedish players to play in Vancouver alongside Lars Lindgren and Lars Zetterström. Gradin had 3 total votes for the Calder Trophy that season finishing 7th overall in voting. He was 2nd on the Canucks in scoring with 20 goals and 51 points in 76 games and recognized as the team MVP. The following season, Gradin notched 30 goals on the season and had 75 points in 80 games. He finished 2nd in scoring to linemate Stan Smyl.
After a decline in production during the 1980-81 season, Gradin had a stellar campaign in the 1981-82 season. He set a career-high with 37 goals and a franchise record for points in a season with 86. Gradin played a large role in Vancouver’s Cinderella run to the finals. He led the team in points with 19 and that total stood as the most by a Canuck in a playoff campaign until 1994 when it was surpassed by Pavel Bure.
Gradin matched his 1982 season total of 86 points in 1983. Unfortunately, Vancouver did not build off their playoff performance the prior season and were bounced in the first round. Gradin still managed to score 4 points in 4 playoff games. Gradin played three additional seasons with Vancouver tallying 78, 64, and 41 points from 1984-86. In 1984, he surpassed Don Lever as the all-time leading scorer in franchise history. In the 1985 season, Gradin earned league wide recognition and played in the NHL All-Star game, which was his only nod in his entire career. After a demotion to the 2nd line for the 1986 season, Gradin was a free agent and chose to leave Vancouver to sign with the Boston Bruins. The move to Boston was a stinger for Canucks fans as Cam Neely was moved to Boston in the same off-season and sure enough both found success with the Bruins.
In one season with the Bruins, Gradin played in 64 games and scored 12 goals and 43 points. At the conclusion of the 1986-87 season, Gradin chose to leave North America to play with AIK in the SEL. Gradin played three seasons with the club before retiring at the end of the 1989-90 season. At 40 years old in 1996, Gradin made a brief two game comeback and played with Västerås IK in the SEL registering one assist. I can’t find a quote from Gradin stating what motivated him to lace up six years later.
After his first retirement, Gradin rejoined the Canucks organization as an amateur scout in Europe starting in 1994. He started in a part-time role, then transitioned to full-time and eventually became Head of European Scouting in 1998. He held the role until 2011 when he transitioned to associate head scout. In 2023, Gradin transitioned back to just being an amateur scout with the club and still holds the role. He is directly responsible for Vancouver landing most of its top European talent including but not limited to the Sedin twins, Mattias Öhlund, Alex Edler, and Elias Pettersson.
As a recognition of the terrific work that Gradin has done for the organization both on and off the ice, he was inducted into Vancouver’s Ring of Honor on January 24, 2011. Gradin currently ranks 6th in all-time scoring for the franchise.
ChadraguptaMaurya
Our greatest scout of all time?
mustardman73
How Swede it is. Gradin and Sunstrum solidified my love for the Nucks.
InsectAssassin
Right up there in terms of dedication to the team. Right up their with Smyl and Linden and will be joined by the likes of the Sedins. A cherished Canuck.
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6. Thomas Gradin — 613GP | 197G | 353A | 550P | 1979-86
Thomas Kjell Gradin was born on February 18, 1956 in Sollefteå, Sweden. Gradin started playing men’s hockey at the age of 14 for Långsele in the third division. After scoring 11 goals and 13 points in 13 games, Gradin transferred to Modo where he was a part of the team for five seasons. In 1971-72, Gradin did not play all season because his transfer to Modo was rejected by the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation. Gradin was allowed to play in 1972-73 and he scored 5 goals and an assist in 11 games. In the playoffs with Modo, he scored 3 goals and 4 points in 6 games. It was not until the 1974-75 season when Gradin found regular playing time with Modo. Gradin dressed in 29 games and scored 16 goals and had 31 points. In Gradin’s draft year, he scored 16 goals again but set a career-high in points with 39. He was then selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1976 NHL Draft 45th overall.
Chicago failed to agree to terms with Gradin, so he stayed in Sweden and transferred from Modo to AIK in the SEL. For the third consecutive season, Gradin scored 16 goals and had 28 points in 36 games. In 1977-78, Gradin improved offensively and set new highs with 22 goals and 37 points in 36 games. On June 16, 1978, Vancouver agreed to trade either their 1979 or 1980 2nd round pick to Chicago in exchange for Gradin.
Gradin debuted in the NHL at 22-years old in the 1978-79 season. He scored two goals and an assist in his debut game. He was one of the first Swedish players to play in Vancouver alongside Lars Lindgren and Lars Zetterström. Gradin had 3 total votes for the Calder Trophy that season finishing 7th overall in voting. He was 2nd on the Canucks in scoring with 20 goals and 51 points in 76 games and recognized as the team MVP. The following season, Gradin notched 30 goals on the season and had 75 points in 80 games. He finished 2nd in scoring to linemate Stan Smyl.
After a decline in production during the 1980-81 season, Gradin had a stellar campaign in the 1981-82 season. He set a career-high with 37 goals and a franchise record for points in a season with 86. Gradin played a large role in Vancouver’s Cinderella run to the finals. He led the team in points with 19 and that total stood as the most by a Canuck in a playoff campaign until 1994 when it was surpassed by Pavel Bure.
Gradin matched his 1982 season total of 86 points in 1983. Unfortunately, Vancouver did not build off their playoff performance the prior season and were bounced in the first round. Gradin still managed to score 4 points in 4 playoff games. Gradin played three additional seasons with Vancouver tallying 78, 64, and 41 points from 1984-86. In 1984, he surpassed Don Lever as the all-time leading scorer in franchise history. In the 1985 season, Gradin earned league wide recognition and played in the NHL All-Star game, which was his only nod in his entire career. After a demotion to the 2nd line for the 1986 season, Gradin was a free agent and chose to leave Vancouver to sign with the Boston Bruins. The move to Boston was a stinger for Canucks fans as Cam Neely was moved to Boston in the same off-season and sure enough both found success with the Bruins.
In one season with the Bruins, Gradin played in 64 games and scored 12 goals and 43 points. At the conclusion of the 1986-87 season, Gradin chose to leave North America to play with AIK in the SEL. Gradin played three seasons with the club before retiring at the end of the 1989-90 season. At 40 years old in 1996, Gradin made a brief two game comeback and played with Västerås IK in the SEL registering one assist. I can’t find a quote from Gradin stating what motivated him to lace up six years later.
After his first retirement, Gradin rejoined the Canucks organization as an amateur scout in Europe starting in 1994. He started in a part-time role, then transitioned to full-time and eventually became Head of European Scouting in 1998. He held the role until 2011 when he transitioned to associate head scout. In 2023, Gradin transitioned back to just being an amateur scout with the club and still holds the role. He is directly responsible for Vancouver landing most of its top European talent including but not limited to the Sedin twins, Mattias Öhlund, Alex Edler, and Elias Pettersson.
As a recognition of the terrific work that Gradin has done for the organization both on and off the ice, he was inducted into Vancouver’s Ring of Honor on January 24, 2011. Gradin currently ranks 6th in all-time scoring for the franchise.
Our greatest scout of all time?
How Swede it is. Gradin and Sunstrum solidified my love for the Nucks.
Right up there in terms of dedication to the team. Right up their with Smyl and Linden and will be joined by the likes of the Sedins. A cherished Canuck.