Thomas Steen

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Lore & Background

Steen was born in Grums, Sweden, and began his career with Grums IK (1975–76). He later played for Leksands IF (1976–80) and Färjestads BK (1980–81). He was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in 1979 as their fifth-round choice. He played 950 regular season NHL games, scoring 264 goals and 553 assists. He won a silver medal at the 1981 World Championships and a bronze at the 1986 World Championships. His jersey number 25 was retired by the original Winnipeg Jets. He retired in 1995, briefly played in Germany, and later became a scout and coach. He served as a city councillor for Winnipeg's Elmwood-East Kildonan ward.

In Their Own Story

The lights hummed low over Richfield Coliseum as Steen laced up his skates. The air smelled of fresh ice and popcorn, a familiar scent for every Sabres fan. He stepped onto the blue line, checking his stick against the boards. This was his second season in Buffalo, but the energy felt different tonight. As the puck dropped, he surged forward, not chasing glory, but playing the game the way he knew best—hard, fast, and true to the jersey.

Reader's Guide

Thomas Steen is a Swedish former professional ice hockey player and coach. He played his entire NHL career with the original Winnipeg Jets. He was drafted by the Jets in 1979 and played 950 regular season games, scoring 264 goals and 553 assists. He won silver medals at the 1981 and 1986 World Championships. His jersey number 25 was retired by the Jets. After retiring, he played in Germany, scouted for the Minnesota Wild, and later became an assistant coach in Sweden. He also served as a Winnipeg city councillor.

Did You Know?

• Steen was named the NHL's most underrated player in a 1990 poll of players.
• He announced his retirement on the same day as Wayne Gretzky.
• His son Alexander Steen won the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019.