Likeable veteran is a more rounded player these days.
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published April 21, 2004
BRANDON - Lightning center Brad Richards smiled as he readied to dish some dirt on teammate Fredrik Modin.
You had a feeling this was going to be big. Richards and Modin are good friends. They were roommates when Richards came into the league for the 2000-01 season. If Modin had anything under his fingernails, Richards would know.
"His burgers were burnt the last time," Richards said of a barbecue at Modin's house. "You may have to ask him about that."
"At least I invite him over to taste them," Modin said in mock self defense after Tuesday's workout at the Ice Sports Forum. "I'm not coming in the next day saying, "I made great burgers, too bad there was no one there to taste them.' "
How good are things going when the worst you can say about someone is he doesn't have Bobby Flay's touch around the grill? That is apparently where it's at for Modin.
There are no more questions about the start of the season when he was on the fourth line and without a spot on the power play. No more questions about how he doesn't shoot or score enough.
Even the 15-minute, on-ice conversation he had in December with coach John Tortorella about a lack of playing time is a faded memory.
The only question now is what is next for the left wing, who had 29 goals and a career-high 57 points in the regular season and was such a force in the East quarterfinals against the Islanders, some considered him the team's most valuable player.
Funny about Modin, who had a series-high eight points against New York. Ask about him and he talks about the team, which Friday at the St. Pete Times Forum opens the East semifinals against Montreal.
"We're feeling good about ourselves," he said. "We're not overconfident. We're not going to go out there thinking we're all that. But we have good balance, and the way we feel right now, we can carry that into the next series."
But how about you, Freddie? How do you feel?
"I'm having a ball," Modin said. "That's what it's all about."
For so long, judging Modin meant looking for his booming shot. He won the hardest shot contest at the 2001 All-Star weekend with a blast of 102.1 mph.
So when Modin's goal production fell from 32 in 2000-01 to a combined 31 the next two seasons, all anyone wanted to know is why he didn't shoot more.
What most failed to see was Modin developing on defense. He became harder to knock off the puck. He learned to use his stick. He was tenacious along the boards, blocked shots and became one of the team's top penalty killers.
Modin was so good this season, associate coach Craig Ramsay said he should be a candidate for the Selke Trophy given to the top defensive forward.
And once the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Swede began scoring, "He really became a dominant two-way hockey player," Ramsay said. "During the playoffs, he just grabbed this team and took it in all situations."
Modin's clutch defensive play set up Martin St. Louis' series-clinching, overtime goal in Game 5 against the Islanders.
"His attitude is great," Ramsay said. "With Freddie, it's not about me. It's about us. He's not a guy who says, "I'm great.' He understands the value of the whole team. When the team wins, he wins."
Modin wears an A on his jersey as an alternate captain. But his leadership comes from example, not from getting up in front of the team and making impassioned speeches.
Teammates noticed when instead of complaining to the media about a lack of playing time to start the season, Modin simply won his time back.
It would have been easy for Modin to complain of injuries the past two seasons. Instead he played with aches and pains that no doubt limited his production.
"He just goes on the ice and gives it his all," center Tim Taylor said.
So what if Modin isn't the vocal leader some, especially in the media, think he should be.
"If I have something to say I'm going to open my mouth and say it," Modin said. "But if it's already being said, I'm not going to say it just for the sake of opening my mouth."
Modin called that "common sense."
He said he used it growing up in the small town of Njurunda, where his parents Jan and Ullabritt let him make his own life decisions.
Hockey beat out soccer. But sports programs in Sweden were so laid back, Modin said he played "for fun" until he was 16 and joined a local club. So doing his job without fanfare is natural.
"I know in North America it's very important to have your stats and get your name out there," he said. "I just have no desire to make sure my name is in the paper every day. It doesn't do anything for me. I'm just so happy with what I'm doing and to see this team grow and be part of it. That's what drives me."
"He's just a good guy," Richards said. "He loves hanging out and just talking. He always wants you to come over for a beer or a barbecue."
