Alexander Lennart Steen (born 1 March 1984) is a Canadian-born Swedish former professional ice hockey player. Steen was drafted 24th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, and started his NHL career with Toronto. Steen was traded to the St. Louis Blues in 2008, where he played the remainder of his career. Steen won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019.

Alexander Steen
Steen with Modo Hockey in 2012
Born (1984-03-01) 1 March 1984 (age 40)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 212 lb (96 kg; 15 st 2 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Frölunda HC
Modo Hockey
Toronto Maple Leafs
St. Louis Blues
National team  Sweden
NHL draft 24th overall, 2002
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 2001–2020

Steen is the son of Thomas Steen, who also played professional ice hockey and later became a conservative politician.

Playing career

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Elitserien (2001–2005)

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Steen played for Frölunda HC from 1999 to 2004. He spent the 2004–05 season with Modo Hockey after a highly controversial signing.[1][2]

Toronto Maple Leafs (2005–2008)

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In the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Steen was selected in the first round by the Toronto Maple Leafs, 24th overall. He played his first game with the Leafs on 5 October 2005 during the season opener against the rival Ottawa Senators, and registered a minor penalty. His first career NHL goal came in the next game on 8 October against the Montreal Canadiens. This goal marked the first time a Swedish father (former Winnipeg Jets player Thomas Steen) and son both scored in the NHL (beating Robert Nilsson, son of Kent Nilsson, by 21 days). Steen scored his first career hat-trick on 4 January 2007 against the Boston Bruins, ending with a five-point game night.[3]

St. Louis Blues (2008–2020)

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On 24 November 2008, Steen was traded by the Leafs, along with Carlo Colaiacovo, to the St. Louis Blues for Lee Stempniak.[4][5]

On 1 July 2010, Steen signed a four-year contract extension with the Blues.[6] He had an NHL career-high 51 points in the 2011–12 season.

 
Steen with the Blues in February 2011

On 25 September 2012, Steen returned to Modo Hockey on a short-term contract during the 2012–13 NHL lockout.

He was named the NHL First Star of the Month for October 2013, with his 11 goals leading the league, and 16 points, fourth-best.[7] With a goal and an assist against the Carolina Hurricanes on November 16, Steen extended his point streak to 13 consecutive games, the best such streak by a Blues player since Pierre Turgeon in 1999–2000.[8]

Steen signed a three-year, $17.4 million contract with the Blues on 18 December 2013.[9]

On 4 April 2014, he was nominated by the St. Louis chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The trophy is awarded annually to the player "who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey." Steen lead the Blues with 33 goals, and lead them in the points department as well with 62 points despite losing 11 games from a concussion in December 2013.[10]

On 23 September 2016, he signed a four-year, $23 million contract extension with the Blues.[11]

Steen won the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals with the Blues, St. Louis' first Stanley Cup in their 52-year franchise history.

Retirement

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On 17 December 2020, Steen announced his retirement from hockey due to a back injury.[12] Steen finished his career fourth in games played, sixth in assists, and fifth in points in Blues franchise history. Additionally, he and his father are one of just four father-son duos to each obtain 600 points in the NHL.[13]

Post-playing career

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Steen spent the 2023-24 season working in the St. Louis Blues hockey operations department as a European development consultant. On June 13, 2024, it was announced that Steen would be promoted to special assistant to the general manager, with plans to become the general manager after the 2025-26 season.[14]

Personal life

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Alexander Steen's father is former Winnipeg Jets star Thomas Steen, a forward who scored 817 points in 950 NHL games between 1981 and 1995. As Steen was born in Winnipeg during his father's tenure with the Jets, he has dual Canadian and Swedish citizenship; he has chosen to represent Sweden in international hockey competition.[15] Alexander has two surviving siblings — his youngest brother Amadeus died at the age of two months of a heart condition. His death was the motivation for Alex, along with family members, to create the Amadeus Steen Foundation to raise funds for, and offer support for, infant and child health care.[16]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1999–2000 Västra Frölunda HC SWE J18 12 3 5 8 14 2 0 0 0 2
2000–01 Västra Frölunda HC SWE J18 4 3 3 6 9 1 0 0 0 0
2000–01 Västra Frölunda HC J20 15 5 7 12 6 5 4 2 6 2
2001–02 Västra Frölunda HC J20 25 22 18 40 49 2 1 1 2 2
2001–02 Västra Frölunda HC SEL 26 0 3 3 14 10 1 2 3 0
2002–03 Västra Frölunda HC J20 2 0 2 2 0
2002–03 Västra Frölunda HC SEL 45 5 10 15 18 16 2 3 5 4
2003–04 Västra Frölunda HC SEL 48 10 14 24 50 10 4 6 10 14
2004–05 Modo Hockey SEL 50 9 8 17 26 6 1 0 1 4
2005–06 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 75 18 27 45 42
2006–07 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 82 15 20 35 26
2007–08 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 76 15 27 42 32
2008–09 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 20 2 2 4 6
2008–09 St. Louis Blues NHL 61 6 18 24 24 4 0 1 1 0
2009–10 St. Louis Blues NHL 68 24 23 47 30
2010–11 St. Louis Blues NHL 72 20 31 51 26
2011–12 St. Louis Blues NHL 43 15 13 28 28 9 1 2 3 6
2012–13 Modo Hockey SEL 20 8 15 23 28
2012–13 St. Louis Blues NHL 40 8 19 27 14 6 3 0 3 6
2013–14 St. Louis Blues NHL 68 33 29 62 46 6 1 2 3 6
2014–15 St. Louis Blues NHL 74 24 40 64 33 6 1 3 4 2
2015–16 St. Louis Blues NHL 67 17 35 52 48 20 4 6 10 30
2016–17 St. Louis Blues NHL 76 16 35 51 53 10 3 4 7 4
2017–18 St. Louis Blues NHL 76 15 31 46 0
2018–19 St. Louis Blues NHL 65 10 17 27 14 26 2 3 5 2
2019–20 St. Louis Blues NHL 55 7 10 17 12 4 0 0 0 6
NHL totals 1,018 245 377 622 454 91 15 21 36 62

International

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Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing   Sweden
Winter Olympics
  2014 Sochi
Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
2002 Sweden WJC18 8 2 6 8 8
2003 Sweden WJC 6 4 2 6 6
2004 Sweden WJC 6 2 1 3 4
2007 Sweden WC 9 2 2 4 6
2014 Sweden OG 6 1 3 4 4
Junior totals 20 8 9 17 18
Senior totals 15 3 5 8 10

Awards and honours

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Award Year
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2019 [17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Steen till Modo upprör Frölunda". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 1 October 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2007.
  2. ^ "Alexander Steen till Modo" (in Swedish). Upsala NYa Tidning. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2007.
  3. ^ "Maple Leafs burn Bruins with 10 goals". Associated Press. 4 January 2007. Archived from the original on 6 January 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  4. ^ "Leafs acquire winger Stempniak from Blues". tsn.ca. 24 November 2008. Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 24 November 2008.
  5. ^ "Leafs trade Steen, Colaiacovo". sportsnet.ca. 24 November 2008. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 24 November 2008.
  6. ^ The Canadian Press (1 July 2010). "ST. LOUIS BLUES SIGN FORWARD ALEX STEEN TO FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION". thehockeynews.com. St. Louis: The Hockey News. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Steen Named NHL's First Star for October". NHL.com. St. Louis: St. Louis Blues. 1 November 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Steen saves Blues again against Hurricanes". National Hockey League. 17 November 2013.
  9. ^ The Associated Press; Pierre LeBrun (20 December 2013). "Alexander Steen signs with Blues". ESPN.com. St. Louis: ESPN. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  10. ^ "Steen Nominated for Masterton Trophy". NHL.com. 4 April 2014.
  11. ^ Pinkert, Chris (23 September 2016). "Steen signs 4-year extension". NHL.com. St. Louis: St. Louis Blues. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  12. ^ "Blues' Alexander Steen retires from hockey due to back injury".
  13. ^ "St. Louis Blues Career Leaders". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Armstrong signs extension, Steen named to new position". nhl.com. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Steen signs with Swedish team Modo". sportsnet.ca. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  16. ^ McGran, Kevin (7 September 2007). "Steen Foundation is a family affair". Toronto Star. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  17. ^ "Blues win cup for first time, defeat Bruins in Game 7 of final". National Hockey League. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Toronto Maple Leafs first round draft pick
2002
Succeeded by