Mattias Weinhandl Swedish ice hockey player Date of Birth: 01.06.1980 Country: Sweden

1. Biography of Matthias Weinhandl
2. Injury and Comeback
3. NHL Career
4. Return to Sweden and Dynamo Moscow

Biography of Matthias Weinhandl

Matthias Weinhandl is a Swedish ice hockey player who currently plays as a forward for HC Dynamo Moscow and the Swedish national team. He first began his professional career with Modo, where he made his debut at the age of 19. In his first season, Weinhandl played 32 games and scored 24 points (15 goals and 9 assists).

Injury and Comeback

In November 1999, while playing for the Swedish national junior team in the Four Nations Cup, Weinhandl suffered a severe head injury, resulting in significant vision problems. Despite this setback, he underwent surgery and found the strength to return to hockey.

NHL Career

In the 2002/03 season, Weinhandl made his debut in the NHL with the New York Islanders, who selected him 78th overall in the 1999 draft. He started the 2003/04 season in the Islanders' farm team as he recovered from an ankle injury. Once he regained his form, Weinhandl rejoined the Islanders and played alongside Alexei Yashin for most of the season, tallying 20 points (8 goals and 12 assists) in 55 games. During the lockout, he returned to Sweden and played for Modo.

Return to Sweden and Dynamo Moscow

Before the start of the 2005/06 season, Weinhandl signed a two-year contract with the Islanders worth $1.6 million, but he mostly played on the fourth line. As a result, he was placed on waivers and claimed by the Minnesota Wild, where he played 15 games. The following season, Weinhandl spent most of his time in the farm team and decided to return to Sweden.

In April 2007, he signed a two-year contract with Linkopings HC. During his time with the club, Weinhandl played 70 games and recorded 79 points (42 goals and 37 assists), becoming the top scorer in the regular season with 35 goals. On April 23, 2008, he joined HC Dynamo Moscow. Prior to the move, he had an agreement with Linkopings HC to return to Sweden after the 2008/09 season and play three more seasons with his former club.