Fredrik Modin was the third-round selection of the Toronto Maple Leafs, 64th overall in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.
Modin played three years in the Swedish Second Division beginning at the age of 17 and represented his country at the 1994 World Junior Championships. In 1994-95 he moved up to the Swedish Elite League, playing two years with the powerful Brynas IF Gavle. He was also chosen to play for the Swedish National Team at the 1996 World Championships. His size and well-developed slapshot were the most noticeable attributes of the lanky star.
When Modin arrived in Toronto many had expected he would be a star in the mold of Mats Sundin. After three years with the Maple Leafs he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Cory Cross and a seventh-round draft pick in 2001, which turned out to be Ivan Kolozvary. Upon joining the Lightning Modin showed a more confident offensive game and produced better numbers than he was able to do in Toronto. In 2000-01 Modin scored 32 goals for the Lightning to lead the team. However, 2001-02 was a disappointment for both Modin and the Lightning. He missed a good portion of the season due to injury and once again Tampa failed in its bid to secure a spot in the postseason.
Even with the Lightning's misfortunes in the late 1990s, Modin still continued playing following the team's regular season with Team Sweden at the 1998, 2000 and 2001 World Championships. Modin and the Lightning rebounded in 2002-03. A durable player all season, Modin finished the regular season with 40 points and the team clinched its first playoff berth since the 1995-96 season.
After getting a taste of the post season in 2002-03, Modin and the Lightning looked for more in 2003-04. Modin improved on his previous year's totals, finishing the 2003-04 season with 57 points (29-28-57)and was a key player in Tampa Bay's seven game Stanley Cup Final win over the Calgary Flames.
Modin continued putting up points in Tampa Bay throughout the 2005-06 season tallying 31 goals, 23 assists for 54 points. However after the Ottawa Senators eliminated Tampa Bay in the first round of the NHL playoffs, changes had to be made. The team, searching for a new starting goaltender, acquired Marc Denis from Columbus for Modin and goaltender Fredrik Norrena on June 30, 2006.
In 2006, Modin was part of the gold medal-winning Swedish team at the Olympic Games. In eight tournament games he recorded a pair of goals and added an assist.
On March 3, 2010, the NHL trade deadline, Modin was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for future considerations.
Modin would appear in 20 regular season games for the Kings and six playoff games, but would leave Los Angeles in the summer of 2010, inking a one-year deal with the Atlanta Thrashers. He would fail to complete a full season in Atlanta however, being traded to the Calgary Flames at the NHL trade deadline in exchange for a seventh round draft pick. Modin finished the season in Calgary, but managed to appear in just four games. At season's end, hampered by injuries, Modine announced his retirement.
Having won the 1998 World Championships, 2004 Stanley Cup and 2006 Olympic gold, Modin is a member of the Triple Gold Club.
