Kent Nilsson

Playing career

Nilsson began his career during the season of 1973–74, playing for Djurgårdens IF during his first of four seasons in Sweden. He then came to North America, and played for the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association (WHA) beginning in 1977. He scored two consecutive 100-point seasons in the WHA. He was claimed by the Atlanta Flames, and in his first season with the team he scored 93 points. The next season, 1980–81, the Flames moved to Calgary; Nilsson scored 131 points.

Nilsson played with the Flames, wearing number 14, until 1984–85 when he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars for a draft pick that the Flames used to draft Joe Nieuwendyk. Nilsson won his first and only Stanley Cup while playing with the Edmonton Oilers in 1987. He returned to Europe after that season, playing in Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, and Norway. In 1988–89, he was named player-of-the-year in Sweden. He returned to Edmonton for six games in 1995, which made him the last former Atlanta Flames player to play in the NHL. He then played the remainder of his playing career in Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Germany until 1998 when he last played in the Spanish hockey league for SAD Majadahonda in six games, making Nilsson one of the few former Stanley Cup winners to play in the league.

Nilsson holds the NHL record for the quickest goal scored during a season-opening game, at ten seconds in, while playing for the North Stars versus the Quebec Nordiques on 11 October 1986.

Awards

[[World Hockey Association]]

• Won Lou Kaplan Trophy (WHA Rookie of the Year) (1978)
• Won Paul Daneau Trophy (WHA Most Gentlemanly Player) (1979)
• 1977-78 - WHA - Avco Cup (Winnipeg)
• 1978-79 - WHA - Avco Cup (Winnipeg)
• Inaugural member of the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame (2010)

[[National Hockey League]]

• Played in NHL All-Star Game (1980, 1981)
• 1986–87 – NHL – Stanley Cup (Edmonton)

Sweden and International ice hockey

• Member of the Swedish World All-Star Team (1985, 1989, 1990)
• Named Swedish Player of the Year (1989)
• Inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame (2006)
• Inducted into the Swedish Hockey Hall of Fame (2012)

Records

• Most points scored by a Swedish player in a single NHL season (131 in )
• Calgary Flames team record for points in a single season (131 in 1980–81)
• Calgary Flames team record for assists in a single season (82 in 1980–81)
• Calgary Flames team record for shorthanded goals in a single season (9 in )

Post-playing career

In 2006, he was featured on HCZ, a Swedish reality show as coach for a hockey team of non-athletes. After retiring, he worked as a European scout for the Florida Panthers.

Personal life

Nilsson has been married since 2005 to Swedish golfer Helen Alfredsson. He occasionally caddies for her in professional events. He is also the father of Robert Nilsson, a former Edmonton Oilers player, from an earlier marriage.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

References

References

1. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7bVtBr2v8s&t=4m22s Top 10: Most Skilled Hockey Players]
2. "Skater Records Highest Points Per Game, Career (Minimum: 500 Points)".
3. "Kent Nilsson Stats, Contract, Salary and more".
4. "Kent Nilsson Stats, Contract, Salary and more".
5. (4 October 2017). "TSN Hockey's Need To Know: Season Opening Statistics". TSN.
6. "WHA Hall of Fame Members".
7. "Kent Nilsson". Swedish Ice Hockey Association.
8. (23 January 2006). "Kent Nilsson inducted into IIHF Hall of Fame".
9. Andrey, Melnikov. (23 January 2006). "Владимир Петров будет введен в Зал славы ИИХФ". [[Sport Express]].
10. "Statistics {{!}} Skaters {{!}} Swedish Nationality {{!}} All Time by Season". [[National Hockey League]].
11. "Statistics {{!}} Skaters {{!}} Calgary Flames {{!}} All Time by Season". [[National Hockey League]].
12. Wennerholm, Mats. (2011-03-08). "Sådan far - sådan son". [[Aftonbladet]].