Kent Nilsson

Kent Nilsson
Born (1956-08-31) 31 August 1956
Nynäshamn, Sweden
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Djurgårdens IF
Winnipeg Jets
Atlanta Flames
Calgary Flames
Minnesota North Stars
Edmonton Oilers
National team  Sweden
NHL Draft 64th overall, 1976
Atlanta Flames
WHA Draft 11th overall, 1976
Toronto Toros
Playing career 19761998

Kent Åke "Kenta" Nilsson (born 31 August 1956) is a retired professional ice hockey centre.

During his NHL career he was called "Mr. Magic" and "The Magic Man". In 2006 he was featured on HCZ, a Swedish reality show as coach for a hockey team of non-athletes.

He is currently working as a European scout for the Florida Panthers.

Playing career

Nilsson began his career in 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 WHA beginning in 1977. He scored two consecutive 100-point seasons in the WHA; and his offensive production continued when the league merged with the NHL. 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, which is still the team record, and he came third in NHL scoring.

Nilsson played with the Flames (with 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 briefly again in Europe until 1998.

Awards

Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Men's ice hockey
European Junior Championships
1974 Switzerland
1975 France
World Junior Championships
1975 Canada & USA
1980 Finland
Canada Cup
1984 Canada
World Championships
1990 Switzerland

Records

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1973–74 Djurgårdens IF Swe-1 8 1 2 3 4 14 8 6 14 2
1974–75 Djurgårdens IF Swe-1 28 13 12 25 14
1975–76 Djurgårdens IF SEL 36 28 26 54 10
1976–77 AIK SEL 36 30 19 49 18
1977–78 Winnipeg Jets WHA 80 42 65 107 8 9 2 8 10 10
1978–79 Winnipeg Jets WHA 78 39 68 107 8 10 3 11 14 4
1979–80 Atlanta Flames NHL 80 40 53 93 10 4 0 0 0 2
1980–81 Calgary Flames NHL 80 49 82 131 26 14 3 9 12 2
1981–82 Calgary Flames NHL 41 26 29 55 8 3 0 3 3 2
1982–83 Calgary Flames NHL 80 46 58 104 10 9 1 11 12 2
1983–84 Calgary Flames NHL 67 31 49 80 22
1984–85 Calgary Flames NHL 77 37 62 99 14 3 0 1 1 0
1985–86 Minnesota North Stars NHL 61 16 44 60 10 5 1 4 5 0
1986–87 Minnesota North Stars NHL 44 13 33 46 12
1986–87 Edmonton Oilers NHL 17 5 12 17 4 21 6 13 19 6
1987–88 HC Bolzano Serie A 35 60 72 132 48 8 14 14 28
1987–88 SC Langnau NDA 2 2 0 2
1988–89 Djurgårdens IF SEL 35 21 21 42 36 1 0 1 1 0
1989–90 EHC Kloten NDA 36 21 19 40 5 4 5 9
1990–91 EHC Kloten NDA 33 37 39 76 8 3 8 11
1991–92 EHC Kloten NDA 17 11 14 25 8 2 0 0 0 2
1992–93 Djurgårdens IF SEL 40 11 20 31 20 6 2 3 5 0
1993–94 EC Graz Alpenliga 30 15 33 48
1993–94 EC Graz AUS 27 8 9 17
1994–95 Vålerengens IF NOR 6 1 1 2 8
1994–95 Edmonton Oilers NHL 6 1 0 1 0
1995–96 Nynäshamns IF Swe-3 2 2 3 5 6
1997–98 CH Majadahonda ESP 6 8 12 20 2 3 8 11
SEL totals 147 90 86 176 84 7 2 4 6 0
WHA totals 158 81 133 214 16 19 5 19 24 14
NHL totals 553 264 422 686 116 59 11 41 52 14

International

Year Team Comp   GP G A Pts PIM
1974 Sweden EJC 5 8 7 15 2
1975 Sweden WJC 6 3 3 6
1975 Sweden EJC 5 5 5 10 0
1976 Sweden WJC 4 1 3 4 2
1981 Sweden CC 5 0 2 2 4
1984 Sweden CC 8 3 8 11 4
1985 Sweden WC 8 6 5 11 6
1987 Sweden CC 6 0 4 4 4
1989 Sweden WC 10 3 11 14 0
1990 Sweden WC 10 10 2 12 6
Junior totals 20 17 18 35
Senior totals 47 22 32 52 24

Family

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, in an earlier marriage.

References

  1. WHA Hall of Fame Members
  2. "Hockey Summary Project". Hsp.flyershistory.com. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
Preceded by
Bo Berglund
Golden Puck
1989
Succeeded by
Rolf Ridderwall
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