Anders Nilsson (ice hockey)
Bengt Per Anders Nilsson (born 19 March 1990) is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nilsson was drafted 62nd overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders and has previously played in the NHL with the Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators. Internationally, Nilsson led Sweden to a gold medal at the 2018 World Championships.
| Anders Nilsson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Nilsson with the New York Islanders in 2014 | |||
| Born |
19 March 1990 Luleå, Sweden | ||
| Height | 6 ft 6 in (198 cm) | ||
| Weight | 232 lb (105 kg; 16 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Catches | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Tampa Bay Lightning Luleå HF New York Islanders Ak Bars Kazan Edmonton Oilers St. Louis Blues Buffalo Sabres Vancouver Canucks Ottawa Senators | ||
| National team |
 Sweden | ||
| NHL Draft |
62nd overall, 2009 New York Islanders | ||
| Playing career | 2009–present | ||
Playing career
On 27 April 2011, the New York Islanders signed Nilsson to a three-year entry-level contract.[1]
Nilsson made his NHL debut on 19 November 2011, against the Boston Bruins, in relief of Rick DiPietro. He let in 3 goals on 17 shots, while playing 40 minutes, as the Islanders lost 6–0. He got his first start in the NHL on 21 November 2011, against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On 4 March 2012, he earned his first NHL victory and shutout in a 1–0 home win against the New Jersey Devils. In doing so, he became the first goalie in Islanders history to record a shutout for his first win.[2] In his next start, on 10 March 2012, he almost shutout the Devils a second time, but the Devils scored two goals in the last two minutes of the game, resulting in a 2–1 loss for the Islanders.
Nilsson saw limited action with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2012–13, as he was diagnosed with an unknown, fatigue-inducing illness in January 2013. The illness was later determined to be a vitamin B12 deficiency.[3]
Nilsson spent much of the 2013–14 season as the Islanders' backup goaltender.
On 26 May 2014, as a restricted free agent, Nilsson decided to sign a contract with Russian club Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League.[4] Ak Bars issued a release confirming the signing.[5] On 4 October 2014, Nilsson's NHL rights were traded by the Islanders to the Chicago Blackhawks in a trade for Nick Leddy.[6]
On 6 July 2015, Nilsson's NHL rights were traded for a second time, from the Blackhawks to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for prospect Liam Coughlin.[7] He in turn agreed to a one-year, one-way contract with the Oilers. Nilsson earned a spot on the Oilers roster after a stellar training camp, not allowing a single goal in the preseason. In the 2015–16 season, Nilsson appeared in a career high 26 games with the Oilers, sharing the pipes with Cam Talbot, before he was traded approaching the trade deadline by the Oilers to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Niklas Lundström and the Blues' fifth-round selection in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft on 27 February 2016.[8]
On 2 July 2016, Nilsson as a restricted free agent was traded from the Blues to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a 2017 fifth round draft pick.[9] During the 2016–17 season, in December 2016, Nilsson began wearing a mask with a gay pride flag painted on the back as a sign that ice hockey welcomes diversity. He drew praise from Wade Davis, executive director of the You Can Play campaign, who said that Nilsson "is taking a risk on multiple fronts and is standing up for something that he believes in, knowing the backlash that could come his way."[10]
After a successful tenure with the Sabres, serving as backup to Robin Lehner, Nilsson left as a free agent in signing a two-year, $5 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks on 1 July 2017.[11]
During the 2018–19 season, on 2 January 2019, he was traded by the Canucks along with Darren Archibald to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Mike McKenna, Tom Pyatt and a sixth-round draft pick in 2019. He was acquired by the Senators following injuries to goaltenders Mike Condon and Craig Anderson.[12] In 22 starts for the Senators, Nilsson went 11–11–0.
On 29 May 2019, the Senators re-signed Nilsson to a two-year, $5.2 million contract extension with an annual average of $2.6 million.[13]
With a year remaining on his contract, approaching the delayed 2020–21 season, Nilsson was traded by the Senators along with the contract of Marian Gaborik to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Braydon Coburn, Cedric Paquette and a 2022 second-round pick on December 27, 2020.[14]
International play
 Nilsson with Team Sweden. | ||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Sweden | ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| World Championships | ||
.svg.png.webp){kind=icon} | 2014 Belarus | |
.svg.png.webp){kind=icon} | 2018 Denmark | |
| World Junior Championships | ||
| 2010 Canada | |
Nilsson represented Sweden at the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships which were held in Saskatchewan, Canada. He only played in one game during the tournament, as Jacob Markström was the starter. Sweden won a bronze medal at the tournament. He won a gold medal with Team Sweden at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.
Personal life
Nilsson is married to Emelie Nevanperä and they have one child together. Nilsson has another son from a previous relationship with Fernanda Nilsson. Nevanperä also has a child from a previous relationship.[15] For his son's second birthday he dressed up as Spider-Man.[16]
On 8 November 2017, Nilsson announced the birth of his son on his official Instagram.[17]
Nilsson is an open supporter of the LGBT+ community.[18] While with the Buffalo Sabres, he became the first NHL goaltender to put a rainbow flag on their mask.[19][20]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 2004–05 | Luleå HF | J20 | 1 | — | — | — | 24 | 4 | 0 | 9.90 | .692 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Luleå HF | J18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Luleå HF | J20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Luleå HF | J18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Luleå HF | J20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Luleå HF | J18 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2.68 | .888 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Luleå HF | J18-2 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3.36 | .897 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Luleå HF | J20 | 16 | — | — | — | 898 | 31 | 2 | 2.07 | .926 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 60 | 6 | 0 | 6.00 | .786 | ||
| 2008–09 | Luleå HF | J20 | 37 | — | — | — | 2199 | 75 | 0 | 2.05 | .927 | 6 | — | — | 357 | 14 | 1 | 2.35 | .935 | ||
| 2008–09 | Luleå HF | SEL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Kalix HC | Div.1 | 1 | — | — | — | 59 | 3 | 0 | 3.05 | .930 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Luleå HF | J20 | 4 | — | — | — | 244 | 12 | 0 | 2.95 | .899 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Luleå HF | SEL | 27 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 1383 | 61 | 2 | 2.65 | .897 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Luleå HF | SEL | 31 | 18 | 13 | 0 | 1876 | 60 | 6 | 1.92 | .918 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 827 | 27 | 0 | 1.96 | .931 | ||
| 2011–12 | New York Islanders | NHL | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 218 | 10 | 1 | 2.75 | .911 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 25 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 1441 | 58 | 1 | 2.41 | .921 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 21 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 1208 | 60 | 1 | 2.98 | .899 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | New York Islanders | NHL | 19 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 1101 | 57 | 0 | 3.11 | .896 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 29 | 12 | 14 | 2 | 1683 | 79 | 2 | 2.81 | .901 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Ak Bars Kazan | KHL | 38 | 20 | 9 | 8 | 2247 | 64 | 5 | 1.71 | .936 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 1206 | 31 | 6 | 1.54 | .935 | ||
| 2015–16 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 26 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 1403 | 74 | 0 | 3.14 | .901 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 4 | 0 | 2.01 | .935 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 88 | 4 | 0 | 2.75 | .909 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 26 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 1485 | 66 | 1 | 2.67 | .923 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 27 | 7 | 14 | 4 | 1464 | 84 | 2 | 3.44 | .901 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 12 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 718 | 37 | 0 | 3.09 | .895 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 24 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 1322 | 64 | 2 | 2.90 | .914 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 20 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 1093 | 58 | 0 | 3.18 | .908 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| SHL totals | 59 | 28 | 25 | 2 | 3,287 | 121 | 8 | 2.21 | .928 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 827 | 27 | 0 | 1.96 | .931 | ||||
| NHL totals | 161 | 59 | 74 | 15 | 8,900 | 454 | 6 | 3.06 | .907 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
References
- New York Islanders - Islanders Agree to Entry-Level Contract with Nilsson - New York Islanders -News
- Nilsson stops 24 shots for 1st NHL win and Islanders blank Devils 1-0
- Anders Nilsson Healthy And Focused For 2013-14 Season
- "Report: Olver Nilsson Sign with KHL Clubs". Pro Hockey Talk/NBC Sports. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- "Андерс Нильссон: Рекордсмен "Айлэндерс" И Лучший Вратарь Шведской Лиги". Pro Hockey Talk/NBC Sports. 27 May 2014. Archived from the original on 31 August 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- "Blackhawks acquire prospects from Islanders for Leddy". Chicago Blackhawks. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
- "Oilers acquire Anders Nilsson". Edmonton Oilers. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- "Oilers deal Anders Nilsson to Blues for prospect Niklas Lundstrom and 5th round pick". Edmonton Journal. 27 February 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
- "Sabres acquire Nilsson from Blues". Buffalo Sabres. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
- Vogl, John (4 December 2016). "Inside the Sabres: Nilsson proudly waves pride flag". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
- "Canucks sign Del Zotto, Nilsson and Gagner". The Sports Network. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
- "Senators acquire Anders Nilsson and Darren Archibald from Vancouver". National Hockey League. 2 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- "Senators re-sign goaltender Anders Nilsson to a two-year contract". Ottawa Senators. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- "Ottawa Senators acquire Coburn, Paquette, pick from Lightning for Gaborik, Nilsson". The Sports Network. 27 December 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- Canucks Welcome Baby Nilsson. NHL.com. 10 November 2017.
- "Canucks goalie Anders Nilsson goes full Spider-Man for son's birthday". Sportsnet. 22 July 2017.
- "Yesterday was the magic day when we got to welcome our baby boy Loui to this world. 56,5 cm long and 3780 grams. Mom did an amazing job and both her and Loui are doing great. 11.08.17". andersnilsson31 Intragram. 11 November 2017.
- Iain MacIntyre (19 February 2018). "Anders Nilsson fights for LGBTQ rights as he fights through tough season". sportsnet,ca. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- "Inspired Anders Nilsson puts rainbow flag on mask". NHL.com. 4 December 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- Frida Söderlund (1 August 2018). "Guldhjälten: "Då hade jag slutat spela"". aftonbladet.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 12 February 2019.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database