Michael Nylander

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Michael Nylander
Michael Nylander.jpg
Michael Nylander in January 2009
Born (1972-10-03) 3 October 1972 (age 52)
Stockholm, Sweden
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for AIK IF
Hartford Whalers
Calgary Flames
JYP Jyväskylä
HC Lugano
Tampa Bay Lightning
Chicago Blackhawks
Washington Capitals
Boston Bruins
Oulun Kärpät
SKA Saint Petersburg
Ak Bars Kazan
New York Rangers
Jokerit
ZSC Lions
EHC Kloten
HC Bolzano
National teamFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
NHL draft 59th overall, 1991
Hartford Whalers
Playing career 19882015

Michael Gunnar Nylander (born 3 October 1972) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey centre and coach. He played for fifteen seasons in the NHL, and represented the Swedish national team in multiple Olympics and World Championships. [1]

Contents

Playing career

Nylander was drafted by the Hartford Whalers in the third round (59th overall) in the 1991 NHL entry draft. In the NHL, he has played for the Hartford Whalers (1992–1994), Calgary Flames (1994–98), Tampa Bay Lightning (1999), Chicago Blackhawks (1999–2002), Washington Capitals (2002–03), and Boston Bruins (2004), New York Rangers (2005–07), and Washington Capitals (2007–09).

Nylander scored his first career NHL goal against Réjean Lemelin on 27 November 1992 in his 16th game at Boston Garden in a 5–4 Whalers loss. [2] The following season, although he was third in scoring for the Whalers at that time, he was sent down to their AHL affiliate Springfield Indians due to repeated defensive lapses.

Michael Nylander with the New York Rangers (second row, far right) faces off against the Philadelphia Flyers on 4 January 2007 Rangers vs Flyers 2007 1.jpg
Michael Nylander with the New York Rangers (second row, far right) faces off against the Philadelphia Flyers on 4 January 2007

Nylander was signed by the New York Rangers for the 2005–06 season, playing frequently with right-winger Jaromír Jágr. He centered the first line and first power play unit and helped the Rangers reach 100 points for the first time since 1994.

Following their 4–3 overtime victory over the Boston Bruins on 8 April 2006, Nylander was interviewed by NBC's Pierre McGuire. He dropped the word "shit" on live television when speaking about his relationship with Pierre McGuire back in Hartford. Bill Clement mentioned there was no 5-second delay, however Clement and the rest of the NBC crew did issue an immediate apology. Nylander scored the game-winning goal in overtime. The National Hockey League and the Federal Communications Commission never made a decision on this situation.

Prior to the 2007–08 season Nylander's agent had agreed to a contract with the Oilers. While expecting to receive a signed contract, the Oilers instead found out that he had signed with the Washington Capitals. [3]

Nylander tore his rotator cuff during a faceoff against the Florida Panthers on 1 December 2007 and missed the next four games before returning to play the next thirteen games. Eventually, Nylander was forced to have surgery to repair the tear on 16 January 2008, and missed the rest of the 2007–08 season and playoffs. [4]

In the 2008–09 season, still feeling the effects of his torn rotator cuff, Nylander scored only 33 points in 72 games.

The following season the Washington Capitals faced salary cap restraints. Looking to move salary, they attempted to trade Michael Nylander, but found no suitors for his 5 million dollar salary. The Capitals first loaned Nylander to the Detroit Red Wings organization (who then assigned him to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League) and then later to Jokerit of SM-liiga where he finished the 2009–10 hockey season. For the 2010–11 season, Nylander played in the Florida Panthers organization's AHL affiliate in Rochester. His NHL rights remained owned by the Capitals through the end of the season.

On 23 October 2010, Nylander was seriously injured when he was hit from behind by Brendan Smith during the second period of a game between Rochester and the Grand Rapids Griffins. [5] He underwent successful spinal fusion surgery on 26 October 2010 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. Doctors cleared him to play again after six months of recovery. [6] [7]

On 17 August 2011, Nylander signed a tryout contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, joining the team's training camp. He was released on 25 September 2011. [8]

Nylander played for the ZSC Lions in the National League A from October 2011 to December 2011. His contract was not renewed and in January 2012 he signed with the Kloten Flyers. He officially retired from professional hockey in 2015. In 2016, he was an assistant coach with the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League. [9]

International play

Medal record
Representing Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1992 Czechoslovakia
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2006 Latvia
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1993 Germany
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1997 Finland
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2004 Czech Republic
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1999 Norway
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2002 Sweden
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2010 Germany
World Junior Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1992 Germany
European Junior Championship
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1990 Sweden

Nylander represented Sweden a record[ citation needed ] 13 times, including the World Cup and the Winter Olympics. He played for the national squad for nearly twenty years from the 1991 World Juniors to the 2010 World Championship, winning nine medals in the process.

Personal life

Nylander and his wife, Camilla Altelius have five children together: William (born 1996), Alexander (born 1998), Jacqueline (born 2000), Stephanie (born 2003), and Daniella (born 2006). William was drafted in 2014 by the Toronto Maple Leafs as the 8th overall pick, while Alexander was also drafted 8th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2016 NHL entry draft. As of 2025, Alexander plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. Jacqueline is an aspiring professional tennis player, competing in the WTA circuit [10] [11] as well as collegiately at Southern Methodist University. [12]

Nylander has two brothers, Peter [13] and Thommy. [14]

Transactions

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1987–88 RA 73 SWE-2 30000
1988–89 Huddinge IK SWE U20
1989–90 Huddinge IKSWE-23171522453030
1990–91 Huddinge IKSWE-2331420341020000
1991–92 AIK SEL 401117283031454
1992–93 Hartford Whalers NHL 5911223336
1992–93 Springfield Indians AHL 33362
1993–94 Hartford WhalersNHL5811334424
1993–94 Springfield IndiansAHL40990
1993–94 Calgary Flames NHL152911630000
1994–95 JYP SM-l 1611193063
1994–95 Calgary FlamesNHL6011260662
1995–96 Calgary FlamesNHL731338512040000
1996–97 HC Lugano NDA 3612435528838118
1997–98 Calgary FlamesNHL6513233624
1998–99 Calgary FlamesNHL92352
1998–99 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL242796
1999–00 Tampa Bay LightningNHL111234
1999–00 Chicago Blackhawks NHL6623285126
2000–01 Chicago BlackhawksNHL8225396432
2001–02 Chicago BlackhawksNHL821546615050332
2002–03 Chicago BlackhawksNHL90444
2002–03 Washington Capitals NHL711739563663258
2003–04 Washington CapitalsNHL30228
2003–04 Boston Bruins NHL15111121463360
2004–05 Kärpät SM-l235152022
2004–05 SKA Saint Petersburg RSL 82570
2004–05 Ak Bars Kazan RSL50112
2005–06 New York Rangers NHL812356797640110
2006–07 New York RangersNHL79265783421067130
2007–08 Washington CapitalsNHL4011263724
2008–09 Washington CapitalsNHL72924333230002
2009–10 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL242161814
2009–10 Jokerit SM-l143475832130
2010–11 Rochester Americans AHL74268
2011–12 ZSC Lions NLA 1555108
2011–12 Kloten Flyers NLA8055420112
2012–13 HC Vita Hästen SWE-3 10000
2012–13 HC Bolzano ITA 10000
2012–13 Södertälje SK SWE-2 185141941034720
2013–14 Rögle BK SWE-22536922
2013–14 HC Vita HästenSWE-311120
2013–14 AIKSHL80114
2014–15 AIKSWE-2111128
NHL totals9202094706794684712223414

International

YearTeamEvent GPGAPtsPIM
1990 Sweden EJC 62460
1991 Sweden WJC 765118
1992 SwedenWJC789176
1992 Sweden WC 80110
1993 SwedenWC71784
1996 Sweden WCH 42130
1996 SwedenWC32350
1997 SwedenWC1165116
1998 Sweden OG 40006
1999 SwedenWC102468
2000 SwedenWC71566
2002 SwedenOG41230
2002 SwedenWC81670
2004 SwedenWC72468
2006 SwedenWC61894
2010 SwedenWC81234
Junior totals2016183414
Senior totals8720486846

Awards

Records

References

  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Michael Nylander Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  2. "Hartford Whalers at Boston Bruins Box Score — November 27, 1992". hockey-reference.com.
  3. "Oilers cry foul over Nylander signing". CBC Sports . 3 January 2007.
  4. El-Bashir, Tarik (16 January 2008). "Shoulder to Sideline Nylander 3-6 Months". The Washington Post . Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  5. Wyshynski, Greg (25 October 2010). "Nylander breaks neck in AHL; coach wonders if his career is done". Yahoo Sports . Archived from the original on 27 October 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
  6. Oklobzija, Kevin (26 October 2010). "Rochester Amerks' Michael Nylander has successful surgery". Democrat and Chronicle . Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  7. Oklobzija, Kevin (25 October 2010). "Rochester Amerks' Michael Nylander out for season". Democrat and Chronicle . Retrieved 25 October 2010.
  8. Burnside, Scott (17 August 2011). "Flyers invite Michael Nylander to camp". ESPN . Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  9. Mahiban, Dhiren (9 April 2016). "A Hockey Bond for Father, Sons and Honorary Cousin". The New York Times . Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  10. Zeisberger, Mike (24 December 2016). "'He's always there for us': Sports a family affair for Michael Nylander and his hockey- and tennis-playing children". National Post . Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  11. "Jacquline Nylander Altelius". Women's Tennis Association . Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  12. "2020-21 Women's Tennis Roster: Jackie Nylander". Southern Methodist University . Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  13. "Peter Nylander - Elite Prospects".
  14. "Thommy Nylander - Elite Prospects".
  15. "MICHAEL NYLANDER JOINS G.R. FOR CONDITIONING". Grand Rapids Griffins. 21 October 2009. Archived from the original on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2009.