Kent Nilsson

Kent Nilsson
Position	Centre
Nickname(s)	Kenta Mr. Magic The Magic Man
Height Weight	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 195 lb (89 kg)
Teams	Djurgårdens IF Winnipeg Jets Atlanta Flames Calgary Flames Minnesota North Stars Edmonton Oilers
Nationality	Swedish
Born	(1956-08-31)August 31, 1956, Nynäshamn, SWE
NHL Draft	64th overall, 1976 Atlanta Flames
WHA Draft	11th overall, 1976 Toronto Toros
Pro Career	1976 – 1997

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

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, Atlanta 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 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.

He is currently a scout for the Edmonton Oilers, operating out of Europe. His son, Robert Nilsson, is currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers.

Awards

• Won Lou Kaplan Trophy (WHA Rookie of the Year) (1978).
• Won Paul Daneau Trophy (WHA Most Gentlemanly Player) (1979).
• Played in NHL All-Star Game (1980, 1981).
• Member of the Swedish World All-Star Team (1985, 1989, 1990).
• 1986–87 - NHL - Stanley Cup (Edmonton)
• Named Swedish Player of the Year (1989).
• Inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame (2006).

Records

• Most points scored by a Swedish player in a single NHL season (131 in 1980–81)
• 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 1983–84)

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1976–77	AIK Hockey	SEL		36	30	18	48	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
1988–89	Djurgårdens IF	SEL		35	21	21	42	36		—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	Kloten Flyers	Swiss-A		?	21	19	40	0		—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	Kloten Flyers	Swiss-A		41	40	49	89	0		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Kloten Flyers	Swiss-A		19	11	14	25	10		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Djurgårdens IF	SEL		40	11	20	31	20		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Graz EC	Aust		57	23	52	65	0		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		6	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Stuttgart EC	Ger.2		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				553	264	422	686	116		59	11	41	52	14

International play

• Played for Sweden in the 1973 European Junior Championships.
• Played for Sweden in the 1974 European Junior Championships.
• Played for Sweden in the 1975 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
• Played for Sweden in the 1976 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
• Played for Sweden in the 1981 Canada Cup.
• Played for Sweden in the 1984 Canada Cup.
• Played for Sweden in the 1985 World Ice Hockey Championships.
• Played for Sweden in the 1987 Canada Cup.
• Played for Sweden in the 1989 World Ice Hockey Championships.
• Played for Sweden in the 1990 World Ice Hockey Championships.

International statistics

Year	Team	Event	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1973	Sweden	EJC	5	8	7	15	2
1974	Sweden	EJC	5	5	5	10	0
1975	Sweden	WJC	6	3	3	6	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
International totals			67	39	50	89	28

External links

• Kent Nilsson's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database

Preceded by Bo Berglund

Golden Puck 1989

Succeeded by Rolf Ridderwall

This article is part of the Swedish hockey portal.