Kent Nilsson
| Kent Nilsson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
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 | 1976–1998 | ||
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", referring to Kent's exceptional puck skills. Wayne Gretzky commented on Kent's skills saying "Skills wise he might have been the most skilled hockey player I ever saw in my entire career". 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.
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.
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