Robert Nilsson | |||
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Born |
Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
January 10, 1985 ||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
Position | Centre | ||
Shoots | Left | ||
NLA team Former teams |
ZSC Lions Leksands IF HC Fribourg-Gottéron New York Islanders Edmonton Oilers Salavat Yulaev Ufa Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod |
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National team | Sweden | ||
NHL Draft | 15th overall, 2003 New York Islanders |
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Playing career | 2002–present |
Medal record | ||
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Representing Sweden | ||
Ice hockey | ||
World Championships | ||
2011 Bratislava |
Robert Åke Nilsson (born January 10, 1985) is a Canadian-born Swedish professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing with the ZSC Lions of the National League A (NLA).
Nilsson began his career in the Elitserien with Leksands IF in 2002–03. He recorded 21 points in his rookie season, breaking Markus Näslund's 13-year mark for most points by a 17-year-old in the league. Nilsson was then drafted by the New York Islanders with the 15th overall pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.
He remained in Sweden an additional two seasons, which included a brief, seven-game stint with HC Fribourg-Gottéron of the Swiss Nationalliga A, before joining the Islanders in 2005–06. Nilsson scored his first NHL goal within a month of his debut on October 29, 2005, against the Buffalo Sabres. Nilsson, however, struggled to adjust to the NHL style of play and was sent down to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Islanders' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. After scoring 28 points (8 goals, 20 assists) in 29 games for the Sound Tigers, Nilsson was recalled to finish the year with the Islanders, recording 20 points in 53 total games during his NHL rookie season. At one point, Nilsson played on the top line with team captain Alexei Yashin and close friend Sean Bergenheim.
In 2006–07, Nilsson was sent back to the Sound Tigers to start the season. He remained with the club until February 27, 2007, when he was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers with Ryan O'Marra and the Islanders' 1st round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft for Ryan Smyth. Nilsson transferred AHL teams accordingly and began playing in the Oilers' farm system with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. During a call-up, he scored his first goal as an Oiler on March 15, 2007. He would go on to record a combined 70 points during his next two seasons with the Oilers.