Tom Nilsson Explained

Tom Nilsson should not be confused with Tom Nielsen.

Tom Nilsson
Team:Frölunda HC
Former Teams:Toronto Marlies
Utica Comets
Djurgårdens IF
Position:Defence
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:176
Shoots:Right
Birth Date:1993 8, mf=yes
Birth Place:Tyresö, Sweden
Draft:100th overall
Draft Team:Toronto Maple Leafs
Draft Year:2011
Career Start:2010

Tom Nilsson (born August 19, 1993) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman, currently playing under contract to Frölunda HC in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Nilsson was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs, 100th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft while playing in the Swedish HockeyAllsvenskan with Mora IK.

Playing career

On March 19, 2013, Nilsson was signed to a three-year entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.[1] He was loaned to further develop in the Swedish Hockey League with Frölunda HC for the 2013–14 season. After his first season in North America with the Maple Leafs AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, Nilsson was traded approaching the final year of his contract, along with four other prospects, to the New York Islanders in exchange for Michael Grabner on September 17, 2015.[2]

On October 8, 2015, after an unsuccessful attempt to make the Islanders roster and little interest in continuing in the AHL, Nilsson was mutually released from contract with the Islanders.[3] He returned to Sweden and re-joined Frölunda HC into the 2015–16 season, on a three-year contract on October 9, 2015.[4]

After his first season in his return with Frölunda HC, in which he won the Swedish championship as well as the Champions Hockey League, Nilsson was again attracted by NHL interest and signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Vancouver Canucks on May 26, 2016.[5] Unable to make the Canucks opening night roster, Nilsson was reassigned to AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets where he played out the duration of his contract for the 2016–17 season.

As an impending restricted free agent, Nilsson opted to return to his homeland in agreeing to a two-year deal with an optional third year with Djurgårdens IF of the SHL on May 2, 2017.[6]

Following Djurgårdens IF relegation to the HockeyAllsvenskan in the 2021–22 season, Nilsson opted to remain in the SHL by originally agreeing to a two-year contract with Örebro HK on 16 April 2022.[7] However, before the commencement of his deal, Nilsson opted to cancel his contract and later returned to Frölunda HC for the 2022–23 season on 18 July 2022.[8]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2009–10Mora IKJ2030000
2010–11Mora IKJ203726826
2010–11Mora IKAllsv30000100118
2011–12Mora IKJ2010022220110
2011–12Mora IKAllsv44461045
2012–13Mora IKJ2030000 23250
2012–13Mora IKAllsv4213418
2013–14Frölunda HCSHL502242270002
2014–15Toronto MarliesAHL441562640002
2015–16Frölunda HCSHL371673471122
2016–17Utica CometsAHL1703310
2017–18Djurgårdens IFSHL18134890006
2018–19Djurgårdens IFSHL48191016140112
2019–20Djurgårdens IFSHL51491318
2020–21Djurgårdens IFSHL461562231012
2021–22Djurgårdens IFSHL2423516
SHL totals274123749136 4022414

International

YearTeamEventResult GPGAPtsPIM
2011SwedenU1860116
2013Sweden WJC60224
Junior totals1203310

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Leafs sign Sparks and Nilsson . . 2013-03-19 . 2013-03-19.
  2. Web site: Islanders acquire five players for Grabner . . 2015-09-17 . 2015-09-17.
  3. Web site: Tom Nilsson clears waivers . . Bob McKenzie . 2015-10-08 . 2015-10-08.
  4. Web site: . Welcome back, Tom . 2015-10-09 . 2015-10-09 . Swedish.
  5. Web site: Canucks sign Tom Nilsson . . 2016-05-26 . 2016-05-26.
  6. Web site: . Djurgardens recruits from North America . 2017-05-02 . 2017-05-02 . Swedish.
  7. Web site: . Welcome Tom Nilsson! . 16 April 2022 . 16 April 2022 . Swedish.
  8. Web site: . #43 is back . 18 July 2022 . 18 July 2022 . Swedish.