| Michael Nylander | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Michael Nylander in January 2009 | |||
| Born | (1972-10-03)3 October 1972 (age 53) 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 team |  Sweden | ||
| NHL draft | 59th overall,1991 Hartford Whalers | ||
| Playing career | 1988–2015 | ||
Michael Gunnar Nylander (born 3 October 1972) is a Swedish former professionalice hockeycentre and coach. He played for fifteen seasons in the NHL, and represented theSwedish national team in multiple Olympics and World Championships.[1]
Nylander was drafted by theHartford Whalers in the third round (59th overall) in the1991 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), andBoston Bruins (2004),New York Rangers (2005–07), and Washington Capitals (2007–09).
Nylander scored his first career NHL goal againstRéjean 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 theirAHL affiliateSpringfield Indians due to repeated defensive lapses.
Nylander was signed by theNew York Rangers for the 2005–06 season, playing frequently with right-wingerJaromír Jágr. He centered the first line and firstpower play unit and helped the Rangers reach 100 points for the first time since 1994.
Following their 4–3 overtime victory over theBoston Bruins on 8 April 2006, Nylander was interviewed byNBC'sPierre 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. TheNational Hockey League and theFederal Communications Commission never made a decision on this situation.
Prior to the2007–08 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 theWashington Capitals.[3]
Nylandertore his rotator cuff during afaceoff against theFlorida 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 the2007–08 season and playoffs.[4]
In the 2008–09 season, still feeling the effects of historn rotator cuff, Nylander scored only 33 points in 72 games.
The following season theWashington 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 theDetroit Red Wings organization (who then assigned him to theGrand Rapids Griffins of theAmerican Hockey League) and then later toJokerit ofSM-liiga where he finished the 2009–10 hockey season. For the 2010–11 season, Nylander played in theFlorida Panthers organization's AHL affiliate inRochester. 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 byBrendan Smith during the second period of a game between Rochester and theGrand Rapids Griffins.[5] He underwent successfulspinal fusion surgery on 26 October 2010 atStrong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. Doctors cleared him to play again after six months of recovery.[6][7]
On 17 August 2011, Nylander signed atryout contract with thePhiladelphia Flyers, joining the team's training camp. He was released on 25 September 2011.[8]
Nylander played for theZSC Lions in theNational League A from October 2011 to December 2011. His contract was not renewed and in January 2012 he signed with theKloten Flyers. He officially retired from professional hockey in 2015. In 2016, he was an assistant coach with theMississauga Steelheads of theOntario Hockey League.[9]
Nylander representedSweden a record[citation needed] 13 times, including theWorld Cup and theWinter Olympics. He played for the national squad for nearly twenty years from the1991 World Juniors to the2010 World Championship, winning nine medals in the process.
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 in2014 by theToronto Maple Leafs as the 8th overall pick, while Alexander was also drafted 8th overall by theBuffalo Sabres in the 2016 NHL entry draft. As of 2025, Alexander plays for theToronto Maple Leafs organization. Jacqueline is an aspiring professional tennis player, competing in theWTA circuit[10][11] as well as collegiately atSouthern Methodist University.[12]
Nylander has two brothers,Peter[13] and Thommy.[14]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1987–88 | RA 73 | SWE-2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | Huddinge IK | SWE U20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | Huddinge IK | SWE-2 | 31 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1990–91 | Huddinge IK | SWE-2 | 33 | 14 | 20 | 34 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1991–92 | AIK | SEL | 40 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 30 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 1992–93 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 59 | 11 | 22 | 33 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Springfield Indians | AHL | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 1993–94 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 58 | 11 | 33 | 44 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | Springfield Indians | AHL | 4 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 15 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1994–95 | JYP | SM-l | 16 | 11 | 19 | 30 | 63 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 1995–96 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 73 | 13 | 38 | 51 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1996–97 | HC Lugano | NDA | 36 | 12 | 43 | 55 | 28 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 8 | ||
| 1997–98 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 65 | 13 | 23 | 36 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 9 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 24 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 66 | 23 | 28 | 51 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 82 | 25 | 39 | 64 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 82 | 15 | 46 | 61 | 50 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2002–03 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 9 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 71 | 17 | 39 | 56 | 36 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | ||
| 2003–04 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 15 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05 | Kärpät | SM-l | 23 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | SKA Saint Petersburg | RSL | 8 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Ak Bars Kazan | RSL | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | New York Rangers | NHL | 81 | 23 | 56 | 79 | 76 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07 | New York Rangers | NHL | 79 | 26 | 57 | 83 | 42 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 0 | ||
| 2007–08 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 40 | 11 | 26 | 37 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 72 | 9 | 24 | 33 | 32 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2009–10 | Grand Rapids Griffins | AHL | 24 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Jokerit | SM-l | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 58 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | ZSC Lions | NLA | 15 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Kloten Flyers | NLA | 8 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2012–13 | HC Vita Hästen | SWE-3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | HC Bolzano | ITA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Södertälje SK | SWE-2 | 18 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 20 | ||
| 2013–14 | Rögle BK | SWE-2 | 25 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | HC Vita Hästen | SWE-3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | AIK | SHL | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | AIK | SWE-2 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 920 | 209 | 470 | 679 | 468 | 47 | 12 | 22 | 34 | 14 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Sweden | EJC | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1991 | Sweden | WJC | 7 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 8 | |
| 1992 | Sweden | WJC | 7 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 6 | |
| 1992 | Sweden | WC | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1993 | Sweden | WC | 7 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 4 | |
| 1996 | Sweden | WCH | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1996 | Sweden | WC | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1997 | Sweden | WC | 11 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 6 | |
| 1998 | Sweden | OG | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| 1999 | Sweden | WC | 10 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | |
| 2000 | Sweden | WC | 7 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | |
| 2002 | Sweden | OG | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2002 | Sweden | WC | 8 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2004 | Sweden | WC | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | |
| 2006 | Sweden | WC | 6 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 4 | |
| 2010 | Sweden | WC | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| Junior totals | 20 | 16 | 18 | 34 | 14 | |||
| Senior totals | 87 | 20 | 48 | 68 | 46 | |||
