Kent Nilsson

Kent Åke Nilsson (born 31 August 1956) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey centre. He played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Winnipeg Jets, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Atlanta and Calgary Flames, Minnesota North Stars and Edmonton Oilers, as well as teams across various European leagues. During his NHL career he was called "Mr. Magic" and "The Magic Man", referring to his exceptional puck skills. Wayne Gretzky commented on Nilsson's skills saying "Skills-wise he might have been the most skilled hockey player I ever saw in my entire career".

Nilsson was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2006, the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame in 2010, and the Swedish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.

Playing career
Nilsson began his career during the season of 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 World Hockey Association (WHA) beginning in 1977. He scored two consecutive 100-point seasons in the WHA. 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.

Nilsson played with the Flames, wearing 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.

Nilsson holds the NHL record for the quickest goal scored during a season-opening game, at ten seconds in, while playing for the North Stars versus the Quebec Nordiques on October 11, 1986.

World Hockey Association

 * Won Lou Kaplan Trophy (WHA Rookie of the Year) (1978)
 * Won Paul Daneau Trophy (WHA Most Gentlemanly Player) (1979)
 * 1977-78 - WHA - Avco Cup (Winnipeg)
 * 1978-79 - WHA - Avco Cup (Winnipeg)
 * Inaugural member of the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame (2010)

National Hockey League

 * Played in NHL All-Star Game (1980, 1981)
 * 1986–87 – NHL – Stanley Cup (Edmonton)

Sweden and International ice hockey

 * Member of the Swedish World All-Star Team (1985, 1989, 1990)
 * Named Swedish Player of the Year (1989)
 * Inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame (2006)
 * Inducted into the Swedish Hockey Hall of Fame (2012)

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)

Post-playing career
In 2006, he was featured on HCZ, a Swedish reality show as coach for a hockey team of non-athletes. After retiring, he worked as a European scout for the Florida Panthers.

Personal life
Nilsson has been married since 2005 to Swedish golfer Helen Alfredsson. He occasionally caddies for her in professional events. He is also the father of Robert Nilsson, a former Edmonton Oilers player, from an earlier marriage.