Frans Nielsen

Frans Nielsen

Nielsen with the New York Islanders in January 2015
Born (1984-04-24) April 24, 1984
Herning, Denmark
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Centre / Left Wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Detroit Red Wings
Malmö Redhawks
Timrå IK
New York Islanders
Lukko
National team  Denmark
NHL Draft 87th overall, 2002
New York Islanders
Playing career 2001–present

Frans Nielsen (born April 24, 1984) is a Danish professional ice hockey player for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He spent the first 10 years of his NHL career playing with the New York Islanders.

He is the first Danish citizen to play in the NHL.[1]

Playing career

Nielsen with the New York Islanders during the 2013 playoffs

Nielsen was drafted by the New York Islanders in the third round, 87th overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. After playing in the Swedish Elitserien since 2001, Nielsen signed a two-year contract with the New York Islanders on May 15, 2006. He has also played for the Danish national team.

With over 216 games in the Elitserien, Nielsen recorded 25 goals and 34 assists for 59 points and 66 penalty minutes.

Nielsen started the 2006–07 AHL season with the Islanders' affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and was recalled to the Islanders on January 5, 2007. He made his NHL debut on January 6. At the time of his recall, he had recorded a point in nine consecutive American Hockey League (AHL) games, which was three games shy of the Sound Tigers' club record.[2]

During the 2010–11 NHL season Nielsen scored a league-leading seven short-handed goals, including two penalty shot goals in three-on-five shorthanded situations. Near the end of the 2010–11 NHL season Islanders' Captain Doug Weight was quoted as saying of Nielsen “He’s our best all-around player even though his stats don’t necessarily show it". On February 7, 2012, Nielsen signed a four-year, $11 million contract with the Islanders.[3]

Nielsen holds the distinction of being the most successful NHL player all-time in shootouts (i.e., scoring percentage among players with a substantial number of shootout attempts). In fact, he scored a goal in a shootout prior to being credited with his first official NHL goal. His signature move in the competition has been dubbed the "Danish Backhand of Judgement", though he has also scored using his forehand. As of March 2013, he has a success rate of 62.5%.[4]

On October 25, 2014, he recorded his first career NHL hat trick against Anders Lindbäck of the Dallas Stars by scoring all three goals in the third period.[5]

On July 1, 2016, Nielsen signed as a free agent to a 6-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings, marking the end of his 10-year tenure with the Islanders.[6]

International play
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing Team Europe
Canada Cup / World Cup
2016 Toronto

Nielsen represented Team Europe at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, where he recorded two assists in six games and won a silver medal.

Career statistics

Nielsen with Lukko in 2012

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2000–01 Herning Blue Fox DEN 38 18 19 37 6 — — — — —
2001–02 Malmö Redhawks SEL 20 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
2002–03 Malmö Redhawks SEL 47 3 6 9 10 — — — — —
2003–04 Malmö Redhawks SEL 50 9 7 16 28 — — — — —
2004–05 Malmö Redhawks SEL 49 8 7 15 6 — — — — —
2005–06 Timrå SEL 50 5 13 18 22 — — — — —
2006–07 New York Islanders NHL 15 1 1 2 0 — — — — —
2006–07 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 54 20 24 44 10 — — — — —
2007–08 New York Islanders NHL 16 2 1 3 0 — — — — —
2007–08 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 48 10 28 38 18 — — — — —
2008–09 New York Islanders NHL 59 9 24 33 18 — — — — —
2009–10 New York Islanders NHL 76 12 26 38 6 — — — — —
2010–11 New York Islanders NHL 71 13 31 44 38 — — — — —
2011–12 New York Islanders NHL 82 17 30 47 6 — — — — —
2012–13 Lukko SM-l 27 4 20 24 10 — — — — —
2012–13 New York Islanders NHL 48 6 23 29 12 6 0 2 2 0
2013–14 New York Islanders NHL 80 25 33 58 8 — — — — —
2014–15 New York Islanders NHL 78 14 29 43 12 7 1 1 2 0
2015–16 New York Islanders NHL 81 20 32 52 12 11 3 3 6 2
NHL totals 606 119 230 349 112 24 4 6 10 2
SHL totals 216 25 34 59 66 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2016 Team Europe WCH 2nd 6 0 2 2 0
Senior totals 6 0 2 2 0

References

  1. ↑ Grossman, Evan (2007). "When it comes to hockey, it's a small world". NHL.com. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  2. ↑ "FRANS NIELSEN RECALLED BY ISLANDERS - Set to become first Daniard player to appear in an NHL game". Brideport Sound Tigers. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  3. ↑ "Nielsen, Islanders agree on four-year extension". Edmonton Journal. 2012-02-07. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  4. ↑ "Shootout career totals". National Hockey League. 2015-06-04. Retrieved 2015-06-04.
  5. ↑ "Nielsen scores three in third to lift Islanders past Stars". Islanders.com. October 25, 2014. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  6. ↑ Wakiji, Dana (2016-07-01). "Nielsen, Wings agree to contract terms". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved 2016-07-01.
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