Michael Nylander

{{short description|Swedish ice hockey player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | name = Michael Nylander | image = Michael Nylander.jpg | image_size = 230px | caption = Michael Nylander in January 2009 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|10|3|df=y}} | birth_place = Stockholm, Sweden | position = Centre | shoots = Left | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 0 | weight_lb = 194 | 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 | ntl_team = SWE | draft = 59th overall | draft_year = 1991 | draft_team = Hartford Whalers | career_start = 1988 | career_end = 2015 }} '''Michael Gunnar Nylander''' (born 3 October 1972) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey centre and coach. He played for fifteen seasons in the NHL, and represented the Swedish national team in multiple Olympics and World Championships.<ref name="SportsRef">{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ny/michael-nylander-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417205426/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ny/michael-nylander-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 April 2020 |title=Michael Nylander Olympic Results |access-date=26 May 2019}}</ref>

== Playing career == Nylander was drafted by the Hartford Whalers in the third round (59th overall) in the 1991 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), and Boston Bruins (2004), New York Rangers (2005–07), and Washington Capitals (2007–09).

Nylander scored his first career NHL goal against Réjean Lemelin on 27 November 1992 in his 16th game at Boston Garden in a 5–4 Whalers loss.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/199211270BOS.html |publisher=hockey-reference.com| title=Hartford Whalers at Boston Bruins Box Score — November 27, 1992}}</ref> The following season, although he was third in scoring for the Whalers at that time, he was sent down to their AHL affiliate Springfield Indians due to repeated defensive lapses.

[[Image:Rangers vs Flyers 2007 1.jpg|right|thumb|Michael Nylander with the New York Rangers (second row, far right) faces off against the Philadelphia Flyers on 4 January 2007]] Nylander was signed by the New York Rangers for the 2005–06 season, playing frequently with right-winger Jaromír Jágr. He centered the first line and first power play unit and helped the Rangers reach 100 points for the first time since 1994.

Following their 4–3 overtime victory over the Boston Bruins on 8 April 2006, Nylander was interviewed by NBC's Pierre 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. The National Hockey League and the Federal Communications Commission never made a decision on this situation.

Prior to the 2007–08 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 the Washington Capitals.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/oilers-cry-foul-over-nylander-signing-1.66206|title=Oilers cry foul over Nylander signing|work=CBC Sports| date=3 January 2007}}</ref>

Nylander tore his rotator cuff during a faceoff against the Florida 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 the 2007–08 season and playoffs.<ref name="rotator cuff">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/15/AR2008011504015.html|title=Shoulder to Sideline Nylander 3-6 Months|accessdate=27 April 2008|newspaper=The Washington Post|last=El-Bashir|first= Tarik | date=16 January 2008}}</ref>

In the 2008–09 season, still feeling the effects of his torn rotator cuff, Nylander scored only 33 points in 72 games.

The following season the Washington 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 the Detroit Red Wings organization (who then assigned him to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League) and then later to Jokerit of SM-liiga where he finished the 2009–10 hockey season. For the 2010–11 season, Nylander played in the Florida Panthers organization's AHL affiliate in Rochester. 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 by Brendan Smith during the second period of a game between Rochester and the Grand Rapids Griffins.<ref name="Nylander breaks neck in AHL; coach wonders if his career is done">{{Cite news|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Nylander-breaks-neck-in-AHL-coach-wonders-if-hi?urn=nhl-279602|title=Nylander breaks neck in AHL; coach wonders if his career is done|accessdate=25 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027084242/http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Nylander-breaks-neck-in-AHL-coach-wonders-if-hi?urn=nhl-279602|archive-date=27 October 2010|work=Yahoo Sports|date=25 October 2010|first=Greg|last= Wyshynski}}</ref> He underwent successful spinal fusion surgery on 26 October 2010 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. Doctors cleared him to play again after six months of recovery.<ref name="Rochester Amerks’ Michael Nylander has successful surgery">{{Cite news|url=http://rocnow.com/article/amerks-sabres/201010260323|title=Rochester Amerks' Michael Nylander has successful surgery|accessdate=2010-10-26|work=Democrat and Chronicle|date=26 October 2010|first=Kevin |last=Oklobzija}}</ref><ref name="Rochester Amerks' Michael Nylander out for season">{{Cite news|url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=201010250315|title=Rochester Amerks' Michael Nylander out for season|accessdate=25 October 2010|work=Democrat and Chronicle|date=25 October 2010|first=Kevin |last=Oklobzija}}</ref>

On 17 August 2011, Nylander signed a tryout contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, joining the team's training camp. He was released on 25 September 2011.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/6871460/philadelphia-flyers-invite-michael-nylander-camp-tryout |title=Flyers invite Michael Nylander to camp |work=ESPN |first=Scott|last= Burnside |date=17 August 2011 |access-date=17 August 2011}}</ref>

Nylander played for the ZSC Lions in the National League A from October 2011 to December 2011. His contract was not renewed and in January 2012 he signed with the Kloten Flyers. He officially retired from professional hockey in 2015. In 2016, he was an assistant coach with the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League.<ref name="nyt">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/10/sports/hockey/a-hockey-bond-for-father-sons-and-honorary-cousin.html|title=A Hockey Bond for Father, Sons and Honorary Cousin|first=Dhiren |last=Mahiban|work=The New York Times|date=9 April 2016|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref>

==International play== {{MedalTableTop|name = }} {{MedalCountry|{{ih|SWE}}}} {{MedalSport|Ice hockey}} {{MedalCompetition | World Championships}} {{MedalGold |1992 Czechoslovakia |}} {{MedalGold |2006 Latvia |}} {{MedalSilver |1993 Germany |}} {{MedalSilver |1997 Finland |}} {{MedalSilver |2004 Czech Republic |}} {{MedalBronze |1999 Norway |}} {{MedalBronze |2002 Sweden |}} {{MedalBronze |2010 Germany |}} {{MedalCompetition|World Junior Championships}} {{MedalSilver |1992 Germany|}} {{MedalCompetition|European Junior Championship}} {{MedalSilver |1990 Sweden|}} {{MedalBottom}}

Nylander represented Sweden a record{{fact|date=January 2024}} 13 times, including the World Cup and the Winter Olympics. He played for the national squad for nearly twenty years from the 1991 World Juniors to the 2010 World Championship, winning nine medals in the process.

==Personal life== 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 in 2014 by the Toronto Maple Leafs as the 8th overall pick, while Alexander was also drafted 8th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2016 NHL entry draft. As of 2025, Alexander plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. Jacqueline is an aspiring professional tennis player, competing in the WTA circuit<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hes-always-there-for-us-sports-a-family-affair-for-michael-nylander-and-his-hockey-and-tennis-playing-children|title='He's always there for us': Sports a family affair for Michael Nylander and his hockey- and tennis-playing children|date=24 December 2016|access-date=15 August 2020|work=National Post|first=Mike|last= Zeisberger}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wtatennis.com/players/325596/jacquline-nylander-altelius|title=Jacquline Nylander Altelius|publisher=Women's Tennis Association|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref> as well as collegiately at Southern Methodist University.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://smumustangs.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/jackie-nylander/11719|title=2020-21 Women's Tennis Roster: Jackie Nylander|publisher=Southern Methodist University|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref>

Nylander has two brothers, Peter<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=1278 |title = Peter Nylander - Elite Prospects}}</ref> and Thommy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=12084 |title = Thommy Nylander - Elite Prospects}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Regular season and playoffs=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM |- | 1987–88 | RA 73 | SWE-2 | 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1988–89 | Huddinge IK | SWE U20 | — || — || — || — || — | — || — || — || — || — |- | 1989–90 | Huddinge IK | SWE-2 | 31 || 7 || 15 || 22 || 4 | 5 || 3 || 0 || 3 || 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1992–93 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 59 || 11 || 22 || 33 || 36 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 1992–93 | Springfield Indians | AHL | — || — || — || — || — | 3 || 3 || 3 || 6 || 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1993–94 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 58 || 11 || 33 || 44 || 24 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 1993–94 | Springfield Indians | AHL | 4 || 0 || 9 || 9 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1998–99 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 9 || 2 || 3 || 5 || 2 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 1998–99 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 24 || 2 || 7 || 9 || 6 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1999–00 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 11 || 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 1999–00 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 66 || 23 || 28 || 51 || 26 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2004–05 | Kärpät | SM-l | 23 || 5 || 15 || 20 || 22 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2004–05 | SKA Saint Petersburg | RSL | 8 || 2 || 5 || 7 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2012–13 | HC Vita Hästen | SWE-3 | 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2012–13 | HC Bolzano | ITA | 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2013–14 | HC Vita Hästen | SWE-3 | 1 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2013–14 | AIK | SHL | 8 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 4 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2014–15 | AIK | SWE-2 | 11 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 8 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" | NHL totals ! 920 !! 209 !! 470 !! 679 !! 468 ! 47 !! 12 !! 22 !! 34 !! 14 |}

===International=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:50em" |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |   ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 1990 | Sweden | EJC | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1991 | Sweden | WJC | 7 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 8 |- | 1992 | Sweden | WJC | 7 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 6 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1992 | Sweden | WC | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |- | 1993 | Sweden | WC | 7 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 4 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1996 | Sweden | WCH | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |- | 1996 | Sweden | WC | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1997 | Sweden | WC | 11 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 6 |- | 1998 | Sweden | OG | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1999 | Sweden | WC | 10 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 |- | 2000 | Sweden | WC | 7 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2002 | Sweden | OG | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |- | 2002 | Sweden | WC | 8 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2004 | Sweden | WC | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 |- | 2006 | Sweden | WC | 6 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 4 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2010 | Sweden | WC | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" | Junior totals ! 20 ! 16 ! 18 ! 34 ! 14 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" | Senior totals ! 87 ! 20 ! 48 ! 68 ! 46 |}

==Awards== * Silver medal World Junior Championship in 1992. * World Junior Championship's Best Forward in 1992. * Named to the World Junior Championship All-Star Team in 1992. * Elitserien Rookie of the Year in 1992. * Gold medal World Championship in 1992 and 2006. * Silver medal World Championship in 1993, 1997 and 2004. * Named to the World Championship All-Star Team in 1997. * World Championship's Best Forward in 1997. * Bronze medal World Championship in 1999, 2002 and 2010.

==Records== * 1993 World Championship record of most assists

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{icehockeystats|legends=11214}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20051130092903/http://www.nhlpa.com/Content/Feature.asp?contentId=3513 Nylander a Swede Sensation in NY (nhlpa.com)]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nylander, Michael}} Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:AIK IF players Category:Ak Bars Kazan players Category:HC Bozen–Bolzano players Category:Boston Bruins players Category:Calgary Flames players Category:Chicago Blackhawks players Category:EHC Kloten players Category:Grand Rapids Griffins players Category:Hartford Whalers draft picks Category:Hartford Whalers players Category:HC Lugano players Category:HC Vita Hästen players Category:Huddinge IK players Category:Jokerit players Category:JYP Jyväskylä players Category:Ice hockey people from Stockholm Category:Ice hockey players at the 1998 Winter Olympics Category:Ice hockey players at the 2002 Winter Olympics Category:New York Rangers players Category:Olympic ice hockey players for Sweden Category:Ontario Hockey League coaches Category:Oulun Kärpät players Category:Rochester Americans players Category:Rögle BK players Category:SKA Saint Petersburg players Category:Södertälje SK players Category:Springfield Indians players Category:Swedish expatriate ice hockey players in Canada Category:Swedish expatriate ice hockey players in Finland Category:Swedish expatriate ice hockey players in Italy Category:Swedish expatriate ice hockey players in Russia Category:Swedish expatriate ice hockey players in Switzerland Category:Swedish expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Category:Swedish ice hockey centres Category:Tampa Bay Lightning players Category:Washington Capitals players Category:ZSC Lions players