Robert Nilsson

2001-02: After a very strong 2000-01 season with Leksand in the junior league (42 points in 23 games) he was expected to establish himself with Leksand’s senior team in the 2nd-tier league the following season. However, Robert had some problems adjusting to the game and spent the 2001-02 mostly in the junior league, managing to score 31 points in 22 games that season.

2002-03: Because of his rather poor 2001-02 campaign he started out on the fourth line but Nilsson moved up to the third line and saw more ice time and immediately showed that he was capable of producing offensively. When the regular season was over Nilsson had broken Markus Näslund’s record for points (18 years and under) with 8 goals and 13 assists in 41 games. Those numbers made him also the highest scoring rookie of the year. 

Nilsson was the most hyped prospect of all the 2003 draft eligible Swedes. He received extra attention due to the fact that he is the son of former NHL-star Kent Nilsson, currently a scout for the Edmonton Oilers.  Nilsson was drafted 1st rd, 15th overall by the NY Islanders. 

2005-06: Nilsson recorded 20 points in 53 games as a NHL rookie with the Islanders.  The rest of the season he was on the farm in Bridgeport where he notched 28 points in 29 games.

2006-07: Despite his decent rookie campaign, Nilsson was cut from training camp without even a preseason appearance.  In Bridgeport he led the Tigers in scoring with a point per game pace then was dealt to Edmonton with Ryan O’Marra and a 1st round pick in exchange for Ryan Smyth.  Nilsson played 4 games with the Oilers, scored in his first, then played out the rest of the schedule in Wilkes-Barre. 

2007-08: