Gustav Nyquist
Swedish forward who played for six NHL teams.
Gustav Nyquist is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward who is currently an unrestricted free agent. His most recent NHL team was the Winnipeg Jets. Originally selected 121st overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2008 draft, Nyquist has also suited up for the San Jose Sharks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, and Nashville Predators.
Born in Halmstad in southern Sweden, Nyquist moved with his family to Malmö, where he started playing youth hockey with Limhamn Hockey. He later joined the Malmö Redhawks organization and played for their junior teams. After graduating high school with top marks, he moved to Orono, Maine, to attend the University of Maine and play for the Black Bears.
Nyquist played three seasons at Maine, leading the team in scoring each year. He was the NCAA’s regular-season points leader in 2009–10 and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, losing to Wisconsin’s Blake Geoffrion. After his junior season, he signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Red Wings on March 25, 2011.
He made his professional debut that same day with Detroit’s AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, and scored his first AHL goal the following night. His NHL debut came on November 1, 2011, in an overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild, and he netted his first NHL goal on March 26, 2012, against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Nyquist made his playoff debut later that spring after replacing an injured Darren Helm.
In the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, Nyquist posted three goals and three assists in 22 regular-season games for Detroit. During the playoffs, he scored an overtime winner against the Anaheim Ducks and added a goal in the conference semifinals against the Chicago Blackhawks. That same season, he led the Griffins in scoring and helped them win the Calder Cup, earning Detroit’s rookie of the year award.
Before the 2013–14 season, Nyquist signed a two-year, $1.9 million extension. He recorded his first career hat trick on February 2, 2014, in an overtime win over the Washington Capitals. In March, he was named the NHL’s first star of the week and second star of the month, finishing the month with 12 goals and 18 points. He ended the season with a team-leading 28 goals and 20 assists in 57 games, and his six game-winning goals made him the youngest Red Wing to lead the team in that category since Sergei Fedorov.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1989-09-01
- Birth Place
- Halmstad, Sweden
- Height Ft
- 5
- Height In
- 11
- Weight Lb
- 180
- Position
- Forward
- Shoots
- Left
- League
- NHL
- Team
- Free agent
- Former Teams
- Detroit Red Wings / San Jose Sharks / Columbus Blue Jackets / Nashville Predators / Minnesota Wild / Winnipeg Jets
- Ntl Team
- Sweden
- Draft
- 121st overall
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Nyquist was born in Halmstad, Sweden, and later moved to Malmö, where he began playing hockey for Limhamn Hockey before joining the Malmö Redhawks organization. He played three seasons for the University of Maine Black Bears, leading the team in points each season and being named a Hobey Baker Award finalist in 2010. He left college after his junior year to sign with the Detroit Red Wings. Nyquist made his NHL debut on 1 November 2011 and scored his first NHL goal on 26 March 2012 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. During the 2012-13 season, he scored a game-winning overtime goal in the playoffs against the Anaheim Ducks and helped the Grand Rapids Griffins win the Calder Cup. In 2013-14, he led the Red Wings with 28 goals and was named NHL first star of the week in March. Nyquist was traded to the San Jose Sharks in February 2019 and signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets as a free agent on 1 July 2019. He missed the entire 2020-21 season due to shoulder surgery. He was traded to the Minnesota Wild in February 2023, then signed with the Nashville Predators in July 2023, where he posted a career-high 75 points. He was traded back to the Wild in March 2025 and signed with the Winnipeg Jets in July 2025.
Reader's Guide
Gustav Nyquist's career spans over a decade in the NHL, marked by consistent offensive production and playoff contributions. He was a key scorer for the Detroit Red Wings, leading the team in goals during the 2013-14 season and recording a six-game goal streak. His playoff performance included a game-winning overtime goal for Detroit in 2013. After leaving Detroit, Nyquist provided secondary scoring for the San Jose Sharks during their 2019 Western Conference finals run. His tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets was interrupted by a shoulder injury that cost him the entire 2020-21 season. Nyquist rebounded with a career-high 75 points for the Nashville Predators in 2023-24, demonstrating his ability to produce at a high level later in his career. He has represented Sweden internationally, winning a silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2014 IIHF World Championship, and was the leading scorer for Sweden at the 2016 IIHF World Championship with seven goals. Nyquist's longevity and adaptability across multiple teams and systems underscore his value as a reliable forward.
Did You Know?
- He scored his first NHL hat-trick on 2 February 2014 against the Washington Capitals.
- Nyquist was suspended for six games in February 2017 for high-sticking Jared Spurgeon.
- He scored his first goal as a Winnipeg Jet on 5 March 2026 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
More in Columbus Blue Jackets Players 1-24
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