Anders Nilsson (ice hockey)

Lore & Background

Nilsson was signed by the New York Islanders to a three-year entry-level contract on 27 April 2011 and initially assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He was recalled after Evgeni Nabokov was injured and made his NHL debut on 19 November 2011 against the Boston Bruins in relief of Rick DiPietro, allowing three goals on 17 shots in a 6–0 loss.

His first start came two days later against the Pittsburgh Penguins. On 4 March 2012, he earned his first NHL victory and shutout in a 1–0 home win against the New Jersey Devils, becoming the first goalie in Islanders history to record a shutout for his first win. In his next start, he nearly shut out the Devils again but allowed two goals in the final two minutes in a 2–1 loss.

In January 2013, Nilsson was diagnosed with an unknown fatigue-inducing illness later determined to be a vitamin B12 deficiency, limiting his action that season. He later played 19 games for the Islanders in 2013–14, compiling an 8–7–2 record.

After signing with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL in May 2014, his NHL rights were traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Nick Leddy. He subsequently played for the Oilers, Blues, Sabres, Canucks, and Senators, and was traded multiple times. While with the Sabres in December 2016, he began wearing a mask with a gay pride flag painted on the back as a sign that ice hockey welcomes diversity.

Reader's Guide

Anders Nilsson's NHL career spanned parts of nine seasons, during which he played for six teams. His most notable achievement with the New York Islanders was becoming the first goaltender in franchise history to record a shutout in his first NHL win, a 1–0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on 4 March 2012. This feat highlighted his potential early in his career. Internationally, he led Sweden to a gold medal at the 2018 IIHF World Championship, adding a significant achievement to his resume.

Off the ice, Nilsson was an open supporter of the LGBTQ+ community; while with the Buffalo Sabres, he became the first NHL goaltender to put a rainbow flag on his mask, drawing praise from the You Can Play campaign. His career was ultimately cut short by post-concussion symptoms and neck problems, leading to his retirement on 8 August 2021 without having played a game for the Tampa Bay Lightning, to whom he had been traded in December 2020. His legacy includes both his on-ice accomplishments and his advocacy for inclusivity in hockey.