Bernie Nicholls

[Eye of Ra]

I am looking for some opinions of this former player.

His stats when playing for this club looks really good.

Was he as good as his stats suggests? What kind of player was he?

Click to read more...

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

He was LA's version of Brett Hull, a good modern day comparison would be Jeff Carter, but Nicholls wasn't as fast of a skater.

He was a sniper with a very accurate shot and could also get feisty as well. What made him so beloved in LA was that he really enjoyed scoring goals and he showed that with his "pumpernickel" celebration.

Was he as good as his stats suggest? Yes, definitely. Even before he exploded with 70 goals in Gretzky's first season here, Bernie was a very productive, 90+ point producing center. Although they got some great pieces in return for him in Sandstrom and Granato, the Kings dearly missed having a second line center like him behind Gretzky after he was dealt. They were never able to replace him.

After Nicholls was dealt to New York, the Kings had the likes of Todd Elik, Bob Kudelski, Jari Kurri, Jimmy Carson, Shawn McEachern and Dan Quinn all try to fill that spot behind Gretzky, but they just couldn't find a replacement for him.

Here's some video of Bernie that might give you an idea of how beloved he was as a King.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Great story from his time in Edmonton

Would not say he was happy to get out of town

but he got two speeding tickets on the way to the airport

 

[LAKings88]

Loved Bernie. Great scorer and personality.

 

[KingsCourt]

For me...he was my favorite, even when 99 was in LA.

 

[The Butcher]

It seemed like a great when he was hanging around the coaching staff in 2012. I wonder why he was never offered a bigger role.

Love Bernie, one of the all time great Kings.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Great story from his time in Edmonton

Would not say he was happy to get out of town

but he got two speeding tickets on the way to the airport

It seemed like a great when he was hanging around the coaching staff in 2012. I wonder why he was never offered a bigger role.

Love Bernie, one of the all time great Kings.

Yeah, kinda shocked he didn't stick in development at least.

 

[damacles1156]

Bernie Nicholls is quoted as saying " I don't want to be a coach, I just like hanging out with the guys.

A Coach or Development guy, has to actually work folks.

Bernie just wanted to hang out, talk hockey.

Not every former player aspires to be a coach or work in the NHL when retired.

Most guys, enjoy being retired, especially if they have some money still.

 

[Rorschach]

He was LA's version of Brett Hull, a good modern day comparison would be Jeff Carter, but Nicholls wasn't as fast of a skater.

He was a sniper with a very accurate shot and could also get feisty as well. What made him so beloved in LA was that he really enjoyed scoring goals and he showed that with his "pumpernickel" celebration.

Was he as good as his stats suggest? Yes, definitely. Even before he exploded with 70 goals in Gretzky's first season here, Bernie was a very productive, 90+ point producing center. Although they got some great pieces in return for him in Sandstrom and Granato, the Kings dearly missed having a second line center like him behind Gretzky after he was dealt. They were never able to replace him.

After Nicholls was dealt to New York, the Kings had the likes of Todd Elik, Bob Kudelski, Jari Kurri, Jimmy Carson, Shawn McEachern and Dan Quinn all try to fill that spot behind Gretzky, but they just couldn't find a replacement for him.

Here's some video of Bernie that might give you an idea of how beloved he was as a King.

I remember us using Corey Millen to plug the donut hole.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I remember us using Corey Millen to plug the donut hole.

In 92-93 with Gretzky out, Kurri was the top line center between Robitaille and Sandstrom while Millen centered the smurf line between Donnelly and Granato.

It shows how badly the team was hurting for center depth once Nicholls was gone and Carson's second stint didn't work out. I wish they somehow reacquired Bernie instead of him, he was still a very productive center at that point and for a number of seasons afterwards.

 

[TheBannermen]

I never liked the trade that sent him to NYR. Yes, Sandstrom specifically became a terrific winger for Gretzky, but Nicholls was the best player in that deal. I would've loved to see what a core of Gretzky, Kurri, Nicholls, Robitaille, Blake, Coffey and Hrudey could've done in the 93 playoffs. Of course that's all fantasy as Coffey was moved at the deadline and Bernie had been traded two more times by then.