Kent Nilsson

[Eye of Ra]

Do you guys remember Kent Nilsson?

What can you tell me about him?

Is he considered one of the best Flames player ever?

How would you describe his playing style?

Click to read more...

 

[Lunatik]

One of the most skilled Flames ever is a certainty, he was so good with the puck they called him the magic man. But like all magicians he would pull disappearing acts.

 

[NickyFotiu]

He was a great player. He was entertaining to watch as well. I always kept an eye on him because he shared a last name with one of my favorite players of all time Ulf Nilsson. Ulf had a bright Rangers future before injuries took a major toll on him.

 

[Ace Rimmer]

I've had the privilege of watching him play live.

He was incredible at finding open ice, avoiding physical contact, and had a hell of a wrist shot.

[nhl]191894[/nhl]

Actually after watching the video, he's almost kind of like a taller Gaudreau.

He was the original whipping boy of the Flames fan base too, I recall several times he was booed off the ice.

 

[NickyFotiu]

That was a cool clip. He was such a smooth player. The older technology of the video back then does not do justice to this guys speed.

 

[SaintMorose]

He was easily the most skilled player on the team, but wasn't the best player so frustrating for many fans.

 

[Kranix]

Traded for the "Joe Who?" draft pick. When he played for the Oilers, I think Wayne said he was perhaps the most talented player in the world.

 

[Anglesmith]

Traded for the "Joe Who?" draft pick. When he played for the Oilers, I think Wayne said he was perhaps the most talented player in the world.

Yeah, that sounds like Wayne alright.

 

[SKRusty]

Kent Nilsson was likely the most talented offensive player Calgary ever had. He was like a Euro version of Dennis Savard.

His acceleration was for the most part unrivaled among his peers. He and Hakan Loob electrified in Calgary. These 2 players were the main reason Calgary gave Edmonton fits back in the mid '80s.

 

[tfong]

I consider him the most skilled Flame of all time.

 

[Straight Fire]

Traded for the "Joe Who?" draft pick. When he played for the Oilers, I think Wayne said he was perhaps the most talented player in the world.

Yeah it was something along the lines of someone saying that Wayne was the best in the world and Wayne saying nope, Kent Nilsson is.

Anyway, for me he's top 5 most-skilled Flame of all time. Probably Miikka Kiprusoff then Niewendyk then Nilsson then Iginla then Gaudreau (Johnny could surpass them all by the end IMO) . . . Probably Fleury after that, then MacInnis, then Lanny, then Gilmour, then Roberts.

Hons: Makarov, Mullen, Quinn, Housley, Regehr, McCoun, Hull (doesn't really count because only played 59 games including playoffs). I'm probably forgetting one or two as well.

 

[FLAMESFAN]

I remember announcers saying that he had the best lateral movement in the league.
I also remember him disappearing in the playoffs.

 

[DFF]

Yeah it was something along the lines of someone saying that Wayne was the best in the world and Wayne saying nope, Kent Nilsson is.

Anyway, for me he's top 5 most-skilled Flame of all time. Probably Miikka Kiprusoff then Niewendyk then Nilsson then Iginla then Gaudreau (Johnny could surpass them all by the end IMO) . . . Probably Fleury after that, then MacInnis, then Lanny, then Gilmour, then Roberts.

Hons: Makarov, Mullen, Quinn, Housley, Regehr, McCoun, Hull (doesn't really count because only played 59 games including playoffs). I'm probably forgetting one or two as well.

If we are talking about pure skills it's Makarov then Nilsson. Nobody is even close.

If we are talking about goal scoring then Nieuwendyk and Iginla are also in the conversation.


But Makarov was already passed his prime when he joined the Flames

 

[Johnny Hoxville]

I consider him the most skilled Flame of all time.

Over Gaudreau and Fleury?

 

[DFF]

Over Gaudreau and Fleury?

Yes, easily

 

[Johnny Hoxville]

Sure, but he's not better than Makarov.

 

[Straight Fire]

If we are talking about pure skills it's Makarov then Nilsson. Nobody is even close.

If we are talking about goal scoring then Nieuwendyk and Iginla are also in the conversation.


But Makarov was already passed his prime when he joined the Flames

That's a really strong statement. I watched Makarov all those years and I know Roberts attributes his 50 to him. But I was never THAT impressed by him. It's why I didn't have Hull higher because I was only talking about his time in Calgary.

And I don't consider him to be above Nilsson skill-wise and not above Gaudreau either. I truly think Gaudreau could be the most skilled ever. I think he could be challenging for a scoring title in the next year or two.

But I can accept an argument for top 5. Or more easily top 10.

 

[Straight Fire]

Yes, easily

Too much easily.

 

[DFF]

That's a really strong statement. I watched Makarov all those years and I know Roberts attributes his 50 to him. But I was never THAT impressed by him. It's why I didn't have Hull higher because I was only talking about his time in Calgary.

And I don't consider him to be above Nilsson skill-wise and not above Gaudreau either. I truly think Gaudreau could be the most skilled ever. I think he could be challenging for a scoring title in the next year or two.

But I can accept an argument for top 5. Or more easily top 10.

Makarov was already 31 when he joined the Flames.
I do not considered Hull a Flames.

 

[SKRusty]

That's a really strong statement. I watched Makarov all those years and I know Roberts attributes his 50 to him. But I was never THAT impressed by him. It's why I didn't have Hull higher because I was only talking about his time in Calgary.

And I don't consider him to be above Nilsson skill-wise and not above Gaudreau either. I truly think Gaudreau could be the most skilled ever. I think he could be challenging for a scoring title in the next year or two.

But I can accept an argument for top 5. Or more easily top 10.

Gaudreau is a very good young player. Offensively he is very skilled defensively it is always going to be a struggle for him. He will never match Iggy in terms of skill and ability.

In terms of skill that has been seen in Calgary you are looking at a handful of players.

Top 3 Since they are different positions and eras one can't say who is better but here you go.

Iggy- Bar none likely the most talented winger of his generation. Never had a true #1 center to play with. Look what happened when he played with Sakic or Crosby.

Kent Nilsson - For Wayne to compliment a player in such regard you know he is special.

Al MacInnis - Madly skilled defenseman. Every NHL player was scared of his shot. 3rd all time on points by defensemen.

Honorable mentions:

Haken Loob - Crazy mad skills. This is the potential Johnny can turn into. One of the most celebrated scorers of his time. Often is forgotten in that he only played 6 seasons in Calgary because home and family meant that much to him. He is a hero back home.

Joey Mullen - Best American ever until Roenick finished his career.

Theo Fleury - Might have been able to crack the top 3 but his demons tarnished what could have been.

Lanny McDonald - Great leader. Clutch scorer.

 

[Straight Fire]

Gaudreau is a very good young player. Offensively he is very skilled defensively it is always going to be a struggle for him. He will never match Iggy in terms of skill and ability.

In terms of skill that has been seen in Calgary you are looking at a handful of players.

Top 3 Since they are different positions and eras one can't say who is better but here you go.

Iggy- Bar none likely the most talented winger of his generation. Never had a true #1 center to play with. Look what happened when he played with Sakic or Crosby.

Kent Nilsson - For Wayne to compliment a player in such regard you know he is special.

Al MacInnis - Madly skilled defenseman. Every NHL player was scared of his shot. 3rd all time on points by defensemen.

Honorable mentions:

Haken Loob - Crazy mad skills. This is the potential Johnny can turn into. One of the most celebrated scorers of his time. Often is forgotten in that he only played 6 seasons in Calgary because home and family meant that much to him. He is a hero back home.

Joey Mullen - Best American ever until Roenick finished his career.

Theo Fleury - Might have been able to crack the top 3 but his demons tarnished what could have been.

Lanny McDonald - Great leader. Clutch scorer.

Good call on Loob. Definitely one of the greats. Such a shame I forgo to mention him.

I still think Gaudreau has a hiring ceiling potential. And I don't think he's too bad defensively (even Hartley praised him for it quite regularly along with commentators like Hrudey). He was 3rd on the team in +/- for players with 75 or more games. His last 5 years in Calgary Iginla was a negative or zero in that stat.

 

[FLAMESFAN]

I think we're going way off topic here. When we're talking about Nilsson being the most skilled Flame of all time, we're talking about his abilities with the puck. Truly only Gaudreau, Makarov & Fleury come close to Nilsson in that regard.

MacInnis, Macdonald, Nieuwy, even Iggy do not belong in this discussion.

 

[Rangediddy]

[nhl]191894[/nhl]

Man goalies were terrible back then!

Now when you guys say Kent Nilsson is one of the most talented Flames ever... you mean comparatively, right? Like compared to his teammates at the time, he was no doubt the best, not that he'd be better than Iginla or Johnny if we was to be plunked down into today's game... right?

 

[SKRusty]

I think we're going way off topic here. When we're talking about Nilsson being the most skilled Flame of all time, we're talking about his abilities with the puck. Truly only Gaudreau, Makarov & Fleury come close to Nilsson in that regard.

MacInnis, Macdonald, Nieuwy, even Iggy do not belong in this discussion.

MacInnis 3rd highest scoring defensmen ever, and Iggy the 2nd highest scorer of active players don't belong?

I don't think you recognize how those 2 players dominated the league they played in. Iggy will be a first ballot HHOF induction. The scary part is in his prime he never had a true #1 line center.

The 3 players you mention are or were great dangling and may be the best danglers but in terms of all round skill only Iggy and MacInnis are in the same ball park as Nilsson.

Man goalies were terrible back then!

Now when you guys say Kent Nilsson is one of the most talented Flames ever... you mean comparatively, right? Like compared to his teammates at the time, he was no doubt the best, not that he'd be better than Iginla or Johnny if we was to be plunked down into today's game... right?

You can not compare different eras. Their skill is relative to their peers. It would be like taking Guy Lafleur who smoked and plonking him into the league now. Until the 90's there was little in season training and since 2005 we have learned the importance of the off-season.

Kent made splitting d-men look like an art form. His acceleration was way above that of his peers.

 

[Rangediddy]

You can not compare different eras. Their skill is relative to their peers. It would be like taking Guy Lafleur who smoked and plonking him into the league now. Until the 90's there was little in season training and since 2005 we have learned the importance of the off-season.

Kent made splitting d-men look like an art form. His acceleration was way above that of his peers.

That's what I was assuming. I'd be telling anyone who thought otherwise to give their head a shake haha. Man, prime Iginla in the 80's would be the best athlete to ever play a sport ever!!