Michael Nylander

Michael Gunnar Nylander (born 3 October 1972) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey centre and coach. He played for fifteen seasons in the NHL, and represented the Swedish national team in multiple Olympics and World Championships.

Playing career Nylander was drafted by the Hartford Whalers in the third round (59th overall) in the 1991 NHL entry draft. In the NHL, he has played for the Hartford Whalers (1992–1994), Calgary Flames (1994–98), Tampa Bay Lightning (1999), Chicago Blackhawks (1999–2002), Washington Capitals (2002–03), and Boston Bruins (2004), New York Rangers (2005–07), and Washington Capitals (2007–09).

Nylander scored his first career NHL goal against Réjean Lemelin on 27 November 1992 in his 16th game at Boston Garden in a 5–4 Whalers loss. The following season, although he was third in scoring for the Whalers at that time, he was sent down to their AHL affiliate Springfield Indians due to repeated defensive lapses.

Nylander was signed by the New York Rangers for the 2005–06 season, playing frequently with right-winger Jaromír Jágr. He centered the first line and first power play unit and helped the Rangers reach 100 points for the first time since 1994.

Following their 4–3 overtime victory over the Boston Bruins on 8 April 2006, Nylander was interviewed by NBC's Pierre McGuire. He dropped the word "shit" on live television when speaking about his relationship with Pierre McGuire back in Hartford. Bill Clement mentioned there was no 5-second delay, however Clement and the rest of the NBC crew did issue an immediate apology. Nylander scored the game-winning goal in overtime. The National Hockey League and the Federal Communications Commission never made a decision on this situation.

Prior to the 2007–08 season Nylander's agent had agreed to a contract with the Oilers. While expecting to receive a signed contract, the Oilers instead found out that he had signed with the Washington Capitals.

Nylander tore his rotator cuff during a faceoff against the Florida Panthers on 1 December 2007 and missed the next four games before returning to play the next thirteen games. Eventually, Nylander was forced to have surgery to repair the tear on 16 January 2008, and missed the rest of the 2007–08 season and playoffs.

In the 2008–09 season, still feeling the effects of his torn rotator cuff, Nylander scored only 33 points in 72 games.

The following season the Washington Capitals faced salary cap restraints. Looking to move salary, they attempted to trade Michael Nylander, but found no suitors for his 5 million dollar salary. The Capitals first loaned Nylander to the Detroit Red Wings organization (who then assigned him to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League) and then later to Jokerit of SM-liiga where he finished the 2009–10 hockey season. For the 2010–11 season, Nylander played in the Florida Panthers organization's AHL affiliate in Rochester. His NHL rights remained owned by the Capitals through the end of the season.

On 23 October 2010, Nylander was seriously injured when he was hit from behind by Brendan Smith during the second period of a game between Rochester and the Grand Rapids Griffins. He underwent successful spinal fusion surgery on 26 October 2010 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. Doctors cleared him to play again after six months of recovery.

On 17 August 2011, Nylander signed a tryout contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, joining the team's training camp. He was released on 25 September 2011.

Nylander played for the ZSC Lions in the National League A from October 2011 to December 2011. His contract was not renewed and in January 2012 he signed with the Kloten Flyers. He officially retired from professional hockey in 2015. In 2016, he was an assistant coach with the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League.

International play

Nylander represented Sweden a record 13 times, including the World Cup and the Winter Olympics. He played for the national squad for nearly twenty years from the 1991 World Juniors to the 2010 World Championship, winning nine medals in the process.

Personal life Nylander and his wife, Camilla Altelius have five children together:William (born 1996), Alexander (born 1998), Jacqueline (born 2000), Stephanie (born 2003), and Daniella (born 2006). William was drafted in 2014 by the Toronto Maple Leafs as the 8th overall pick, while Alexander was also drafted 8th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2016 NHL entry draft. As of 2025, Alexander plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. Jacqueline is an aspiring professional tennis player, competing in the WTA circuit as well as collegiately at Southern Methodist University.

Nylander has two brothers, Peter and Thommy.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1987–88 RA 73 SWE-2 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1988–89 Huddinge IK SWE U20 — — — — — — — — — — 1989–90 Huddinge IK SWE-2 31 7 15 22 4 5 3 0 3 0 1990–91 Huddinge IK SWE-2 33 14 20 34 10 2 0 0 0 0 1991–92 AIK SEL 40 11 17 28 30 3 1 4 5 4 1992–93 Hartford Whalers NHL 59 11 22 33 36 — — — — — 1992–93 Springfield Indians AHL — — — — — 3 3 3 6 2 1993–94 Hartford Whalers NHL 58 11 33 44 24 — — — — — 1993–94 Springfield Indians AHL 4 0 9 9 0 — — — — — 1993–94 Calgary Flames NHL 15 2 9 11 6 3 0 0 0 0 1994–95 JYP SM-l 16 11 19 30 63 — — — — — 1994–95 Calgary Flames NHL 6 0 1 1 2 6 0 6 6 2 1995–96 Calgary Flames NHL 73 13 38 51 20 4 0 0 0 0 1996–97 HC Lugano NDA 36 12 43 55 28 8 3 8 11 8 1997–98 Calgary Flames NHL 65 13 23 36 24 — — — — — 1998–99 Calgary Flames NHL 9 2 3 5 2 — — — — — 1998–99 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 24 2 7 9 6 — — — — — 1999–00 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 11 1 2 3 4 — — — — — 1999–00 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 66 23 28 51 26 — — — — — 2000–01 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 82 25 39 64 32 — — — — — 2001–02 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 82 15 46 61 50 5 0 3 3 2 2002–03 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 9 0 4 4 4 — — — — — 2002–03 Washington Capitals NHL 71 17 39 56 36 6 3 2 5 8 2003–04 Washington Capitals NHL 3 0 2 2 8 — — — — — 2003–04 Boston Bruins NHL 15 1 11 12 14 6 3 3 6 0 2004–05 Kärpät SM-l 23 5 15 20 22 — — — — — 2004–05 SKA Saint Petersburg RSL 8 2 5 7 0 — — — — — 2004–05 Ak Bars Kazan RSL 5 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 2005–06 New York Rangers NHL 81 23 56 79 76 4 0 1 1 0 2006–07 New York Rangers NHL 79 26 57 83 42 10 6 7 13 0 2007–08 Washington Capitals NHL 40 11 26 37 24 — — — — — 2008–09 Washington Capitals NHL 72 9 24 33 32 3 0 0 0 2 2009–10 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 24 2 16 18 14 — — — — — 2009–10 Jokerit SM-l 14 3 4 7 58 3 2 1 3 0 2010–11 Rochester Americans AHL 7 4 2 6 8 — — — — — 2011–12 ZSC Lions NLA 15 5 5 10 8 — — — — — 2011–12 Kloten Flyers NLA 8 0 5 5 4 2 0 1 1 2 2012–13 HC Vita Hästen SWE-3 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2012–13 HC Bolzano ITA 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2012–13 Södertälje SK SWE-2 18 5 14 19 4 10 3 4 7 20 2013–14 Rögle BK SWE-2 25 3 6 9 22 — — — — — 2013–14 HC Vita Hästen SWE-3 1 1 1 2 0 — — — — — 2013–14 AIK SHL 8 0 1 1 4 — — — — — 2014–15 AIK SWE-2 11 1 1 2 8 — — — — — NHL totals 920 209 470 679 468 47 12 22 34 14

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1990 Sweden EJC 6 2 4 6 0 1991 Sweden WJC 7 6 5 11 8 1992 Sweden WJC 7 8 9 17 6 1992 Sweden WC 8 0 1 1 0 1993 Sweden WC 7 1 7 8 4 1996 Sweden WCH 4 2 1 3 0 1996 Sweden WC 3 2 3 5 0 1997 Sweden WC 11 6 5 11 6 1998 Sweden OG 4 0 0 0 6 1999 Sweden WC 10 2 4 6 8 2000 Sweden WC 7 1 5 6 6 2002 Sweden OG 4 1 2 3 0 2002 Sweden WC 8 1 6 7 0 2004 Sweden WC 7 2 4 6 8 2006 Sweden WC 6 1 8 9 4 2010 Sweden WC 8 1 2 3 4 Junior totals 20 16 18 34 14 Senior totals 87 20 48 68 46

Awards Silver medal World Junior Championship in 1992. World Junior Championship's Best Forward in 1992. Named to the World Junior Championship All-Star Team in 1992. Elitserien Rookie of the Year in 1992. Gold medal World Championship in 1992 and 2006. Silver medal World Championship in 1993, 1997 and 2004. Named to the World Championship All-Star Team in 1997. World Championship's Best Forward in 1997. Bronze medal World Championship in 1999, 2002 and 2010.

Records 1993 World Championship record of most assists