Scott Nichol

Scott B. Nichol (born December 31, 1974) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. On June 5, 2013, he announced his retirement to accept a job as the director of player development for the Nashville Predators, where he played from 2005 to 2009. In 2018, he was promoted to the general manager of the Predators' American Hockey League affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals.

Playing career Nichol was drafted in the 11th round, 272nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1993 NHL entry draft.

Nichol has represented the Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, and San Jose Sharks during his NHL career. During the NHL lockout season of 2004–05, Nichol played for the London Racers in the British Elite Ice Hockey League, scoring 28 points in 24 games. In 1996 Nichol won the Calder Cup with the Rochester Americans.

On December 21, 2006, Nichol made headlines when he blindsided Buffalo Sabres defenceman Jaroslav Spacek with a punch to the head, after he thought Spacek made a dirty hit on him. The act earned Nichol a 9-game suspension.

On December 3, 2007, he was suspended for five games for cross-checking Montreal Canadiens forward Patrice Brisebois in the back of the head in a game December 1. Nichol was declared a repeat offender under the terms of the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Nichol signed a one-year deal, US$750,000 deal with the San Jose Sharks on July 15, 2009.

On March 4, 2010, Nichol was injured when Montreal Canadiens forward Maxim Lapierre hit him on a late and dangerous hit, leaving him with an upper body injury for seven days.

On June 20, 2011, Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson announced that Nichol, and teammate Jamal Mayers, would not be resigned for the 2011–12 season. On July 5, 2011, Nichol was signed to a one-year contract with the St. Louis Blues.

Nichol announced his retirement following the lockout shortened 2012–13 season on June 5, 2013. He was appointed the head of player development with former club, the Nashville Predators, a position that had been filled by former Predator and ex-teammate Martin Gelinas. In 2018, he was named the general manager of the Predators' affiliate in the American Hockey League, the Milwaukee Admirals.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1991–92 Calgary Flames AAA AMHL 23 26 16 42 132 — — — — — 1992–93 Portland Winter Hawks WHL 67 33 31 64 146 16 8 8 16 41 1993–94 Portland Winter Hawks WHL 65 40 53 93 144 10 3 8 11 16 1994–95 Rochester Americans AHL 71 11 16 27 136 5 0 3 3 14 1995–96 Rochester Americans AHL 62 14 17 31 170 19 7 6 13 36 1995–96 Buffalo Sabres NHL 2 0 0 0 10 — — — — — 1996–97 Rochester Americans AHL 68 22 21 43 133 10 2 1 3 26 1997–98 Rochester Americans AHL 35 13 7 20 113 — — — — — 1997–98 Buffalo Sabres NHL 3 0 0 0 4 — — — — — 1998–99 Rochester Americans AHL 52 13 20 33 120 — — — — — 1999–00 Rochester Americans AHL 37 7 11 18 141 — — — — — 2000–01 Detroit Vipers IHL 67 7 24 31 198 — — — — — 2001–02 Calgary Flames NHL 60 8 9 17 107 — — — — — 2002–03 Calgary Flames NHL 68 5 5 10 149 — — — — — 2003–04 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 75 7 11 18 145 — — — — — 2004–05 London Racers EIHL 10 1 7 8 70 8 2 7 9 26 2005–06 Nashville Predators NHL 34 3 3 6 79 3 0 0 0 2 2006–07 Nashville Predators NHL 59 7 6 13 79 5 0 0 0 17 2007–08 Nashville Predators NHL 73 10 8 18 72 2 0 0 0 0 2008–09 Nashville Predators NHL 43 4 6 10 41 — — — — — 2009–10 San Jose Sharks NHL 79 4 15 19 72 15 1 1 2 17 2010–11 San Jose Sharks NHL 56 4 3 7 50 15 0 0 0 26 2011–12 St. Louis Blues NHL 80 3 5 8 83 9 0 1 1 14 2012–13 St. Louis Blues NHL 30 1 0 1 25 — — — — — AHL totals 331 83 97 180 831 34 9 10 19 76 NHL totals 662 56 71 127 916 49 1 2 3 76