Position: Center
Height: 6'0"Weight: 185 lbs
Birthdate: April 24th, 1984 (27 years old)
Birthplace: Herning, Denmark
Acquired: Draft, 3rd round, 87th overall, 2002 NHL Entry Draft
2010-2011 Team: New York Islanders
2010-2011 Stats: 71 GP - 13 G - 31 G - 44 P - 38 PIM
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders
Team Role: Top 2 Center
Last year: After being the team's perennial 3rd line center, Nielsen made his way up to the 2nd line after the poor play of Josh Bailey last year. Nielsen found instant chemistry with linemates Kyle Okposo and Michael Grabner for the 2nd half of the year after Okposo's return, and their line was a nearly unstoppable force, playing magnificently in all 3 zones and being a force both defensively and offensively. Between Nielsen and Grabner, the two of them were able to rack up 13 shorthanded goals, an absolutely unprecedented number. Nielsen's defensive work was as solid as ever and was a total force on the PK with Grabner, as he usually is. Nielsen also broke out offensively a bit as well, proving himself incredibly useful in the shootout as well as compiling an impressive 31 assists.
Expectations: Nielsen should once again improve upon his offensive stats from the season prior, and barring any injuries should return to the same chemistry he had last year with Okposo and Grabner. His ability to find Grabner in the slot and use his speed to create breakaways is something that should not and will not be broken up. We should continue to see Nielsen's two-way abilities showcased, and hopefully this year he will even be nominated for the Selke as he completely deserves to be. It's highly unlikely any chemistry breakup will occur, so everything we saw from last year should be added upon considering all 3 players should start the season healthy at this point.
Projections: 76 GP - 17 G - 40 A - 57 P
Thoughts:
AT: Nielsen continues to be one of the most underrated players in the league, and at this point I think he almost enjoys it. Defenders overlook his sniping abilities and ability to grab the puck off the PK and force it into the back of the net. If Grabner's goal totals from last year are any indication, we're going to see a lot more breakaways that start from the pure hockey sense of Nielsen and his ability to tell where the puck will be following the pass, and where Grabner's speed will put him when the puck touches his stick. Nielsen is the 2nd longest tenured Islander, and it's for a very good reason.
CH: A lot of people, including myself, thought Garth Snow was nuts when he gave Nielsen a four year deal after the 2007-08 season. But clearly Snow's intuition was correct, as Nielsen has fast become one of, if not the most underpaid player in the league. He plays in all situations and against team's top lines. While he is not the biggest player, he uses his size to his advantage and is a lot tougher than he is given credit for. He is a threat on the penalty kill, as his transition speed is second to none (except Michael Grabner) and the two of them make teams change their strategy to become less aggressive on the powerplay. There is no question that he is a very valuable part of the Islanders organization, and his impending free agency is certainly high on Snow's radar. It will certainly be another test for Snow as the Isles must retain Nielsen for the next few years.
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