On a team with players such as superstar John Tavares and perennial 30 goal scorer Matt Moulson, its easy to forget about a player like Frans Nielsen. At 28-years old the Danish born staker has never led the team in scoring or made an all-star team. However, after Moulson and Tavares, Nielsen may be the the Islanders’ most important player and the team’s unsung hero on many nights.
Taken in the 3rd round (87th overall) by the Islanders in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Nielsen has been an exceptional center for the club on both offense and defense. Not known for his scoring abilities, Nielsen has managed to finish in the top six of team scoring every season since 2008. Nielsen’s point totals have been steadily rising since the 2008-2009 season, peaking last season when he achieved a career high in points, compiling 47 points (17G 30A) and playing in all 82 of the team’s games.
A jack of all trades, Nielsen’s abilities are not only limited to 5 on 5 play, but also on special teams. Along with Michael Grabner, Nielsen has become a deadly weapon on the Islanders’ penalty kill as he is able to use his creative defense to create short handed scoring chances for himself and others. During the 2010-2011 season, Nielsen was able to compile 8 points (7G 1A) while shorthanded, the most in the entire NHL. Let that sink in for a moment – in a league filled with superstars, Frans Nielsen was able to lead the entire league in an offensive category.
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