243. Ulf Nilsson

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Sweden produces some of the world’s best hockey players but there was a time where it was believed that Scandinavians could not cut the mustard in North America. Ulf Nilsson helped changed that perception.

The Winnipeg Jets of the upstart World Hockey Association signed him and fellow countryman, Anders Hedberg and they would help take the Jets to two Avoc Cup Championships (1976 & 1978) and he was a two time Assists leader in the WHA. The Swedish Centre would never have less than 114 Points a season as a Jet and he was third overall in Points three years in a row (1975-76 to 1977-78). When the league folded he was cemented as the WHA’s all-time leader in Assists per Game with 1.15.

Nilsson (and Hedberg) would sign with the New York Rangers and he was poised to prove his worth in Gotham but a severe ankle injury after being by Denis Potvin reduced his skill set. A second injury to his knee would cause him to miss a full NHL season and his return was short lived.

While Nilsson did not have that long a career his importance to the game of hockey cannot be discounted.

The Bullet Points

Country of Origin: Nynashamn, Sweden
Eligible Since: Wednesday, 01 January 1986
Position: Center
Games Played: 170 (300 WHA)
Notable Statistics:
57 Goals (140 WHA)
112 Assists (344 WHA)
169 Points (484 WHA)
+30 Plus/Minus (+210 WHA)
85 PIM (341 WHA)
N/A Blocked Shots*
N/A Hits*
N/A Takeaways*
N/A Giveaways*
12.9 Point Shares**

25 Playoff Games (42 WHA)
8 Goals (14 WHA)
14 Assists (53 WHA)
22 Points (67 WHA)
+3 Plus/Minus (+25 WHA)
27 PIM (51 WHA)
N/A Blocked Shots*
N/A Hits*
N/A Takeaways*
N/A Giveaways*

*These were not stats when Ftorek played.
**Point Shares were not calculated in the WHA.
Played For: New York Rangers
Non-NHL Teams: Winnipeg Jets (WHA)

Team Sweden (Canada Cup 1976 & 1981; World Hockey Championship 1973 & 1974)
AIK (Swedish League)
Major Accolades and Awards:
Stanley Cup Rings (None)
First Team All-WHA (2) (1976 & 1978)
Second Team All-WHA (1) (1977)
Most Assists (WHA) (2) (1977 & 1978)
Most Assists per Game (WHA) (3) (1976, 1977 & 1978)
WHA Playoff MVP (1) (1978)
Highest Shooting Percentage (1) (1979)
WHA Avco Cup Champion (2) (1976 & 1978)
World Hockey Championship Silver Medal (1) (Sweden, 1973)
World Hockey Championship Bronze Medal (1) (Sweden, 1974)
Notable Top Ten Finishes: 4 Top Ten Assists Finishes (WHA)
4 Top Ten Points Finishes (WHA)
4 Top Ten Plus/Minus Finishes (WHA)
1 Top Ten Power Play Goals Finish (WHA)
1 Top Ten Short-Handed Goals Finish (WHA)
1 Top Ten Shooting Percentage Finish (WHA)
Rankings: None