After the conclusion of the IIHF World Championship this month, former Islanders forward and Danish hockey icon Frans Nielsen will retire.

Nielsen, 38, spent 15 seasons in the NHL with the Islanders and Detroit Red Wings from 2007-2021. This season, he returned to Europe complete his career. After Eisbaren Berlin won the DEL championship, Nielsen announced his upcoming departure.

“This is my last season, and I have always thought that it has been great to be with the national team, so it could be great to end my career in that jersey,” he said. While Nielsen’s career may be coming to a close, he leaves behind a strong and historic legacy.

The Islanders drafted Nielsen in the third round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft with the 87th overall pick. Afterward, Nielsen split time between Swedish leagues and the Danish National Team, consistently appearing in World Junior and World Championship tournaments. After a few more years in Europe, he signed his Entry Level contract in 2006 and joined the organization. After spending time with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, he joined the big club and made his NHL debut on Jan. 6, 2007, against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He had a two-game stint in the NHL before returning to Bridgeport, but his second appearance yielded greater success. He hit the back of the net for the first time on Feb. 22, 2007, in a shootout against the Maple Leafs, one of the many shootout goals he scored in his career. His first two NHL points came two days later against the Canadiens. Those would be the only points he recorded that season, and 2007-08 saw him move up and down between Long Island and Bridgeport. However, he developed his game in the AHL, recording 44 and 38 points in his two minor league seasons.

In his first full NHL season in 2008-09, Nielsen tallied nine goals and 24 assists for 33 points in 59 games, and he stuck with the Islanders for the full season. His development was a bright spot for what was a nightmare season for the club, and his playing time and production continued to grow from there. He played in 76 games the following season, tallying 12 goals and 26 assists for 38 points. As he continued to develop, he helped the Islanders return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2013, notching 29 points in the lockout-shortened year.

However, at the same time, Nielsen was also developing as a respected leader and all-around player. He became a quality defender down the middle, earning time on the penalty kill and playing key minutes late to go along with his offense. As a result of his play, he became an alternate captain in 2013, and it sparked some of the best years of his career. In 2013-14, Nielsen enjoyed a career year with 25 goals and 58 points in 80 games, a bright spot in what was a bad year for the club.

Over the next two years, Nielsen continued to be a core contributor on playoff teams. In 2014-15 he posted 14 goals and 29 assists for 43 points, even notching his first career hat trick on Oct. 25th, 2014, against the Dallas Stars. After the Islanders moved to Barclays Center for the 2015-16 campaign, Nielsen saved his best for his last season with the club. He scored 20 goals and 32 assists for 52 points in 81 games. Also, he was a key reason for the Islanders’ first playoff series win since 1993, scoring three goals in the team’s first round series with the Panthers.

However, Nielsen was an unrestricted free agent that summer, and it was uncertain whether or not he was coming back. Despite the Islanders’ best efforts to keep him around, he left on July 1st for the Detroit Red Wings. Despite struggling in his first season in the Motor City, he managed to earn his first All-Star nomination in 2017, joining Kyle Okposo and John Tavares in Los Angeles for the festivities. That season, he totaled 17 goals and 24 assists for 41 points, but his defense took a step back with a career low -19 ranking. After a few more seasons of decline in Detroit, the team bought out the final years of his contract.

Other highlights from Nielsen’s career include being an alternate captain for Team Europe at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, helping them to a surprise run to the Finals against Canada. He also made eight IIHF World Championship appearances from 2003-2021 for Denmark, and he beared the Danish flag at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. In October, he signed a one year deal with Eisbären Berlin of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) and made good on his venture. In 33 games in Germany, he notched 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points, along with four goals in 12 playoff games en route to a league championship.

All told, Nielsen’s hockey career was nothing short of historic. He was a trailblazer for Danish hockey, becoming the first citizen to ever play in the NHL.

For the Islanders, he was a loyal player for sticking through the dark ages of the late 2000’s and early 2010’s. Also, he is one of the better players the Islanders have had in the post-dynasty days, and the numbers back it up. In 606 games across 10 seasons with the Islanders, he notched 119 goals and 230 assists for 349 points, providing quality offense and strong defense to the team for many years. However, let’s not forget the countless shootout moments he provided, as he came up with big goals in those situations as well. With his backhand, top shelf shot, his 49 shootout goals were the most all time before this season.

With his strong play and historic background, one thing is for certain: Frans Nielsen is an icon for Danish hockey and a representative for what it means to be an Islander.

Matthew Page

I am a first year student at Hofstra University and an avid Islanders fan. I have been writing for Drive4Five since March 2020. My family has been season ticket holders for the team since 2016, and hockey is my favorite sport. As I expand my knowledge in the field of Journalism, I am writing to express my love for the Islanders and the NHL.