"Robert is one of the best players who has ever played in Switzerland. It is such a pity that his career has to end like this," ZSC's team manager Sven Leuenberger states in the club's press release. "For the future, above all, I wish him good health!"
The 34-year-old Swedish-Canadian winger, whose contract was set to expire at season's end, is recovering from a severe concussion sustained in the game against Biel in mid-January almost two years ago. Equipped with a Swiss players' license, Nilsson joined the ZSC Lions from KHL's Novgorod in 2013.
Ever since, the New York Islanders' 2003 first round pick has managed to put up 64 goals and 155 assists in a total of 242 games for the Lions. In 2014, in Game 4 of the playoff final series against Kloten, the native of Calgary scored the winning goal in the shootout to celebrate the club's eighth Championship title in history.
Overseas, Nilsson appeared in 121 AHL games for Bridgeport, Wilkes-Barre as well as Springfield (MA), recording 32 goals and 86 assists. In addition, on NHL level, he suited up in 252 games for the New York Islanders and the Edmonton Oilers, scoring 118 points (37 goals, 81 assists).
( 20 December 2019 | rlu* )
