Eric Nystrom

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Eric Nystrom

| image = Eric Nystrom 141031.PNG

| image_size = 230px

| alt = Upper body of a hockey player who is wearing a white uniform with "DALLAS 24" on his chest. He is leaning against another player's stick as he anticipates a faceoff.

| caption = Nystrom with the Nashville Predators in 2014

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|2|14}}

| birth_place = Syosset, New York, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 1

| weight_lb = 193

| position = Left wing

| shoots = Left

| played_for = Calgary Flames
Minnesota Wild
Dallas Stars
Stavanger Oilers
Nashville Predators

| ntl_team = USA

| draft = 10th overall

| draft_year = 2002

| draft_team = Calgary Flames

| career_start = 2005

| career_end = 2016

}}

Eric Thore Nystrom (born February 14, 1983) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He was a first round selection of the Calgary Flames, taken 10th overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, and made his NHL debut with Calgary in 2005. Nystrom has also played for the Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators. He played four seasons of college hockey with the Michigan Wolverines before he turned professional. On four occasions, Nystrom has played with the United States national team, most recently at the 2010 World Championship. He is the son of former NHL player Bob Nystrom.

Early life

Nystrom was born and raised in Syosset, New York, where his father, Bob, was an NHL player for the New York Islanders.{{cite news |last=Manley |first=Brendan |url=http://syosset.patch.com/articles/nystrom-just-cant-get-a-decent-bagel-in-minnesota |title=Nystrom just can't get a decent bagel in Minnesota |work=Syosset Patch |date=July 28, 2010 |access-date=March 27, 2012}} Bob, who was himself born in Sweden but grew up in Hinton, Alberta, won four consecutive Stanley Cups between 1980 and 1983.{{cite web |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=13869 |title=Bob Nystrom player profile |publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame |access-date=December 13, 2009}} Bob coached his son during his formative years in hockey. Nystrom is Jewish{{cite journal|title=Professional Hockey Review: 2010–11; National Hockey League|journal=Jewish Sports Review|date=September–October 2011|volume=8|issue=87|pages=7}} as is his mother.{{cite news|url=http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/41080/jews-and-mel-on-the-big-screen-winter-sports-roundup/ |title=Jews (and Mel) on the big screen, Winter sports roundup |newspaper=J |publisher=Jweekly.com |date=January 21, 2010 |access-date=January 7, 2011}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aOTWUl-9LQoC&q=nystrom&pg=PA45 |title=Day by day in Jewish sports history |author=Bob Wechsler|publisher=KTAV Publishing House, Inc.|isbn=978-1-60280-013-7 |year=2008 |access-date=January 30, 2011}} He attended high school at Portledge School in Locust Valley, New York. He has an older sister, Marissa.{{cite news |last=Lapointe |first=Joe |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/22/sports/hockey-another-nystrom-seeks-shot-at-cup.html |title=Another Nystrom seeks shot at Cup |work=New York Times |date=June 22, 2002 |access-date=December 13, 2009}}

Nystrom grew up playing several sports, including soccer and baseball, and only seriously considered a hockey career in his mid-teens.{{cite web |last=Board |first=Mike |url=http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=454058 |title=Nystrom making father proud |publisher=Calgary Flames Hockey Club |date=October 3, 2008 |access-date=December 13, 2009}} He played in the 1997 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the New York Islanders minor ice hockey team.{{cite web|url=https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|title=Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA|year=2018|website=Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament|access-date=2019-02-11|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306085544/https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|url-status=dead}}

While Eric was regarded as an NHL prospect himself, his father encouraged him to seek an education first, which the younger Nystrom did upon earning a scholarship to play for the University of Michigan Wolverines in 2000.{{cite news |last=Allen |first=Kevin |title=Nystrom takes father's game to another level |work=USA Today |date=November 22, 2000 |page=C.04}} He spent four years at Michigan where he earned a degree in liberal arts.

Playing career

=Junior and college=

Nystrom established a hard-working style similar to his father's, which helped earn him an invite to play with the US National Development Program (USDP). He played 55 games for USDP in the North American Hockey League in 1999–2000, scoring seven goals and 23 points.{{cite web |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=20519 |title=Eric Nystrom player profile |publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame |access-date=December 13, 2009}} He split the 2000–01 season with the national under-18 program and the junior team in the United States Hockey League, also representing the United States at the 2001 IIHF World U18 Championships. He later represented the United States at the 2002 and 2003 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.{{cite web |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/120402aaa.html |title=Helminen, Nystrom named to U.S. National Junior Team |publisher=University of Michigan |date=December 4, 2002 |access-date=December 13, 2009}}

He moved onto the University of Michigan, earning a place on the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) All-Rookie team in 2002 after scoring 18 goals and 31 points.{{cite web |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/042602aaa.html |title=Three Wolverines in scouting service's final ranking |publisher=University of Michigan |date=April 26, 2002 |access-date=December 13, 2009}} On the strength of that season, the Calgary Flames selected him with their first pick, 10th overall, at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.{{cite web |last=Lefebvre |first=Jean |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2002/06/23/nystrom_nystrom_slam/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025185514/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2002/06/23/nystrom_nystrom_slam/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |title=Here comes the son |publisher=CNN/SI |date=June 23, 2002 |access-date=December 13, 2009}} Before turning professional, Nystrom completed his final three seasons of college eligibility, finishing with 111 points in 160 career games, and serving as the Wolverines' captain in his senior year of 2004–05.{{Cite book |title=2009–10 Calgary Flames Media Guide |publisher=Calgary Flames Hockey Club |last1=Hanlon |first1=Peter |last2=Kelso |first2=Sean |url=http://flames.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=40390 |format=PDF |year=2009 |page=83}}

=Calgary Flames=

File:Eric Nystrom 2009.png in 2009| alt=A hockey player stands and looks to his right during a pre-game warm up. He is wearing a red uniform with white and yellow bands at the waist and elbows, and a stylized "C" logo on his chest.]]

Upon turning professional in 2005, Nystrom was assigned to the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was recalled by the Flames at the start of the 2005–06 season and made his NHL debut against the Colorado Avalanche on October 10, 2005. He played two games with the Flames before being returned to the AHL to complete the season. Nystrom missed most of the 2006–07 after suffering a tear in his right shoulder during a pre-season game. He attempted to rehab the injury and then play, before opting on surgery. The injury limited Nystrom to just 12 regular season games for Omaha, but he returned in time to play five playoff games for the Knights.{{cite web |last=MacFarlane |first=Steve |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Calgary/2007/09/07/4476970-sun.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717001016/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Calgary/2007/09/07/4476970-sun.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 17, 2012 |title=Nystrom hungry to shoulder the load |work=Calgary Sun |date=September 7, 2007 |access-date=December 13, 2009}}

Nystrom split the 2007–08 season between the Calgary and the Quad City Flames. He appeared in 44 regular season games for Calgary, and scored his first NHL goal on October 30, 2007, against the Nashville Predators. He scored a career-high four points, two goals and two assists, in the Flames final game of the regular season, a 7–1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=280405022 |title=Iginla nets 50th goal of year, two assists as Flames roll in regular season finale |publisher=ESPN |date=April 5, 2008 |access-date=December 13, 2009}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Following the season, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Flames.{{cite web |last=Lefebvre |first=Jean |url=http://www.faceoff.com/hockey/teams/calgary-flames/story.html?id=1611e924-f16f-4bcf-9a05-22e85cbd8761&add_feed_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.canada.com%2Fcalgaryherald%2Fnews%2Fsports%2Fflames%2Ftopstories.atom%3Fviewer%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.faceoff.com%2Fhockey%2Fteams%2Fcalgary-flames%2Fstory.html |title=Nystrom's back and ready for more ice time |work=Calgary Herald |date=June 28, 2008 |access-date=December 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724082418/http://www.faceoff.com/hockey/teams/calgary-flames/story.html?id=1611e924-f16f-4bcf-9a05-22e85cbd8761&add_feed_url=http:%2F%2Fwww.canada.com%2Fcalgaryherald%2Fnews%2Fsports%2Fflames%2Ftopstories.atom%3Fviewer=http:%2F%2Fwww.faceoff.com%2Fhockey%2Fteams%2Fcalgary-flames%2Fstory.html |archive-date=July 24, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

Nystrom played his first full NHL season with the Flames in 2008–09, playing in 76 games and scoring five goals, three of them game-winning. He added a fourth game-winning goal in the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Chicago Blackhawks. He more than doubled his career high in 2009–10, scoring 11 goals despite struggling through a groin injury for a large part of the season. He was invited to play with the American team at the 2010 IIHF World Championships.{{cite news |last=Busby |first=Ian |url=http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hockey/2010/04/14/13586966.html |title=Nystrom not aiming for the Isles |newspaper=Toronto Sun |date=April 14, 2010 |access-date=July 1, 2010}}

=Minnesota and Dallas=

File:Eric Nystrom 2011-11-11.JPG

Nystrom chose to leave Calgary as a free agent, signing a three-year, $4.2 million contract with the Minnesota Wild on July 1, 2010.{{cite web |last=Andreson |first=Glen |url=http://wild.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=533614 |title=Wild signs LW Eric Nystrom |publisher=Minnesota Wild Hockey Club |date=July 1, 2010 |access-date=July 1, 2010}} He scored four goals and eight assists in his first season with the Wild, a season which Nystrom admitted was not good, and "snowballed negatively" for him.{{cite web |last=Hunt |first=Steve |url=http://stars.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=614541 |title=Career High in Goals Just Starting Point for Nystrom |publisher=Dallas Stars Hockey Club |date=January 31, 2012 |access-date=March 23, 2012}} The 2011–12 season posed early challenges for Nystrom. In a pre-season game against the Edmonton Oilers, his attempt to avoid an icing call resulted in his stick getting caught up in the skates of Edmonton's Taylor Fedun, sending the latter player crashing into the boards at high speed. Fedun suffered a broken leg and the play renewed calls for the NHL to move to no-touch icing to avoid similar incidents in the future.{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/7041160/oilers-defenseman-taylor-fedun-taken-ice-stretcher |title=Taylor Fedun breaks leg |publisher=ESPN |date=October 1, 2011 |access-date=March 27, 2012}} He was waived by Minnesota prior to the season's start, but went unclaimed by any other team and was demoted to the AHL's Houston Aeros, with whom he appeared in one game.{{cite news |last=Brehm |first=Mike |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/story/2011-10-12/notes-eric-nystrom-trade/50747782/1 |title=Stars trade for Eric Nystrom |work=USA Today |date=October 12, 2011 |access-date=March 27, 2012}}

On October 12, 2011, the Wild dealt him to the Dallas Stars. Minnesota had to place him through re-entry waivers first, and while Dallas could have claimed him at that point and been responsible for only half of his $1.4 million salary, they took on his full salary via trade so as to meet the league's minimum payroll rules. Dallas general manager Joe Nieuwendyk praised Nystrom as being an effective penalty killer who would add depth to his team.{{cite news |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=377934 |title=Stars acquire forward Nystrom from Wild |publisher=The Sports Network |date=October 12, 2011 |access-date=March 27, 2012}} Though he was anticipated to play in a defensive checking role, Nystrom added an offensive touch for Dallas, scoring 10 goals in his first 21 games with the team.{{cite news |last=Staple |first=Arthur |url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/eric-nystrom-finding-a-place-with-stars-1.3364750 |title=Eric Nystrom finding a place with Stars |work=Newsday |date=December 3, 2011 |access-date=March 27, 2012}} His 12th goal of the season set a new career high, and he finished the year with 16.{{cite web |url=http://stars.nhl.com/club/player.htm?id=8470180 |title=Eric Nystrom profile |work=National Hockey League |access-date=April 9, 2012}}

Due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Nystrom signed with Stavanger Oilers late November and made his debut in the Norwegian GET-ligaen in a match against Vålerenga on December 20. Nystrom had four goals and three assists in his first game.{{cite web|url=http://pointstreak.com/prostats/playerpage.html?playerid=6586636&seasonid=9491|title=Pointstreak: Eric Nystrom Player Page for Stavanger Oilers|access-date=January 14, 2013}} He played only six games with the team, but recorded 14 points. Returning to the NHL once the lockout was resolved, Nystrom scored 11 points in 48 games with Dallas.{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8470180 |title=Eric Nystrom player card |website=National Hockey League |access-date=May 17, 2012}}

=Nashville Predators=

Nystrom left the Stars as a free agent following the 2012–13 NHL season and signed a four-year deal with the Nashville Predators worth $10 million.{{cite news |last=Cooper |first=Josh |url=http://www.tennessean.com/interactive/article/20130705/SPORTS02/130705008/Predators-sign-forward-from-Stanley-Cup-champs |title=Nashville Predators sign four forwards as free agency begins |work=The Tennessean |date=July 5, 2013 |access-date=July 5, 2013}} He recorded the first hat trick of his NHL career on January 24, 2014, against the Calgary Flames and finished with a franchise record four goals. The Predators lost the game, however, 5–4 in a shootout.{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/hockey/nhl/game/1346288/recap/ |title=Flames rally over Predators, Eric Nystrom's 4 goals |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=2014-01-25 |access-date=2014-01-25}}{{cite book |editor-last=Wilson |editor-first=Kevin |title=2013–14 Nashville Predators Media Guide |publisher=Nashville Predators Hockey Club |year=2013 |page=257}}

On June 29, 2016, Nystrom's three-year tenure with the Predators was brought to an end, as he was placed on waivers for the intent to buy out the remaining year of his contract.{{cite news| url = http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nhl/predators/2016/06/29/predators-waive-eric-nystrom-buyout-purposes/86515012/ | title = Predators waive Eric Nystrom | newspaper = The Tennessean | date = 2016-06-29 | access-date = 2016-06-29}} As a free agent, Nystrom was unable to attain an NHL contract opting to attend the St. Louis Blues training camp on a professional try-out offer on September 8, 2016.{{cite web| url = https://twitter.com/mirtle/status/773993998063198208 | title = More players offered PTO's | publisher = Twitter | author = James Mirtle | date = 2016-09-08 | access-date = 2016-09-08}}

Off the ice

Nystrom has frequently involved himself with charitable endeavors throughout his career. While with Quad City, he performed an on-ice striptease that mimicked the one performed by the character Ned Braden in the movie Slap Shot as part of a team jersey auction. The event raised $30,000.{{cite web |last=Cruickshank |first=Scott |url=http://www.faceoff.com/hockey/teams/calgary-flames/story.html?id=2df0c2b4-c6f6-40c1-a91b-c6828107680f&add_feed_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.canada.com%2Fcalgaryherald%2Fnews%2Fsports%2Fflames%2Ftopstories.atom%3Fviewer%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.faceoff.com%2Fhockey%2Fteams%2Fcalgary-flames%2Fstory.html |title=Nystrom striptease scores for charity |work=Calgary Herald |date=March 1, 2008 |access-date=December 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724082433/http://www.faceoff.com/hockey/teams/calgary-flames/story.html?id=2df0c2b4-c6f6-40c1-a91b-c6828107680f&add_feed_url=http:%2F%2Fwww.canada.com%2Fcalgaryherald%2Fnews%2Fsports%2Fflames%2Ftopstories.atom%3Fviewer=http:%2F%2Fwww.faceoff.com%2Fhockey%2Fteams%2Fcalgary-flames%2Fstory.html |archive-date=July 24, 2011 |url-status=dead }} He served as a player ambassador for the Reading... Give it a Shot! program as a member of the Flames and visited local schools as part of the team's campaign to increase literacy among students.{{cite web |url=http://flames.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=40342 |title=Player programs and initiatives |publisher=Calgary Flames Hockey Club |access-date=December 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121223953/http://flames.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=40342 |archive-date=January 21, 2011 |df=mdy }} Nystrom is active with Garth Brooks' Teammates for Kids Foundation.{{cite book |editor-last=Sickman |editor-first=Aaron |title=2011–12 Minnesota Wild Official Team Guide |publisher=Minnesota Wild Hockey Club |year=2011 |page=71}}

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;"
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"\| ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"\| ! colspan="5"\|Regular season ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"\| ! colspan="5"\|Playoffs
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM
1998–99 \| New York Apple Core \| EJHL \| —	—	—	—	— \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1999–00 \| U.S. NTDP U18 \| NAHL \| 55	7	16	23	57 \| 3	0	0	0	0
2000–01 \| U.S. NTDP Juniors \| USHL \| 23	5	5	10	50 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2000–01 \| U.S. NTDP U18 \| USDP \| 43	10	12	22	52 \| —	—	—	—	—
2001–02 \| University of Michigan \| CCHA \| 39	18	12	30	36 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2002–03 \| University of Michigan \| CCHA \| 39	15	11	26	24 \| —	—	—	—	—
2003–04 \| University of Michigan \| CCHA \| 43	10	12	22	50 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2004–05 \| University of Michigan \| CCHA \| 38	13	19	32	33 \| —	—	—	—	—
2005–06 \| Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights \| AHL \| 78	15	18	33	37 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2005–06 \| Calgary Flames \| NHL \| 2	0	0	0	0 \| —	—	—	—	—
2006–07 \| Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights \| AHL \| 12	2	0	2	0 \| 5	0	0	0	2
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2007–08 \| Calgary Flames \| NHL \| 44	3	7	10	48 \| 7	0	0	0	2
2007–08 \| Quad City Flames \| AHL \| 18	4	3	7	15 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2008–09 \| Calgary Flames \| NHL \| 76	5	5	10	89 \| 6	2	2	4	0
2009–10 \| Calgary Flames \| NHL \| 82	11	8	19	54 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2010–11 \| Minnesota Wild \| NHL \| 82	4	8	12	30 \| —	—	—	—	—
2011–12 \| Houston Aeros \| AHL \| 1	0	0	0	0 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2011–12 \| Dallas Stars \| NHL \| 74	16	5	21	24 \| —	—	—	—	—
2012–13 \| Stavanger Oilers \| GET \| 6	4	10	14	6 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2012–13 \| Dallas Stars \| NHL \| 48	7	4	11	61 \| —	—	—	—	—
2013–14 \| Nashville Predators \| NHL \| 79	15	6	21	60 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2014–15 \| Nashville Predators \| NHL \| 60	7	5	12	15 \| —	—	—	—	—
2015–16 \| Nashville Predators \| NHL \| 47	7	0	7	20 \| 1	0	0	0	2
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2015–16 \| Milwaukee Admirals \| AHL \| 2	1	0	1	0 \| —	—	—	—	—
2016–17 \| Stavanger Oilers \| GET \| 8	1	3	4	8 \| 14	4	8	12	55
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3"\|NHL totals ! 593 !! 75 !! 48 !! 123 !! 401 ! 14 !! 2 !! 2 !! 4 !! 2