There's a comprehensive article/interview today in one of the local newspapers (nsd.se) in Nilssons home town Lulea, Sweden. It's subscribers-only locked and in Swedish, but here's a translation. I'm lazy so it's Google Translate with only some of the worst errors corrected, hope you appreciate it anyway:
"EDMONTON / ICE HOCKEY Hockey metropolis Edmonton has been languishing in the bottom of the table in recent years. But now the team is rebuilding and part of that commitment, Lulea son Anders Nilsson as a success in the proceedings and hailed by the North American expert commentators. "It's great that it goes well with hockey, and we thrive in Edmonton. It almost feels like home, and the Canadians are like northerners [=people from Northern Sweden, that is], "he says smiling.
Hockey Interested Edmonton residents (and it is almost all in Edmonton for this is hockey religion) gets teary-eyed when they recall the Edmonton Oilers golden years in the 80s and 90s with "The Great One", Wayne Gretzky. But the glory days are over long ago and the team has struggled at around last place for several years.
This season, however, the team has worked hard and positive change has been marked. A new arena's being built for almost three billion [SEK] and will be completed in the next season. Oilers acquired also for this season the 18-year-old super talent Connor McDavid, as the lyrical hockey experts have called a new Gretzky. Another solicitation, before this season, which turned out really well, Anders Nilsson, 25, with roots in Lulea and a goalkeeper past in Lulea Hockey as well as the national team.
Nilsson made a successful effort in the Oilers jersey and on several occasions saved his team from loss by crucial saves. As of this writing the club management not yet officially stated who is the team's first goalkeeper, Anders Nilsson or colleague Cam Talbot.
So far in the season, it is Nilsson, who has been entrusted in most games, and in an interview recently beat Oilers coach Todd McLellan, stated Nilsson makes a great effort and is well located ("awfully close") to become the team's permanent first choice.
Anders Nilsson is not worried that he has not officially given the title of first goalkeeper.
- No, I'm used to it that way. In Kazan I shared the games with my Russian colleague throughout the regular season. But in the playoffs, I got to play most matches.
He thinks it is an advantage not to have a clearly defined first goalkeeper.
- In that way you are always on your toes and do their best. It may be dangerous to feel secure as first goalkeeper. Then perhaps we subconsciously relaxes and in the same way it can be negative to end up in the role as second goalkeeper. It can lower the motivation and do not to give everything in training if you feel that you still can not get to play.
Anders Nilsson is humble despite his success and he is grateful that he gets as much play time.
- You get a completely different flow and it is easier to maintain a high level if you get to play much. It gets to a good rhythm and the mental part works better. It has gone really well lately but I take nothing for granted. It can turn quickly and the ball can bounce the other way. Cam Talbot is a really good goalkeeper and if I make a bad match, so it may be he who takes over. It is obviously a strength for the team to have two good goalkeepers, and the level is so high on the goalkeeper side in the NHL that is actually needed, he says.
Many of the North American expert commentators gave Anders Nilsson, a large share of the credit for the Edmonton Oilers success this season.
- Sure goalie's important for the team, much like a quarterback in American football. But in the same way that a good goalkeeper can rescue team also the other players can give invaluable help to the goalie from having a bad day. It's a team game and although individual players can play an important role, everyone in the team work together.
When Anders Nilsson are asked to describe the differences between the NHL and KHL (where he played last season), he says:
- In the Russian league, players are definitely individual technically more proficient. Here it is more blue collar effort and quick releases without so much show. But I prefer the smaller rinks in the NHL. The game gets faster and tighter. I feel more involved. It suits me better.
Anders Nilsson's not the only Swede in the Edmonton Oilers. Hill Oscar Klefbom and striker Anton Lander is also part of the team.
- I know Oscar from the national team and Anton from the junior team and it's great to have Swedish players that you already know in the team, both on the ice and off, he says.
Nilsson has a one-year contract with the club. What happens after this season he does not know.
- I try to focus on one game at a time. Sure, I want to continue to play in the NHL, but you can not determine the future.
Before this season, there were rumors that you were on your way back to Lulea Hockey. What do you say about that?
- Lulea Hockey is the club in my heart, my home club. That's where I dreamed to play when I was a kid. Lulea is home. This is where I have my roots, my family and my relatives. Certainly I hope to return there one day. But Lulea is still there and I want to take the chance to play at this level when I have the opportunity. I do not want to sit that old and regret that I did not take the chances I got.
Lulea is thus still at home despite the international peripatetic existence as a professional hockey player. Therefore, Anders Nilsson and his partner Fernanda Nilsson recently bought a house in Lulea.
- It is our home in Lulea and certainly the idea is that we will eventually live there permanently, says Nilsson.
But right now home not only for him and his partner Fernanda, but also for the son Mio, five months, a rented apartment on the 19th floor of a newly built apartment building in the center of the city of Edmonton.
Anders Nilsson thrive not only with existence on the ice right now.
Both he and Fernanda has found itself well to the right in Edmonton.
- It actually feels very much at home. The climate is as home with real winter, and people here are down to earth and nice. Actually the Canadians here are just as northerners [in Sweden, again my comment]. The attitude is not at all like in New York, says Anders Nilsson, and is backed by his partner on this statement. /Ulf Persson"
