Russian_fanatic said:
I couldn't disagree more.Nilsson spent all of last yr on Leksand's 4th line.Looks like his headcoach was trying to send him a message,give a more consistent effort and play better defensively.You'd hope the player would respond to the coaches challenge.Nilsson and his dad asked for a trade.Leksand agreed,then later tried getting him to stay.Nilsson left,spent the rest of the yr in a lower league.
He signed with Djurgarden for this season,thinking he'd get icetime,but then the nhl lockout occurred and Djurgarden signed Czerkawski,Marcus Nilsson,Ekman,Turco,Tarnqvist,Boyle,Turco...Djurgarden's priority is making the playoffs,not developing a 19 yr old who's leaving for NA possibly as soon as this summer.Again 4th line mins.He's been demoted to the 2nd tier league to get icetime.
fans on hf's Sweden's board,said the coach of Sweden's Under 20 team gave a recent radio interview, where he criticized the SEL and 2nd tier teams who went out and signed nhlers,saying they are taking the icetime the prospects need for development.
Isles reported will bring him over to Bridgeport this summer to take a more hands on approach,make sure he gets icetime in all situations.
Coming out of the draft,the knock on Nilsson was his consistency and defense.
WCJ article on team Sweden
http://www.eliteprospects.com/news.php?news=1199
12/07/04
Nilsson is a more complete player now than last year, when he still led the Swedish team in points. He works harder now and has improved his defensive game enough to occasionally get ice time in shorthanded situations. Offensively there are few players in this year's WJC tournament that can match Nilsson's technical skills, dekes and playmaking ability.