Kukla's Korner Hockey
Entries with the tag: frans nielsen
The Shootout Specialist
by Paul on 02/25/13 at 09:32 PM ET
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from Mike Sielski of the Wall Street Journal,
A willowy 28-year-old center for the Islanders, Nielsen was waiting to take his team's second shootout attempt during a game against the Rangers earlier this month. While Nielsen lingered at center ice, he said later, he set his mind to outsmarting goaltender Martin Biron—the two engaging in an unseen cat-and-mouse game that doesn't exist in regulation play but has defined Nielsen's career.
Over 355 games with the Islanders, Nielsen has 56 goals—his value is derived mainly from his conscientious defensive play. After scoring a career-high 17 goals last season, he's managed just two in 19 games this year. But whenever the Islanders find themselves in a game that's tied after overtime—so far this season, the Rangers game is the only one that has been—Nielsen morphs into their most important and dangerous player. He has scored on 24 of his 39 shootout tries. That success rate of 61.5% is nearly twice the league average (33%) and is the highest of any active player who has at least 10 shootout goals.
Nielsen's proficiency in shootouts is due at least in part to a signature tactic that he's mastered over his seven-year career. After picking up the puck with an initial burst of speed, he'll downshift as he approaches the opposing goaltender, cruising on his skates, giving no indication of what he'll do. He then makes a single sharp, explosive move, shifting the puck to his backhand and either sliding or lifting it through whatever sliver of space the goalie reveals.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Islanders, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: frans+nielsen
Frans Nielsen Contract Extended By The Islanders
by Paul on 02/07/12 at 10:48 PM ET
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via TSN,
The New York Islanders signed C Frans Nielsen to a four-year contract extension worth a total of $11 million.
Nielsen will be paid $2.0 million in the first year of the contract, followed by $2.5 million, $3.0 million, and $3.5 million. The average annual cap hit is $2.75 million.
Nielsen has nine goals and 25 points in 51 games with the Islanders this season. Last season he scored career-high 13 goals and 44 points. In 288 career games, the 27-year-old has 46 goals and 145 points.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Islanders, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: frans+nielsen
Frans Nielsen is Underrated, Doug Weight’s Influence, and NCAA Prospect Tidbits
by William Morrison on 09/02/11 at 07:03 PM ET
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Coming into what will be his fourth full season with the New York Islanders, Frans Nielsen is becoming quite a consistent hockey player. After posting 9 goals and 24 assists in just 59 games during his rookie season, he tallied 12 goals and 26 assists in 76 games during the 2009-2010 season. Last season, Nielsen had another consistent, solid season posting 13 goals and 31 assists in 71 games played. These numbers might not blow you away, but they are only a small indication of what Nielsen does on the ice. Nielsen is the third best Islanders forward in the faceoff circle. Nielsen also led the NHL in shorthanded goals last season with seven and is an integral part of the Islanders penalty kill. He has also shown tremendous leadership both on and off the ice.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Islanders, William Morrison, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: frans+nielsen
Captain Anonymous
by William Morrison on 08/17/11 at 10:56 AM ET
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What is a captain? “A person who is at the head of or in authority over others; chief; leader.” What is a hockey captain? “A locker room leader, motivator; a medium between players and upper management; a primary representative of the team both on and off the ice.”
It is a unique situation this off-season that all three New York City metro area teams will be naming a new captain for the upcoming 2011-2012 season. The New York Rangers have the most candidates and are probably in the best situation with the most quality choices to choose from. So, we will start with the Rangers and then look at the Devils, who have both the easiest and hardest choices of the three, and finally we will look at the New York Islanders who have the youngest crop of candidates with the most potential.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Islanders, William Morrison, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: brad+richards,
brandon+dubinsky,
brian+rolston,
frans+nielsen,
ilya+kovalchuk,
john+tavares,
kyle+okposo,
marc+staal,
mark+streit,
patrick+elias,
ryan+callahan,
zach+parise
JJ’s Three Cheers: 11/02/10 (and an Anti-Cheers for Danny Briere)
by Jon Jordan on 11/02/10 at 11:14 AM ET
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Our morning salute to the stars of a night ago, it’s JJ’s Three Cheers for Tuesday, November 2nd:
***Cheers to Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo, who shut out the reeling New Jersey Devils with 30 saves in the Canucks’ 3-0 win. Luongo bested Team Canada teammate Martin Brodeur, who was beaten on a penalty shot by Henrik Sedin, in fine fashion, to close the door on another loss for New Jersey. (People are realizing that the Devils are 3-9-2 and that Ilya Kovalchuk is averaging a goal every fourth game and a point every other, right? Uuuuuuuuuuugly!)
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: brandon+dubinsky,
danny+briere,
frans+nielsen,
henrik+sedin,
roberto+luongo,
scott+hartnell
Briere Cross-Check Suspension Worthy?
by Jon Jordan on 10/31/10 at 12:29 PM ET
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I’ll catch up on this weekend’s three cheers later and also chime in with thoughts on Tampa Bay’s win in Phoenix (with no games on the slate, I’ve got plenty of time) but, for now, have a look at Danny Briere’s stickwork on Frans Nielsen in the final minute of Philadelphia’s 6-1 trouncing of the Islanders.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: danny+briere,
frans+nielsen
Islanders Sign Nielsen
by Paul on 07/19/08 at 12:46 PM ET
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from the New York Islanders,
The New York Islanders have agreed to a four-year contract with center Frans Nielsen worth $2.1 million. The one-way contract will average $525,000 per year. Nielsen became the first Danish-born and raised citizen to play in the NHL during the 2006-07 season.
“We’re excited to have Frans locked up for the next four years,” said Islanders General Manager Garth Snow. “We know he is going to come to training camp in great shape and ready to compete for his spot on the team.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Islanders, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: frans+nielsen
