HF talks with Kristian Huselius and Marcus Nilson

Posted by Mark Fischel on 09/13/2001

Hockey’s Future Conversation with Marcus Nilson and Kristian Huselius

Taking a break from their hectic training camp schedule, Hockey’s Future recently had the chance to have a conversation with Panthers sophomore left wing Marcus Nilson, and highly regarded rookie, Kristian Huselius. Nilson ended last season playing the part as the defensive and physical conscience for Pavel Bure, and completed his season as one of the best of his career on any level.

Kristian Huselius is not only coming off a career year numbers-wise for himself, but a career year for all of the Swedish Elite League, where he swept 6 offensive categories and had what is considered the finest season for any Swedish players ever. Both Marcus and Kristian were able to reflect on their past seasons, what the upcoming season will hold, and what challenges they face. They also deftly avoided my attempts to get them to start the pre-Olympic trash talking well before anyone else.

Hockey’s Future: How long have you two known each other, and how many times have you played against each other or together?

Marcus Nilson: I would say about 9 or 10 years, and against each other not too many times. Maybe like 6 or 7 times….

Kristian Huselius: We played together alot though.

HF: What kind of advice have you given Kristain about playing in the NHL?

MN: Nothing yet, just trying to help him out here and there, but he is doing fine by himself

HF: With Sweden and Finland being rivals on the international scene, have you had a chance to reflect with Niklas and Olli about your past competition against each other?

MN: No, not really.

KH: No, not yet...

MN: But they will find out this Saturday soon enough!!! (laughs) (Editors Note: In place of the cancelled exhibition game vs Dallas, the Panthers will have team scrimmages)

HF:Tell me what your personal goals you have set for yourself this season?

MN:It’s tough to say, I haven’t really thought about it all yet. Just trying to keep going where I left off.

KHNo, It is too early to have those thoughts right now. Of course, I want to make the team, but it is going to be hard work.

HF: Marcus, last year you started out on the lower lines, and than finding yourself on the top line to end up the year, why do you think it came together for you with your run to end the season?

MN: Why? I thought I played pretty well all year, but I got the opportunity to move up to the first line there, and things came together from there. It’s two pretty good players to play with!

HF: Do you think you could have been nearly as successful on a different line?

MN: Not points wise I don’t think, but there is other things you can do. If you are on the third line, you can do a great job and not get as many points.

HF: Marcus, it also appeared that you seemed much more confident and comfortable as well with your play, to what extent did your off-season work on your skating play into that?

MN: Yeah, especially with my skating. I skate better than I did three years ago, that’s the main thing. I still skate bad, (laughs) but it is better than three years ago. But you know, if you just get the chance to play your confidence gets better all the time.

HF: Kristian, your puck-handling skills are quickly evident to all observers, even in this kind of setting. Is your ability with the puck something that have made an effort to develop to this level, or is it something that came natural to you?

KH: No, I had pretty good coaches in Stockholm who tought me a lot, and of course I work on it by myself a lot too. I don’t know, what I…..

MN: (laughing) That’s all he does!

HF: Kristian, before you exploded offensively last season, your previous seasons paled in comparison. What happened and why were you able to have that season you had?

KH: I don’t know, the coach in Sweden believed in me and I had good teammates, on a good line. It is hard to say, I had some luck there too so, good confidence and everything’s going well.

MN: he’s got the opportunity to play a lot too. You had a pretty good year there before, didn’t you?

KH: Yeah..

MN: Not as good, but still was good. I mean you go from not playing and then you come to a team that plays you alot.

HF: Who were your linemates in Frolunda?

KH: Jonas Johnsson, for the most of the year as center. And right winger was all different players.

HF: Do you feel that having no red-line have any affect on you whatsoever?

KH: Of course, maybe a little bit, but it is hard to say. But the teams in Sweden, they know the rules.

HF: After the season ended, you competed in the World Championships, and had some success but nothing like your Elite League season, why do you think that was the case?

KH: I don’t know, of course I didn’t play so much and we had a pretty good team. So it is hard to say, I had a little bit of injuries and stuff like that. Of course it is hard to play in international games against tough teams.

HF: I know you haven’t been here for long and it is only the second day of camp, what are your initial impressions of South Florida and your first training camp?

KH: Oh, it’s nice to be hear and good to play with the guys of course, it’s just fun…

HF: Have you had a chance to look around at all and have a good time?

KH: Marcus showed me some places, but yes its real cool

HF: Have you gotten used to the heat, is this something you ever been around, this kind of weather?

KH: Ohhhh, it is too hot, yeah! (laughs)

HF: Kristian, you have been quoted several times as saying you do not like the physical game. Are you planning to make any efforts or any way to adjust to the rough style of the game?

KH: I have to improve my strength of course, it’s a smaller rink and everything goes faster, but I think you can get used to it. If you get used to it, you can get better and I think you just have to work hard.

HF:I notice that John Jakopin was pretty much hounding you all day in the scrimmages. Do you think that was a concerted effort on his part or was he playing his normal game and were you just the unfortunate guy in front of him?

KH: Yeah! (laughing)

HF: Marcus, does he do the same thing to you in the practices?

MN: Yeah, he isn’t going to go out hitting guys, but just like that you will take hits. It wont be a problem, you just get up and keep going, which Kristian did today.

HF: Kristian, have you had any conversations with Coach Sutter as to what line or linemates he is anticipating putting you with?

KH: No….

HF: Marcus, what about you? Is there any part of you that wants to be paired up with Kristian on a line, or are you happy on the top line with Pavel and Victor?

MN: No, it really doesn’t matter. It is how the coaches feel and what will be best for the team.

HF: Have either of you had any indication that could get a call to represent Sweden in the 2002 Olympics?

MN: No, not me. That’s a longshot! (laughs)

KH: They just talked to me and said they are going to look at me to see some, but, of course they will look at everyone, so Marcus too.

HF: Feel free to boast proudly for our readers in Sweden.....Will Sweden crush all challengers at the Olympics in Utah?

MN: (laughing)Crush? Nah, but anywhere from winning the tournament to sixth place. There is so many good teams. You know how it is in the playoffs, you got to get the momentum going, and if you do you can win it. But everyone can win it. Maybe not six teams, but at least 5 teams can.

HF: Alright Kristian, in your opinion are the Swedes going to crush everybody?

KH: (laughing) No! Of course we will have a real good team. I think if Marcus goes there and joins the team, than we will crush everybody! (laughing)

HF: Alright, that is what I like to hear! The Swedes generally take the International game a lot more seriously than some other teams. So neither of you are predicting that Sweden will win the Gold?

MN: I can predict they will win the Gold, but they are not going to crush anyone! (laughing)

HF: That is good to know. Thanks for your time and have a good training camp.

Scandinavian Stars Shine at Panther Scrimmage

Posted by Mark Fischel on 09/16/2001

The estimated 2000 fans who showed up tonight expecting to get their first glimpses of Bure, Nilson and Kozlov might have been a little bit surprised to see some unexpected changes in the lineup. Instead of those proven talents weaving their magic and producing points, the trio of Marcus Nilson, Olli Jokinen and Kristian Huselius took their place instead, and didn’t dissapoint.

For most of the night, Kristian Huselius showed why he was able to dominate the SEL last year. He knew when to head to the net, how to wait for the right time to make the pass, especially when Worrell leveled him in the open ice about half-way through the second. Huselius hit the ice with a thump, but not before he was able to make a perfect pass to Marcus Nilson. Nilson all night also looked like one of the quickest players as well, showing remarkable stick-handling skills and a tenacious nose for the puck.

The red team was looking at a loss until a timely penalty gave them the opportunity to force the game to overtime. Again, the Scandinavian connection came through with Jokinen starting the chain of events. Huselius received the pass as he was crossing the blue line on the left side, and when the defenseman stepped up to make a challenge, Huselius cut right to the open ice, keeping the puck away from the other team. Nilson confused his defenseman when he crossed with Huselius when streaking to the net. Nilson received the pass on his forehand, went to the back-hand and back to the forehand to deposit the puck in the now-empty net at the 25 minute mark. Overtime was coming up.

When it was announced that the OT would be a 4 on 4 game, the only question was which Nordic player would be the hero? They were that dominant tonight, and there was no way they wouldn’t factor into the GWG. Huselius and Hagman had a few shots but weren’t able to to beat Flaherty….yet. All they needed was a break, and they got one when Worrell (why was he on a 4-4 in OT?) took yet another penalty when he interfered with Novoseltsev. The 4 on 3 simply was going to be all the red-team needed to end the game.

At 3 minutes into the OT, Olli Jokinen made an incredible pass from the point to a wide open Huselius at the bottom of the right circle. Huselius simply just maneuvered the puck back and forth between what appeared to be 4 of his sticks, and the covering defenseman couldn’t recover quick enough when Huselius deked him out with a fake pass to the point, than a real pass to Marcus Nilson who was right across the crease. Nilson quickly went top-shelf on Flaherty to end the game and give the small but appreciative crowd something to think about as they drove home.

Three Stars of the Game:

3rd Star with 1 goal and 3 assists: Olli Jokinen
2nd Star with 1 goal and 3 assists: Kristian Huselius
1st star with GW and GT goals: Marcus Nilson

Nilson's two tallies spark Red Team's overtime victory in Panthers' scrimmage (Red 5, White 4 OT)

SUNRISE - Marcus Nilson scored back-to-back power-play goals, including the game winner in overtime, as the Red Team defeated the White Team 5-4 in the Florida Panthers' intra-squad scrimmage Saturday night at National Car Rental Center. With 2:19 remaining in the overtime period, Nilson converted on a pass from Olli Jokinen, who led all scorers with a goal and three assists.

Nilson's tally with 3:40 to go in regulation sent the game into overtime. Jokinen and Kristian Huselius got the assists. Huselius and Joey Tetarenko also scored for the Red Team. Four different players scored for the White Team as they erased a 2-0 deficit and took a 4-3 lead just past midway point of the second half. Mike Cirillo, Stephen Weiss, David Morisset and Denis Shvidki scored for White.

Panthers Head Coach Duane Sutter said he was impressed with the play of Jokinen, Nilson and Huselius.

"Obviously you can see they've played in elite hockey. Pretty good stick skills," Sutter said. "It's something we'll consider somewhere down the road." Sutter also was impressed with the team play in the scrimmage, which capped the Panthers' first week of training camp.

"I was watching more individuals, but the little bit of system that I did notice, I thought guys executed pretty well," Sutter said. "There's one or two areas where we have to make a couple changes -- nothing major. Just fine-tune a little bit. Obviously, I like us to be a little more assertive. We'll continue to work on that."

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Subj: PANTHERS RE-SIGN TOP LINE LEFT WING
Date: 8/14/01 5:46:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: flpanthers@flpanthers.com

Marcus Nilson agrees to a three-year deal

SUNRISE, FL - Florida Panthers President and General Manager Bill Torrey announced today that the club has re-signed restricted free agent LW Marcus Nilson to a three-year contract. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. Nilson finished third on the team in scoring last year and was second in assists. Primarily skating on the Panthers' top line along with C Viktor Kozlov and the Russian Rocket RW Pavel Bure, he was tied for fourth on the team in goals. Nilson's gritty play and work along the boards mixed in well with his offensively gifted, All-Star Russian linemates.

In two professional seasons prior to last year, Nilson had played just 17 games in the NHL. He was a healthy scratch in four of the Panthers' first five games. Once given the chance, however, he flourished, and the then 22-year-old worked his way to the top line along with Kozlov and Bure. Nilson posted 26 points (7 goals, 19 assists) in the last 34 games. He recorded 28 of his 36 points last year under Head Coach Duane Sutter, who guided the Panthers through the final 46 games of the season.

"Marcus was one of the real bright spots for us last season," stated Assistant General Manager Chuck Fletcher. "At the beginning of last year, we weren't even sure he was ready to become a full-time NHL player, but he earned a spot and went on to become one of our most consistent contributors. At his age, he'll continue to improve. This is a big signing for our team, both now and in the future."

Nilson, now 23, played in 78 games last year for the Panthers. He registered 12 goals and 24 assists (36 points) in his first full season in the NHL setting career highs in goals, assists, points, penalty minutes and games played. The native of Balsta, Sweden, was the Panthers first choice (20th) overall in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.

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Panthers vs Maple Leafs - March 21
Source from www.flpanthers.com

The Florida Panthers will head back across the border with three of a possible four points on this brief road trip, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1…

The Leafs had some jump in their step for the start of this one as they carried play to their visitors for most of the first period… Roberto Luongo was called upon early (and often), turning away quality shots by Domi, Sundin and Corson inside the first five minutes. In the second half of the period, Florida’s chances improved but none of their eight shots on goal were of any serious consequence.

At 12:10 of the period, Marcus Nilson and Darcy Tucker got into a skirmish along the boards and Marcus took some licks from the much more experienced Leaf. Joey Tetarenko left in the first with a scratched cornea and did not return.

The Panthers owned a majority of the second period but Toronto clawed back within reach in the final minutes… Pavel Bure got things going with his 56th goal at 2:43 on the power play. The Leafs were able to hold the Cats to the perimeter on the man-advantage but Bure’s shot from the left board beat Glenn Healy five-hole. Bure waited until he had Yushkevich as a screen and let go through the legs of the Leafs’ defenseman. A minute and fifteen seconds later, Kevyn Adams netted his first in a Florida uniform on a long shot from just inside the blue line. Healy bobbled the shot and it deflected into the net off his own pad. Toronto rallied just past the midway point with excellent scoring opportunities by Belak and Sundin but Roberto Luongo was fantastic. At 16:01 Toronto made good on their efforts with a one-timer from Gary Roberts inside the right circle. The cross-ice pass from Tomas Kaberle was right on target and Roberto never had a chance. With 23.6 seconds remaining in the period, Luongo made a diving save on Roberts from the side of the net to preserve the Florida lead…

Both teams had chances in the third period but the only tally to get on the board belonged to red-hot Kevyn Adams. The play began with Marcus Nilson racing up ice and dishing off to Pavel Bure on the wing. Bure dropped back to Adams while Nilson rushed the net. Adams used Nilson as a screen and let go beating Healy on another long shot.

Despite the Florida win, the Leafs can take pride in the fact that they led in the shot count (35-19) and the face-off circle (66%-34%). Zone time also favored the Leafs with 26:15 played in the Florida end to 20:48 in Toronto’s…

The three stars of tonight’s game were: Kevyn Adams (3rd star), Tomas Kaberle (2nd star) and Roberto Luongo (1st star).

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Nilson carving his place in make-or-break season

Published Monday, March 19, 2001
By DAVID J. NEAL dneal@herald.com

Panthers' former No. 1 draft pick finally living up to expectations

How far left wing Marcus Nilson has come this season could be gauged by the presence of Anders Hedberg, general manager of the Swedish national team, at Friday's and Saturday's Panthers losses.

``He's a candidate for the Swedish World Championships team,'' Hedberg said. ``Not a strong one, but a candidate.''

At the start of this make-or-break season for Florida's 1996 No. 1 draft pick, Nilson was a candidate only to make the Panthers -- and only as a third- or fourth-liner. Instead, he has proven a good fit on the first line with center Viktor Kozlov and right wing Pavel Bure.

``It's not like it's hard to play with guys like that,'' Nilson said. ``I think my role is to forecheck, go hard to the net, try to dig out.''

In 24 games since being placed with Kozlov and Bure, Nilson has seven goals and 12 assists. The list of Panthers who can say they have progressed this season could be written on an Eckerd's receipt, but Nilson would be on it.

When he walked over to Hedberg in the Panthers' locker room after Saturday's game, Nilson shook his head in self-disgust, almost apologizing for disappointing Hedberg before saying a word.

``I don't think I had one of my better nights the last two games,'' Nilson said. ``Once in a while, you just don't feel the energy, and tonight I was standing a little too much. Over an 82-game season, sometimes you're not on top of your game.''

Reminded that he had some great scoring chances against Pittsburgh, he said, ``Yes, I should've gotten a goal. I had a couple of shots, but I wasn't sharp enough. That's what we need, somebody else to score besides Pav.''

Particularly in physical Eastern Conference games, a No. 1 line needs somebody willing to work the corners and boards. That's in neither Kozlov's nor Bure's job descriptions. It's why ex-coach Terry Murray used ex-Panther Scott Mellanby as the left wing on that line at times last season, even though Mellanby no longer had first-line skills.

But grinding was in Nilson's scouting report when the Panthers drafted him. He went against the NHL's Swedish stereotype -- he had the skilled hands, was a high-character guy who didn't mind nasty work and wasn't a great skater.

Nilson's skating and strength stagnated until last summer, when he improved his leg drive. Once a plodder, Nilson's speed now is above average. He doesn't have the hands of a pure goal scorer but is a passer with a good shot.

``Marcus has had a hell of a year,'' Panthers coach Duane Sutter said. ``A lot of people have second-guessed Marcus, being a first-round pick, but he sure has blossomed this year.''

Hedberg also provided his thoughts on Nilson's pal, 1997 second-round pick Kristian Huselius. The Panthers expect to sign Huselius this summer for two years at about $925,000 per year.

Huselius, 22, dominated the Swedish Elite League offensively this year, leading in goals, assists, points, power-play goals, shorthanded goals and game-winners. He's expected to step into a second-line, left-wing role next year if he can adjust to the narrower North American ice surface.

``That is the issue,'' Hedberg said. ``He's a very talented player. He thinks the game well. There's no physique to his game.''

Hedberg said management would have to give Huselius time to adjust and not be weighted with undue early expectations.

``He has to deeply believe he's ready to come over,'' Hedberg said.

Hedberg knows whereof he speaks. Few players have had to withstand the focused physical play -- and sometimes abuse -- Hedberg, countrymen Ulf Nilson and Borje Salming did as the 1970s groundbreakers for Europeans in North American hockey.

Asked if Huselius is the best player outside the NHL, Hedberg said, "He's certainly one of the most exciting players outside the NHL."

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Swedish star courted to replace Whitney

By MICHAEL RUSSO
Staff Writer
Posted March 19 2001

In terms of skill, by all accounts, Kristian Huselius is above everyone else in the Swedish Elite League.

But is he ready to make the transition to the smaller ice surfaces of the NHL and step in as a top-line left winger next season?

The Panthers will bet that he is as they try to sign Huselius, 22, their 1997 second-round draft pick. He is coming off a season in which he dominated the Elite League as nobody had before.

The Panthers are so confident in Huselius' future that last week they traded Ray Whitney, who scored 97 goals and 227 points in three-plus years, to Columbus.

"If he signs, he'll be on the team, I'm sure," Assistant General Manager Chuck Fletcher said. "If you're the top player in Sweden, you should be able to play here. We'll see how he adjusts. It's a big physical adjustment, but he'll be a 23-year-old kid next year."

Huselius finished first in goals (32), assists (35), points (67), winning goals (9), power-play goals (10) and short-handed goals (5). It is the first time a Swedish Elite player has swept all six titles.

A few months ago the newspaper Aftonbladet ranked the 50 best in the Elite League. Huselius topped the list, ahead of such ex-NHLers as Mikael Renberg and Jorgen Jonsson.

"Offensively he's just unbelievable," said Panthers first-line left wing Marcus Nilson, a former linemate on the Swedish national junior teams. "With the puck he does things that make you shake your head."

Fletcher says, "He's a pure offensive talent. While Marcus is a better two-way player, Kristian is a better goal-scorer, is faster and has a really explosive first step. He makes some spectacular plays every night that leave you saying wow!"

Anders Hedberg, the general manager of the Swedish National Team, calls Huselius "an artist on the ice, a very talented player with the way he handles the puck and the way he thinks the game and certainly one of the most exciting players outside the NHL."

But Hedberg, himself an ex-NHLer, is not convinced that the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Huselius will immediately adjust physically to North American hockey.

"That is the issue with Kristian," Hedberg said. "There's no physique to his game, and he's also very sensitive. ...

"If you have a physique like Kristian, you're not going to win that many battles in the corners. But if you give him the puck in areas and situations where there's some room for him to handle it, he makes plays and is very good."

Former Panthers General Manager Bryan Murray, who drafted Huselius and recently watched him in a tournament overseas, agrees that Huselius needs to skate with a complementary player.

"He's a top-end guy with excellent hands, speed and quickness," Murray said.

"He can create chances by himself, but ... he's not going to go to war or be a guy that's battling in the corners. But he has a knack of fishing loose pucks out of a crowd and is creative in tight spaces."

Fletcher said the Panthers believe he can "learn to play in a competitive environment where he gets whacked, hacked and punched. If he can make those adjustments, he has the God-given ability and talent to score."

There's always the hope of good chemistry if he plays on a line with Nilson, who is aggressive and willing to compete for the puck in tight spaces.

The Panthers tried to sign Huselius last summer but were unable.

"We got a long way down the path, but at the end of the day, deep down, he wanted to stay one more year and be a dominant player in [Sweden]," Fletcher said.

"Obviously we disagreed on money also. I'm not naive about that."

After Huselius, a fixture on the Swedish national teams, competes in the World Championships in Germany April 28-May 13, the Panthers will work to sign him to a two-year deal.

The rookie cap for 1997 draft picks is $875,000 per season.

Huselius' agent, Don Meehan, said, "Our objective and goal is to sign with Florida."

Hedberg said Huselius must be convinced that he is ready for the transition.

"He's not physically strong, so he has to deeply believe it's the right time to come here," Hedberg said. "If he doesn't, if he's hesitant, then he should wait another year or another two years because you have to be very confident in yourself before you come here and break in."

Recently Huselius told The Hockey News, "I feel I have accomplished as much as I can in Sweden. I am prepared for a bigger challenge, but as of now I haven't heard anything from Florida. But if they call, I will be ready."

Murray said that with Pavel Bure and Huselius, the Panthers will have a tremendous one-two punch.

"On 4-on-4, it'll be awful fun to watch," Murray said.

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Swedes Scouted

From the Sun-Sentinel Newspaper
March 18, 2001
By Michael Russo
Staff Writer

Swedish National Team General Manager Anders Hedberg has attended the past two Panthers games.

He said he's scouting Marcus Nilson and Anders Eriksson to play in the World Championships in Germany next month.

Nilson said that even if he's picked, he doesn't know if he'll play. He said that with his contract up, he doesn't want to get hurt.