Background
Emerson grew up playing minor hockey in his hometown of Waterford, Ontario with the Waterford Wildcats of the OMHA.
Emerson grew up playing minor hockey in his hometown of Waterford, Ontario with the Waterford Wildcats of the OMHA.
Emerson was selected in the 7th round (92nd overall) of the 1985 OHL Priority Selection by the Guelph Platers after spending the 1984-1985 season with the Stratford Cullitons Junior.B. (OHA) club Emerson, however, elected to pursue an National Collegiate Athletic Association scholarship and spent a second year playing with the Cullitons before attending Bowling Green State University (CCHA) in Ohio in 1986-1987. Emerson was drafted in the third round, 44th overall, by the Saint Louis Blues in the 1985 National Hockey League Entry Draft.
In his first and only full season with the Rivermen, 1990-1991, he scored 36 goals and added 79 assists.
Emerson joined the Blues in the 1991-1992 season, and scored 132 points in his two full seasons with them. He joined the Winnipeg Jets before the 1993-1994 season, and had the most productive campaign of his National Hockey League career that year (33 goals, 41 assists).
He played one more season with the Jets before leaving for the Hartford Whalers before the 1995-1996 season. Emerson played two seasons in Hartford, then moved along with the franchise as it became the Carolina Hurricanes in the 1997-1998 season.
Later in the same season, the Blackhawks traded him to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Chris Murray.
Emerson joined the expansion Atlanta Thrashers in the 1999–2000 season, and played 58 games with them. He was traded late in the season, along with Kelly Buchberger, to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Donald Audette and Frantisek Kaberle. Emerson would remain with the Kings until retiring following the 2001-2002 season.
Emerson appeared in 771 National Hockey League games in his career, scoring 195 goals and adding 293 assists.
He also appeared in 40 Stanley Cup playoff games, scoring seven goals and recording 15 assists. Nelson Emerson was hired by the Los Angeles Kings as a video and player development consultant and, after 2 seasons, was promoted to assistant coach/development coordinator on August 4, 2008.
During the 1998-1999 season, Emerson became a member of the Chicago Blackhawks.