Career
During his National Hockey League career he was called "Mr. Magic" and "The Magic Manitoba". In 2006 he was featured on HCZ, a Swedish reality show as coach for a hockey team of non-athletes.
He is currently working as a European scout for the Florida Panthers.
Nilsson began his career in 1973-1974, playing for Djurgårdens IF during his first of four seasons in Sweden. He then came to North America, and played for the Winnipeg Jets of the WHA beginning in 1977.
He scored two consecutive 100-point seasons in the WHA. And his offensive production continued when the league merged with the National Hockey League. He was claimed by the Atlanta Flames, and in his first season with the team he scored 93 points. The next season, 1980-1981, the Flames moved to Calgary.
Nilsson scored 131 points, which is still the team record, and he came third in National Hockey League scoring.
Nilsson played with the Flames (with number 14) until 1984-1985 when he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars for a draft pick that the Flames used to draft Joe Nieuwendyk. He returned to Europe after that season, playing in Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria and Norway.
He returned to Edmonton for six games in 1995, which made him the last former Atlanta Flames player to play in the National Hockey League. He then played briefly again in Europe until 1998. Most points scored by a Swedish player in a single National Hockey League season (131 in 1980-1981)
Calgary Flames team record for points in a single season (131 in 1980-1981)
Calgary Flames team record for assists in a single season (82 in 1980-1981)
Calgary Flames team record for shorthanded goals in a single season (9 in 1983-1984)
6th fastest player in National Hockey League history to score 300 points (215 General Practice) behind Wayne Gretzky (159), Mario Lemieux (186), Peter Stastny (186), Eric Lindros (210) & Cy Denneny (212)
8th fastest player in National Hockey League history to score 400 points (298 General Practice) behind Wayne Gretzky (197), Mario Lemieux (240), Peter Stastny (247), Eric Lindros (277), Mike Bossy (283), Sidney Crosby (292) & Bryan Trottier (296)
9th fastest player in National Hockey League history to score 500 points (372 General Practice) behind Wayne Gretzky (234), Mario Lemieux (287), Peter Stastny (322), Mike Bossy (349), Eric Lindros (352), Jari Kurri (356), Bryan Trottier (362) & Sidney Crosby (369).