Chris Nilan is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 13 seasons. He was born on February 9, 1958, in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in the city's Dorchester neighborhood. Nilan began his hockey career playing for the Boston University Terriers, where he played for three seasons from 1978 to 1980.
Nilan was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 19th round of the 1978 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Canadiens in the 1980-81 season and quickly established himself as a tough, physical player. Nilan was known for his fighting skills and was one of the most feared enforcers in the league during his playing days.
Nilan played for the Canadiens for eight seasons, from 1980 to 1988. He was a key member of the team that won the Stanley Cup in 1986, scoring four goals and adding four assists in 20 playoff games. Nilan was also named to the NHL All-Star Game in 1986.
After leaving the Canadiens, Nilan played for the New York Rangers for two seasons, from 1988 to 1990. He then played for the Boston Bruins for one season, in 1990-91, before finishing his career with the expansion San Jose Sharks in 1991-92.
In his NHL career, Nilan played in 688 regular-season games, scoring 110 goals and adding 115 assists for a total of 225 points. He also accumulated 3,043 penalty minutes, which ranks him 13th on the NHL's all-time penalty minutes list.
Nilan's career was not without controversy. He was suspended several times for on-ice incidents, including a 10-game suspension in 1987 for leaving the bench to join a fight. Nilan has also been open about his struggles with addiction and has spoken publicly about his experiences with drugs and alcohol.
After retiring from hockey, Nilan worked as a radio host and commentator for several years. He has also been involved in various charitable organizations, including the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation and the Boston Bruins Foundation.
In recent years, Nilan has become an advocate for concussion awareness and player safety in hockey. He has spoken out about the long-term effects of head injuries and has called for changes to the way the game is played to reduce the risk of concussions.
Overall, Chris Nilan had a successful career as a tough, physical player in the NHL. While his on-ice antics may have been controversial at times, he was a key member of several successful teams and remains a beloved figure among hockey fans.
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