Eric Nystrom is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on February 14, 1983, in Syosset, New York, and grew up in Michigan. Nystrom's father, Bob Nystrom, was also a professional ice hockey player who won four Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders in the 1980s.
Nystrom began his hockey career playing for the University of Michigan Wolverines in the NCAA. He played for the Wolverines for three seasons from 2001 to 2004, during which he was named to the CCHA All-Rookie Team and the CCHA Second All-Star Team. In 2002, he won a gold medal with the United States at the World Junior Championships.
After his college career, Nystrom was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the first round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Flames in the 2005-06 season and played for the team for four seasons. During his time with the Flames, Nystrom was known for his physical play and his ability to score timely goals. He scored a career-high 11 goals in the 2008-09 season and helped the Flames reach the playoffs in three of his four seasons with the team.
In 2009, Nystrom signed with the Minnesota Wild as a free agent. He played for the Wild for three seasons and was a key contributor on the team's penalty kill unit. He also scored a career-high 16 goals in the 2010-11 season. In 2012, Nystrom was traded to the Dallas Stars, where he played for two seasons. He was primarily used as a fourth-line forward and penalty killer during his time with the Stars.
After his stint with the Stars, Nystrom signed with the Nashville Predators in 2014. He played for the Predators for two seasons and was again used as a fourth-line forward and penalty killer. He scored a total of 21 goals and 22 assists during his time with the Predators.
Nystrom's NHL career came to an end in 2016 when he was placed on waivers by the Predators and subsequently bought out of his contract. He finished his NHL career with 383 games played, 46 goals, and 35 assists. After his NHL career, Nystrom played one season in the Swedish Hockey League before retiring from professional hockey in 2018.
Off the ice, Nystrom was known for his charitable work. He was a frequent participant in the NHL's Hockey Fights Cancer campaign and was also involved in various other charitable organizations. He was named the Predators' nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2016, which recognizes a player's leadership and humanitarian contributions to his community.
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