Gary Nylund was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played as a defenseman in the National Hockey League (NHL) for ten seasons. He was born on October 10, 1963, in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Nylund started his hockey career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Portland Winter Hawks in the 1980-81 season. He played two seasons with the Winter Hawks and was named to the WHL West First All-Star Team in both seasons.
Nylund was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, third overall, in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks in the 1982-83 season and played for the team for four seasons. Nylund was known for his physical play and his ability to move the puck up the ice. He was also a good skater and had a hard shot from the point.
In the 1986-87 season, Nylund was traded to the New York Islanders. He played for the Islanders for three seasons and was a key player on their defense. Nylund was known for his leadership and was named an alternate captain for the Islanders in the 1988-89 season. He was also a member of the Islanders team that reached the Wales Conference Finals in the 1992-93 season.
Nylund was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks during the 1990-91 season. He played for the Blackhawks for two seasons before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1992-93 season. Nylund played only 16 games for the Lightning before suffering a career-ending injury.
In his NHL career, Nylund played in 616 games, scoring 38 goals and 135 assists for 173 points. He also had 1,126 penalty minutes. Nylund was known for his physical play and his ability to play in all situations. He was a good skater and had a hard shot from the point. Nylund was also a good leader and was respected by his teammates.
After his playing career, Nylund worked as a scout for the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs. He also worked as an assistant coach for the Maple Leafs. Nylund was inducted into the Portland Winter Hawks Hall of Fame in 2005.
In conclusion, Gary Nylund was a physical defenseman who played in the NHL for ten seasons. He played for the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders, and Tampa Bay Lightning. Nylund was known for his physical play, his ability to move the puck up the ice, and his leadership. He played in 616 NHL games and had 173 points. After his playing career, Nylund worked as a scout and assistant coach in the NHL.
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