Gustav Nyquist facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gustav Nyquist
Nyquist with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2013
Born	(1989-09-01) 1 September 1989 (age 35) Halmstad, Sweden
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position	Forward
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Nashville Predators Detroit Red Wings San Jose Sharks Columbus Blue Jackets Minnesota Wild
National team	Sweden
NHL Draft	121st overall, 2008 Detroit Red Wings
Playing career	2011–present

Gustav Nyquist (born 1 September 1989) is a professional ice hockey player from Sweden. He plays as a forward for the Nashville Predators in the National Hockey League (NHL). Gustav was picked by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2008 NHL Draft. He has also played for the San Jose Sharks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Minnesota Wild.

Early Life

Gustav Nyquist was born in Halmstad, a city in southern Sweden. His family later moved to Malmö, where he started playing ice hockey for a local youth team called Limhamn Hockey. He then joined the Malmö Redhawks' youth teams. After finishing high school with great grades, he moved to Orono, Maine, in the U.S. There, he continued his studies and played hockey for the Black Bears at the University of Maine.

Playing Hockey

Starting Out

Nyquist playing for the University of Maine Black Bears in 2011

Nyquist played for the Malmö Redhawks' youth teams in Sweden. He also played for his home region, Scania, in the 2006 TV-pucken tournament, where his team finished second.

He played three seasons for the University of Maine's Black Bears in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He was the top scorer for his team in all three seasons. In the 2009–10 season, he led all NCAA players in scoring. In 2010, he was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, which is given to the best college hockey player. After his junior year, he signed a two-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings in March 2011.

Professional Career

Detroit Red Wings

Nyquist playing with the Detroit Red Wings in 2014

Gustav Nyquist started his professional career with the Grand Rapids Griffins on 25 March 2011. This team is linked to the Red Wings in the American Hockey League (AHL). In his second AHL game, he scored his first goal.

He made his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings on 1 November 2011. On 26 March 2012, he scored his first NHL goal. Nyquist played his first Stanley Cup playoffs game on 13 April 2012. He joined the team after another player was injured.

During the 2012–13 season, Nyquist scored three goals and had three assists for the Red Wings. In the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs, he scored an overtime goal against the Anaheim Ducks. He also scored the first goal in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks. In 14 playoff games that year, he had two goals and three assists.

Nyquist was also the top scorer for the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2012–13. He helped the Griffins win the Calder Cup championship. The Detroit Sports Broadcasters' Association named him the Red Wings' rookie of the year.

Before the 2013–14 season, the Red Wings signed Nyquist to a new two-year contract. On 2 February 2014, he scored his first hat-trick (three goals in one game). In March 2014, he was named the NHL's first star of the week. He scored six goals and had seven points in four games. He was also named the NHL's second star of the month for March, scoring 12 goals.

Nyquist finished the 2013–14 season as the Red Wings' leading scorer with 28 goals. He also had 20 assists. He scored 23 goals from January to the end of the season, which was the most in the NHL during that time.

On 15 October 2014, Nyquist played in his 100th NHL game. After the 2014–15 season, the Red Wings signed him to a four-year contract extension. On 15 February 2017, Nyquist was suspended for six games for hitting a player with his stick.

San Jose Sharks

On 24 February 2019, Nyquist was traded to the San Jose Sharks. He scored six goals and had five assists in 19 games with the Sharks. In the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs, he had one goal and ten assists. The Sharks made it to the Western Conference finals but lost to the St. Louis Blues.

Columbus Blue Jackets

On 1 July 2019, Nyquist signed a four-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. In his first season with the Blue Jackets, he had 42 points in 70 games.

On 4 November 2020, Nyquist had surgery on his left shoulder and missed the entire 2020–21 season. The Blue Jackets did not make the playoffs that year. In his last season with the Blue Jackets, 2022–23, he scored 10 goals and had 12 assists in 48 games before getting injured.

Nyquist with Jamie Oleksiak of the Seattle Kraken in 2023.

Minnesota Wild

On 28 February 2023, Nyquist was traded to the Minnesota Wild. He was still recovering from his injury at the time. He returned to play near the end of the season and had five points in just three games. In the playoffs, he had five assists in six games, but the Wild lost in the first round.

Nashville Predators

On 1 July 2023, Nyquist signed a two-year contract with the Nashville Predators. He chose to stay in the same division, the Central Division.

International Games

Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Men's ice hockey
Winter Olympics
Silver	2014 Sochi
World Championships
Gold	2018 Denmark
Bronze	2014 Belarus

Nyquist was chosen to play for Sweden at the 2014 Winter Olympics. He won a silver medal there. He also played for Sweden at the 2014 IIHF World Championship, where he won a bronze medal.

He played for Sweden again at the 2016 IIHF World Championship. He was the top scorer for Sweden with seven goals. His seven goals tied for the most in the whole tournament.

Nyquist represented Sweden at the 2018 IIHF World Championship. He scored four goals and had one assist, helping Sweden win a gold medal.

Off the Ice

Gustav Nyquist has a brother named Oscar Nyquist. Oscar has also played junior ice hockey. He was chosen to play for Sweden in the 2015 Winter Universiade, a sports event for university students.

A famous Thoroughbred race horse, Nyquist, was named after Gustav Nyquist. The horse won the 2016 Kentucky Derby. The horse's owner, J. Paul Reddam, is a big fan of the Detroit Red Wings.

Career Numbers

Regular season and playoffs

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2014	Sweden	OG			6	0	0	0	0
2014	Sweden	WC			10	4	2	6	2
2016	Sweden	WC	6th		8	7	1	8	4
2018	Sweden	WC			9	4	1	5	8
Senior totals					33	15	4	19	14

Awards and Honors