On Friday afternoon, the Chicago Blackhawks signed forward Jacob Nilsson to a one-year contract extension through the 2019-20 season. Nilsson played two games for the Blackhawks and 61 games for the Rockford IceHogs this season, his first professional year in North America.
Blackhawks sign Nilsson to contract extension
After completing his first season playing North American professional hockey, Jacob Nilsson has received a contract extension from the Chicago Blackhawks through the 2019-20 season. Nilsson, who will turn 26 in early October, played just two games for the Blackhawks this season and did not tally any points. In his 61 games with the Rockford IceHogs, Nilsson notched 15 goals and 17 assists. He finished sixth on the team in total scoring with 32 points and was named the team’s MVP for the 2018-19 season.
Nilsson played under Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons in the HockeyAllsvenskan league in Sweden with Mora IK, prior to Colliton joining the Rockford IceHogs as head coach for the 2017-18 season.
Jacob Nilsson of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)
Nilsson is a fine depth forward for the Blackhawks who can play both on the wing and down the middle at Center. In Rockford, Nilsson was used on both the powerplay and penalty-kill units and logged heavy minutes under both Colliton and interim head coach Derek King. His fit in the Blackhawks system is on the lower-end of the totem pole as far as forwards go. He will have a chance at the NHL roster next Summer, but will have to show considerable improvement to his all-around game to make heads turn in Chicago.
Also, the fact that the Blackhawks may draft an NHL-ready Center with the third-overall pick in this Summer’s NHL Entry Draft, doesn’t bode well for his bid to make the Blackhawks out of camp. His contract extension for the 2019-20 season will be a $225,000 reduction against the salary cap for Chicago compared to his original deal with the organization.