Number: 14
Age: 31
Birth date:Sept. 1, 1989
Birthplace:Halmstad, Sweden
Height, weight:5-11, 179
Stats:70 GP, 15-27-42, 4.2 point shares, 50.45 xGF% at 5-on-5 per Natural Stat Trick
Contract:Signed through 2022-23 (three years remaining)
While the narrative around the Blue Jackets season so often centered on the players who weren't there, sometimes it was easy to forget about the one player who did make a pledge to join Columbus over the summer.
Nyquist put pen to paper on a four-year contract on July 1 of last year, entering the franchise at a time some other big names were leaving. It was a move made to bolster the team's scoring punch after such names as Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel were leaving.
The Blue Jackets were counting on Nyquist to be a professional, responsible player who could chip in offensively, and he did just that while finishing second on the team in points with 42. Throughout the season, head coach John Tortorella often praised general manager Jarmo Kekalainen's signing of Nyquist given what the player was able to bring in all situations.
"He's a utility player," Tortorella said midway through this season. "He's up and down with the lines. We're turning him into a penalty killer. I think he's embraced that and done a really good job there. I think he's really good in tight spaces.
"I've said it from day one when I started watching him play -- it's a terrific signing by Jarmo Kekalainen where we had summer of departures. He's been a mainstay for us this year."
Entering the season: Nyquist came to Columbus after eight seasons in Detroit plus a late-season cameo last year with San Jose after being dealt at the deadline. Over those eight seasons, he averaged 21 goals and 50 points per season while also averaging 80.6 games per year over the past five years, making him a consistent performer. Nyquist was expected to slot into the top six and add scoring throughout the season.
Season recap: Nyquist was pretty much as advertised for the Blue Jackets, as his 15 goals placed fourth on the team and his 42 points were good for second; his 0.60 points per game nearly matched the 0.61 points per game he has posted in his career. He also played in every game, making him one of three players to suit up in all 70 games during the Blue Jackets' injury-marked campaign.
In particular, Nyquist was good out of the gate as Columbus struggled to find its footing this year. The Swedish forward had 12 points in November and 10 more in December, giving him 28 points through the team's first 40 games.
As the year went on, he also took on more defensive responsibilities, often being counted on to play with the team's more responsible defensive players. He also got time on the penalty kill as the season went on thanks to his smart game and ability to control the puck in tight spaces. Adding in his power-play time, Nyquist was a key part of the CBJ squad in all situations.
"I've gotten maybe a little more opportunity on the defensive side this year, which I enjoy and I take pride in so it's been fun to learn that side of the game," Nyquist said midway through the campaign. "Overall, I think our team, it's really a team effort. We roll four lines here, and everyone is playing and contributing. Everyone has been doing that, and I think that's great."
