Do we count this as a Red Wings “Hall-Of-Famer?” This morning, the IIHF named former Islander and Red Wings forward Frans Nielsen, who was no doubt a Danish hockey pioneer, to its Hall of Fame class of 2024:
Frans Nielsen had an exceptional international career with Denmark and was just the second Dane to play in the NHL after Poul Popiel (who was born in Sollested but moved to Canada as a child). Nielsen made his national team debut in 2002, in Division I, and was part of the historic team that earned promotion to the top level for the first time since 1949. Thereafter, Nielsen played in nine top-level Men’s Worlds, accruing 26 points in 56 games between 2003 and 2022. Such was his reputation that even though he came from a small hockey country, the New York Islanders drafted him 87th overall in 2002. He remained in Europe a further four years, joining the Isles in 2006. Over the next 16 years, Nielsen played in 925 NHL games with the Islanders and Detroit, earning a reputation as one of the best defensive forwards and also as one of the most successful players in the newly-introduced shootout. Nielsen’s crowning glory was playing at the 2022 Olympics, the first time Denmark had ever qualified for the quadrennial event.
