Jim Nill
Encyclopedia
James Edward Nill is a former
NHL
right winger
, currently the assistant General manager
of the Detroit Red Wings
.
of the AJHL
in 1975, after which he played three seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers
of the WCHL
. He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the third round (89th overall) in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft.
before signing with the Canadian national team
for 1979–80. Nill scored 32 points in 45 exhibition games before playing six games for Canada at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics
.
in 1980–81. He finally made his NHL
debut in 1982 for St. Louis. He only played 1 season for the Blues before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks
for Tony Currie
, Rick Heinz
and St. Louis' 4th round choice (Shawn Kilroy
) in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft
for Glen Hanlon
on March 9, 1982. He helped the Canucks to the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals
where they would lose to the New York Islanders
4–0. After 2 more seasons in Vancouver Nill was traded to the Boston Bruins
for Peter McNab on February 3, 1984. He did not receive very much ice time in Boston and consequently the Bruins ended up trading him to the Winnipeg Jets for Morris Lukowich
on February 4, 1985. He played nearly 4 years for Winnipeg, However they were not able to defeat the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers
or the Calgary Flames
. He was sent to the AHL's
Moncton Hawks
. He did not stay in New Brunswick
long as Detroit Red Wings
head coach Jacques Demers liked his tough style of play. He was traded to Detroit
on January 11, 1988 for fellow journeyman NHLer
Mark Kumpel
. He played the final 3 years of his NHL career in Detroit
with brief stints for the AHL's
Adirondack Red Wings
. In Adirondack he was a teammate of Sheldon Kennedy
. He retired
from hockey as a player after 1991.
as Amateur scout. He was promoted to professional scout after only 2 years. He joined the Red Wings front office in the summer of 1994 following his 3 year stint with the Ottawa Senators.
Jim Nill's duties include directing Detroit's amateur scouting and selections at the annual NHL Entry Draft. He had also served as the general manager of the Adirondack Red Wings.
Nill continues to oversee the development of the Red Wings' prospects that are currently assigned to Detroit's main affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins
of the American Hockey League
, as well as those in the Canadian junior
and European leagues.
In his management role with the Detroit Red Wings
he has helped the team to 4 Stanley Cup
Championships in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008.
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
right winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
, currently the assistant General manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
.
Junior career
Jim Nill played one season for the Drumheller FalconsDrumheller Falcons
The Drumheller Falcons were a Junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League based in Drumheller, Alberta.The Falcons joined the AJHL 1971 as the league's seventh team after acquiring the assets of the Ponoka Stampeders franchise that ceased operations a year previous...
of the AJHL
Alberta Junior Hockey League
The Alberta Junior Hockey League is an Alberta-based Junior A hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League . It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. There are currently 16 teams in the league. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy...
in 1975, after which he played three seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers
Medicine Hat Tigers
The Medicine Hat Tigers are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League who play out of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Established in 1970, the team has won two national Memorial Cups, five WHL League Championships and seven Division Titles. The Tigers play at the Medicine Hat Arena....
of the WCHL
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
. He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the third round (89th overall) in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft.
International career
The next season, he played with the University of CalgaryUniversity of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
before signing with the Canadian national team
Canadian national men's hockey team
The Canadian national ice hockey team is the ice hockey team representing Canada. The team is overseen by Hockey Canada, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation, and participates in international competitions. From 1920 until 1963, Canada's international representation was by senior...
for 1979–80. Nill scored 32 points in 45 exhibition games before playing six games for Canada at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics
1980 Winter Olympics
The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932...
.
Professional career
Jim Nill played 1 season for the Salt-Lake Golden Eagles of the CHLCentral Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
in 1980–81. He finally made his NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
debut in 1982 for St. Louis. He only played 1 season for the Blues before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
for Tony Currie
Tony Currie (ice hockey)
Anthony Currie is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward who spent 8 seasons in the National Hockey League between 1977 and 1985....
, Rick Heinz
Rick Heinz
Richard D. Heinz is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 47 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks. He now teaches a Goaltender summer camp that has taught many NHL greats, including: Martin Gerber, Curtis Joseph, Manny Legace,...
and St. Louis' 4th round choice (Shawn Kilroy
Shawn Kilroy
Shawn Kilroy is a retired Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Kilroy played for the Peterborough Pirates in the OHL and with various IHL teams, as well as with the Springfield Indians in the AHL. He was selected in the 4th round of the 1982 NHL draft by the Vancouver Canucks.-Career...
) in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft
1982 NHL Entry Draft
The 1982 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1981–82 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those players...
for Glen Hanlon
Glen Hanlon
Glen A. Hanlon is a retired Canadian National Hockey League goaltender and a former head coach of the Washington Capitals of the NHL, Dynamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League , and the Belarusian national ice hockey team. He was a goaltender scout for the Vancouver Canucks...
on March 9, 1982. He helped the Canucks to the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals
1982 Stanley Cup Finals
-References:...
where they would lose to the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
4–0. After 2 more seasons in Vancouver Nill was traded to the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
for Peter McNab on February 3, 1984. He did not receive very much ice time in Boston and consequently the Bruins ended up trading him to the Winnipeg Jets for Morris Lukowich
Morris Lukowich
Eugene Morris Lukowich is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was a member of the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League from 1976 to 1985, and later played for the Boston Bruins and Los Angeles Kings of the NHL...
on February 4, 1985. He played nearly 4 years for Winnipeg, However they were not able to defeat the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
or the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
. He was sent to the AHL's
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
Moncton Hawks
Moncton Hawks
The Moncton Hawks were a professional ice hockey team based in Moncton, New Brunswick. They played in the American Hockey League between 1987 and 1994 operated as a minor league affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets. Home games were played at the Moncton Coliseum...
. He did not stay in New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
long as Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
head coach Jacques Demers liked his tough style of play. He was traded to Detroit
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
on January 11, 1988 for fellow journeyman NHLer
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
Mark Kumpel
Mark Kumpel
Mark Alan Kumpel is a former American ice hockey player.Selected by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft, Kumpel also played for the Detroit Red Wings and Winnipeg Jets....
. He played the final 3 years of his NHL career in Detroit
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
with brief stints for the AHL's
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
Adirondack Red Wings
Adirondack Red Wings
The Adirondack Red Wings were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Glens Falls, New York, USA at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The team was affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
. In Adirondack he was a teammate of Sheldon Kennedy
Sheldon Kennedy
Sheldon Kennedy is a former professional ice hockey player. He played for the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins and Calgary Flames in the National Hockey League . Kennedy was drafted by the Red Wings in the fourth round of the 1988 NHL Entry Draft while playing with the Swift Current Broncos of...
. He retired
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
from hockey as a player after 1991.
Management career
After he retired as an active player he joined the scouting staff of the Ottawa SenatorsOttawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
as Amateur scout. He was promoted to professional scout after only 2 years. He joined the Red Wings front office in the summer of 1994 following his 3 year stint with the Ottawa Senators.
Jim Nill's duties include directing Detroit's amateur scouting and selections at the annual NHL Entry Draft. He had also served as the general manager of the Adirondack Red Wings.
Nill continues to oversee the development of the Red Wings' prospects that are currently assigned to Detroit's main affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins
Grand Rapids Griffins
The Grand Rapids Griffins are a professional hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Van Andel Arena. They are the AHL affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League....
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, as well as those in the Canadian junior
Canadian Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey...
and European leagues.
In his management role with the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
he has helped the team to 4 Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
Championships in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008.