Bob Nystrom

• 4X Stanley Cup Champion with the New York Islanders (1980-1983)
• Selected to the 1977 NHL All-Star Game
• Scored the winning goal to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1980 Stanley Cup Playoffs
• Inspired the New York Islander “Bob Nystrom Award”

Bob Nystrom is a former right winger for the New York Islanders. He played with the Islanders for 14 seasons from 1972 to 1986. Bob was claimed 33rd overall by the Islanders in 1972 and began playing in the NHL in March of 1973. During his first full season, Bob tallied 41 points as a rookie, earning him Rookie of the Year considerations. Bob became one of the steadiest two way forwards in the league and collected over 20 goals in each of his first five seasons. His career high came in 1977-78 after he scored 30 goals earning him an All-Star Game selection. As one of the hardest working and most talented members of the Islanders, Bob, nicknamed “Thor” by his teammates, is best known as one of the all-time best clutch players in NHL Stanley Cup playoff history. He tallied 39 goals and 83 points in 157 playoff games over the course of his career. However, it his knack for sudden death overtime winners that sets him apart. Bob ended playoff overtime games four times in his career, most notably on May 24, 1980 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals against the Philadelphia Flyers. Bob scored the game winner at 7:11 of overtime to secure the first Stanley Cup in franchise history, the first of four total for Bob.

Originally from Stockholm, Sweden, Bob was raised in Canada where he played for two seasons with the Calgary Centennials of the WCJHL before being drafted. At the Islander’s last home game of the 1985-86 season, Bob dressed for the game in order to make it his 900th game played, the third most in Islander history. Bob was a throwback to old time hockey players, he netted 235 goals (38 Game Winning Goals) and 278 assists for a total of 513 points during his career. Bob is sixth on the Islander all-time playoff-scoring list with 39 goals and 44 assists for a total of 83 points. Since retiring, Bob served as assistant coach, radio analyst, Director of Corporate Affairs, Director of Special Projects, Director of Community Relations, Director of Amateur Hockey Development and Alumni Relations and Director of Corporate Relations for the Islanders over a 16 year period. On April 1, 1995, the Islanders retired #23 and beginning in 1991, the Bob Nystrom Award is presented to the player on the team “who best exemplifies leadership, hustle and dedication.” In 2003, Bob was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame and the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.