Nielsen is an undrafted forward that has exclusively spent the last five seasons in the AHL. The 25-year-old will suit up for his first NHL game on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has nine points (5G / 4A) in 11 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) this season.

Nielsen had started 2025-26 with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) and earned himself a two-year, two-way contract on Monday after picking up three goals and seven points in his first 7 games in the minors.The 25-year-old is in his fifth pro season but has yet to make an NHL appearance despite scoring 14 or more goals in each of his last three minor seasons.

Nielsen had 14 goals, 27 assists, 60 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus through 64 games with Abbotsford (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension worth $870,000 AAV. The 23-year-old centre has yet to make his NHL debut after being acquired as an undrafted free agent from the Vancouver Giants (WHL) after the 2020-21 season.