Former Red Wings Player Given Hall of Fame Honor

Frans Nielsen’s time with the Detroit Red Wings might not have been memorable, but there’s no question that his hockey career was certainly worthy of note.

Sunday, such recognition was arriving when the IIHF Hall of Fame was announcing Nielsen among its class of 2025.

Alongside such hockey luminaries as fellow inductees Henrik Lundqvist and Zdeno Chara, Nielsen’s NHL career might not measure up to the standard those two superstars set. On the international stage, Nielsen set the standard in his homeland.

⭐ Frans Nielsen – IIHF Hall Of Fame Induction 2025 ⭐️

Nielsen, Denmark’s first NHL player, helped the country reach the top division and its first Olympics. He ended his career in 2022 with a German league title, leaving a lasting legacy.#IIHF @dkishockey pic.twitter.com/9plMNJX0p2

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 25, 2025

Nielsen was the first Danish-trained player to play in the NHL. He’d skate in 925 NHL games with the New York Islanders and the Red Wings before returning to Europe to finish his playing days.

He’d play his final five NHL campaigns with the Red Wings from 2016-21. Nielsen scored 17 goals in 2016-16 and 16 more in 2017-18.

In 2003, he helped Denmark return to the top division of the world championship following a 54-year absence. He was also part of the first Danish team to play in the Winter Olympics.

Red Wings Swedes Garner Recognition

Those Danish teams were recognized with IIHF Milestone Awards, as was the Swedish team that won the 2006 world tourney gold medal. That club was heavily-populated with Red Wings players. Among those who took part in accepting the milestone award were Henrik Zetterberg, Niklas Kronwall and Mikael Samuelsson. Johan Franzen was another Detroit player who was part of that team.

As well, Anna Liv was on hand to represent her late husband, former Red Wings prospect and Grand Rapids Griffins goalie Stefan Liv. Liv was killed in the 2011 plane crash of the Lokomotiv KHL club.

⭐ Team Sweden 2006 – IIHF Milestone Award – IIHF Hall Of Fame Induction 2025 ⭐️

The 2006 Team Sweden, one of the nation’s best, won Olympic gold before clinching World Championship gold months later—the first team in IIHF history to win both titles in one season.#IIHF pic.twitter.com/yL0P1TjH9w

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 24, 2025

Kronwall was earning the nod as best defenseman and MVP of the tournament. He had a goal and an assist in Sweden’s 4-0 gold-medal win over the Czech Republic. He led the Swedes in scoring with 10 points.

Bengt-Ake Gustafsson, coach of that Swedish team, doubts they would’ve won the gold medal without their Red Wings contingent.

“That was a very special year,” Gustafsson told IIHF.com. “But when we had the players we had, I knew we had a chance to do something special. And when Detroit lost in the NHL playoffs (in the first round to Edmonton), we were able to get some more players who were able to give us something a little extra.

“It was unbelievable how it worked out.”