After his first season in North America with the Maple Leafs AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, Nilsson was traded approaching the final year of his contract, along with four other prospects, to the New York Islanders in exchange for Michael Grabner on September 17, 2015.

[4] After his first season in his return with Frölunda HC, in which he won the Swedish championship as well as the Champions Hockey League, Nilsson was again attracted by NHL interest and signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Vancouver Canucks on May 26, 2016.

[5] Unable to make the Canucks opening night roster, Nilsson was reassigned to AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets where he played out the duration of his contract for the 2016–17 season.

As an impending restricted free agent, Nilsson opted to return to his homeland in agreeing to a two-year deal with an optional third year with Djurgårdens IF of the SHL on May 2, 2017.

[6] Following Djurgårdens IF relegation to the HockeyAllsvenskan in the 2021–22 season, Nilsson opted to remain in the SHL by originally agreeing to a two-year contract with Örebro HK on 16 April 2022.