Playing career

Nichol was drafted in the 11th round, 272nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.

Nichol has represented the Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, and San Jose Sharks during his NHL career. During the NHL lockout season of 2004-05, Nichol played for the London Racers in the British Elite Ice Hockey League, scoring 28 points in 24 games. In 1996 Nichol won the Calder Cup with the Rochester Americans.

On December 21, 2006, Nichol made headlines when he blindsided Buffalo Sabres defenceman Jaroslav Spacek with a punch to the head, after he thought Spacek made a dirty hit on him. The act earned Nichol a 9-game suspension.

On December 3, 2007, he was suspended for five games for cross-checking Montreal Canadiens forward Patrice Brisebois in the back of the head in a game December 1. Nichol was declared a repeat offender under the terms of the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Nichol signed a one-year deal, US$750,000 deal with the San Jose Sharks on July 15, 2009.

On March 4, 2010, Nichol was injured when Montreal Canadiens forward Maxim Lapierre hit him on a late and dangerous hit, leaving him with an upper body injury for seven days.

On June 20, 2011, Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson announced that Nichol, and teammate Jamal Mayers, would not be resigned for the 2011-12 season. On July 5, 2011, Nichol was signed to a one-year contract with the St. Louis Blues.

Nichol announced his retirement following the lockout shortened 2012-13 season on June 5, 2013. He was appointed the Head of Player Development with former club, the Nashville Predators.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1992-93	Portland Winter Hawks	WHL		67	33	31	64	146		16	8	8	16	41
1993-94	Portland Winter Hawks	WHL		65	40	53	93	144		10	3	8	11	16
1994-95	Rochester Americans	AHL		71	11	16	27	136		5	0	3	3	14
1995-96	Rochester Americans	AHL		62	14	17	31	170		19	7	6	13	36
1995-96	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		2	0	0	0	10		—	—	—	—	—
1996-97	Rochester Americans	AHL		68	22	21	43	133		10	2	1	3	26
1997-98	Rochester Americans	AHL		35	13	7	20	113		—	—	—	—	—
1997-98	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		3	0	0	0	4		—	—	—	—	—
1998-99	Rochester Americans	AHL		52	13	20	33	120		—	—	—	—	—
1999-00	Rochester Americans	AHL		37	7	11	18	141		—	—	—	—	—
2000-01	Detroit Vipers	IHL		67	7	24	31	198		—	—	—	—	—
2001-02	Calgary Flames	NHL		60	8	9	17	107		—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	Calgary Flames	NHL		68	5	5	10	149		—	—	—	—	—
2003-04	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		75	7	11	18	145		—	—	—	—	—
2004-05	London Racers	EIHL		24	9	19	28	102		—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	Nashville Predators	NHL		34	3	3	6	79		3	0	0	0	2
2006-07	Nashville Predators	NHL		59	7	6	13	79		5	0	0	0	17
2007-08	Nashville Predators	NHL		73	10	8	18	72		2	0	0	0	0
2008-09	Nashville Predators	NHL		43	4	6	10	41		—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	San Jose Sharks	NHL		79	4	15	19	72		15	1	1	2	17
2010-11	San Jose Sharks	NHL		56	4	3	7	50		15	0	0	0	26
2011-12	St. Louis Blues	NHL		80	3	5	8	83		9	0	1	1	14
2012-13	St. Louis Blues	NHL		30	1	0	1	25		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				662	56	71	127	916		49	1	2	3	76

[ Source: Wikipedia ]