Nino Niederreiter is Proving He’s a Top-5 Pick

Four years ago, the New York Islanders picked up Nino Niederreiter with the 5th pick in the NHL draft. It was an auspicious junior career along with great play in the World Junior Championships that lifted him to the top-tier. The late EJ McGuire, former director of NHL scouting, had this to say about the young swiss forward coming into the draft, “Showed the world how good he could be in the (World Junior Championship) playing for the Swiss National Team. And after that tournament he kept getting better. He’s shifty, he’s skilled, he has a good stride and he loves battling in the corner.”

Between Juniors and the WHL, Nino wound up with 94 points in 95 games. The Islanders chose him because he had the skill, size and speed to be a star in this league.

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Four years later, that young forward now belongs to the Minnesota Wild and they must be soaking it in as he continues to improve week-by-week. He currently leads the team in goals with eight, which is thirteenth in the NHL. With only 32 on the year, he’s scoring on 25% of his shots. That’s the ninth highest percentage in the league.

I think Nino was just too young in New York. When he made his debut on October 9, 2010, he was the youngest player in the history of the Islanders. There was a lot of development to do for a player that hoped to shine right away. After the 2012-2013 NHL lockout, Niederreiter was not invited to the Islanders’ training camp and asked for a trade.

The Wild sent Cal Clutterbuck and a pick Long Island’s way, and the rest is history yet to be made.

You can just see it in his stride. He’s confident now. New York can be overwhelming for a young player trying to stand out. Minnesota has settled him down and he can find a home long-term here. Nino played 64 games with the Islanders, totaling just 3 points. With the Wild, he’s got 46 points in 98 games and recently signed a 3-year deal, meaning we’d better learn how to spell Niederreiter.

Nov 13, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Nino Niederreiter (22) celebrates his goal during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports

Nino Neiderreiter is another prized young piece on a team that has a few of them. With players like Erik Haula, Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle, Jason Zucker, Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin, the Minnesota Wild have assembled a nucleus of skill and speed that can be special in this league someday.