Nino Niederreiter

Lore & Background

Niederreiter opted to play in North American junior hockey with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, following the path of his Swiss teammate Luca Sbisa. In his rookie WHL season, he led the Winterhawks in goals with 36 and was named to the Western Conference Second All-Star Team. He was selected for the CHL Top Prospects Game, where he scored a trick-shot goal in the skills competition and opened the scoring in the game itself. The NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked him 14th among North American skaters midterm and 12th in final rankings; TSN analyst Bob McKenzie believed he could become the highest-drafted Swiss player in history, which he did when the Islanders took him fifth overall.

After a brief NHL debut in 2010–11, Niederreiter was returned to Portland for further development. He spent the 2011–12 season on the Islanders' fourth line. Following the 2012–13 lockout, he was not invited to the Islanders' training camp and reportedly requested a trade. In June 2013, he was traded to the Minnesota Wild for Cal Clutterbuck and a third-round pick. With the Wild, he saw increased ice time and improved to 14 goals and 22 assists in his first full season. He signed a three-year, $8 million contract in September 2014 and later a five-year, $26.25 million deal in July 2017.

In January 2019, Niederreiter was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for Victor Rask. His scoring improved markedly with Carolina, as he recorded 14 goals and 30 points in 36 games after managing only 9 goals and 23 points in 46 games with Minnesota that season. He signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Nashville Predators in July 2022 but was traded to the Winnipeg Jets in February 2023 for a second-round pick. He re-signed with the Jets for three years and $12 million in December 2023.

Reader's Guide

Nino Niederreiter's significance lies in his role as a trailblazer for Swiss hockey in the NHL. Selected fifth overall in 2010, he was the highest-drafted Swiss player at the time, breaking a pattern of earlier Swiss first-round picks who had not made an NHL impact. His decision to play in the WHL rather than stay in Switzerland was a deliberate strategy to improve his chances of reaching the NHL, and his success helped pave the way for later Swiss stars like Nico Hischier. Over his career, Niederreiter demonstrated resilience after a difficult start with the Islanders, where he struggled for playing time and requested a trade. His move to the Minnesota Wild revitalized his career, and he became a reliable top-six forward. The trade to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2019 was a notable turning point: his offensive production surged after the change of scenery, nearly matching his full-season output from Minnesota in just 36 games. Niederreiter's longevity is underscored by his 1,000th NHL game in December 2025, making him the first Swiss-born player to reach that milestone. His career path—from a high draft pick to a steady, productive winger across multiple teams—illustrates the value of adaptability and the impact of a change in team environment on a player's performance.

Did You Know?

• Niederreiter was the highest-drafted Swiss hockey player in NHL history until Nico Hischier was selected first overall in 2017.
• He scored his first NHL goal at age 18 years and 35 days, making him the fifth-youngest NHL player in the expansion era to score a goal.
• He played his 1,000th NHL game on December 13, 2025, becoming the first Swiss-born player to reach that mark.
• In the 2014 playoffs, he scored two goals and an assist in Game 7 against the Colorado Avalanche, including the overtime game-winner.