Nino Niederreiter

Nino Niederreiter (born 8 September 1992) is a Swiss professional ice hockey winger for the Winnipeg Jets in the National Hockey League (NHL). The New York Islanders picked him fifth overall in the 2010 NHL entry draft, which at the time made him the highest-drafted Swiss player in NHL history (a record that stood until Nico Hischier went first overall in 2017). Niederreiter debuted in the NHL with the Islanders early in the 2010–11 season but was soon sent back to his junior team, the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Before moving to North America, he had played in the junior system of Swiss club HC Davos and appeared in three playoff games for the senior team in 2010.

After struggling to get consistent ice time with the Islanders, Niederreiter asked for a trade and was dealt to the Minnesota Wild, where he spent parts of five seasons. In his sixth year with the Wild, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes and signed a three-year contract there. Later, he signed with the Nashville Predators, but after only part of a season—when the team fell out of playoff contention—they traded him to the Jets.

Unlike many Swiss players, Niederreiter chose to play North American junior hockey to improve his chances of making the NHL. Previous Swiss first-round picks Luca Cereda and Michel Riesen were known as "Swiss misses" because they never made an impact in the league. Following the path of his Swiss teammate and friend Luca Sbisa, Niederreiter entered the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. The Portland Winterhawks of the WHL selected him, and he had a strong rookie year.

While with Portland, Niederreiter was chosen for the prestigious CHL Top Prospects Game, playing for coach Bobby Orr. During the skills competition on 20 January 2010, he scored a notable "trick shot" goal, and the next day he opened the scoring in the actual game. With 2:38 left in the first period, he beat top-ranked goaltender Calvin Pickard to give Team Orr a 1–0 lead at the break; Team Cherry eventually won 4–2. In his first North American season and rookie year with the Winterhawks, Niederreiter led the team in goals with 36, ranking 18th across the WHL and second among WHL rookies. He also added 24 assists for 60 points, fourth-best on the team, and recorded 16 points in 13 playoff games, second-best on the club. The WHL named him to the Western Conference Second All-Star Team.

The NHL Central Scouting Bureau predicted Niederreiter would become just the fourth Swiss player drafted in the first round in the 2010 NHL entry draft. TSN analyst Bob McKenzie thought he could become the highest-drafted Swiss player ever. Central Scouting ranked him 14th among North American-trained players in its midterm rankings and 12th in its final rankings. Those predictions came true when the New York Islanders selected him fifth overall. At the time, he was the highest-drafted Swiss player in NHL history, a record he held until 2017, when Nico Hischier became the first Swiss player taken first overall.

The Islanders picked Niederreiter fifth overall, making him the first European (though North American–trained) player drafted that year. He started the 2010–11 season in the NHL after signing a three-year, entry-level contract. Making his NHL debut on 9 October 2010, he became the youngest player in Islanders history to appear in a game, surpassing Dave Chyzowski’s record. On 13 October, he scored his first NHL goal against Washington Capitals goaltender Michal Neuvirth.

At 18 years and 35 days, he became the youngest Islander and the fifth-youngest NHL player in the expansion era (post-1967) to score a goal; only Aleksander Barkov (18 years, 31 days), Grant Mulvey (18 years, 32 days), Jordan Staal (18 years, 32 days), and Patrick Marleau (18 years, 34 days) were younger. On 28 October, the Islanders sent Niederreiter back to the Winterhawks for further development. Because he played only nine NHL games, his contract did not count as a full year (ten games would have triggered that).

Back with Portland, he had a career year, scoring 41 goals and 29 assists for 70 points in 55 games.

Niederreiter spent the 2011–12 season with the Islanders, mostly playing on the fourth line alongside defensive veterans Marty Reasoner and Jay Pandolfo to gain experience.

Due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Niederreiter was assigned to the Islanders’ AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. After the lockout ended, he was not invited to the Islanders’ training camp and reportedly requested a trade. General manager Garth Snow said the relationship was fine, stating, "[A]ll conversations with players remain private, but I will say that Nino has never told me that he's unhappy."

On 30 June 2013, Niederreiter was traded to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Cal Clutterbuck and the New Jersey Devils’ third-round pick in the 2013 NHL draft.