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Winnipeg Jets: Can Sami Niku Actually Carve Out an NHL Role This Season?

By Kyle McCarthy

NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 05: Sami Niku #83 of the Winnipeg Jets is congratulated by teammates Mark Scheifele #55 and Blake Wheeler #26 on scoring a goal against the Nashville Predators during the third period of 6-2 Jets victory in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 5, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 05: Sami Niku #83 of the Winnipeg Jets is congratulated by teammates Mark Scheifele #55 and Blake Wheeler #26 on scoring a goal against the Nashville Predators during the third period of 6-2 Jets victory in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 5, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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It’s not often a seventh rounder becomes a legit prospect, but that’s exactly what’s happened for the Winnipeg Jets.  But can he make the dream come true this season?

The Winnipeg Jets do have an opening at defense. Well, it’s not a glaring hole, but the door is open. Can Sami Niku squeeze through it? Who could know?

But figure that Josh Morrissey, Tyler Myers, Jacob Trouba and Dustin Byfuglien are locked into spots. Dmitry Kulikov and Ben Chiarot are a good bet to get some time. Joe Morrow and Tucker Poolman are vying for spots as well.

I would not be surprised to see Winnipeg open to moving someone, even knowing how important defensive depth is. Kulikov would be first on their list to go, based on his $4.33MM cap hit. Kulikov is fine, but he’s not worth that kind of money.

But it’s not a ridiculous contract, so someone might bite. He doesn’t have any surplus value, but hey, sometimes cap relief is enough.

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Look, none of those options for the bottom two are elite. Most fifth and sixth defensemen aren’t. I mean, most third and fourth defensemen aren’t. But, even after being picked in the seventh round of 2015, Sami Niku is a legit prospect.

He’s small, which is why I’m assuming he wasn’t a higher-value prospect leading up to the draft. The best thing about  Sami Niku? If he breaks camp with the team, he’s on pace for 82 goals next season.  Good enough for me to play him.  I think the Jets could use the offense.

But yes, Niku did score in his only game last season, against Montreal. Niku played 76 games at the AHL level with Manitoba, his first season since coming over from Finland. Sixteen goals and 54 points in those games, too. He was the team’s second leading scorer, behind Mason Appleton’s 66.

The team’s leading scorer was almost a defenseman in his first season with an AHL team. That’s a level of development you don’t normally expect.

Defensemen normally need time and seasoning. This dude came over and immediately blasted expectations. You’d be happy to see this out of a first rounder, this was a seventh. A real hidden gem for the Jets.

He’s not going to be the shutdown guy, especially with his size, he could get pushed around in the defensive zone. But he’s quick, he knows how to play hockey and he can pass and shoot. If he was 210 pounds, he’d be one of the NHL’s best prospects.

Will it work out for him at the NHL level?  I assume he’ll be in camp. I also assume he’ll get some playing time this coming season. One game was enough for Winnipeg last year, and he responded by lighting the lamp.

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The Jets will want to know what he could do with more time. I assume he’ll get in there for 30+ games, especially once Jacob Trouba suffers his yearly injury. Maybe Niku’ll make us forget about it.

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