Nino Niederreiter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nino Niederreiter
Niederreiter with the Winnipeg Jets in 2025
Born	(1992-09-08) 8 September 1992 (age 32) Chur, Switzerland
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	211 lb (96 kg; 15 st 1 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Winnipeg Jets HC Davos New York Islanders Minnesota Wild Carolina Hurricanes Nashville Predators
National team	Switzerland
NHL Draft	5th overall, 2010 New York Islanders
Playing career	2009–present

Nino Niederreiter (born on September 8, 1992) is a professional ice hockey player from Switzerland. He plays as a winger for the Winnipeg Jets in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Nino was picked fifth overall by the New York Islanders in the 2010 NHL entry draft. At that time, he was the highest-drafted Swiss hockey player ever in the NHL. This record was later broken by Nico Hischier in 2017. Nino started his NHL career with the Islanders in the 2010–11 season. After a few games, he went back to play for his junior team, the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Hockey League (WHL). Before coming to North America, Nino played in the junior league for the Swiss team HC Davos. He also played in three playoff games for their main team in 2010.

Nino found it hard to get enough playing time with the Islanders. He asked to be traded and then joined the Minnesota Wild. He played for the Wild for parts of five seasons. In his sixth year with the Wild, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes. He signed a contract to play for them for three more seasons. After that, he signed with the Nashville Predators. However, the Predators traded him to the Jets after only part of a season when their team was not doing well.

Nino's Hockey Journey

Playing in Junior Leagues

Unlike many Swiss hockey players, Nino chose to play in North American junior leagues. He believed this would give him a better chance to make it to the National Hockey League (NHL). Some past Swiss players picked early in the NHL Entry Draft did not become big stars in the NHL. Nino decided to follow his Swiss teammate and friend Luca Sbisa. He entered the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. The Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL) drafted him. He had a very successful first year with them.

Nino with the Winterhawks in November 2010

While playing for Portland, Nino was chosen for the important CHL Top Prospects Game. He played for coach Bobby Orr. During the skills competition on January 20, 2010, Nino scored an amazing "trick shot" goal. The next day, he scored the first goal in the actual game. He scored against top goaltender Calvin Pickard. Team Cherry eventually won the game 4–2. In his first season in North America, Nino led the Winterhawks with 36 goals. This made him second among all WHL rookies. He also had 24 assists, giving him 60 points. He added 16 points in 13 playoff games. The WHL recognized Nino by naming him to the Western Conference Second All-Star Team.

The NHL Central Scouting Bureau thought Nino would be one of the few Swiss players picked in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Hockey expert Bob McKenzie believed Nino could become the highest-drafted Swiss player ever. The NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked Nino 12th among North American players before the draft. These predictions came true when the New York Islanders picked him fifth overall. He held the record for the highest-drafted Swiss player until 2017. That year, Nico Hischier became the first Swiss player to be picked first overall by the New Jersey Devils.

Professional Career in the NHL

New York Islanders Years

The New York Islanders picked Nino fifth overall in the 2010 draft. He was the first European player drafted that year. He started the 2010–11 season playing in the NHL. He signed a three-year contract. On October 9, 2010, he played his first NHL game. This made him the youngest player in Islanders' history to play in an NHL game. Nino scored his first NHL goal on October 13 against Michal Neuvirth of the Washington Capitals. At 18 years and 35 days old, he became the youngest Islander to score a goal. He was also the fifth-youngest NHL player to score a goal since 1967. On October 28, the Islanders sent Nino back to the Winterhawks to help him develop more. Since he played only nine games, it did not count as a full year on his NHL contract. If he had played ten games, it would have.

Nino with the Islanders in September 2010

With Portland, Nino had his best year with 41 goals and 29 assists for 70 points in 55 games.

Nino spent the 2011–12 season with the Islanders. He mostly played on the fourth line to gain experience with older players like Marty Reasoner and Jay Pandolfo.

Because of the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Nino was sent to the Islanders' minor league team, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the American Hockey League (AHL). After the lockout ended, Nino was not invited to the Islanders' training camp. Reports said he asked for a trade. The Islanders' general manager Garth Snow said their relationship was fine. He stated that Nino never told him he was unhappy.

Time with the Minnesota Wild

On June 30, 2013, Nino was traded to the Minnesota Wild. The Wild sent Cal Clutterbuck and a draft pick to the Islanders. With the Wild, Nino got much more playing time and opportunities. He played among the top six forwards for most of the season. With the Islanders, he had only 2 goals and 1 assist in 64 games. In his first full season with the Wild, he improved greatly. He scored 14 goals and 22 assists (36 points) in 81 games.

Nino in 2013

On April 17, 2014, Nino played his first Stanley Cup playoff game. It was Game 1 of Minnesota's series against the Colorado Avalanche. He got an assist in that game. In Game 7 of the series, Nino scored two goals and one assist. He scored the winning goal in overtime to help the Wild move to the next round of the playoffs.

On September 11, 2014, Nino signed a new three-year contract with the Wild for $8 million.

During the 2015–16 season, Nino played on a line with Erik Haula and Jason Pominville. Even though they were the third line, they became one of the team's best. They scored many goals and played well against other teams' top lines. Nino finished the regular season third in goals for Minnesota.

On July 30, 2017, Nino and the Wild agreed to a new five-year contract worth $26.25 million. This meant they did not have to go to salary arbitration.

Carolina Hurricanes and Beyond

On January 17, 2019, Nino was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for Victor Rask. Both Nino and Rask had not been scoring as much with their old teams. The teams hoped a change would help them. Nino's scoring improved with the Hurricanes. He had only 9 goals and 23 points in 46 games with the Wild that season. In the next 36 games with Carolina, he scored 14 goals and 30 points. This was almost as many points as he had with Minnesota for the whole season.

On July 21, 2022, Nino signed a two-year contract worth $8 million with the Nashville Predators. He scored 18 goals in 56 games. However, the Predators were not playing well in the 2022–23 season. On February 25, 2023, Nino was traded to the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets sent a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft to the Predators.

On December 4, 2023, Nino signed a new three-year contract with the Jets for $12 million.

International Hockey Play

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Switzerland
World Championships
Silver	2013 Sweden/Finland
Silver	2018 Denmark
Silver	2024 Czechia
Silver	2025 Sweden/Denmark

Nino first played in an international tournament in 2008. He played for the Switzerland men's national under-18 ice hockey team at the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships in Russia. Switzerland finished eighth, and Nino scored two points. He played again in the 2009 tournament in the United States. He recorded six points as Switzerland again finished eighth.

At the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Nino led the Switzerland men's national junior ice hockey team to a big win over Russia. He scored two goals in a 3–2 victory. His first goal came in the last minute to send the game to overtime. His second goal was the winning goal in overtime. He finished the tournament with six goals and four assists. He was also chosen for the tournament all-star team.

During that tournament, Nino and Canada's Nazem Kadri had a moment that got attention. Kadri refused to shake hands with Nino after their semi-final game. Kadri later said he regretted not shaking hands.

Nino represented Switzerland at the 2024 IIHF World Championship and won a silver medal.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International Play Statistics

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2008	Switzerland	U18	8th		6	1	1	2	2
2009	Switzerland	U18	8th		6	3	3	6	16
2010	Switzerland	WJC	4th		7	6	4	10	10
2010	Switzerland	WC	5th		4	0	0	0	4
2011	Switzerland	WJC	5th		6	2	2	4	12
2012	Switzerland	WC	11th		6	0	0	0	2
2013	Switzerland	WC			10	5	3	8	2
2014	Switzerland	OG	9th		4	0	0	0	2
2016	Switzerland	WC	11th		7	3	3	6	2
2016	Team Europe	WCH			6	0	1	1	2
2018	Switzerland	WC			10	4	5	9	10
2019	Switzerland	WC	8th		2	1	1	2	0
2023	Switzerland	WC	5th		7	4	1	5	2
2024	Switzerland	WC			10	3	4	7	2
2025	Switzerland	WC			4	2	3	5	0
Junior totals					25	12	10	22	40
Senior totals					70	22	21	43	28

Awards and Honours