Nino Niederreiter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nino Niederreiter
Niederreiter with the Minnesota Wild in 2019
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. This made him the highest-drafted Swiss hockey player in NHL history at that time. Later, Nico Hischier broke this record in 2017. Nino first played in the NHL with the Islanders during the 2010–11 season. Before playing in North America, he played for the junior team of HC Davos in Switzerland.

After a few years, Nino wanted more ice time. He was traded to the Minnesota Wild, where he played for five seasons. He then moved to the Carolina Hurricanes and later to the Nashville Predators. In 2023, he joined the Winnipeg Jets.

Nino Niederreiter's Hockey Journey

Playing Junior Hockey

Nino chose to play junior hockey in North America. This was a different path for many Swiss players. He hoped it would give him a better chance to reach the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Hockey League (WHL). He had a great first year with them.

Nino with the Winterhawks in November 2010

While playing for Portland, Nino was chosen for the special CHL Top Prospects Game. He even scored an amazing "trick shot" goal during the skills competition! The next day, he scored the first goal in the actual game. He led the Winterhawks in goals with 36 in his first season. He also had 24 assists, giving him 60 points.

Hockey experts believed Nino would be one of the first Swiss players picked in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. They were right! The New York Islanders picked him fifth overall. He was the highest-drafted Swiss player until 2017.

Starting His Professional Career

Time with the New York Islanders

Nino started playing in the NHL with the New York Islanders in the 2010–11 season. He was the youngest player in Islanders' history to play in an NHL game. On October 13, 2010, he scored his first NHL goal. At 18 years and 35 days old, he was one of the youngest players ever to score in the NHL.

Nino with the Islanders in September 2010

After playing nine games, the Islanders sent Nino back to the Winterhawks. This helped him develop his skills further. He had a fantastic year with Portland, scoring 41 goals and 29 assists.

During the 2011–12 season, Nino played a full year with the Islanders. He mostly played on the fourth line to gain experience. In the 2012–13 season, because of a league-wide break, Nino played for the Islanders' minor league team, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He played very well there, scoring 28 goals.

Moving to the Minnesota Wild

On June 30, 2013, Nino was traded to the Minnesota Wild. He got much more playing time and a bigger role with the Wild. He played in the top-six forward group for most of the season. With the Wild, he scored 14 goals and 22 assists in his first full season.

Nino in 2013

Nino made his Stanley Cup playoff debut on April 17, 2014. In Game 7 of that series, he scored two goals and an assist. One of his goals was the game-winner in overtime! This helped the Wild move on to the next round. Before the 2014–15 season, Nino signed a new three-year contract with the Wild.

In the 2015–16 season, Nino played on a line that became one of the team's best. He finished third in goals scored for Minnesota that season. In 2017, Nino signed another five-year contract with the Wild.

Playing for the Carolina Hurricanes

On January 17, 2019, Nino was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes. Both teams hoped the change would help their players. Nino's scoring improved a lot with the Hurricanes. He scored 14 goals and 30 points in his first 36 games with Carolina.

Time with the Predators and Jets

On July 21, 2022, Nino signed a two-year contract with the Nashville Predators. He scored 18 goals in 56 games. However, the Predators were not doing well that season. So, on February 25, 2023, Nino was traded to the Winnipeg Jets.

On December 4, 2023, Nino signed a new three-year contract to stay with the Jets.

International Hockey

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

Nino has played for Switzerland in many international tournaments. He first played for the Switzerland men's national under-18 ice hockey team in 2008.

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, including the game-winner in overtime! He finished the tournament with six goals and four assists. He was also chosen for the tournament all-star team.

He has also won silver medals with the senior Swiss team at the Ice Hockey World Championships in 2013, 2018, and 2024.

Career Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

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
Junior totals					25	12	10	22	40
Senior totals					66	20	18	38	28

Awards and Honours