Winnipeg Jets terminating Sami Niku's contract
The Winnipeg Jets and defenceman Sami Niku are parting ways. The Jets have placed Niku on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract.
It isn't known right now if this is a mutual decision. However, Niku has expressed discontent in the past about his lack of time in the NHL. The 24-year-old has played just 54 games with the Jets so far, spending the rest of his time in North America with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.
According to Murat Ates, who covers the Jets for The Athletic, the team attempted to trade him, but could not find a team that was interested for the right price. Other reports state his one way contract made him difficult to trade.
Niku was drafted in the seventh round, 198th overall, in 2015. The native of Finland has played in the Finnish Elite League before. However, Chris Johnston of Sportsnet states Niku's focus right now is on finding another NHL contract instead of returning home. He had one year remaining on a deal signed as a restricted free agent. It was worth $725,000 AAV. In his first season with the Manitoba Moose, the blueliner scored 16 goals and 54 points. He won the AHL's Defenceman of the Year award that season.
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Mitch Marner | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Logan Cooley | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| William Nylander | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jack McBain | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Dylan Guenther | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Michael Kesselring | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Fraser Minten | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Mikhail Sergachev | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Chris Tanev | - | 1 | 1 | |
| John Tavares | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Simon Benoit | - | - | - | |
| Nick Bjugstad | - | - | - | |
| Michael Carcone | - | - | - | |
| Ian Cole | - | - | - | |
| Lawson Crouse | - | - | - | |
| Connor Dewar | - | - | - | |
| Oliver Ekman-Larsson | - | - | - | |
| Barrett Hayton | - | - | - | |
| Pontus Holmberg | - | - | - | |
| Clayton Keller | - | - | - | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 21 | 17 | 4 | - | 34 | |
Wild | 20 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 30 | |
Devils | 23 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 30 | |
Hurricanes | 20 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 29 | |
Golden Knights | 21 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 28 | |
Maple Leafs | 21 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 28 | |
Capitals | 20 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 27 | |
Flames | 21 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 27 | |
Stars | 19 | 13 | 6 | - | 26 | |
Rangers | 19 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 25 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||