Niederreiter signs 3-year contract extension with Jets

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This article was published 04/12/2023 (672 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Nino Niederreiter admittedly didn’t know much about Winnipeg when he was traded here last February. Now? He couldn’t imagine planting roots and playing anywhere else.

The versatile 31-year-old forward put that commitment in writing Monday, signing a three-year contract extension with the Jets that locks up another valuable member of the club’s core.

“I’m very happy to be here,” Niederreiter said prior to puck drop against the Carolina Hurricanes. “It’s definitely a great feeling to know you have a chance to be here for the next three years. I feel like we’ve got a really good chance to be a contending team here. And I think that’s where I wanted to be.”

Niederreiter was obtained from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a second-round draft pick and has been the picture of consistency since his arrival. He had 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 22 regular-season games down the stretch last year, and 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in his first 23 games this year.

He’s also found success on a line with captain Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton.

“It’s awesome news,” said Lowry. “I think it’s good to know that he’ll be here and to hopefully get the opportunity to play with him a lot more and continue building that chemistry. Been a great fit since we got him last year, he’s really well-liked and respected in the dressing room. He plays super hard and I think he’s kind of what we’re all about in this organization.”

Niederreiter was in the final year of his contract that pays him US $4 million, and that’s exactly what he’ll make for the following three seasons. The Switzerland product could have tested the free agent waters next summer but never seriously considered it.

“It’s a tough market out there. The big players getting paid a lot of money, the middle class, I guess, they’ve got to work for it to earn it and I think that’s why free agency is always a dangerous thing to go into,” he said.

“I’m obviously very fortunate to be able to be here.”

Despite his longevity and pedigree, Niederreiter said he came to training camp with the idea that he had to prove his worth to the Jets and earn himself a contract offer. Mission accomplished.

“I feel like we’ve got a really good chance to be a contending team here. And I think that’s where I wanted to be.”– Winnipeg Jets forward Nino Niederreiter

“At the end of the day you’ve always got to go out there and try to prove yourself and prove to the team that you deserve another contract. And I think that’s the attitude I’ve always had throughout my career,” he said.

“I don’t try to not take anything for granted, and, like I said, I’m happy to be here and it seems like we have a good chance for the next coming years to be an elite team. I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Niederreiter said the organization’s current culture, along with seven-year contract extensions signed in September by centre Mark Schiefele and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, made signing on the dotted line a no-brainer.

“It definitely showed to the city and to the team that they want to go for a run here and want to be a contender,” he said. “I think as a player that’s where you want to be. And obviously, once they signed I tried to do whatever I could possible to play my best hockey and earn another contract, and now here I am, and I’m pretty happy about it.”

Jets coach Rick Bowness is thrilled, as well. Niederreiter has shown himself to be both an on and off-ice leader, someone he can rely on in all situations.

“He’s been a huge addition to our team since we got him last year. Versatility. He’s a competitor. He’s a great teammate. Hard-working guy. He’s a really good Winnipeg Jet,” said Bowness.

The veteran bench boss noted how the tables have seemingly turned in this market.

“Listen, all we heard a couple of years ago is people wanted out. Now, we’re hearing people want in. That’s a great thing,” said Bowness. “He wants to be a Winnipeg Jet. We have a guy who could have played out the season, gone to unrestricted free agency and see what else was out there, other locations, other teams. But he wants to be a Winnipeg Jet.”

Niederreiter skated in his 834th career regular-season game on Monday, facing one of the teams (and coaches) he’s previously played for. (The New York Islanders and Minnesota Wild are the others).

“You talk about consistency. You know the kind of game he plays. Not a flashy player but he’s a big body that knows how to play. Very steady. Not a lot of highs and lows in his game. He’s there, he does a job that you want.”– Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour

“You talk about consistency. You know the kind of game he plays,” said Carolina’s Rod Brind’Amour. “Not a flashy player but he’s a big body that knows how to play. Very steady. Not a lot of highs and lows in his game. He’s there, he does a job that you want.”

Lowry said momentum is being built inside the room, with Scheifele, Hellebuyck and now Niederreiter locked up along with existing core players including Josh Morrissey, Nikolaj Ehlers, Kyle Connor and himself, among others.

“It’s nice to know that there’s a bunch of key pieces that you can build around. It’s a good sign that the organization is doing a lot of good things,” said Lowry.

“Once we get people in the door they see how well we are treated, how close we are as a team and things like that. To know guys are willing to commit when they could test free agency, they can pick where they want to play and they choose to stay, it means a lot not only to us but to people in the organization that work so hard to make it such a good place to play, that we can keep a lot of these guys.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg