Top 25 Islanders Under 25: Nino Niederreiter at #6...for now
by Dominik on Nov 4, 2011 6:11 PM EDT
in Islanders in Diapers
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When we tallied votes for this before training camp began, I figured by the time we got around to Nino Niederreiter his NHL play would have given us a strong indication of how right or wrong we were. Well, stuff happens.
Niederreiter can be currently considered a pro, doing a conditioning stint in the AHL after missing the start of the season with a groin injury. But while he's penciled in and is currently on the 23-man NHL roster, he can still go back to juniors this season if things don't quite work out.
The latter scenario looks unlikely at this point, but it's a reflection of where he is in his career and on our Top 25 Under 25 list: At that junction between the well-regarded pro-aspirant prospect and the few U25 Islander properties who already have established spots on the NHL roster.
If Nino check in Bridgeport for the full two weeks to see what condition his condition is in, there's a full slate of Sound Tigers games in that time. And then ... the Islanders host the Rangers Tuesday, Nov. 15.
It'd be tough if he comes up while the team is still struggling offensively; that's a lot of hope placed on a very young player's shoulders. You don't want to be in the position of hoping a 19-year-old is the tonic you need when it's the regulars not named John Tavares who are failing to produce.
Whatever happens in the next few weeks, Niederreiter's re-introduction will be a fun exercise: Does he stay a pro? Does he show he still needs plenty of work? Does he show enough to indicate he can get the rest through on-the-job training?
And most importantly for this post, will his performance move him up or down this list the next time we poll?
Selfishly, beyond the ebb and flow of this season's fortunes, my curiosity about how youngsters like Nino develop is what ensures it's never a dull day in Islanders Country. I know where I see Nino today. I've no idea where I'll see him in January.
How We Voted
| Top 25 Under 25 | mikb | M11 | CIL | Dom | KQ | Web/Mark |
| Nino Niederreiter |
5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
For this first edition, we polled LHH authors Keith, WebBard (Mark D), mikb, myself, and two particularly prospect-focused LHH regulars, CanadianIslesLifer and MatthewM11. We wanted enough to get a decent number of voters but not so much that we make the first run unwieldy. It is absolutely unscientific but with varied enough votes to get us thinking about who are the best hockey players now, balanced with who has the best potential/value long-term.
Niederreiter's average rank is fifth, but thanks to varying votes on the remaining four, he sits 6th on our preseason poll.
Previous Posts in This Top 25 Islanders Under 25 Series
- Those who didn't make the Top 25
- #25: Anton Klementyev, D
- #24: Not to be Pedantic, but is it Andrei or Andrey Pedan, D
- #23: Mark Katic (D) shoulders the burden
- #22: Rhett Rakhshani (W)
- #21: Matt Martin (LW), budding 'stache
- #20: Johan Sundström, C
- #19: David Ullström, C/W
- #18: Scott Mayfield, D
- #17: Kirill "A" Petrov, W
- #16: Feisty Casey Cizikas, C
- #15: Towering Anders Nilsson, G
- #14: Roloson Reward Ty Wishart, D
- #13: Oklahoman Matt Donovan, D
- #12: Brock Nelson, C/LW/Reverend
- #11: Kirill Kabanov is a Thing to Say, W
- #10: Calvin de Haan, D
- #9: Anders Lee, C/W
- #8: Josh Bailey, C, 220 Games and Counting
- #7: Kevin Poulin, g: They let another goalie in?
The Top 25 under 25 is an idea conceived by Oilers blog Copper & Blue and copied elsewhere, incorporated here by popular demand. We cut it off at players who were under 25 going into this season, so Andrew MacDonald, having just turned 25 this month, barely misses eligibility
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He is one big physical forward at minimum. I think he'll have a long career one way or another.
He could be a decent 3rd liner I’d think if the offense never pans out, but he could also be a Corey Perry type 1st liner(a comparison I could definitely see), which would be awesome.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
It's going to be interesting
First very anticipated non-Tavares forward since … Bailey.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Nov 4, 2011 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Hmm so who are the top 5?
Tavares, Grabner, Hamonic, Strome, and Okposo I guess. I forgot about Okposo for a second lol
This is where I have Nino as well
but I’m very surprised that the consensus has Strome higher
author of "57 Easy Ways to Score More Than 2 Goals a Game"
Nino:
Ich see your hockey stick ist as big as mine
"the great hope"
My prediction is that hewill be a Matt Martin type who scores more, but don’t expect he will be an instant success. – but we can hope!
Nino can have 15 pro games this season before a decision has to made.
I have seen several different explanations of how and when the 9 NHL games are counted. I have seen it written that they are only games played. Does that mean that after he starts playing with the Isles, he could stil be scratched and those games will not count?
by DanInDubai on Nov 4, 2011 10:44 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
if he isnt in the lineup for the game it doesnt count
screw homework, its all about islanders hockey
Correct
Conditioning stint is a max of 14 consecutive days, with apparently no limit on the number of AHL games during that loan.
The ELC (Entry Level Contract) trigger starts when a player hits his 10th NHL GP in a given season. I keep quoting the CBA on that, but here’s an example from last year:
Brayden Schenn played his 8th game for L.A. in L.A.’s 11th game of the season on Oct. 30, 2010. (They also had him play seven games in AHL Manchester during a conditioning stint.)
By the way, welcome, Dan. Glad your login got sorted out.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Take it with a grain of salt
Swiss media reported yesterday that Niederreiter will be on Long Island for the season. Nino moving in with Streit can be read for sure as a step in this direction.
According to Blick Garth Snow promised that Nino will not be sent back.
They quote him saying: “We know that Nino is ready for a full NHL season”
However they don’t specify how old the quote is. Could also be a recycled summer quote.
Südostschweiz reports that Nino will not go back to the WHL after his AHL stint. Nino apparently confirmed that he will not be sent back to juniors this season. They don’t have a direct quote, so caution is warranted.
For what we know the “confirmation” could be something like:
SOS: "Will you go back to Portland after the AHL conditioning stint?
NN: No, I will play with the Islanders.
Journalists often hear what they wanna hear.
At the bottom of the Südostschweiz article, you can also find a link to a blog post written by Nino
For this one, Google translate delivers some hilarious lines like: “Do not worry, I will not morph into a bat!”
Thanks!
No doubt, we’ll take it guardedly. But it’s another sign.
I will now morph into a bat.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
#8 on my list
The 2010 draft was one of my favorites because I thought Nino would be special. Anyone who saw his first WJC effort had him on their wish list, but we had a defense to fix. With Gudbranson gone at 3, Fowler was the “no brainer” at 5, or Gromley who was coming out of the Danny Flynn defenseman factory (see Andrew Macdonald). But one of the biggest needs the team had was SIZE… and they already had deHaan and Donovan in the fold for average sized puck moving defenders… so that gave Garth options. In my mind it was either take a chance and start trading down, or slightly overdraft Nino.
I was happier than a ranger fan at a boy scout jamboree when they announced Nino. I was already rooting for Martin to bring “psychicality”(I’m too lazy to find the glossary, but the regulars know what I mean)… but with Nino we might get that firey big body physical player that could run with Kyle in the playmaking, puck possession world.
So far he hasn’t dissapointed. But even on a team that is not overflowing with current talent, he hasn’t PUSHED his way into the lineup.
With Jeff Skinner already reaching SURE THING status with a calder under his belt, and Fowler having really nice rookie campaign for the Ducks… the second guessers are perched. Add to that Burmistrov sticking with the Thrasherets and you raise the bar of expectations for Nino’s second year.
He did have a nice year at Portland that some may say was a dependent one, and he’s too young to send to Bridgeport (except on a conditioning stint). His immediate assention to the NHL ranks was disrupted by a groin pull, and the ability of the Islanders to aquire such luminary NHL vets as Brian Rolston and Jay Pandolfo…
Let’s hope that both of those guys are in the pressbox and/or bridgeport before the new year.
The only player that might stop Nino from getting a full NHL season is Nino. He should be able to prove he’s capable in the AHL, and he will be with the big club the rest of the way.
Just don’t set your expectations too high, and you won’t be disappointed. He’s a 19-year old POWER FORWARD… which is the hardest profile to fill as a professional. It’s one which takes time to physically and MENTALLY mature into more than any other. He does offer better skating and hands than most at 19, otherwise I’d be on the “Back to Portland” bandwagon myself. Nino probably needs to blossom as a fourth liner, and the Islanders have already made a nest for him with Marty Reasoner.
Hopefully we’ll see the 10th game of a long successful career in the middle of November.
LighthouseHockey: We saw this coming!
@JPinVA
by JPinVA on Nov 5, 2011 9:59 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Sorry for the Tardiness
been on the road to Ottawa, and then the Eastern Townships of Quebec, on Vermont border…just got home…will be reading and commenting for Nino, Bailey, and Poulin…
by CanadianIsleslifer on Nov 5, 2011 7:37 PM EDT reply actions
Nino
In the early going, I favoured Cam Fowler…but as the draft drew closer, I was getting scared off, reading numerous reports. Always hoping for that missing big D, and suspecting as most that the Isles wanted right centre Ryan Johanson (4th to Columbus), I was glad they picked Nino at 5. I remember the anouncers at the draft on TSN, they were pretty excited, thought it was a bold pick…as others noted, it was a bit of an overdraft, but not by much. Again, as others wrote, Nino has the potential to fill a real need in the Isles system, a power forward. Someone who has that rare combination of size, skill, strength and the desire to use it. A power forward who will drive to the net and not shy away from physicality. In fact, the kid seems to excel when the game is physical. Nino is one of those picks that is pretty safe insofar as his potential to make the NHL, with a ceiling as a first liner and a basement as a fourth liner. I love that he agitates people, gets under their skin. That will ensure there is emotion in the game….Imagine Nino on the first line in 3 years and Dibo on the fourth… I also love that he hits and bangs…so few current Isles do now…Whether he starts fast or takes 3 years to turn into a top 6 forward, who knows…but I am reminded of numerous power forwards who took a few years to shine…Rick Tocchet, and Cam Neely whom was given up on by Vancouver, traded to Boston as part of a package for Barry Pederson. Time will tell if Nino pans out as a top 6, but his chances are good, and only aided by the fact that Isles have so much elite depth @ centre with Tavares, Strome (I know he is not in NHL yet) and Nielson.
by CanadianIsleslifer on Nov 5, 2011 10:40 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
#8 The Ocho
on my list. Tons of upside and should be a good fit. Looking forward to seeing what he can do soon.
Tavares is Tavares.
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May 24, 1980: Tonelli to Nystrom. At long last, the steady build of the New York Islanders from expansion doormat to surprise semifinalist to annual contender reaches the promised land: Buoyed by a late season trade for Butch Goring that gave the team the depth up the middle GM Bill Torrey had been seeking, the Islanders knock off the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.
The victory justified the faith in coach Al Arbour who guided them from their second season to their first Stanley Cup seven seasons later. The Islanders would not be the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, but they would be the only one capable of a dynasty.
1980-81
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Between the quarterfinals (where they beat the upstart Oilers in six games) and the finals, the Islanders reeled off eight consecutive wins -- with a four-game sweep of archrival Rangers in between. As they defeated the Minnesota North Stars in five games for their second Cup, their goal difference in the final was a combined +10.
1981-82
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May 16, 1982: Another year, another landslide title. The Islanders won the Patrick Division by a whopping 26 points over the second-place Rangers, and were seven points clear of their nearest competition for the President's Trophy, the still-not-quite-ripe Edmonton Oilers.
A first-round scare against the Pittsburgh Penguins turned in the Isles' favor thanks to John Tonelli's heroics, and a true dynasty was on its way: Past the Rangers in six games, then an eight-game sweep of the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks to run away with the Stanley Cup.
1982-83
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May 17, 1983: Not so fast, whipper-snappers. The Edmonton Oilers' steadily rising challenge for league supremacy took them all the way to the finals for the first time, where the New York Islanders summarily dispatched them in a four-game sweep. For the Islanders, the Dynasty was secured. For the Oilers, it was a powerful lesson in where talent ends and the demands of playoff hockey begin.
Four years, four Cups, 16 consecutive playoff series wins (a record that would grow to 19 until the rematch with the Oilers the following year). Mike Bossy scored 60 goals yet again, and Wayne Gretzky became acquainted with Billy Smith's crease.
