29. Nino Niederreiter – RW
3 Seasons, 243 Games, 58 Goals, 58 Assists, 116 Points
“El Nino” came to the Wild from the Islanders in a trade that sent fan-favorite Cal Clutterbuck packing (with a 3rd round draft pick). Niederreiter, a former #5 overall draft pick, had struggled in his two first forays in the NHL, collecting just 3 points in 64 games with the Islanders. Relegated to the AHL for the entire lockout shortened 2012-2013 season, the trade gave him a chance for a fresh start with a team that needed offensive help.
Within 5 games of his Minnesota Wild career, he tied the number of points in his entire career in Long Island. He ended his first season with 36 points and has seen his point totals steadily increase over his three years with the Wild. While he isn’t the point-per-game scorer he was in the WHL, he has shown his worth as a capable scorer, with a gritty edge that puts him in dirty spots in front of the net. If he can stay on track, and stays with the team, there’s no reason that he can’t end up being a top 10 Wild player down the road.
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