14
Sami Niku (D)
Laval Rocket
Name: |
Sami Niku |
Number: |
14 |
Pos.: |
D |
Shoots: |
L |
Height: |
6-0 |
Weight: |
194 |
Birthdate: |
1996-10-10 |
Birthplace: |
Haapavesi, Finland |
Biography
NHL Entry Draft:
Winnipeg, Seventh Round, 198th Overall, 2015
Acquired:
Signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Winnipeg in 2017
Career Highlights/Trivia:
- Set NHL career highs in games played (30), assists (3) and points (4) in 2018-19
- Just the second rookie to ever win the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL's outstanding defenceman (2017-18)
- Named to the 2018 AHL First All-Star Team and All-Rookie Team
- Scored a goal in his NHL debut with Winnipeg, April 3/18 at Montreal
- Finished 7th in SM-Liiga for scoring by a defenceman in 2016-17
- Won SM-Liiga Bronze Medal with JYP (’17)
- Won U20 World Junior Gold in his home country with Team Finland (’16.)
- Won Gold Medal at EYOF with Team Finland in 2013-14
- Played on Finland’s U17 and U18 national teams
- One of five rookie defencemen named to the AHL First All-Star Team since 1975
- With Mason Appleton, the first rookie teammates to be named AHL First Team All-Stars since 1988-89 (2018)
- Played on the same U20 Gold Medal team as Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine in 2016
- Played his first professional game in SM-Liiga at age 17