Old man Niederreiter adds teaching role to list of duties

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This article was published 20/09/2024 (715 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The aging curve

Jets winger Nino Niederreiter was joking about being the elder statesman on the roster after the departure of D-men Brenden Dillon in free agency when asked a question about how he sees his role evolving this season.

“I guess I’m the oldest guy on the team, which seems a little strange and weird,” said Niederreiter, who turned 32 on Sept. 8. “What I’ve got to know over the years, helping out the younger guys, if I see a guy going through a slump, kind of pick him up and be the positive input in the locker room. I think that’s something I feel I should do this year.”

Versatile forward Vladislav Namestnikov will turn 32 in November.

Niederreiter was at his entertaining best on Friday after scoring a deflection goal, bringing his hockey stick to his left ear – as if he was listening to what his instrument would be telling him after finding the back of the net.

Might Niederreiter break that celebration out in a game situation later this season?

“Hopefully, let’s see what happens,” said Niederreiter. “I just want to help the team as much as I can, and hopefully can score a few goals this year. But overall, we have to win somehow, and that’s the most important thing.”

Niederreiter was involved in a charity game this summer in Switzerland in what was played at the highest accessible point in Europe.

“That was an unbelievable experience. I mean, they call it Top of Europe, which was amazing,” said Niederreiter. “They flew us all up with the helicopters, and it was what’s a great setup, let’s put it that way.”

Niederreiter scored a pair of goals in the contest, including one that opened the scoring.

One difference from last season for Niederreiter is that his contract situation is settled, after signing a three-year extension on Dec. 4 that includes an AAV of $4 million.

The security won’t change his mentality, though.

“When you don’t have a contract, you obviously worry about it. You don’t know what’s next. You don’t know what to do. Same time, you want to produce, you want to make sure you put up as many points as you can and you want to help the team. But whenever you’re in a contract year, it’s always on your mind. It’s not something you can just put aside because it has to do with the future. Obviously lucky, got a chance to sign it last year, an early extension, which is very fortunate. Coming into camp this year, you just focus on being yourself.”

Barlow has narrow focus

Jets 2023 first-rounder Colby Barlow is set to make his preseason debut on Saturday against the Minnesota Wild.

Barlow was involved in training camp last fall, but didn’t get the full experience as he got sick early and never got into any exhibition action.

“I’m definitely taking my vitamins. Just trying to stay healthy,” said Barlow, who got into three American Hockey League games with the Manitoba Moose at the end of last season. “Not getting sick, taking care of my body, making sure nothing’s tweaking, nothing’s feeling bad. So I could take this all in and give it all I have every single day.”

There’s been plenty of speculation about the Ontario Hockey League future for Barlow, should the forward prospect eventually be returned to junior by the Jets.

Barlow chose not to report to OHL training camp earlier this month, preferring to continue his offseason plan with Gary Roberts before heading to Winnipeg.

“As a family, and myself, we just thought it would be beneficial to me to keep working out, keep skating with the guys in the program. It’s nothing to do with Owen Sound, they’ve given me the world, they’ve been absolutely awesome. I just thought, going into this camp I want to be focused.”

Several observers have speculated Barlow could be on the move to the Oshawa Generals to join Anaheim Ducks prospect Beckett Sennecke.

Does Barlow expect to eventually be traded by the Attack?

“Just kind of see how it goes,” said Barlow. “I’m just worried about being here. Taking it day by day at Jets camp.”

Barlow built a strong relationship with former Jets prospect Rutger McGroarty during development camp in 2023, so it was natural for him to be asked about the trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins for fellow forward Brayden Yager.

“Yeah, it’s kind of not really any of my business. I wish the best for him,” said Barlow. “Great we got Yags, I know Yags pretty well. We’re good buddies. I wish both players well as we move forward.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X: @WiebesWorld

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg