Swiss sniper to hit historic milestone

A weekly lap around the NHL by Free Press hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe

Nino Niederreiter vividly remembers his first NHL game. He had just recently turned 18 years old, fresh off being the fifth-overall draft pick by the New York Islanders that summer, and his team was hosting the Dallas Stars to kick off the 201o-11 campaign.

“I had a shot on net. And that’s about it,” Niederreiter said on Friday with a laugh.

The power forward would play eight more games that fall — scoring his first goal and registering his first assist — before getting sent back to the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League. The next two years would be split between the NHL and AHL before Niederreiter established himself as a full-time big-leaguer starting in the fall of 2013.

Just look at him now. The 33-year-old is set to play his 1,000th NHL game on Saturday night as the Jets host the Washington Capitals. Only about five per cent of players ever hit this milestone, with Niederreiter becoming just the 415th in NHL history.

He will also be the first Switzerland-born player to do so, squeezing ahead of good friend (and former Nashville Predators teammate) Roman Josi, who is at 980.

“That is definitely very cool,” said Niederreiter, who has 495 points (246 goals, 249 assists) in his career.

“I grew up in a time where the NHL was so far away. Playing in the NHL was kind of like a dream. And seemed impossible to reach. Then you get drafted and you hope to play one game, and now you’re standing here playing 1,000 so it’s a definitely dream come true. And I wouldn’t change anything, to be honest.”

His idol was Swiss defenceman Mark Streit, who went on to play 786 NHL games between 2005-2018.

“He kind of paved the way for us. And everybody wanted to be like Mark Streit and hopefully play one game in the NHL,” said Niederreiter, who now serves as a role model for kids back in his home country and will represent Switzerland at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy.

“Then there’s the 500 game mark, where a few guys now reach, and now being able to achieve the 1,000 games itself was something which I hope other players are going to look up to and say, I want to play 1,000 games there one day.”

Niederrieter has plenty of family members and friends flying in to help celebrate his feat, along with plenty of proud teammates.

“He’s getting old,” joked Jets captain and frequent linemate Adam Lowry.

“It’s an incredible milestone. It’s a testament to his career, the work he’s put in, the consistency he’s had. I think he’s an unbelievable teammate, he’s come in here and fit right in the room. He’s got a great personality. He’s been a terrific linemate. I’ve been super fortunate to have the opportunity to play so many minutes with him since he’s gotten here.”

“It’s an incredible milestone. It’s a testament to his career, the work he’s put in, the consistency he’s had.”

Niederreiter is in the second of a three-year contract extension he signed with the Jets, who originally obtained him in a February 2023 trade with Nashville. He is currently fifth in team scoring with 15 points (6G, 9A) in 30 games.

“Everybody loves Nino,” said defenceman Josh Morrissey.

“What he’s done and the level of consistency he’s brought to get there is special. I think everyone involved in the game knows the hours and the work it takes and commitment and sacrifice. It’s the best league in the world. It’s tough to get here and even tougher to stay here. To be able to get here and excel for 1,000 is a special milestone for anybody.”

The only thing raining on Niederreiter’s parade right now is the fact the Jets are in a major funk, with just five wins in the past 18 games.

“There’s no better feeling than winning hockey games. Obviously it would have felt a lot better going into a game like (Saturday) night with that special milestone with winning a few hockey games,” he said.

Perhaps his big night might light a spark for his squad? Stay tuned.

AROUND THE GLASS

CAPITAL GAINS

For all of the talk about Canada’s goaltending situation for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics, Jets fans should get a close look at the front-runner for the starting job on Saturday.

Although backup Charlie Lindgren got the call last month when the two clubs met, Logan Thompson is expected to face the Jets in the second and final meeting of the season.

Thompson, who played for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, is among the league leaders in goals-against average (1.96) and save percentage (.926) in 22 starts this season.

Speaking of Canada’s potential players, right-winger Tom Wilson is leading the Capitals in both goals (17) and points (32) and also brings a physical presence and can kill penalties. Defenceman Jakob Chychrun is also in the mix to make the team and he currently sits third in team scoring with 11 goals and 25 points in 31 games.

LOCAL TIES

Alex Steeves isn’t technically a Manitoban, but he’s got plenty of local connections, which meant Thursday’s game between the Boston Bruins and the Jets had a little more meaning attached to it.

The 26-year-old forward was born in Saint Paul, Minn., but his father Glen played college hockey for the University of Manitoba Bisons while studying medicine and his uncle, Gord, was a longtime politician. Steeves also had plenty of support in the crowd from some relatives from Carnduff, Sask., which is where his grandfather’s family farm was located.

“I’ve played a handful of AHL games here (with the Toronto Marlies), but never in the NHL,” Steeves said after Thursday’s morning skate.

“It means a lot. A lot of the people that have supported me who will be here will be so excited. For me, I’m trying to make it just another game. But it definitely means more than that. I’ve been a Jets fan since the team came back, by extension of my dad.”

Steeves has spent the bulk of his career in the AHL to date, but he looks to have found a home with the Bruins this season. Although he was held off the scoresheet in Thursday’s 6-3 win over the Jets, Steeves has six goals and eight points in 16 NHL games, occasionally finding himself skating on a line with David Pastrnak.

“It’s been a blast. It’s been a really good opportunity to show my game in a bunch of different roles here,” said Steeves.

“I’m just trying to help the team win games and stick around. It’s been a really long journey here, but a journey I wouldn’t trade for anything. I always kept the belief in myself that it was going to come somewhere and it’s been coming here. I’m just working my butt off to preserve it and keep getting better.”

Steeves finished second in the AHL in goals last season with the Marlies, racking up 38 goals and 64 points in 61 games — impressive totals that caught the attention of the Bruins in free agency.

Originally added as a depth player, Steeves opened the season with the Providence Bruins, but has been flourishing since getting recalled in early November when Elias Lindholm was injured.

“I would say I’m kind of a hard, skilled player at this level,” said Steeves. “Play straightforward, try to play fast, very physical and disruptive out there. Maybe a pest to play against. I also think that when the scoring opportunities become available, I’m pretty dangerous there too. But I try to lead with the physicality and that leads to scoring chances.”

Steeves was always drawn to hockey, which makes sense given his dad’s connection to the sport.

“Probably just a byproduct of my parents. Looking back at photos, I had a hockey stick in my hand and was skating as soon as I could,” said Steeves, noting that Glen played in the WHL with the Swift Current Broncos and in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League with the St. Boniface Saints.

“From before I even had thoughts, I was a hockey player and once I had thoughts, I grew to absolutely love the game. I played with my brothers and being around it so much. I played some other sports growing up but hockey was always my passion.”

A graduate of the USHL, Steeves spent three seasons playing NCAA hockey with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish before signing as an undrafted free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

During four seasons in the Maple Leafs system, Steeves appeared in 14 NHL games. He feels fortunate to have spent all of his time in professional hockey with two Original Six franchises.

“The main thing you notice is history, expectation, fan base, stuff like that. Deep roots and really it just comes to being around longer. There’s been more history, more glory, more heartache and that leads to fans with high expectations,” he said.

“You’re always kind of pleasantly surprised by the following the organization has in different cities. (With) Original Six teams, more than anything, you notice that.”

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