Niku has signed a contract with JYP Jyvaskyla of the Finnish Elite League, Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun reports.
Niku played with JYP Jyvaskyla from 2014-17 before making the jump to North American hockey. He played 67 career NHL games with Winnipeg and Montreal, scoring two goals and 16 points in the process. The 25-year-old blueliner showed flashes of potential, including his 54-point campaign with AHL Manitoba in 2017-18, but he was never able to find consistency at the top level.
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Canadiens' Sami Niku: Joins taxi squad
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Niku cleared waivers and joined the taxi squad Thursday.
Niku has distributed six assists over 13 NHL appearances this season and three in his last four games. He landed on waivers Wednesday and went unclaimed. The 25-year-old hasn't yet played for AHL Laval this season.
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Canadiens' Sami Niku: On waivers
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The Canadiens placed Niku on waivers Wednesday.
Niku will join AHL Laval if he goes unclaimed on waivers. The 25-year-old defenseman has recorded six assists in 13 games this season.
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Canadiens' Sami Niku: Two helpers in Saturday's loss
Rotowire
Niku recorded two assists in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Panthers.
The 25-year-old has been surprisingly productive since returning to action Tuesday, picking up three helpers in two games. On the season, Niku has managed six points (all assists) through 12 games while spotting in and out of Montreal's lineup.
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Canadiens' Sami Niku: Back in action Tuesday
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Niku (not injury related) will suit up against the Lightning on Tuesday, per the NHL's media site.
Niku will suit up for the first time since Nov. 29 after dealing with COVID-19 protocols and postponements this month. The 25-year-old blueliner has three assists through nine games in his first season with Montreal.
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Canadiens' Sami Niku: Clears COVID-19 protocols
Rotowire
Niku (not injury related) was removed from the NHL's COVID-19 protocols Monday but isn't expected to play before Saturday's clash with the Bruins, Arpon Basu of The Athletic reports.
Even once Niku is available to play, he is far from a lock for the lineup, especially once Chris Wideman (personal) rejoins the team. The 25-year-old Niku has played in just nine contests for the Habs this year in which he registered three assists, five hits and eight shots.
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Canadiens' Sami Niku: Placed in COVID-19 protocols
Rotowire
Niku entered the NHL's COVID-19 protocols Thursday.
Niku has been limited to just nine games for Montreal this season in which he recorded three assists, eight shots and five hits while averaging 14:36 of ice time. Even once cleared to rejoin the team, Niku is far from a lock for the lineup and will likely have to watch from the press box periodically.
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Canadiens' Sami Niku: Slides helper in win
Rotowire
Niku had an assist, one hit and one blocked shot in Saturday's 6-3 win over Pittsburgh.
Niku continued to fill in for the injured Brett Kulak (lower body) for a third straight game and provided offense on Montreal's third goal. Holding the puck in the corner, the defenseman found Christian Dvorak, alone in front of the next, for his third assist of the season.
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Canadiens' Sami Niku: Slots in for Kulak
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Niku had four shots on goal and one blocked shot over 14:25 of ice time in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Capitals.
Niku filled in for the injured Brett Kulak (lower body), suiting up for the first time since Nov. 2. He has a pair of assists in nine games played.
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Canadiens' Sami Niku: Healthy scratch Sunday
Rotowire
Niku was a healthy scratch for Sunday's game against the Ducks.
Niku's spot on the third pair was filled by Chris Wideman, who contributed a power-play assist in a 4-2 loss. Wideman's likely to remain in the lineup Tuesday when the Canadiens host the Red Wings at Bell Centre.
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Canadiens' Sami Niku: Slides two helpers in debut
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Niku had two assists, one shot on goal, one hit and one blocked shot over 15:32 of ice time in Saturday's 6-1 win over Detroit.
The Canadiens erupted Saturday after scoring just four goals in their first five games. And much of the explosion came from newcomers like Niku, who was in the lineup for the first time this season and played 2:40 on the power play. He first set up fellow newbie Mike Hoffman for a man-advantage goal -- the game-winner -- then had the secondary assist on Christian Dvorak's goal in the second period. The effort earned Niku the game's second star. The 25-year-old defenseman doesn't have a long track record in the NHL, having played a total of 54 games for Winnipeg the previous four seasons.
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Canadiens' Sami Niku: Activated off IR
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Niku (concussion) has been activated off injured reserve, per the NHL's media site.
Although Niku has been cleared to play, he isn't expected to be in the lineup for Saturday's game versus the Rangers. The 25-year-old blueliner went scoreless in six games with Winnipeg last season.
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Canadiens' Sami Niku: Shifts to IR
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Nike (concussion) was placed on injured reserve Monday, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.
Niku is dealing with a concussion from a preseason game but had since returned to practice. It's unclear if he suffered a setback or if this is more of a paper move for Montreal as the team sets its roster to open the season. Once he's healthy, the 25-year-old blueliner could be shuffled to AHL Laval.
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Canadiens' Sami Niku: Returns to the ice
Rotowire
Niku (concussion) skated prior to Montreal's main practice group Wednesday.
Niku is working his way back from a concussion he suffered during Friday night's preseason game versus Ottawa. Once cleared, the 24-year-old blueliner will likely be assigned to AHL Laval.
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Canadiens' Sami Niku: Diagnosed with concussion
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Niku suffered a concussion during Friday night's preseason game versus the Senators.
Niku should be considered out indefinitely. Once healthy, the 24-year-old blueliner will almost certainly be assigned to AHL Laval. Niku went scoreless while posting a minus-3 rating in six appearances with the Jets last season.
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Canadiens' Sami Niku: Signs two-way deal with Montreal
Rotowire
Niku signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Canadiens on Friday.
Niku drew into just six games with the Jets last season, going scoreless while posting a minus-3 rating over that span. The 24-year-old Finn will likely spend most, if not all of the upcoming campaign in the minors.
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Sami Niku: Waived for termination
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Niku was placed on unconditional waivers by the Jets on Monday in order to terminate his contract, Ken Wiebe of Sportsnet reports.
Niku was selected by Winnipeg in the seventh round of the 2015 NHL Draft but only managed to log 54 games for the club, including just six last year. With only 10 points to show for his time in the NHL, Niku's release shouldn't come as a surprise. The blueliner may have to return to Finland if he wants to continue his professional career.
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Jets' Sami Niku: Signs two-year contract
Rotowire
Niku signed a two-year, $1.45 million contract with the Jets on Thursday, Frank Seravalli of TSN.ca reports.
Niku's name has floated around in trade rumors lately, but it appears the Jets are interested in keeping him around for now. The deal is a bargain for the Finn, who has 10 points in 48 career games. Niku may have trouble breaking into the starting lineup with the Jets, as Dylan DeMelo, Tucker Poolman and Neal Pionk also play on Niku's favored right side. As such, the 24-year-old Niku shouldn't be expected to make much of a contribution to fantasy managers in 2020-21.
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Jets' Sami Niku: Given qualifying offer
Rotowire
The Jets extended a qualifying offer to Niku on Sunday.
The 23-year-old was limited to a depth role on the blue line for the Jets last season, earning five helpers and 16:10 of ice time across 17 games. Should Niku elect to stay in Winnipeg for the 2020-21 season, he'll become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
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Jets' Sami Niku: Given clean bill of health
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General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff believes that Niku (lower body) is now healthy, Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun reports.
Niku was dealing with a lower-body injury prior to the NHL's suspension of play, but he should be a full participant when the Jets' unofficial training camp gets underway in July. The 23-year-old blueliner has notched five helpers in 17 games this season.
