Nino Niederreiter arrives in Winnipeg hoping to be the missing piece for Jets

WINNIPEG — Nino Niederreiter has been here before, metaphorically speaking.

The newest member of the Winnipeg Jets is no stranger to being dealt, so you can expect him to be a bit more comfortable with the process of acclimating to his new surroundings than others in his situation might be.

Niederreiter got a ride to the rink from Brenden Dillon on Monday morning, spent some time joking about how many cross-checks he was on the receiving end of from the Jets defenceman and then quickly found out his linemates in his first workout would be Pierre-Luc Dubois and Nikolaj Ehlers.

There was an ease in Niederreiter’s voice as he spoke with reporters for nearly seven minutes, documenting the series of events that transpired after hearing he was going to be traded for the third time in his NHL career — and second in the days leading up to the NHL trade deadline.

An upbeat individual by nature, Niederreiter wrapped up the conversation with a telling statement that sums up his optimistic nature.

“If there's a piece missing here, hopefully it can be me,” said Niederreiter, who was acquired from the Nashville Predators for a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft on Saturday afternoon.

As the Jets have hit a rough patch — dropping five of the past six games — Niederreiter’s arrival immediately fills a void.

He was brought in to help the process, but isn’t going to be asked to carry a large part of the load.

His playing style is something the Jets don’t have an abundance of and while it will take some time to see where he fits best, there’s no denying the elements he will bring to the table.

“I feel like my tenaciousness on the forecheck and in front of the net, getting those, hopefully, greasy goals and getting in the guy's face in front of the net and all those crumbs,” said Niederreiter. “I think that's my bread and butter and that's where I try to be there most.

“I definitely like to shoot the puck when I get the chance. I think my game overall is right around the crease and try to get those rebounds in front of the net.”

Earlier in the conversation, Niederreiter documented the process of being called to the front of the bus by Predators head coach John Hynes on Saturday afternoon before learning he would be on the move.

Since he didn’t pack his passport for the road trip, Niederreiter had to get back to Nashville, pack a few bags and then make his way to Winnipeg.

A Canadian work visa was also required and now that the red tape has been taken care of, Niederreiter will immerse himself into the playoff race, which continues on Tuesday with a pivotal game against the Los Angeles Kings.

"Yeah, I feel it. Right now, you've got to use the momentum we have right now to turn things around and go for a nice push,” said Niederreiter. “Everything is possible. You can end up being first, you can end up being eighth place and right now, you've just got to put yourself in the best position possible to have a good run.

“I've played them enough over the last few years, I know exactly what kind of team it is. They're a high-competitive team and they're highly skilled, a lot of high-end talent.”

As for how being traded before might help ease the transition, Niederreiter understands the steps that are required.

"That's a tough question. I think you've just got to be yourself coming into the room and be open-minded, soak everything in right from the get-go,” said Niederreiter, who will wear No. 62 because both 21 and 22 were already taken. “I mean, being traded or moving to a different team is always emotional. You don't know what to expect. I made a lot of friends in Nashville and obviously getting here, it's a whole new team, a whole new group. You've got to focus on getting to know every individual on a personal level.

“Things can change in a heartbeat and you can be playing with that guy, with that guy and I think it's always easier when you get to know the players off the ice and get to know their tendencies and kind of work from there."

Bringing in a player like Niederreiter should provide a lift for a Jets team that will be without forward Cole Perfetti for at least eight weeks, knocking him out of the remainder of the regular season.

“Well obviously it hasn’t been going the way that we want it to. The way that he plays is going to benefit us a lot. He’s a great skater, he can shoot. He battles hard and is a big body out there,” said Ehlers, who also addressed a question about the message of acquiring a player like Niederreiter can have on the group. “I think everyone in here has the feeling we can do something special this year. And going to get a guy like him only solidifies that, I think. With Fetts going out, obviously he’s a guy we’re going to miss a lot. Getting a guy like Nino, a big guy who has proven himself in this league for many years now, knows what it takes, that’s exciting.”

The Jets had interest in Niederreiter previously as a free agent and you can see why.

He’s not afraid to get his nose dirty and for a team that’s in a bit of an offensive funk, having another player willing to go to the hard areas is something that could become contagious.

“It’s going to be a big boost, absolutely. He makes our top-six better,” said Jets head coach Rick Bownes. “He’s a bigger guy, a strong guy and he’s going to be around the net. And he’s hard to play against. We need that right now.”

JETS NOTES: Bowness said right-winger Mason Appleton was “very doubtful” to suit up in Tuesday’s tilt because of an upper-body injury, which opens the door for Karson Kuhlman to return to the lineup… Dubois left practice early with a nagging lower-body issue and is going to be a game-time decision… Centre David Gustafsson continues to make progress and could be ready to return to action this weekend. He’s been out since Jan. 10 with an upper-body injury.