Nino Niederreiter signed a three-year, $12 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. It has an average annual value of $4 million and begins next season.
The 31-year-old forward could have been an unrestricted free agent after this season. He has 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 24 games.
“Obviously, I’m very happy to be here for another three years, and I mean, you kind of pair with when you talk to your agent and what the plan is and where to go,” Niederreiter said Monday, “but overall I trust him and I think he did a good job and I’m very happy I’m here.”
The Jets acquired Niederreiter in a trade with the Nashville Predators on Feb. 25 for a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
“Yeah, it’s awesome news,” Jets captain Adam Lowry said. “I think it’s good to know that he’ll be here and to hopefully get the opportunity to play with him a lot more and continue building that chemistry. (It’s} been a great fit since we got him last [season]. He’s really well-liked and respected in the dressing room. He plays super hard and I think he’s kind of what we’re all about in this organization.”
Niederreiter said he thinks the Jets have a strong future, and seeing franchise stalwarts in goalie Connor Hellebuyck and forward Mark Scheifele sign long-term contracts during the offseason inspired him to earn his own deal.
“It definitely showed to the city and to the team that they want to go for a run here and want to be a contender,” Niederreiter said. “I think as a player that’s where you want to be. And obviously, once they signed I tried to do whatever I could possible to play my best hockey and earn another contract, and now here I am, and I’m pretty happy about it.”
The Jets (14-8-2) moved within one point of second in the Central Division with a 2-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday.
“I think it’s a hard-working group,” Niederreiter said. “I feel like they keep each other honest and you’ve got to earn your ice time. the coach is straightforward with the things, the lineup, being on with [Mason Appleton] and [Lowry], I think we’ve got a great role. We know exactly what we’ve got to do and we’re doing a pretty good job with it. We know it’s a long season, a lot of tough games ahead for us, but it’s been fun.”
The No. 5 pick by the New York Islanders in the 2010 NHL Draft has 423 points (211 goals, 212 assists) in 834 games for the Islanders, Minnesota Wild, Carolina Hurricanes, Predators and Jets. Niederreiter has 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) in 87 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
“He wants to be here, it’s plain and simple,” Jets coach Rick Bowness said. “He wants to be a Winnipeg Jet. We have a guy who could have played out the season, gone to unrestricted free agency and see what else was out there, other locations, other teams, but he wants to be a Winnipeg Jet. He’s been a huge addition to our team since we got him last year. Versatility. He’s a competitor. He’s a great teammate. Hard-working guy. He’s a really good Winnipeg Jet.
“Listen, all we heard a couple of years ago is people wanted out. Now, we’re hearing people want in. That’s a great thing.”
NHL.com independent correspondent Darrin Bauming contributed to this report
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
