Islanders Trade Nino Niederreiter To Wild For Clutterbuck And Draft Pick
The New York Islanders traded away one of their top prospects in the system by sending Nino Niederreiter to the Minnesota Wild. The Islanders acquired Cal Clutterbuck and a third-round pick in Sunday’s NHL Draft for the 20-year-old.
Niederreter was the fifth overall pick in 2010, and he’s been working his way up the Islanders system ever since. He didn’t appear in the NHL this past season, but he does have some experience in the league.
He played in 55 games two years ago, but his game wasn’t ready as he posted a -29 plus-minus with only one goal and no assists. He will now move to the Minnesota Wild after spending all of 2013 in the American Hockey League.
Cal Clutterbuck appeared in 42 games for the Wild during the shortened-season this year, and he finished with four goals and six assists. He was near the top of the NHL in hits and he played particularly well throughout the season.
Outside of bringing in Clutterbuck, the Islanders scooped up goaltender Eamon McAdam with the 70th pick which was included in the trade. New York also selected defenseman Ryan Pulock in the first round with the 15th draft pick.
The deal looks to be a solid move for the Islanders, though Niederreter has always been considered one of those prospects that could take off at any time. His talent hasn’t translated to the NHL game just yet, but his development has been pretty solid over the years.
The Wild are taking a chance with the young skater, but the upsides of his game seem to be worth it. Minnesota didn’t have a pick in the first round of the NHL draft on Sunday, but they did take defenseman Gustav Olofsson from Sweden in the second-round. Olofsson went 46th overall and he’s considered to be an “intelligent player with quality natural instincts for the game” according to Wild Assistant GM Brent Flahr.
Outside of bringing in the 18-year-old defenseman in the second round, did the Minnesota Wild make the right choice by taking a chance on Nino Niederreter?
[Image via Robert Kowal]
