Manitoba Moose coach Pascal Vincent provides an update on Sami Niku

Sami Niku was reassigned to the Moose last week to get into some games as he continues to try to get back into game shape following a tough training camp which saw him limited due to a car accident followed by a groin issue.  Niku was limited to one preseason game and two days of practice with the team. Niku has only played one regular season game with the Jets when he was recalled to Pittsburgh to play in the final game of the season opening road trip.

Niku played this past Friday for the Moose in a 3-2 loss to Toronto here in Winnipeg.  He told us post-game that he felt good and his coach was clearly happy with his play telling us “….You could tell his 2nd period he was better and in the 3rd period I thought he was pretty dominant.

However when it came time for puck drop on Saturday afternoon Niku, who was on the ice for pre-game skate, was made a late scratch by the team.  I was told he was really stretching out during the warm up.  Post-game Coach Vincent indicated that they pulled Niku because of a lower-body injury. Vincent added that Niku wanted to play and that it was nothing serious.

Today following practice Coach Vincent was asked for a status update saying “Niku. Same. We’re gonna be really careful there cause that’s the second time he re-injured that lower-body.”

Later in the interview when asked about Niku playing big minutes he reiterated the fact that being with the Moose is essentially “training camp” for the skilled Finnish defender.

You can watch the full post practice interview with Moose bench boss Pascal Vincent here.