Illegal Curve Hockey

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Winnipeg Jets place Sami Niku on unconditional waivers to terminate his contract

Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)

A week after putting Joona Luoto on unconditional waivers, the Jets have done the same with defenceman Sami Niku, according to CapFriendly,

Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)

The 2015 7th round pick blossomed with the Manitoba Moose in 2017-18 earning the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s outstanding defenceman (second rookie ever to do that). Niku put up 16G and 38A for 54 points in 76 games with Manitoba that season. Check out these two highlights here and here.

Niku played a total of 54 regular season games in the NHL with the Jets, scoring twice and adding eight assists but he could never seem to secure a regular spot in the lineup.

The #FreeNiku hashtag was well used during his time in Winnipeg and now the Finnish product will be free to secure a spot with another NHL team.

He had one year left on a two-year deal at $725k.

David Minuk

Working hard on a daily basis to provide the latest Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose news for our readers and listeners. I also appear on the Illegal Curve Hockey Show every Saturday on our YouTube channel as well as the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show after every single Jets game. And I occasionally jump in the play-by-play booth at Canada Life to provide colour analysis during Manitoba Moose games.