Confirmed Signing with Link: [MTL] Canadiens sign Sami Niku (1 year, $750k, two-way)

[L4br3cqu3]

FYI to Montreal: his name is pronounced Knee-Q, not Knee-Koo.

Edit: English pronunciation of Q, because someone is definitely going to get confused.

Thanks for the info, can't wait to listen Pierre Houde pronounce it though, he's known for being meticulous with players name pronunciation.

 

[LastWordArmy]

400K to play in Laval. Not bad for Niku.

$475K guaranteed,

 

[Guffman]

Good pick-up by Habs. Niku is pretty slick offensively. If you can develop other aspects of his game, you will be happy. No risk contract.

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

FYI to Montreal: his name is pronounced Knee-Q, not Knee-Koo.

Edit: English pronunciation of Q, because someone is definitely going to get confused.

We need the french version here in Quebec

 

[Hunter368]

Long shot dark horse but no risk signing either so no biggie. Mete lite

 

[uncleben]

One-year contract for defenseman Sami Niku

 

[Michoulicious]

We need the french version here in Quebec

Nikiou, not Nicou or Nicul.

 

[HabsQC]

Nikiou, not Nicou or Nicul.

Let's just call him Saku

 

[417]

Why didn't the Habs just claim him? He makes 25k more against the cap now.

And this changes what exactly?

 

[Atoyot]

Long shot dark horse but no risk signing either so no biggie. Mete lite

This is a weird thing that keeps being said. They are not similar players.

 

[DingDongCharlie]

niku/savard would be amazing as third pair.

What, so they can play Kulak in the top 4? They didn’t pay Savard to play 3rd pairing.

 

[Boud]

Thanks for the info, can't wait to listen Pierre Houde pronounce it though, he's known for being meticulous with players name pronunciation.

Alors ma parole, Sami Nikou!

 

[Shocker]

FYI to Montreal: his name is pronounced Knee-Q, not Knee-Koo.

Edit: English pronunciation of Q, because someone is definitely going to get confused.

Just nitpicking, but it would be more like Kne-Q, with the Q being a short Q sound.

 

[SamHabsFan]

Just wondering, why didnt he get an opportunity with the jets Dcore imploding last year? Was he that bad?

 

[RustyCat]

Just wondering, why didnt he get an opportunity with the jets Dcore imploding last year? Was he that bad?

Yeah. He has some flare in the O-zone and a tire fire in his own end. I really do wish him the best and perhaps a change in system will help him flourish

 

[Hunter368]

This is a weird thing that keeps being said. They are not similar players.

Soft, PMD…..Mete is/likely is actually better then Niku in all areas. PMD have to make up for their physical & defensive weaknesses with exceptional puck moving & offensive ability. Mete was moderately successful at it, Niku hasn’t been outside one year in the AHL. Did injuries set Niku back? Who knows, he did have some back luck with weird injuries. He showed promise one year, that’s it. He just doesn’t have the defensive IQ to be a two way D, he is worse then any of the Jets top 6 and worse by a wide margin then Samberg & Heinola as prospects……Jets did he a favour cutting him lose. Maybe he can find a home on someone’s bottom pairing as a PMD, bc he isn’t good enough to be a top 4 guy or a 2nd PP specialist (barring a severe weakness on some team) while sheltered defensively on the 3rd pairing.

Nice guy, he just couldn’t figure it out and beat anyone above him.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Lol the Habs waived a better version of Niku only to sign Niku

 

[MardyBum]

Just wondering, why didnt he get an opportunity with the jets Dcore imploding last year? Was he that bad?

A whole lot of reasons, ranging from development plans, to coaches preference, to attitude, to injury, to other players checking those boxes ahead of him, just a f***ing lot lol.

 

[MardyBum]

Lol the Habs waived a better version of Niku only to sign Niku

Mete is much better than Niku currently and has been NHL quality even if the ""seasoned"" posters on here are a bit slow on the uptake.

Niku had/has really good offensive skills, needs to get out from under the potato to see if those can carry him.

 

[GoJetsGo55]

Good luck to Niku. Was really excited after his great year in the A but I never liked his game when he was called up. Hope he can find some consistency and a permanent spot.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Why didn't the Habs just claim him? He makes 25k more against the cap now.

Have you looked at his AHL salary?

 

[glenbuis]

would he have to clear waivers to go to the ahl ?

 

[MakeTheGoalsLarger]

FYI to Montreal: his name is pronounced Knee-Q, not Knee-Koo.

Edit: English pronunciation of Q, because someone is definitely going to get confused.

We have already agreed to call him "KK".

 

[Oddbob]

Why didn't WPG just put him on normal waivers, and MTL claim him, since they signed him anyways. I don't get this one.

 

[montreal]

I assume this move was done due to the injury to Josh Brook who got hurt at the end of last season and is rumored to be out for months though nothing official. So getting Niku for Laval would replace the loss of Brook who imo would have been on Laval's top pairing. Granted there are open spots on the Habs since Weber is likely out for the season and after Petry, Edmundson, Chiarot and Savard, the final 3 spots would be between Romanov, Norlinder, Kulak, Wideman and Niku most likely. Romanov doesn't need waivers to be sent down, though I would expect him to be in the Habs top 6. Norlinder is either on the Habs or he has to be loaned back to Frolunda of the SHL. So depending on how he does at camp/preseason, and what the Habs plan is with him, if he makes the team then one of Kulak, Wideman, Niku would likely be on the Habs with the other 2 going to Laval unless picked off waivers.