What did the Jets get with Sami Niku when they signed him? Certainly some much needed depth for the left side that can be developed, the key being 'be developed'.
Nisku was a 7th round pick in 2015, 198th overall. He had jus played 39 games for JYP-Akatemia and was 8th in scoring on the tea with 3 goals and 22 assists. The following year in Liiga he played 38 games with 4 goals and 7 assists in his professional debut. This is know as the Finnish Elite league and ranked as the second strongest league in Europe.
The following season, this past one he played 59 games with 5 goals and 22 assists. Niku is not a big player, sitting only 6' tall and 176lbs. He may be mobile and a good puck mover. He played for Finand in the IIHF World Juniors this past year as well.
What happens next is pretty simple. A visit to Winnipeg for Prospect Camp, hopefully a chat with Patrik Laine and a lot of training.
Niku will likely attend Jets camp and compete for a spot but it would seem that the usual route of going to the AHL will make sense to help adjust to the North American professional game.
While the chances of Niku becoming a regular NHL defence man remain slim there's reason to believe that since he was picked he's maturing into a player that could make a leap from a late draft pick to an NHL player. The last time the Jets did that with defence was with Atlanta who was taken in round 8 at 239th overall. His last year in the Swedish Elite League for Modo had him put up 7 goals and 21 assists for 28 points. Sounds familiar doesn't it?