Sami Niku

Sami Niku (born 10 October 1996) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing with Lausanne HC of the National League (NL). He was selected in the seventh round, 198th overall, by the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.^[1]

Sami Niku
Niku with the Montreal Canadiens in 2021
Born	(1996-10-10) 10 October 1996 (age 28) Haapavesi, Finland
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Left
NL team Former teams	Lausanne HC JYP Jyväskylä Winnipeg Jets Montreal Canadiens Ilves Tampere EHC Kloten
NHL draft	198th overall, 2015 Winnipeg Jets
Playing career	2013–present

Playing career

Niku made his Liiga debut playing with JYP Jyväskylä during the 2014–15 Liiga season.^[2]

Following the 2016–17 season with JYP, having played his first full season in the Liiga in posting 27 points in 59 games, Niku agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets on May 15, 2017.^[3] He played most of the 2017–18 season with the Manitoba Moose, the Jets' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. He was called up by the Jets on April 1, 2018, and scored his first goal in his NHL debut in a Jets' win over the Montreal Canadiens on April 3.^[4] At conclusion of the 2017–18 regular season, Niku was voted as the AHL's top defenseman,^[5] as well as earning AHL First All-Star team^[6] and the AHL All-Rookie honours.^[7]

On 21 September 2021, Niku was bought out of his contract with the Jets. Three days later, he signed a one-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens.^[8] A week later, in his first pre-season game with the team, Niku sustained a concussion after being hit from behind by Ottawa Senators player Josh Norris and was ruled out indefinitely.^[9]

As a free agent from the Canadiens, Niku opted to return to Finland agreeing to re-join original club, JYP Jyväskylä of the Liiga, on a one-year contract for the 2022–23 season on 29 July 2022.^[10]

For the 2024-25 season, Niku signed a one-year contract with the Swiss club EHC Kloten of the NL.

On April 30, 2025, Niku signed a two-year contract with the Lausanne HC, remaining in the NL. ^[11]

International play

Medal record
Representing  Finland
Ice hockey
IIHF World U20 Championship
	2016 Finland

Internationally, Niku played in the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships, the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, and the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2011–12	JYP	FIN U18		17	1	1	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	JYP	FIN U18		3	2	1	3	0		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	JYP	FIN U20		30	0	8	8	22		6	0	0	0	2
2013–14	JYP	FIN U18		1	0	3	3	0		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	JYP	FIN U20		20	4	10	14	20		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	JYP–Akatemia	Mestis		30	0	3	3	16		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	JYP–Akatemia	Mestis		39	3	22	25	24		6	0	5	5	4
2014–15	JYP	Liiga		12	0	1	1	6		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	JYP	Liiga		38	4	7	11	2		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	JYP–Akatemia	Mestis		7	0	2	2	4		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	JYP	Liiga		59	5	22	27	26		15	1	5	6	2
2017–18	Manitoba Moose	AHL		76	16	38	54	30		9	1	2	3	2
2017–18	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		1	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Manitoba Moose	AHL		20	3	9	12	14		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		30	1	3	4	2		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Manitoba Moose	AHL		18	3	11	14	12		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		17	0	5	5	12		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		6	0	0	0	8		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		13	0	6	6	2		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Laval Rocket	AHL		36	2	11	13	14		15	0	11	11	10
2022–23	JYP	Liiga		54	9	33	42	26		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	JYP	Liiga		37	11	26	37	24		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	Ilves	Liiga		16	1	11	12	4		5	0	1	1	2
2024–25	EHC Kloten	NL		52	5	25	30	32		9	0	1	1	4
Liiga totals				216	30	100	130	88		20	1	6	7	4
NHL totals				67	2	14	16	24		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2013	Finland	U17	7th		5	1	1	2	4
2013	Finland	IH18	5th		4	1	1	2	4
2014	Finland	WJC18	6th		5	1	0	1	0
2015	Finland	WJC	7th		5	0	0	0	0
2016	Finland	WJC			8	1	2	3	6
Junior totals					27	4	4	8	14

Awards and honors

Award	Year
AHL
Eddie Shore Award for Top Defensemen	2018	[5]
First All-Star team	2018	[6]
All-Rookie Team	2018	[7]