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.

Playing career Niku made his Liiga debut playing with JYP Jyväskylä during the 2014–15 Liiga season.

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. 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. At conclusion of the 2017–18 regular season, Niku was voted as the AHL's top defenseman, as well as earning AHL First All-Star team and the AHL All-Rookie honours.

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. 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.

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.

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.

International play

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 2025–26 Lausanne HC NL 50 8 16 24 22 6 0 3 3 0 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 First All-Star team 2018 All-Rookie Team 2018