New York Islanders Trades That Built 2018-19 Roster

Cal Clutterbuck

At the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the New York Islanders selected, with the fifth overall pick Swiss-born Nino Niederreiter. From there the New York Islanders went about their way to make Nino’s stay with the team so terrible that three years in from drafting him he requested a trade.

How does that happen?

In his first post-draft year Nino was sent back to the WHL to develop. Nothing abnormal about that. Teams do it all the time. It’s rare that a player goes from the draft to the NHL and stays. But in the WHL he dominated with 70 points in 55 games. Keep that in mind.

The next season the Islanders put him on the fourth line with Marty Reasoner and Jay Pandolfo. Remember that 70 points in 55 games,  Nino was an offensive talent but was made to play ten or so minutes a night with a shut-down line in order to learn the defensive side of the game.

Sounds familiar right? Nino managed a single goal in 55 games that year.

The year after that, 2012-13, Nino was sent to play with Bridgeport while the NHL sorted out that lockout situation. When the lockout ended Nino wasn’t invited to play with the Islanders. Nino put up 50 points in 74 AHL games that season.

That’s when he asked for a trade. Clearly, he wasn’t valued by the organization, better that he go somewhere where he can be appreciated. The Minnesota Wild took him and sent back Cal Clutterbuck and a third-round pick.

Niederreiter has put up 205 points in 452 games for the Wild, including a 57 point season. Cal has returned 96 points in 368 games for the New York Islanders. Clearly, the Isles lost on this deal, and it was their own fault.

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