Troy Rutkowski learned his roommate was returning when he took a phone call from Nino Niederreiter early Thursday asking for the address of their billet home.
It didn’t take long for the news to spread: Niederreiter is returning to the Portland Winterhawks.
The No. 5 selection in June’s National Hockey League draft, the 18-year-old Swiss forward played his ninth game with the New York Islanders on Wedneday at Montreal. Once an NHL rookie plays in 10 games, his team must pay his full first-year contract, so the Winterhawks knew a decision was coming.
But they didn’t know what that decision would be.
Portland general manager and head coach Mike Johnston said he was told by Islanders GM Garth Snow that the team would not make a final decision until after Wednesday’s game. Johnston watched the game, and thought Niederreiter played well enough that he might remain with New York.
The Winterhawks play Kelowna tonight and Saturday at Memorial Coliseum. Niederreiter was scheduled to fly to Portland late Thursday, and Johnston said he would talk with Niederreiter before deciding if he will play in either game this weekend.
Johnston and several players expressed mixed emotions at the news.
“I kind of have mixed emotions about it because I want him to achieve his dream to play there,” Rutkowski said. “At the same time, I want him back here.”
Johnston said he had not decided who to pair Niederreiter with in the lineup. Niederreiter and fellow draft picks Ryan Johansen and Brad Ross were dynamic together a season ago.
Johansen, the No. 4 pick in the draft, returned to Portland after playing the preseason with Columbus. He said it took him some time to settle back in to junior hockey after his time in the NHL.
“It’s not an easy thing coming back from the NHL,” Johansen said. “You’re used to playing a different style of game up there, more simple and direct. Coming back here, Nino and I, we want to be controlling play, controlling the game when we’re out on the ice. It took me a few games to get back to that level.”
Already off to a league-best 10-2-0-1 start, the return of Niederreiter will raise expectations even higher.
Niederreiter led Portland with 36 goals last season. He added 16 points, including a team-high eight goals, in the playoffs. He represented Switzerland at the 2010 World Junior Championship, leading the team to the semifinals and was named to the tournament All-Star team. He also played for Switzerland at the 2010 World Championship.
Niederreiter’s return figures to also give the Winterhawks a boost at the box office, and in the locker room.
“Nino has an unreal attitude,” Rutkowski said. “He has the highest character. He’s a real great guy on and off the ice, so it’s going to do wonders in our room.”
Brett Ponich, the Winterhawks captain and St. Louis Blues signee, said Niederreiter’s disappointment will be tempered by returning to a tight-knit group of friends in Portland.
“When I talked to Nino, he seems to be pretty excited just because the group we have is close and we’re all friends,” Ponich said.
• Ponich was also excited on Thursday because he will see his parents this weekend for the first time since August. It’s parents weekend, with most of the players’ parents in town.
• Goalie Ian Curtis cleared waivers and is available to any team that wants to pick up the 20-year-old goalie. That leaves 18-year-olds Mac Carruth and Keith Hamilton as the team’s goalies. In five games since returning from injury, Carruth is 4-1 with a league-leading 1.58 goals-against average and save percentage of .952.
Jags hit road
After winning two of three home games last weekend, the River City Jaguars are back on the road with games today in Bremerton and Saturday against Northern Pacific Hockey League leading Seattle.
This is the start of six consecutive games on the road for the Vancouver-based Junior A Tier III team, which next plays at home on Nov. 19.
