Niemi Assigned To ECHL Greenville Road Warriors

JYRI NIEMI REASSIGNED TO GREENVILLE

Defenseman has one assist in Eight Games for Whale this Season

HARTFORD, November 9, 2011:  Connecticut Whale general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the parent New York Rangers have reassigned defenseman Jyri Niemi from the Whale to its ECHL affiliate, the Greenville Road Warriors.

Niemi, a Finnish-born second-year pro, has skated in eight games for the Whale this season, registering one assist, four penalty minutes and a +1 rating.  Last season with the Whale, Niemi chalked up three goals and six assists for nine points, along with 22 PIM, in 46 games.  A third-round draft pick (72nd overall) by the New York Islanders in 2008 out of the Western Hockey League, Niemi was acquired by the Rangers from the Islanders May 25, 2010, in exchange for a sixth-round 2010 draft pick.

The Whale return to action this Saturday, November 12, in the first of back-to-back games in St. John’s, Newfoundland against the St. John’s IceCaps.  Faceoff is 6:00 PM, and all the CT Whale Rockin’ Hockey action can be heard live on “The Rock”, 106.9 FM, WCCC, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com.  The Whale’s next home game is coming up Friday, November 18, a GEICO Connecticut Cup battle with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the XL Center at 7:00

Niemi/MZA Contract Details

As per CapGeek, the details of the Mats Zuccarello-Aason and Jyri Niemi contracts are available. Niemi’s deal is a three-year, two-way deal with an NHL cap hit of $620,000. It includes a $595,000 base salary for the first two years, and a $670,000 salary for the final year. A $210,000 (split as $70,000 per season cap hit) signing bonus was also included, which increases the cap hit.

MZA’s contract is a two-year, two-way deal with an NHL cap hit of $1.75 million. His base salary is $900,000, but it includes a signing bonus of $180,000 (split as $90,000 cap hit per season) and a possible $1.7 million in performance bonuses ($850,000 per season). MZA’s contract is a bit pricey for someone his size, but it could be worth it in the long run.

Rangers Acquire Jyri Niemi

In the first trade between the Rangers and the Islanders in 37 years, the Rangers have picked up Jyri Niemi for a 2010 6th round pick. The 19-year old, 6’3 210 lb winger defenseman played for the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL last season, putting together a line of 8-21-29, with 67 PIMs and a +9 rating. Niemi was the Islanders 3rd round pick in 2008, and was not going to be signed by the Islanders. This appears to be a depth move by the Rangers, who are lacking forwards at the AHL level.

With this trade, the Rangers no longer hold picks in the third or sixth rounds of this draft.