Defender Sami Niku is likely leaving the Montreal Canadiens organization to return to his native country, Finland.
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As announced on social media on Friday, SM-Liiga side JYP Jyväskylä have come to an agreement with the back on a one-season contract.
This is a homecoming for Niku, who spent three years in this organization, from 2014 to 2017, before making the jump to North America with the Winnipeg Jets, who drafted him in the seventh round. in 2015.
Niku played 13 games with CH in 2021-2022. He amassed six assists and posted a differential of 3. In 67 National League games, he totaled 16 points. The left-hander played his last game in the Bettman circuit on January 12 against the Boston Bruins.
It is mainly a loss for the Laval Rocket, in the American League, which benefited from the services of Niku the moment of 36 games last season, he who amassed 13 points. He also helped the CH school club reach the Eastern Conference final, where they lost to the Springfield Thunderbirds.
The Laval team will therefore present a rather different face on the blue line in 2022-2023 since its former captain, Xavier Ouellet, also left during the offseason, joining the Pittsburgh Penguins.
