Nino Niederreiter's Struggles

Are The Islanders Ruining Nino Niederreiter's Development?

The New York Islanders drafted Nino Niederreiter with the fifth-overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. The following training camp Niederreiter made the Islanders and was given his nine game try-out, but then was returned to Portland of the WHL. Following his second NHL training camp he was told by Islanders General Manager Garth Snow, that he'd be with the club for the entire 2011-12 season. Originally he was expected to flank John Tavares on the first-line, but when he went down with an injury that plan was disrupted. Once he returned from his injury the Isles held him out of the line-up for a few weeks before eventually putting him on the fourth-line where he's been since. 

Many Islanders fans have become concerned that the Isles might be ruining the nineteen year-old forward's development. The concern is for good reason considering the lack of success Nino's had this season. 

Playing on the fourth-line, Niederreiter hasn't contributed much at all this season with only one goal and no assists in thirty-nine games. That point total is the lowest of any every-day Islanders player and that includes Mike Mottau, Jay Pandolfo, etc.. With his offensive production almost nonexistent, you'd hope to see some solid two-way play, but unfortunately he's struggled in his own end as well with a plus/minus of minus-19. To put that in perspective, it's the forth-worst plus/minus of any forward in the National Hockey League. One of the most telling statistics out there in my opinion is average Time On Ice because ice-time does a great job displaying how much a player's coach trusts and depends on him. With that said, Niederreiter's ice-time does the opposite because his 9:22 is the lowest of all Isles forwards. That, along with his recent healthy scratch, certainly give off the feeling that Isles coach Jack Capuano doesn't trust him very much at all.

With all of the disappointing aspects of Nino's season pointed out, I'm going to give my explanation as to why this is NOT ruining Nino Niederreiter. 

At 6'2, 205 pounds, he has the body of an NHL'er now and as a player tabbed as a future power-forward, he needed to learn how to use his body in an effective way. Because he's not eligible for the AHL this season, the Islanders wanted to let him learn gradually at the pro-level. He has improved his physical play and in the past two months he's shot up to the number two spot on the top forward hitters on the Isles. I'll give him a small benefit of the doubt in regards to his offensive output due to the two offensive black-holes he plays with (Reasoner & Pandolfo). 

The next step is very important for his development and I personally believe that next year when he's eligible, he should be sent down to the American Hockey League to work on his other skills that weren't refurbished in his time with the Islanders.