The Winnipeg Jets have recalled Manitoba Moose defenceman Sami Niku following the injury to defenceman Dustin Byfuglien.
This is Niku’s second call up this season and third of his career. He has played five games this season, recording zero points. He has ten points in seventeen games with the Moose this season.
Tucker Poolman would have been another viable option, but he has been out with a bad concussion since November according to the intrepid Derek Gagnon.
Niku will hopefully play this call up and it will hopefully be in the same position that saw him find success last time he was up: alongside Trouba while Morrissey carries the second pair. Of course, this is Paul Maurice and he rarely changes the lineup or defensive pairs for consistency reasons and not because of performance or not wanting to change things up.
The Jets could make a trade if they want to further bolster their blueline and it would probably be ideal to do that even though Byfuglien could be back by the end of January: they are one injury away from potential disaster on defence. It would help the team long term and in the playoffs if they solidified the defence now.
