What was supposed to be a couple of days turned into a full month, but yesterday the news was finally good for Nino Niederreiter, as the 19-year-old skated in a full-team Islanders practice for the first time since injuring his groin in a preseason game against the Devils on Sept. 30.
Niederreiter was the team’s first-round pick last year (No. 5 overall). He played nine games last season before being returned to his junior team in the WHL. In training camp, he skated on the top line with John Tavares and Matt Moulson, and yesterday he was with Moulson, with P.A. Parenteau in the middle, because Tavares was given a day off for maintenance.
“It’s obviously good to have him out there,” head coach Jack Capuano said. “Nino’s a big-bodied guy that’s going to create space and he gets to the net and shoots the puck pretty well. So if you do those things, you have a chance to score some goals.”
Niederreiter was hurt on a hit into the boards when a piece of his equipment lodged into his right groin and his leg became weak.
“Personally, I didn’t expect it to be that long,” Niederreiter said. “Obviously it took a while but I’d rather wait than never come back.”
It’s doubtful Niederreiter will be ready for Thursday’s home game against the Jets, but Saturday’s home game against the Capitals or the following week’s three-game road trip are possibilities. Who will sit when he enters the lineup is all still to be determined.
“I think it’s good to have a healthy competition,” captain and fellow Swiss native Mark Streit said. “He goes to the front of the net and you can never have enough of that.”
A team source said there has been no contact from the league concerning Saturday’s overtime delay-of-game penalty on Travis Hamonic. The call came when Hamonic lifted the puck and it clearly nicked the glass before going into the crowd, with the Sharks scoring on the ensuing power play to win the game, 3-2. It was indicated NHL head of officiating Terry Gregson was alerted of the team’s displeasure. … Enforcer Trevor Gillies was waived yesterday, and if he clears by noon today he will be assigned.