Team: Nashville Predators
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Fantasy Summary

Smooth skating, two-way defenseman.


Observations

June 2026 –  Nieminen signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators in April 2026. His deal carries an average annual value (AAV) of $975K and runs through the 2028-29 season. Nieminen scored five goals and recorded 17 points in 47 games with the Pelicans (Liiga). The 20-year-old defender skated in seven games with Team Finland at the 2026 World Juniors, but did not record a point. Nieminen is likely bound for the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) this fall unless he wows Predators staff during training camp. Chris Babos

August 2025 – A mobile, two-way defender, Nieminen registered 11 points in 39 games for the Pelicans during his first Liiga season after quickly rising through the Pelicans U18 and U20 divisions as a teenager. The 6-foot blueliner is expected to return to Finland for the 2025-26 season. Chris Babos

July 2025 – Selected in the sixth round at 163rd overall, Nieminen is now a member of the Nashville Predators. Alex Wyatt

Attributes
Fantasy Upside 6.0
NHL Certainty 4.0
Country FIN
Position D
Roster Type AHL
Shoot/Glove Left
Date of Birth March 1, 2006
Height 6‘0”
Weight 200 lbs
Drafted 2025 Round 6; Overall: 163
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Stats – Frozen Tools – Profile on FT

SeasonLeagueTeamGPGAPTSPIM+/-
2025-2026LiigaPelicans4751217223
2024-2025WJC-20Finland U20702264
2024-2025U20 SM-sarjaPelicans U20101120
2024-2025LiigaPelicans39471110-1
2024-2025Champions HLPelicans400001
2023-2024WJC-18Finland U18501161
2023-2024U20 SM-sarjaPelicans U2037821295118
2023-2024U18 SM-sarjaPelicans U18101100
2023-2024Hlinka Gretzky CupFinland U18510100
2022-2023U20 SM-sarjaPelicans U203000270
2022-2023U18 SM-sarjaPelicans U184341620220
2021-2022U18 SM-sarjaPelicans U18101100
2021-2022U16 SM-sarjaPelicans U163651520490

Highlights