from Travis Yost of TSN,

Five years ago, there was a legitimate question as to whether or not the former fifth-overall pick in the NHL Entry 2010 draft was going to wash out of the league.

Nino Niederreiter has come a long way since then.

Niederreiter’s career trajectory is unlike anything I’ve seen before – from top-tier, blue-chip prospect, to a guy who looked miserable on the ice and was unable to generate any semblance of offence, to a bona fide top-six winger who makes everyone around him better. All this before he’s turned 25 years of age.

Five years ago, Niederreiter produced one of the uglier seasons of the modern era for any rookie forward, scoring just one goal with zero assists over 55 games. The goal-scoring was particularly worrisome. How frequently do forwards with that little punching power ever stick around? If you guessed infrequently, if at all, you’re right:

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