After being eliminated in the playoffs, Nino Niederreiter could join the Swiss national team for the World Championship quarter-finals. For now, we'll have to wait and see.
18.05.2025, 11:33
18.05.2025, 11:40
SDA
The defeat of the Winnipeg Jets in the quarter-finals of the NHL playoffs could open the door for a last-minute call-up of Nino Niederreiter to the World Championships in Denmark and Sweden. The 32-year-old winger is one of only three players (alongside Roman Josi and Reto Berra) to have been part of every medal-winning team in the modern era.
Fischer: "We're looking at that"
After the victory against Norway on Friday evening, which put Switzerland into the quarter-finals before the last two group games, Patrick Fischer left the possibility open. "We'll certainly look at it," explained the national coach.
Before the start of the World Cup, he had been rather skeptical about reinforcements joining the team late in the tournament. However, the starting position has changed due to the injury-related withdrawal of captain and first-line center Nico Hischier. Additional NHL power would be welcome in the battle for the medals.
Re-nomination would be possible due to Hischier's outage
Because of Hischier's injury, Fischer is allowed to nominate an outfielder. In the past, Niederreiter has always answered the call of the national team. In the playoffs, he scored four goals and two assists in 13 games despite playing a more defensive role than in other years. For now, however, he will have to wait for the usual modalities at the end of the season and his release by the organization in Winnipeg.
Goalie Akira Schmid, who was also eliminated in the quarter-finals with the Vegas Golden Knights, is no longer a candidate for re-signing.
