Eliteprospects
Finland Daniel Nieminen
#87 Pelicans / Liiga - 25/26
1-time U20 WJC Silver Medal 1
Date of Birth
Mar 01, 2006
Position
D
Age
19
Height
6'0" / 184 cm
Place of Birth
Lahti, FIN
Weight
187 lbs / 85 kg
Nation
Finland
Shoots
L
Youth Team
Pelicans
Contract
26/27
NHL Rights
Nashville Predators Nashville Predators / Unsigned
Drafted
2025 round 6 #163 overall by Nashville Predators
Agency
PREMIUM

Nieminen’s skating base has always been his calling card, he’s able to beat forecheckers with ease and carry the puck across the neutral zone seemingly every other shift. He’ll activate and offer support down the middle or as a trailer, sometimes even leading the rush but still having the wheels required to get back in position in due time. His skating is also a defensive weapon, allowing him to close on attackers through powerful pivots and match them along the wall. And there’s a physical flair to his game, too. -EliteProspects 2025 NHL Draft Guide

© Photo: Dan Hickling

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Daniel Nieminen Statistics

S Team League GP G A TP PIM +/-   POST GP G A TP PIM +/-
2021-22 Pelicans U16 “A” U16 SM-sarja 36* 5* 15* 20* 49* -* | Playoffs 2 1 0 1 2 -
Pelicans U18 U18 SM-sarja 1* 0* 1* 1* 0* -* |
Finland U16 (all) International-Jr 1* 0* 2* 2* 2* 1* |
2022-23 Pelicans U18 “A” U18 SM-sarja 43* 4* 16* 20* 22* -* |
Pelicans U20 U20 SM-sarja 3* 0* 0* 0* 27* 0* |
Finland U17 (all) International-Jr 11* 0* 3* 3* 4* 1* |
2023-24 Pelicans U18 U18 SM-sarja 1* 0* 1* 1* 0* -* |
Pelicans U20 U20 SM-sarja 37* 8* 21* 29* 51* 18* | Playoffs 3 1 0 1 2 0
Finland U18 WJC-18 5* 0* 1* 1* 6* 1* |
Finland U18 (all) International-Jr 21* 2* 10* 12* 16* -* |
2024-25 Pelicans U20 U20 SM-sarja 1* 0* 1* 1* 2* 0* |
Pelicans Liiga 39* 4* 7* 11* 10* -1* | Relegation 10 3 1 4 0 3
Finland U20 WJC-20 7* 0* 2* 2* 6* 4* |
Finland U20 (all) International-Jr 13* 0* 4* 4* 6* -* |
2025-26 Pelicans Liiga 27* 2* 3* 5* 16* 0* |
Finland U20 WJC-20 1* 0* 0* 0* 0* 2* |
Finland U20 (all) International-Jr 11* 0* 9* 9* 6* 0* |
Projected Liiga 55* 4* 6* 10* 33* 0* |

Daniel Nieminen Tournament Statistics

S Team League GP G A TP PIM +/-   POST GP G A TP PIM +/-
2023-24 Finland U18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup 5* 1* 0* 1* 0* -* |
2024-25 Pelicans Champions HL 4* 0* 0* 0* 0* 1* |

Daniel Nieminen Career Totals

League Years GP G A TP PPG PIM +/- | Years GP G A TP PPG PIM +/-
Champions HL 1 4* 0* 0* 0* 0.00* 0* 1* | 0 * * * * * *
Hlinka Gretzky Cup 1 5* 1* 0* 1* 0.20* 0* -* | 0 * * * * * *
International-Jr 5 57* 2* 28* 30* 0.53* 34* 2* | 0 * * * * * *
Liiga 2 66* 6* 10* 16* 0.24* 26* -1* | 1 10 3 * 1 * 4 * 0.40 * 0 * 3 *
U16 SM-sarja 1 36* 5* 15* 20* 0.56* 49* -* | 1 2 1 * 0 * 1 * 0.50 * 2 * - *
U18 SM-sarja 3 45* 4* 18* 22* 0.49* 22* -* | 0 * * * * * *
U20 SM-sarja 3 41* 8* 22* 30* 0.73* 80* 18* | 1 3 1 * 0 * 1 * 0.33 * 2 * 0 *
WJC-18 1 5* 0* 1* 1* 0.20* 6* 1* | 0 * * * * * *
WJC-20 2 8* 0* 2* 2* 0.25* 6* 6* | 0 * * * * * *
* Some data is missing to provide a correct summary.

Daniel Nieminen Career Highlights

Season
Awards by season
Transactions
DATE STATUS FROM TO SOURCE
05/26/2024
05/26/2024 Extension Pelicans U20 Pelicans
Player Biography and Trivia

2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #110 by Elite Prospects

2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #156 by FCHockey

2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #204 by McKeen's Hockey

2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #42 by NHL Central Scouting