Meltzer's Player Profiles: Matt Niskanen

A 33-year-old veteran of 949 NHL regular season games and 125 games in the Stanley Cup playoffs, defenseman Matt Niskanen has been a tower of strength on the Flyers blueline this season. Acquired from the Washington Capitals on June 14, 2019, in exchange for Radko Gudas, Niskanen has stepped into the right defense spot on the Flyers' top pairing with Ivan Provorov.

Niskanen has been an all-situations player for the Flyers, even taking on a regular power play role for the first time in several years in addition to extensive penalty killing duties and matching up against top opposing lines. Offensively, he has contributed eight goals and 33 points while missing only one game (Dec. 21, illness).
He is not typically demonstrative or boisterous, but Niskanen is a vital part of the Flyers' veteran leadership group. When he speaks, teammates listen, and he has a calming effect both on the bench and in the locker room. As a player who was a key minutes eater on a recent Stanley Cup champion (2017-18 Washington Capitals) and has played in three Conference Finals over the course of his career, Niskanen's voice of reason and experience resonates. Most importantly, though, Niskanen can still play an effective two-way game in the National Hockey League.
Niskanen has one season beyond the currently paused 2019-20 season remaining on his contract. He can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2021.
FIVE KEY FACTS
1) Trailing only blueline partner Provorov, Niskanen is second on the Flyers in average shifts per game (27.9), average total ice time (21:54) and shorthanded ice time (2:38). He ranks third in even-strength ice time (17:14) and has also averaged 2:03 as a fixture on the second power play unit.
2) Niskanen ranks second among Flyers' defensemen and third on the team overall with 124 credited hits. His 84 blocked shots are tied with Justin Braun for second on the team.
3) Despite starting only 42.6 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, Niskanen has posted an individual 52.0 percent Corsi rating and 52.4 percent Fenwick rating. In traditional plus-minus, he is +15 (tops among Flyers' defensemen, 3rd on the team, tied for 44th leaguewide). At 5-on-5, the Flyers hold a 52.24 expected goals share with Niskanen on the ice (53,93% over the last 26 games).
4) Over the Flyers' last 26 games heading into the league schedule pause, Niskanen has chipped in 16 points (3g, 13a), +18 rating (54.0% Corsi, 55.2 percent Fenwick), and has only been whistled for three minor penalties.
5) In addition to scoring eight goals (four on the power play), Niskanen's shots have created 19 rebound scoring opportunities for teammates; trailing only Provorov among Flyers defensemen.
TOP HIGHLIGHTS

1) NOV. 29 vs. DET (19:48, 2nd period): Niskanen collected two assists and was +4 in the Flyers' 6-1 home win over the Detroit Wings on Black Friday. Here, Niskanen alertly jumped into the rush and fed Sean Couturier tape-to-tape for what turned into a 3-1 Flyers lead in the final minute of the second period. The Flyers pulled away in the final stanza.

2) Feb. 1 vs. COL (13:45, 1st period): In an important inter-conference clash against the Avalanche, Niskanen shined (1g, 1a, +4, 24:15 TOI, 2 hits). The veteran defenseman opened the scoring with 6:15 remaining in the first period as his right point shot deflected into the net off Colorado defenseman Samuel Girard.

3) March 1 @ NYR (1:52, 1st period):The Flyers took control quickly in the back end of a home-and-home sweep of the Rangers, getting off to an early 2-0 lead on a pair of power play goals. The first belonged to Niskanen (22:22 TOI). Making like a forward, Niskanen parked himself near the near and potted a Nicolas Aube-Kubel rebound past Henrik Lundqvist.
THEY SAID IT
"I don't think you can say enough about how crucial he's been to everything we've done this season. He's been a tremendous partner for Ivan Provorov, and he's helped us to balance our pairings. He can still play a lot of minutes, and he is one of our small group of players -- along with Ivan, Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux -- that we can use extensively in every game and manpower situation. On the bench and in the room, he is a guy who might not say too much but everyone pays attention when he does. He knows when to take charge and he's able to do so because he's still an integral part of our lineup. I hope that adequately describes it, because there's also an intangible component that's hard to put into words. Matt has been tremendous."
-- Chuck Fletcher, March 31, 2020.
HE SAID IT
"[Having a previous Stanley Cup ring] gets overblown a little bit but, yeah, we've chatted about it. I think the cool thing is our guys are excited about where we're at and our potential. I think we still have room to grow. Guys have played well and put in the work and that's great, but I think we can get to another level, too."
-- Matt Niskanen, March 3, 2020.