Matt Nieto - NHL News & Rumors

Penguins A to Z: It wasn't meant to be for Matt Nieto With the Pittsburgh Penguins entering the offseason for a third consecutive year without a playoff appearance, TribLive will offer Penguins...

JUNE 6, 2025 • TRIBLIVE.COM

Won't play again this year Nieto has been ruled out for the remainder of the season for an undisclosed reason, Josh Yohe of The Athletic reports Thursday.

Impact Nieto was recently recalled by the Penguins under emergency conditions, and he appeared in Tuesday's 5-0 win over Chicago. Over 32 NHL appearances this year, he recorded a goal, two assists, 39 hits and 20 blocked shots while averaging 12:15 of ice time, but he won't appear in any of the Penguins' final three games of the regular season.

APRIL 10, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Brought up Tuesday Nieto was promoted from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Tuesday under emergency conditions.

Impact Nieto's elevation to the NHL roster doesn't bode well for Philip Tomasino's (upper body) availability against Chicago on Tuesday. Even after being recalled, Nieto is far from a lock to play even if Tomasino is out, as the Penguins have been eliminated from playoff contention and likely want to keep giving minutes to youngsters Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen and Joona Koppanen.

APRIL 8, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Sent to AHL Nieto was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday.

Impact Nieto was recalled by the Penguins on Sunday, but he didn't appear in any games during his stint with the NHL club. He'll head back to the AHL for now, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him back in the NHL relatively soon.

MARCH 21, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Penguins in purgatory: Matt Nieto, Sebastian Aho take roster shuffling, 'weird situation' in stride Like clockwork, the daily paper transactions occurred before Thursday’s practice, enabling Matt Nieto and Sebastian Aho to suit up for anoth...

MARCH 20, 2025 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Back in NHL Nieto was recalled from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday, per Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports.

Impact Nieto has bounced between the AHL and NHL levels as an emergency recall. He has been a healthy scratch in Pittsburgh's last two games. Nieto has one goal, two assists, 30 shots on net, 20 blocked shots and 38 hits in 31 NHL appearances this season.

MARCH 16, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Assigned to AHL Nieto was loaned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday, Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports reports.

Impact Nieto was a healthy scratch for Saturday's matchup versus New Jersey. He could return to the big club before Tuesday's game versus the Islanders. Nieto has one goal, two assists, 30 shots on net, 20 blocked shots and 38 hits in 31 appearances with Pittsburgh this season.

MARCH 15, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Added back to NHL roster Nieto was recalled from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday, Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports reports.

Impact It seems Nieto's demotion to the minors was nothing more than a paper transaction that has already been reversed. Even with Nieto being on the Penguins' roster, he is far from a lock to suit up versus the Devils on Saturday and figures to remain primarily an emergency depth option the rest of the way.

MARCH 14, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Returned to AHL Nieto was loaned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday, per the AHL media site.

Impact Nieto was a healthy scratch for both games this week. He has one goal and two assists in 31 games with the Penguins this season. Nieto had one goal and three points in eight AHL games before his recall.

MARCH 14, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Called up Tuesday Nieto was recalled from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Tuesday under emergency conditions.

Impact Nieto's promotion doesn't bode well for the availability of Thomas Novak (lower body) for Tuesday's clash with the Golden Knights. Even with his recall, the veteran Nieto is far from a lock to get into the lineup against Vegas with Danton Heinen likely ahead of Nieto in the pecking order.

MARCH 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Lands on waivers Nieto was waived by the Penguins on Wednesday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.

Impact Nieto has played in just seven of the Penguins' last 15 outings, generating 11 shots, 12 hits and three blocks while averaging 11:16 of ice time. The decision to waive the veteran forward likely means the team is expecting Bokondji Imama (upper body) to be ready to come off injured reserve ahead of Thursday's matchup with the Flyers. At this point, it seems unlikely Nieto will be re-signed this offseason when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

FEBRUARY 26, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Losing playing time Nieto was scratched for the fifth time in nine contests when he sat out Saturday's 3-0 win over the Predators.

Impact The Penguins have had Bokondji Imama at left wing on the fourth line over the last two games. Nieto has not been a healthy scratch for more than three contests in a row this season, but he has done little with his time in the lineup. The veteran winger has three points, 24 shots on net, 32 hits and a minus-3 rating over 28 appearances. Nieto's ice time doesn't need to be tracked closely, as his production is too low to help in most fantasy formats.

FEBRUARY 2, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Generates assist Nieto logged an assist and four hits in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Islanders.

Impact Nieto has a helper in back-to-back contests after snapping a four-game slump. The 32-year-old winger continues to play in a bottom-six role, and he's been finding modest success there. Overall, he has just three points through 16 outings, but he's added 13 shots on net, 20 hits, 12 blocked shots and a minus-2 rating. He's not a factor in fantasy for most formats, but he should be a regular presence in the Penguins' lineup.

DECEMBER 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Plucks apple on power play Nieto notched a power-play assist in Monday's 7-3 win over the Flyers.

Impact Nieto sees almost no power-play time -- he was on the ice in that situation late Monday since the score was lopsided. With two points over his last six games, Nieto's finding a little more offense but remains on the fourth line with little chance of moving up. Overall, the 32-year-old has two points, 13 shots on net, 16 hits, 11 blocked shots and a minus-2 rating over 15 appearances.

DECEMBER 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Gets first goal of season Nieto scored a goal and went plus-2 in Thursday's 9-2 win over the Canadiens.

Impact Nieto had been scratched for the previous three games. He opened the season scoreless over nine outings before breaking through in Game No. 10 with his first tally of the season. The 32-year-old is mostly a defensive forward and figures to spend the bulk of his playing time on the fourth line. He has added 10 shots on net, seven hits, seven blocked shots and a minus-4 rating this season.

DECEMBER 13, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Ready to play Friday Nieto (knee) was taken off injured reserve and will be in action against the Blue Jackets on Friday.

Impact Nieto will play in an NHL game for the first time in nearly a year, having last suited up versus the Lightning on Nov. 30, 2023. The winger has never reached the 30-point threshold in his career but should still be capable of putting up 20-plus points in a bottom-six role now that his knee injury is finally behind him. Once Kevin Hayes (upper body) and Cody Glass (concussion) are cleared to play, minutes could be harder to come by for Nieto, though he should be in the lineup more often than not.

NOVEMBER 15, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Back from conditioning stint Nieto (knee) was recalled from his conditioning assignment Thursday.

Impact Nieto remains on injured reserve but could be trending in the right direction toward a return to action versus the Blue Jackets on Friday. During his two-game stint in the minors, the forward recorded one goal and a plus-2 rating for the Baby Pens. Once given the all-clear, Nieto should be in the mix for a bottom-six role, which could relegate Jesse Puljujarvi or Valtteri Puustinen to a spot in the press box.

NOVEMBER 14, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Starting conditioning assignment Nieto (knee) was sent to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on a conditioning loan Saturday.

Impact It's a significant step for Nieto in his return following offseason knee surgery. The veteran winger played 22 games with the Penguins last year, logging one goal and four points.

NOVEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Cleared for contact Nieto (knee) was a full-contact participant at practice Monday, Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Nieto has been skating with the team for a while but appears to have upped his participation level Monday. Given the long-term nature of the 31-year-old forward's knee injury, he probably shouldn't be expected to immediately jump into the lineup versus the Islanders on Tuesday. Once given the all-clear, Nieto will have to be activated off long-term injured reserve, a move that will likely send Valtteri Puustinen down to the minors.

NOVEMBER 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Is month-to-month Nieto (knee) is considered to be month-to-month, per Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday.

Impact Nieto is likely to begin the season on the long-term injured reserve list but that hasn't officially happened yet. He had a goal and four points in 22 contests with the Penguins in 2023-24. When he's healthy, Nieto will probably serve in a bottom-six capacity.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Has knee surgery Nieto underwent reconstructive MCL surgery on his left knee surgery May 2, the team announced Wednesday. He's expected to require six-to-seven months to recover.

Impact Nieto last played Nov. 30, 2023 and underwent laparoscopic surgery on his right knee back in January. His new timetable suggests that he won't return until November at the earliest. Nieto should be in the mix for a bottom-six role once he's healthy.

MAY 15, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Suffers secondary injury Nieto (knee) sustained an undisclosed injury while rehabbing from his knee surgery. The center could find himself heading back under the knife ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, Seth R...

Impact Nieto was limited to a mere 22 appearances this season in which he tallied a meager five points. At this point, there seems to be some concern that Nieto won't be fully healthy in time for next season given the numerous surgeries which will impact his offseason program.

APRIL 19, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Ends season on shelf Nieto (knee) was unable to get back onto the ice for the Penguins this season, missing 60 games total.

Impact Nieto's status was never really updated by the Penguins but it seems almost certain that he suffered a setback at some point considering the team previously said he was out 6-8 weeks at the start of January. Before getting hurt, the 31-year-old California native managed just one goal and three assists in 22 games. Even if Nieto is available for the start of the 2024-25 campaign, he figures to be a long shot for anything more than a bottom-six role.

APRIL 18, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Penguins F Matt Nieto recovering from knee surgery Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Nieto underwent successful laparoscopic surgery to his right knee, the team announced Thursday.Head team ph...

JANUARY 4, 2024 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Penguins Forward Matt Nieto Undergoes Successful Knee Surgery | Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Nieto underwent successful laparoscopic surgery to his right knee, it was announced by President of Hockey...

JANUARY 4, 2024 • NHL.COM

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