Playing career

Niinimaa was selected in the second round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, 36th overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers.

Following three seasons playing with Jokerit in Helsinki, Finland, Niinimaa made his debut with the Flyers in the 1996-97 NHL season, posting 44 points and a +12 rating, and being named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.

The following season Niinimaa was traded to the Edmonton Oilers, where he spent parts of six seasons. He earned himself an All-Star appearance in the 2000-01 NHL regular season. He was traded to the New York Islanders in 2003 and then was traded to the Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens. During the NHL lockout, Niinimaa returned to play in his native Finland. Niinimaa has twice represented Finland at the Winter Olympics, winning a bronze medal in 1998, and was on the national team when Finland won its first World Championship gold medal.

Niinimaa retired on February 10, 2014.

Transactions

• June 26, 1993 - Drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers
• March 24, 1998 - Traded by Philadelphia to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Dan McGillis and a 2nd round draft pick (Philadelphia selected Jason Beckett)
• March 11, 2003 - Traded by the Edmonton Oilers to the New York Islanders along with a second round draft pick (New York selected Evgeni Tunik) in exchange for Brad Isbister and Raffi Torres
• January 10, 2006 - Traded by the New York Islanders to the Dallas Stars along with a fifth round draft pick in exchange for John Erskine and a second round draft pick.
• September 30, 2006 - Traded by the Dallas Stars along with a fifth round pick in 2007 to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Mike Ribeiro and a 2008 sixth round pick.
• September 14, 2007 - Signed by HC Davos of the Swiss National League.
• August 14, 2008 - Signed by Kärpät of the SM-liiga.
• November 27, 2008 - Signed by SCL Tigers of the Swiss National League.
• August 16, 2009 - Signed by HV71 of Elitserien.

Career statistics

				Regular season							Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
1993-94	Jokerit	SM-l		45	3	8	11	—	24		12	1	1	2	—	4
1994-95	Jokerit	SM-l		42	7	10	17	—	36		10	1	4	5	—	35
1995-96	Jokerit	SM-l		49	5	15	20	—	79		11	0	2	2	—	12
1996-97	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		77	4	40	44	+12	58		19	1	12	13	+3	16
1997-98	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		66	3	31	34	+6	56		—	—	—	—	—	—
1997-98	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		11	1	8	9	+7	6		11	1	1	2	+3	12
1998-99	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		81	4	24	28	+7	88		4	0	0	0	-2	2
1999-00	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		81	8	25	33	+14	89		5	0	2	2	+1	2
2000-01	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		82	12	34	46	-6	90		6	0	2	2	-1	6
2001-02	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		81	5	39	44	+13	80		—	—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		63	4	24	28	-7	66		—	—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	New York Islanders	NHL		13	1	5	6	-2	14		5	0	1	1	-4	12
2003-04	New York Islanders	NHL		82	9	19	28	+12	64		5	1	2	3	-2	2
2004-05	Malmö Redhawks	SEL		10	0	3	3	-2	34		—	—	—	—	—	—
2004-05	Kärpät	SM-l		26	3	10	13	+14	30		12	0	5	5	+3	8
2005-06	New York Islanders	NHL		41	1	9	10	-7	62		—	—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	Dallas Stars	NHL		22	2	4	6	-5	24		4	0	1	1	0	8
2006-07	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		41	0	3	3	-13	36		—	—	—	—	—	—
2007-08	HC Davos	NLA		48	9	28	37	—	127		—	—	—	—	—	—
2008-09	SCL Tigers	NLA		20	8	10	18	6	20		—	—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	HV71	SEL		43	4	13	17	1	24		—	—	—	—	—	—
2010-11	Luleå HF	SEL		48	9	21	30	-2	44		11	1	5	6	—	12
2011-12	Rapperswil-Jona Lakers	NLA		20	0	3	3	0	26		—	—	—	—	—	—
2012-13	Asplöven HC	Allsvenskan		7	1	3	4	-6	10		—	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				741	54	265	319	+43	733		59	3	21	24	-2	60
SM-liiga totals				162	18	43	61	—	169		45	2	12	14	+3	59
Elitserien totals				101	13	41	54	—	102		—	—	—	—	—	—
NLA totals				88	17	41	59	—	157		—	—	—	—	—	—
HockeyAllsvenskan totals				7	1	3	4	-6	10		—	—	—	—	—	—

[ Source: Wikipedia ]