SAN JOSE -– Entering his third NHL season, Sharks forward Matt Nieto still possesses some of the most important traits that got him here.
When it comes to speed, the 5-foot-11, 190-pounder is among the fastest players on the team. When it comes to hockey IQ, Nieto is typically in the right spot at the right time, as evidenced by his positive advanced metrics. When it comes to maturity and confidence, Nieto comes across as a guy well beyond his 22 years of age.
What was frustrating last season, though, was that Nieto just wasn’t able to contribute enough on the scoresheet despite typically skating in a top nine role.