Who Da New Guy 2?

Matt Niskanen, recently acquired as part of the Goligoski for Neal trade was born on 12/6/86 in Virginia, Minnesota. He is a 6'1" 190 pound defenseman with a right handed shot. Viewed by some as a throw in or salary dump, Matt Niskanen has already shown himself to be a very solid number 5 defenseman for the Penguins. Niskanen attended Mnnesota-Duluth University. During 2006-07 his sophomore season, Niskanen recorded 9 goals and 22 assists for the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs earning all WCHA First Team and ALL WCHA Academic Team honors. He was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the first round, 28th overall in the 2005 NHL draft(one round before James Neal). This should give you some ideas as to how he was percieved at the time. Niskanen made his NHL debut on 10/03/07 against the Colorado Avalanche. He got his first NHL points (2 assists), two nights later against the Boston Bruins. Niskanen recorded his first NHL goal on 10/29/07 against the San Jose Sharks, and was invited to the 2008 Young Stars Game. In 2007-08 he recorded 7 goals and 26 points, not bad numbers for a rookie NHL defenseman. In his second season he improved to 6 goals and 35 points leading all Dallas defensemen. So far in 2010-11 Niskanen only has 3 goals and 15 points, but he has been stellar in his first four games as a Penguin recording a goal and an assist in his last outing. Niskanen is also known for the fight he had this season against Sidney Crosby, which Crosby chronicled in a hotel room conversation with Pascal Dupuis on HBO's 24/7 series. Welcome Matt Niskanen!