Matt Nieto

Matt Nieto

32-Year-Old Left WingLW
Pittsburgh Penguins
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Matt Nieto in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a two-year, $1.8 million contract with the Penguins in July of 2023.
Ready to play Friday
LWPittsburgh Penguins
November 15, 2024
Nieto (knee) was taken off injured reserve and will be in action against the Blue Jackets on Friday.
ANALYSIS
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.
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2024–25 Time On Ice Stats
  • Average Time On Ice:
    13:54
  • Average Power Play TOI:
    0:00
  • Average Short-Handed TOI:
    3:16
 
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2022–23
10:52
0:02
1:13
2022–23
15:39
0:38
2:13
2023–24
11:37
0:03
2:26
2024–25
13:54
0:00
3:16
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
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For the first time in his career, Nieto will play for a team other than the Avalanche or the Sharks after signing a two-year deal with the Penguins this summer. He produced 24 points in 81 contests a year ago, his best scoring output since 2019-20. He enjoyed a productive role in the Sharks' middle six, but his time in Pittsburgh will likely be similar to what he saw in Colorado. That means limited minutes as a defensive winger in a fourth-line role. Considering he's never had more than 27 points in a season, there's no reason for Nieto to be considered in the vast majority of fantasy formats.
Nieto returns for a second stint with the Sharks after he exceeded 20 points for the third straight campaign with the Avalanche last year. The 28-year-old Nieto has five 20-point campaigns to his name, but he's never reached 30 before -- while consistent, it's unlikely the California native will produce enough offense to interest most fantasy managers. He's most likely to feature on the Sharks' fourth line, although he does get some time on the penalty kill and could be worth a look in deep formats that count shorthanded points.
A decent north-to-south burner with a scoring touch, Nieto's compiled 60 points (26 goals, 34 assists) over 181 games since the Avalanche managed to pluck him off waivers in January 2017. He's generally hit-or-miss in the attacking zone, but the 26-year-old winger assumes key penalty-killing responsibilities, and barring a rash of injuries, Nieto will be hard-pressed to move into the top six at any point this season. The Avalanche gave up two early-round 2020 draft picks to pull Andre Burakovsky from the Capitals, and he's a prime candidate to push Nieto down to the fourth line.
With the Avalanche sending a more competent squad to the rink on a nightly basis in 2017-18, Nieto predictably posted a much better campaign than his 13-point season split between Colorado and San Jose in 2016-17. All told, he compiled a career-high 15 goals on a 17.9 shooting percentage. A plus-6 rating bodes well, but it will be difficult to repeat that conversion rate of shots into goals, and Nieto has never topped 27 points in a season, making it quite possible that he's nearly reached his cap in yearly points.
Nieto didn't show much growth in his second NHL season despite seeing a modest rise in ice time, as he generally came pretty close to replicating the prior campaign's numbers, but with six more games. A slightly undersized winger who doesn't play a particularly tough game, Nieto profiles best as a third-liner at this point, but his current role remains up in the air -- it could be anywhere from borderline top-six guy to depth forward. It's questionable what Nieto would be able to do even if he did earn top-six minutes, though he won't turn 23 until a month into the season, so he still has room for further development.
Nieto had a solid rookie campaign, delivering 10 goals and 14 assists through 66 games last season. With the team refocusing on the youth on the roster, Nieto will be given a solid shot at an increased role and a top-six position. Nieto's upside isn't as big as Hertl's, but he has proven he has the ability to produce if he finds a consistent home in the team's top six. Watch him in camp and be prepared to scoop him up late.
Nieto is one of the newest prospects for the Sharks, as he was taken with the 47th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. At 5-foot-11, 183 pounds, Nieto is a bit on the smaller side, but his skating proficiency more than makes up for it. Most recently, Nieto played for Boston University, where he tallied 23 points (10 G, 13 A) in 39 games as a freshman in 2010-11.
More Fantasy News
Back from conditioning stint
LWPittsburgh Penguins
Knee
November 14, 2024
Nieto (knee) was recalled from his conditioning assignment Thursday.
ANALYSIS
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Starting conditioning assignment
LWPittsburgh Penguins
Knee
November 9, 2024
Nieto (knee) was sent to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on a conditioning loan Saturday.
ANALYSIS
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Cleared for contact
LWPittsburgh Penguins
Knee
November 4, 2024
Nieto (knee) was a full-contact participant at practice Monday, Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
ANALYSIS
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Considered month-to-month
LWPittsburgh Penguins
Knee
September 18, 2024
Nieto (knee) is considered to be month-to-month, per Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday.
ANALYSIS
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Has knee surgery
LWPittsburgh Penguins
Knee
May 15, 2024
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.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Poised to return Friday
LWPittsburgh Penguins
November 15, 2024
Nieto, who has been out long-term with a knee injury, could be in the lineup versus Columbus on Friday, Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Nieto's return to the lineup comes as Blake Lizotte was added to the list of infirmary members with a concussion. If Nieto does play, it will be his first NHL game action since Nov. 30, 2023 versus the Lightning, nearly a full calendar year on the shelf. Nieto figures to slide into a third-line role once given the all-clear.
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