Janne Niskala

Janne Juhani Niskala (born September 22, 1981) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman, currently playing for Atlant Mytishchi of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was born in Västerås, Sweden but is of Finnish nationality.

Playing career
Niskala was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft in 5th round as the 147th pick overall. He is known for his good offensive skills and his power play scoring ability.

Niskala has played in Finland for the SM-liiga club Lukko for five seasons. During the 2000-01 season he played in the Finnish second tier division but also for the British club Manchester Storm. He has spent one season with the Swiss club EV Zug and one for the Swedish Elitserien club Färjestads BK. In Sweden he was reunited with his former team mate from Lukko, Esa Pirnes. During the 2006-07 season in Sweden, Niskala led all defensemen in both points and goals. He also finished first in the plus/minus statistics with a plus-25 rating.

Following his big season with Färjestad, Niskala signed a one-year contract with the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL), but spent the entire 2007-08 season with the farm team Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL). Niskala was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers on June 24, 2008 in exchange for Triston Grant and a 7th round draft pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. On June 30, 2008, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a 6th round draft pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He scored a goal in his first NHL preseason game on September 20, 2008 against the Penguins. He then scored his first NHL goal in his third NHL game, on October 11 against Michael Leighton of the Carolina Hurricanes. Niskala only play six games for the Lightning before asking to be waived since he had been cut off the roster. On November 13, he signed a two-year contract with Frölunda HC in Elitserien.

On May 4, 2011, he moved from KHL's Metallurg Magnitogorsk to Atlant Mytishchi.