Montreal Canadiens Antti Niemi Signing Guarantees Nothing
The Montreal Canadiens have brought back Antti Niemi, but he has his work cut out for him battling Charlie Lindgren for a role with the Habs.
The Montreal Canadiens signed Antti Niemi to a one-year contract extension. The veteran goaltender will earn $950,000 with the Habs. Niemi will be hoping for more stability after a tumultuous 2017-18 campaign.
The native of Finland was bought out a year ago by the Dallas Stars. He signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins last summer. Things did not go well for him to begin the season, and it appeared his career might have ended.
Niemi played just three games with the two-time-defending Champions, but they did not go well. He posted an atrocious 7.50 goals-against average with a .797 save percentage. It’s not often either of those statistics begin with a 7 for any goaltender.
Niemi was then placed on waivers by the Penguins, who had seen enough. He was picked up by the Florida Panthers, and things went … better?
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His stint in Florida only lasted two games, and his GAA shrunk to 5.08 while his SV% rose to .872. Once again, Niemi found himself on the waiver wire. He was then scooped up by the Montreal Canadiens, though the move was a bit head-scratching based on the veteran’s recent performance.
It’s a bit rash to judge a goaltender based on five games. Even if they are all terrible. However, in his last season with the Stars, Niemi posted a less-than-stellar 3.30 GAA with a .892 SV% in 37 contests.
Niemi’s NHL success was a distant memory when Habs claimed him
The 34-year-old netminder had success early in his career. However, it was far off in the distance when the Canadiens claimed him on November 14, 2017.
Niemi won a Stanley Cup during his rookie season as a starting goaltender for the Chicago Blackhawks. His numbers weren’t spectacular, a 2.63 GAA and a .910 SV% in the 2010 postseason, but it was enough to get his name etched on the Cup.
An offer sheet lured him to San Jose that summer, and he was third in Vezina Trophy voting in the lockout-shortened 2013 season. It was the last great season for the 6’2″ puck stopper.
That is, until his stint with the Habs this season. In 19 games in bleu, blanc et rouge, he posted a 2.46 GAA with a .929 SV%. His success could possibly be attributed to being reunited with former Blackhawks goalie coach Stephane Waite.
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Niemi will have to beat out Charlie Lindgren for playing time
Whatever the reason for his sudden turnaround, Niemi will not be handed anything next season. He turns 34 in August, and will be battling Charlie Lindgren, a decade his junior, for the number two role behind Carey Price.
Both Lindgren and Niemi are on one-way contracts. However, Lindgren would not have to pass through waivers to be sent to the Laval Rocket at the beginning of next season. This means Niemi may be given the nod if both netminders have similar camps.
Both goalies make under a million dollars. This means, if Lindgren outperforms Niemi in training camp, the veteran can be sent to the minors, albeit after 24 hours on waivers, without impacting the Canadiens cap situation.
To the victor goes the spoils, biggest loser could be McNiven, Fucale
If Niemi is better in September, he will backup Price. Lindgren will once again head to Laval and start the majority of the team’s games. Michael McNiven will be the number two option in the minor leagues for another year.
If Lindgren wins the job, Niemi will be put in a familiar situation as he found himself in last year. He’ll be on waivers and hoping someone takes a chance on him. If not, he will either suck it up, head to Laval and work his way back, or head home to Finland to continue his career if he wants to void his contract.
The biggest loser in the Niemi signing stands to be McNiven. The 20-year-old wasn’t great in his first AHL season, but was looking at a bigger role next season. Zachary Fucale will also have a hard time fighting his way out of the ECHL next season.
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Niemi may be the veteran. But, like Peter Budaj found out when Dustin Tokarski arrived on the scene, that doesn’t guarantee anything. If the Finnish crease dweller wants to stay with the Habs, he better outplay Lindgren in camp.