Scratch that: Niittymaki shuns Russia, flees to Tampa Bay

by Travis Hughes on Jul 9, 2009 3:47 PM EDT in News

In a development that is sure to anger Southeast Division fans, former Flyers goaltender Antero Niittymaki has apparently worked his way out of a deal with Atlant Moscow Oblast of the KHL and back into the National Hockey League with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Tampa Bay offered Niittymaki a contract early Thursday, a day after he had apparently signed a deal with the Russian team. That contract must have not been finalized or, as is the situation with many KHL deals, it had an "out-clause" which allows the player to leave for a return to the NHL.

There has been no official announcement from the Lightning or the Russian franchise regarding any Niittymaki movement, but Tampa is expected to annouce the deal shortly.

UPDATE - It's official. Here's what Lightning GM Brian Lawton said about the signing: “We fully recognized the need to add an experienced back-up goaltender this summer and today we feel we’ve accomplished that goal. Not only is Antero already an established number two in the NHL who can steal games, but we feel he is very capable of working with Mike Smith to give us a formidable 1-2 punch in goal.”

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Comments

This sucked for Atlanta considering Nitty’s dominance of the Thrashers and the amount of times Atlanta and Tampa play one another.

by Mitchell Green on Jul 9, 2009 6:53 PM EDT reply actions

I can’t remember Nitty ever losing to a Southeast team. I couldn’t find the stat so I didn’t include it in the article, but if he has any losses against the division, it’s only a handful.

Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Travis Hughes on Jul 9, 2009 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I didn’t add them up, but his game log for every season he played is here:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/gamelog?playerId=1505

by MarioD on Jul 9, 2009 7:17 PM EDT reply actions

And now I did.

He was 17-1-1 in the last two seasons against the southeast.

In 2006-07 he was 3-8-1.

His rookie year and the couple emergency starts he made the year before he was 8-2-2.

Total record of 28-11-4, and if you exclude the season everything went to hell, he is 25-3-3 against that division.

by MarioD on Jul 9, 2009 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Needless to say, that’s pretty dominant.

One loss in two years? Nuts.

Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Travis Hughes on Jul 9, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Awesome. I’m glad he’s staying in the league. I’ve always had a soft spot for Nitty and I’m sure if he plays like he has in the past against that division the Tampa fans will love him there. Best of luck to him. What’s their goalie situation? Is he starting or playing backup?

by Kanayd on Jul 10, 2009 12:07 AM EDT reply actions

They have Mike Smith, who played considerably well for them last season despite the team being terrible. But according to Raw Charge, there are concerns that he could suffer a setback from post-concussion syndrome.

I’d guess that Niittymaki will probably at least have a chance to start.

Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Travis Hughes on Jul 10, 2009 1:37 AM EDT up reply actions

I see similarities between Smith and Niitty, if only that Smith’s first chance to start was on an awful team. After backing up Turco, he came over and split time with Kari Ramo and Marc Denis, playing in 13 games for the Lightning. (34 games combined) This past year he played in 41. Now he has more competition.

Broad Street Hockey -
Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Geoff Detweiler on Jul 10, 2009 5:08 AM EDT up reply actions

So basically Nitty moves from a team where he has to fight for a starting spot against a second tier goalie, to a team where he has to fight for a starting spot against a second tier goalie who has the potential to be a first tier goalie, if only he didn’t play for the Lightning? Oh well, at least he gets to play Atlanta more. (also, when considering his domination over the southwest, don’t forget that he’s 1-4 lifetime against tampa bay, so exclude those games and he’s even more ridiculous against that division)

by eeeeee on Jul 10, 2009 8:45 AM EDT reply actions

*southeast

by eeeeee on Jul 10, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Nitty signs with Tampa Bay……making them another warm weather Cup contender…well maybe not, but I’m sure the Flyers will manage to lose at least 2 of the 4 games to Tampa…regardless of how poorly they play against the rest of the league…

by FlyersGoalies1and27 on Aug 11, 2009 5:45 PM EDT reply actions