“Right now it’s who we feel comfortable with on that given day… I think when you look at Antti’s game, he’s working real hard to polish it up. Niitty, let’s face facts, has been better than Antti has so we lean that way a little right now.”
That was San Jose Sharks head coach Todd McLellan on the goaltending situation for the former Western Conference powerhouse. The Sharks have started the season with a 3-3-1 record that has not impressed many in the NHL (neither has the Flyers record, for the matter). Part of the problem is that starting goaltender and Stanley Cup Champion Antti Niemi has not performed to expectations.
The Sharks originally signed former Flyer Antero Niittymaki to a two-year, $4 million deal after letting veteran goaltender Evgeni Nabokov walk. Sharks general manager Doug Wilson was convinced that Nabokov hadn’t proven over the years that he could get it done and based on the 2009-2010 Finals, a bonafide #1 goaltender wasn’t necessary. After all, rookie goaltender Niemi got it done for the Chicago Blackhawks, right? Niitty was expected to start while back-up goaltender Thomas Greiss would fill the same position he started in.
The salary cap nightmare that disemboweled Chicago ended up benefitting the Sharks, as they were able to sign Niemi to a one-year, $2 million deal. According to Wilson, Niittymaki was approached before the signing to ask how he felt about it and he purportedly thought it was a great idea (similar to how Donovan McNabb apparently lobbied for Michael Vick). The two Finns would be the goalies for the fins while Greiss got the shaft. The Sharks’ AHL affiliate is currently grooming two goaltending prospects (including former Flyer tryout Carter Hutton, infamous for being unable to play several Phantoms games last season because he had night classes) and Greiss is now playing for Brynas of the Swedish Elitserien.
The defense has been much of the problem for Niemi, who is going through the Brian Boucher treatment with the Sharks. In four games played, Niemi has an abysmal 4.50 goals-against average and 85% save percentage while Niittymaki has a superb 1.81 goals-against average and 93% save percentage To get a better picture, the team is a combined -39 in seven games played.
The season is young, and while points are always crucial in an NHL with extremely tight parity post-lockout, there really isn’t a large enough sample size to say which goaltender is better. Niittymaki has historically been streaky and he had a marginally adequate 2.86 goals-against average and 90.9% save percentage in 49 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season.
Either way, it’s nice to see Niitty trump Niemi. Maybe it’s gratitude for seeing Niitty play in the orange and black and wishing him the best, or perhaps cold, suffering bitterness for Niemi outdueling Michael Leighton in the Finals, but in either case I hope Niitty finally proves his case to be a starter. The Flyers take on the Sharks only once this season, on December 8.
FRANK!!!