Tampa Bay Lightning signs goaltender Antero Niittymaki

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed free agent goaltender Antero Niittymaki (6 feet 1, 195 pounds). The Turku, Finland, native has played in 161 career NHL games with the Philadelphia Flyers. He is 62-61-23 record with a .901 save percentage and a 3.01 goals-against average. He won a silver medal with Finland in the 2006 Olympics going 5-0-1 with a 1.34 goals-against average.

"We fully recognized the need to add an experienced back-up goaltender this summer and today we feel we’ve accomplished that goal," Lightning general manager Brian Lawton said. "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."

Comments

[Mike13]

Max, Clemenson a #1? While I agree that he did a good job on the Devils, he wasn't good enough to stay in the NHL once Brodeur came back - and try to keep in mind that NJ is an extremely defensive minded team. I think Grahame and Denis may do well there. So, I'm not entirely as convinced as you are about how good Clemenson really is.

Now, I won't disagree at all that Ellis would have been better - the problem there is that I'm sure Nashville would expect something of good quality in return for him. Krajicek would not be a good enough swap. Someone like Smaby or Ranger would have probably been headed to Music City in order to get Dan Ellis in Tampa.

[Patrick]

Geo,

I've had torn labrum hip surgery myself. I don't play hockey, but since having the surgery I've not been limited by my hip at all - hiking miles in mountains with a pack, tennis, working out with weights, etc. I actually had the same doctor as Feds when he had the surgery. It was explained to me that you can born with bone structure that can make you susceptible to tearing your labrum - they fix that when they repair the labrum as well. So it's not like since he's had the problem on both hips he's likely to suffer another torn labrum. It's like he said, they're not normal healthy hips - nothing is as good as a never been injured and surgically repaired joint - but he likely won't suffer another torn labrum.

[Max Hunter]

I'm not going to jump up and down on this one. Last year, I thought Godzilla was an AWSOME snag, and it turned out to be horrible - even though I'd love to see Kolzig still work with this team at some level. I would have rather seen Clemenson, or Ellis signed because you have to consider NO one knows when Smitty will return, and if he does, where his skills are. We need NOT just a back-up goaltender, but a backup that's a #1, and both Clemenson and Ellis proved they could take those reigns. Nitty, though brilliant at times, is not a #1 goaltender, and it's questionable with his surgeries if he will make a good choice as a backup - to a #1 that's already injured with a head trauma. We should have gotten a goaltender that can rotate on a nightly or statistic basis - like the Wings had.

I'm not ready to heap negativity on this deal yet, but I'm also withholding my undying praise for the signing as well.

Nitty, welcome to the team - please, dear God, DON'T "F" IT UP FOR US!!

Max

[Don in St. Pete]

Geo, All that may be true but it's done and over with now. We'll be left to hope Lawton made the right moves.

[Geografer]

Mike - he has had 2 surgeries on his hips - a big issue for a butterfly goalie - and EE has on his blog that even Nitty admits his hips aren't 100%. That worries me significantly. I still would have like to have seen Boucher before him (and Clemmenson, Conklin and Anderson before Boucher). I think $$$ wise all four of those guys were steals and you didn't have the injury issue and all had proved capable of carrying the #1 job. Now we have 2 goalies that are potential timebombs and could quickly see ourselves in the same position we were in last year (and screwing up the development of Tokarski and/or Helenius in the process).

[karma]

Very interesting couple of weeks.
Going to be lots of new faces in the locker room again this summer, but seems to be more character guys than last year.

Hopefully, we won't have the "team chemistry" issues of last year. They need everyone in camp, early, and bonding. It's a new team folks...

[Mike13]

Startin' to see some goalies coming off the board. NJ just signed Yann Denis.

[Mike13]

I recommended this guy a few weeks ago and I am pleased to see that we picked him up. I won't get too excited until I see the salary & term.

One thing that I did not realize those couple of weeks ago though, was his injury history. I sure hope that it's being overblown as I don't really recall him being hurt all that often.

In any event, his numbers are really all over the place from season to season with Philly. When they were bad, he was bad. When they were really good, he was really good. So, we'll see how good he is with the Bolts, but I remain hopeful that he will be a surprisingly good addition.

[TJ]

Geo- Report I've seen is a 1 yr deal, 600K (or less).

[Don in St. Pete]

Does this mean I can stop holding my breath? Well we got a Legit backup.

[Goalman]

I've heard people saying we should have gone after Emery.Emery wants to be a #1 and has a head that fills the goal. He was a cancer in "the room" while with the Sens. Again, I say, Nittimaki is a good pick up. As far as Boucher goes. Last year was a lucky one for him. He's not that good.

[Goalman]

A very good pickup. Nittimaki was considered a #1 at times. I personally think he is a better goal tender than Biron. Anyway, he is good insurance. Just in passing, keep an eye on Dana Tyrell.If he has healed well, he will be an asset to this team.

[Geografer]

Until I see cost and term I am reserving judgement. He was not on any of my wish lists and unless he is coming in for less than Philly signed Boucher we are overpaying for an injury prone goalie.

[Lightning Rod]

Agree good likely G pick-up.

Please folks, let's not go down the prediction road again this year. My only expectation has been the hope that the team would get and play better this year; and they appear to have done a good job at getting better in the right spots. As for the playing better part, we shall see.

[Patrick]

Great news Ramen-err, Damian :)

Offseason #2 has been so much better than offseason #1. It's actually too early to really judge that, but we knew before any games were played last year, huge holes on defense had not been addressed. They have addressed our two biggest holes this time - defense and insurance for Smith.

A 2nd line winger would be nice, but even if we stay with the forwards we have, I think it's reasonable to expect close to .500 the first half of the season and perhaps over .500 the second half. That's assuming no serious injuries to any key players. Tocchet should now have enough players to implement the system he wants to use. I hope it's more aggressive as he said he wanted it to be last season.

[Casper]

Welcome and deny the issue of numbers 1 and 30. They are cursed in Lightning regalia. :-)

Later in the day, I shall hoist one to your good health.

Don't quit on us now, Big Mike!

Almost done, who dat defense coach?!?

Go Bolts!

[Eric]

Good pick-up.