Sharks sign Antero Niittymaki to a two year contract
by Mr. Plank on Jul 1, 2010 11:15 AM PDT
in Sharks News
57 comments
The San Jose Sharks have signed Finnish goaltender Antero Niittymaki to a two year deal worth $2.0MM per year today according to Pierre Lebrun of ESPN.
The Sharks have also confirmed that he has been signed to a two year contract. Monetary details have not been disclosed by the team.
"He's the guy we wanted," Doug Wilson told Pierre Lebrun via text message.
Niittymaki is a thirty year old goaltender who posted a .909 SV% last season for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Many will remember his brilliant run during the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy, where he put the Finnish National Team on his back and led them to a silver medal.
Inconsistency has been a hallmark of Niittymaki's career, displaying periods of utter brilliance followed by stretches where he has trouble stopping the puck. He's not the bonafide starter that Evgeni Nabokov was for San Jose, and will likely compete year round for the starting role with Thomas Greiss.
Here are his statistics over the last six seasons:
| Year | Team | GP | MIN | W | L | OTL | GA | GAA | SA | SV | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Flyers | 3 | 180 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | -3 | .961 | 0 |
| 2005 | Flyers | 46 | 2690 | 23 | 15 | 6 | 133 | 2.97 | 0 | -133 | .895 | 2 |
| 2006 | Flyers | 52 | 2943 | 9 | 29 | 9 | 166 | 3.38 | 0 | -166 | .894 | 0 |
| 2007 | Flyers | 28 | 1424 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 69 | 2.91 | 0 | -69 | .907 | 1 |
| 2008 | Flyers | 32 | 1805 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 83 | 2.76 | 0 | -83 | .912 | 1 |
| 2009 | Lightning | 49 | 2657 | 21 | 18 | 5 | 127 | 2.87 | 0 | -127 | .909 | 1 |
In terms of reaction to the signing, Niittymaki is far from the least desirable goaltender on the market, but was not highlighted by Fear The Fin as a player who was in the upper echelon of unrestricted free agent netminders. The monetary compensation given to him does allow the Sharks to pursue a big ticket defenseman, which should now be a big priority for San Jose General Manager Doug Wilson.
A more detailed look at Niittymaki, as well as the Sharks moves on July 1st, will be posted later tonight.
Go Sharks.
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Keep discussion here related to Niittymaki. Any other rumors/news should be posted here.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
Wow...
Sign Nitty and lose Manny to Vancouver….Im currently wondering what the fuck DW is doing…
This is Team Teal. Sharks and Phins.
Cut me open and I bleed Teal...
Just a reminder, fans, comin’ up is our "Die-hard Night" here at the stadium. Free admission to anyone who was actually alive the last time the Dolphins won a Super Bowl. -Mosul_DolFan, Phinsider.com
Marc Emery ... the Big Bad Bogeyman ... who offered natural seeds that could potentially become a non-toxic, non-addictive, highly beneficial 12,000-year-old plant. Where are the victims? Where are the bodies? "Justice Minister" Rob Nicholson and his ilk should be the criminals imprisoned.
If Vancouver wants to put him on their books for three years at $2.5m/year, they can have him.
by Ike Wa the L Hater on Jul 1, 2010 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Well if Niemi and Leighton can play in a Stanley Cup, so can Nitty.
"Even the Swedes are getting mad."-Randy Hahn
"It's very cozy in the sin bin."-Randy Hahn
Good point...
This is Team Teal. Sharks and Phins.
Cut me open and I bleed Teal...
Just a reminder, fans, comin’ up is our "Die-hard Night" here at the stadium. Free admission to anyone who was actually alive the last time the Dolphins won a Super Bowl. -Mosul_DolFan, Phinsider.com
Marc Emery ... the Big Bad Bogeyman ... who offered natural seeds that could potentially become a non-toxic, non-addictive, highly beneficial 12,000-year-old plant. Where are the victims? Where are the bodies? "Justice Minister" Rob Nicholson and his ilk should be the criminals imprisoned.
by Sharkz_N_Phinz on Jul 1, 2010 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions
2.5/y 3 years + NTC for Malhotra is a bit much. However, Nittymaki deal for San Jose makes sense for the money. Frees them up some cash to make a play for Hamhuis or Volchenkov, and resign seto.
by BruinsSelectSeguin on Jul 1, 2010 11:25 AM PDT reply actions
Nittymaki would be a great (okay, at least interesting) name for a sushi roll…
"Nichol is like a big, mean energizer bunny. Well, not big, but he's mean."
I think they just signed a sushi roll.
I'll drink that! oh...I'll drink TO that, oh crap I quit drinking.
by theneverman on Jul 1, 2010 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Ellis signs for $1.5MM over two years. Very interesting…
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
In other words, that makes me pissed. Has to be a situation where DW said he wouldn’t be able to guarantee starting role, I think. Only thing that makes sense.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
I don’t think DW even talked to Ellis. It sounds like he just called Niittymaki right away, and threw 2 million out there immediately and he said yes.
God 2 million seems like a lot for Niittymaki. I think i’d rather have Biron at a 900k cap hit. At least then we could really upgrade our blueline without even trading Clowe.
Niittymaki mentioned on conference call that the Sharks were the first team to contact him during free agency.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
Man, the way DW is just throwing money at people right now, I don’t know how pitiable Scott Nichol only managed, what, $700k? Poor, poor fool.
by Ike Wa the L Hater on Jul 1, 2010 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions
who exactly has he been throwing at people? Marleau and Pavelski. I wouldnt exactly call locking up pavelski for 4mil per and locking up Marleau for 4 (reasonable price for a guy that scored 36-38 goals the year before last and over 40 this year) just throwing money at people. If he were just throwing money at people he would have out done Vancouver and over payed for a 3rd line player in Manny.
by dannyschmanny on Jul 2, 2010 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions
woops…forgot about Wallin. Thats the only head scratcher for me. Not so much the money we gave him, but why we are bringing him back. Although we did get a small sample size of him realistically for the portion of the regular season he was here, and then he was playing injured through the playoffs just like Heater. Can’t say I was ever all that familiar with his game before he joined the team. Guess i’ll reserve judgement until the season.
by dannyschmanny on Jul 2, 2010 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Wallin contract = Big headscratcher.
Otherwise the Patty and Pavs deals are reasonable, and I agree with Ika Hater that Nichol’s keep is pitiful compared to what he’s worth.
by JenLovesHockey on Jul 2, 2010 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Well Ellis signed 3M/ 2 years for an average of 1.5 mil per year. So either Doug Wilson felt Nittymaki is a better goalie or the market for elis dropped off significantly after the sharks got Nittymaki that Tampa lowballed him. I got to love the Canadiens not being able to sign Elis for 1.5/year when they paid 1.0/year for Alex Auld. HAH!
by BruinsSelectSeguin on Jul 1, 2010 11:38 AM PDT reply actions
Hawks fan here
All the Sharks fans should really be excited about this acquisition. Nittymaki is not a sushi roll. This guy is the real deal. He has had winning records almost every year and he got the Finland team the silver medal. He was a huge part of the Calder Cup winning Philadelphia Phantoms (over the Chicago Wolves) in 2005.
LUigi was found dead at the scene, murdered by a Chelsea Dagger.
I think the concern here is not his potential, rather his inconsistency. On the bright side, we’ve seen what he can do when he gets hot (i.e. 2006 Olympics). If he can get hot heading into the playoffs (see Niemi, Leighton, Hiller, Ward, Andre-Fleury, etc.)… My gut still tells me we overpaid, considering he made $600k last year and was hardly the most desirable goaltender on the market this year.
by Ike Wa the L Hater on Jul 1, 2010 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Honestly...
I really wish the Sharks would like…hire someone else to handle contract negotiations. Let DW worry about team building and trades and everything else, but when it comes time to sit down with a player and talk numbers, let someone else take over.
I really doubt DW even tried to get Niitty at less than 2 million. He seems like a ‘players first’ guy who never even attempts to low ball a player.
I mean seriously, Niittymaki got paid 600k last year. With the goalie market the way it is, and the less than stellar season he had, did he really deserve a 333% pay increase??
UGGGGGGGh i have a headache now.
Particularly on a good regular season team like the Sharks that tend to inflate goalie stats.
by BruinsSelectSeguin on Jul 1, 2010 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
I think it’s safe to say he’ll have more success on the Sharks than he did on the Lightning. But we tripled+ his salary? I question that logic.
by Ike Wa the L Hater on Jul 1, 2010 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions
He’s streaky, and this title came with him when he joined the Bolts… a nd was sort of proven last season.
Then again, some of his roughest outtings were brought on by the premature birth of his daughter and his mind being elsewhere (late January 2010)
But back to his salary – I don’t know how Lawton pulled it off, but I do recall that Frank had an option to go to the KHL for more money, or sign for chump change in Tampa. He signed in Tampa and thend enied the KHL deal.
"Seen Cincuenta" -- 04.10.10 -- Raw Charge.
Apparently Stevie Y felt Niittymaki was worth at least that much but Niitty wanted out of Tampa.
I’m sure we all agree that Yzerman is an idiot and doesn’t know anything about hockey either.
Niittymaki clearly heard the message. Tampa Bay reportedly offered him as much or more money as the Sharks to re-sign. But he was eager to sign on with one of the NHL’s best teams and play behind better talent than he did in Tampa, where he had a decent numbers last season.
http://www.mercurynews.com/sharks/ci_15425481?source=rss
none of this happens in a vacuum.
"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda
by Evilducks on Jul 2, 2010 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I like Yzerman so I don’t agree that he’s an idiot – but thanks for posting that bit. It’s awesome to know that Nitty wanted to come to SJ.
by JenLovesHockey on Jul 2, 2010 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions
D’oh!!!
This is like the 50th time I failed to catch online sarcasm. Us old folks who grew up in the 1980’s aren’t used to the interwebs and such.
by JenLovesHockey on Jul 2, 2010 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions
I love how DW compared Niitty to Hiller/Anderson/Niemi who are all BIG shot blocking butterfly goaltenders, and then Niittymaki himself compared himself to Kipprusoff and Toskala who play a smaller hybrid reactionary type game like Nabby.
I think he compared himself to Kipper and Vesa because he recognizes that, as Sharks fans, we are more familiar with those goalies than with bigger butterfly goalies.
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Doug Wilson for Governor" Club
Fools and Sages
Hmm, inconsistent European butterfly goalie with a history of Olympic success… I don’t see any reason why this should backfire.
by Tealing in the years on Jul 1, 2010 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s a good thing sarcasm doesn’t transfer into posts. I can tell myself you’re right.
by Ike Wa the L Hater on Jul 1, 2010 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Nitti for 2/3, Greiss for 1/3
Play the hotter goalie in the playoffs. It’s not like this team won’t make the playoffs.
I’m okay with the extra 500k, Nittymaki recorded the exact same save percentage as Ellis last season, while playing behind a weaker defensive core than Nashville. Additionally, Nittymaki is a little bit bigger than Ellis, which clearly has been discussed at length on this forum. At first i was pissed that Ellis went for less, but at the end of the day I think this is a good day (barring an implosion in goal during the season).
Ellis only had such a poor SV% because Nashville had a terrible Penalty Kill. Ellis’s even strength SV% is actually .924 which is actually one of the best even strength SV%‘s among all UFA goaltenders. Even Pekke Rinne’s overall SV% suffered because Nashville had the 3rd worst penalty kill in the whole league.
I’m not upset about this move. Could he have been gotten cheaper, maybe, but it’s not Wallin money at least!
Jon Casey fan since '84
Founder of Feel the Teal.
I have a Twitter Thing.
I had Niittymaki on my NHL09 team, and the dude was a stud!
But seriously, looks like a deal for him to be the starter this year and the backup next year, while ramping up Greiss. I’m cool with that plan.
by calixtus on Jul 1, 2010 1:29 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
LOL
he’s on my NHL 09 team as well. It was an expansion team, and I had Greiss as my starting netminder. Niitty was placed on waivers and I picked him up. I’m now in the Stanley Cup:)!
Read my Cal blog: http://since59.blogspot.com/ Go Bears!
Ryan Verdugo, my adopted son, is back on the "Alex Hinshaw lefty" career plan.
Nitty is fine. Whatever. He’s solid enough that, behind a good blueline, he shouldn’t cost us any games. If DW had gone out and gotten a top flight D man with the extra cap space saved from signing a cheap goalie, I would have been happy with today. All the good D men are gone now, and I’m at a complete loss as to what happens now…
Esta noche nosotros cenamos Tortugas
Así que bueno, ellos serán
Z!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Trade Clowe NOW for a d-man
We’ll even throw in Wallin
Wallin's got a No Trade Clause
"Shave it, and you will score." - Randy Hahn
"The last time I made a video in a hotel room…..very different than this." – Drew Remenda
Proud member of the "Bring Back Semenov" Club
I'm content with this.
Ellis and Mason signed for less, and I think I would have rather had one of them, but Niittymaki is okay. But we definitely need to upgrade the D.
"Shave it, and you will score." - Randy Hahn
"The last time I made a video in a hotel room…..very different than this." – Drew Remenda
Proud member of the "Bring Back Semenov" Club
It’s gonna be a bitch playing with the Sharks online on the NHL game now. I liked to take every defensive end and penalty kill faceoff with Malhotra’s faceoff rating. At least Nichol’s faceoff rating is over 90. Niittymaki’s too easy to score on though.
Look at me. Yes, you heard met. Look at me. Don't stop.
Yeah NHL 11 is gonna suck now with NItty
But I have a feeling that in the days to come DW will make some trade or move that will be good. And if you look at us compared to the Hawks we still have most of our team together.
As in "Frank Nitti" the gangster
You can look around for his goalie masks, soem feature a mob character. It’s reference to the nickname.
"Seen Cincuenta" -- 04.10.10 -- Raw Charge.
thanks, yeah I realized that not long after I posted it (brain-fart) – we were talking about Frank Nitty here on FTF earlier in the day while researching his masks :)
by JenLovesHockey on Jul 2, 2010 8:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Well...
after the initial disappointment yesterday, welcome Nitty! Let’s hope you’re all that we need to go far into the Playoff Season. :)
High sticking, tripping, slashing, spearing, charging, hooking, fighting, unsportsmanlike conduct, interference, roughing… everything else is just figure skating.
- Anonymous
"My hope is that we put him (Couture) on a line with Seto and CloweThen you get the Coochy-Goochy-Clowe line." - Cerise
Is Nittymaki a good Goalie?
I’ve never seen this guy.
Chris Andersen could be in a porno with his 'stache. Too bad he still wouldn't know how to box out.
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