Flyers sign Nitty to a Two-Year Deal!

[Andy]

Source: Flyers.com

The Philadelphia Flyers announced that they have signed 6?1?, 195-pound restricted free agent goaltender Antero Niittymaki (AN-tehr-oh NEE-too-mah-kee) to a new two-year contract, according General Manager Paul Holmgren. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.

"We believe that Antero is a very good young goalie. He is only 26 years old and we feel that he is still on the upswing,? said Holmgren in making the announcement. ?We realize that last year was a down year for everybody, including Antero. We feel that our goaltending, along with Marty Biron, is strong, and we are excited to have both of them under contract.?

Niittymaki, 26, posted a 9-29-9 record, 3.38 goals-against average and .894 save percentage in 52 games for the Flyers this past season. Over parts of three seasons, all with the Flyers, Niittymaki has a 35-44-15 record, 3.12 GAA and .896 save percentage in 101 career games.

During the 2005-06 season, the Turku, Finland native registered a 23-15-6 record, 2.97 GAA and .895 save percentage. He tied for third in wins among rookie NHL goaltenders with 23, which were also the most wins by a Flyers rookie goaltender since Ron Hextall won 37 games during the 1986-87 season. Niittymaki won a silver medal as a member of the Finnish National Team at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, posting a 5-1-0 record, 1.34 GAA and .951 save percentage, and was named as the tournament MVP.

In three seasons with the Flyers? American Hockey League affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms (2002-03 through 2004-05), Niittymaki compiled a 71-55-12 record and 2.19 GAA in 147 regular season games. His 2.19 GAA is the lowest career GAA in franchise history. He is second on the Phantoms All-Time list in games (147), shutouts (13) and wins (71). He was a member of the 2005 Calder Cup-winning team and was awarded the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the most valuable player of the Calder Cup playoffs.

He was drafted by the Flyers in the sixth round (168th overall) of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.

[Hyperfried]

Very good move. I mean, yes, his last year was pretty much abysmal, but I think that he still has a lot of potential left in him. Biron should definitely be our #1, but Nitty is a solid #2, and he can rotate into the #1 spot whenever needed.

[Chris]

I think he'll have a better year this season, he's our best shot at a solid backup. I like this move alot.

[Hextall_Fan88]

Nitty is a definite future starter in the league. I can see him being comparible to Kiprusoff, as in blooming in his late 20's. Most goals were not at all his fault, and he definately kept us in a few games. Hopefully, he just fine tunes his game, and will be starting for us soon.

[tmcc]

No worries for Niitty. Glad to see him back.

[Wes]

He's a marginal starter currently, but a more than adequate backup. If he can improve his glove hand, learn to control his rebounds better (maybe take some notes from Marty) and challenge shooters more rather than staying back in the crease, I think he will be ready (truly ready, rather than pushed into action due to injury) to try and wrestle the starter's job away from Biron in 2 years.
Like Hexy, I can envision Niittymaki blooming in his late 20's as it seems to happen with alot of Finnish goalies (ie Kiprusoff, Toskala, etc). Even through Flyers history, Lindbergh was an average goalie until he started getting into his late 20's and then he was one of the League's brightest stars. Unfortunately we never got to see how good he really could have been at full potential.

[Jlg-28]

good to see, maybe he can learn a tging or two while Biron is here.

[Drew]

Good re-signing. Our goaltending looks solidified now. I like this 1-2 punch of Biron and Nitty.

[dutch74]

bad move!!! we should have dumped Nitty and stayed with Esche!

this team drives me nuts!

[Andy]

Originally Posted by dutch74

bad move!!! we should have dumped Nitty and stayed with Esche!

this team drives me nuts!

So we could continue our streak of inconsistency? I like this logic..

[Wes]

Originally Posted by dutch74

bad move!!! we should have dumped Nitty and stayed with Esche!

this team drives me nuts!

Uh oh, Dutch went insane. We're better off with Nitty as backup instead of head case Esche. I liked Esche too, but he's become the new Cechmanek in Philly.

[dutch74]

yeah, it's called "bored Friday" syndrome... hope none of you catch it