Joined: Jul. 2021
Posts: 49
Likes: 31
Antero Niittymäki. My biggest idol, who's career i started to follow when was playing in Finland as "junior". Was not able to follow his career when he was playing in AHL (Phantoms) Did see almost every NHL game and then followed his career in AHL and Finland. He had to end his career at age of 32 because hip injuries. He was MVP of 2006 Olympic Tournament. He was also AHL playoffs MVP when Phantoms won AHL championship in lock-out season, when many team had future NHL stars in they roster. He never got true chance to be starter in playoff team. When Flyers was Playoff team, he didnt get true chance to fight starter role against Biron. It was common that coach choose/favor one goalie and starter was playing 70+ games. He outplayed Mike Smith in Tampa Bay in 2009-2010 season and was Tampa Starter. Its still my all time favorite NHL season (2009-2010). He then signed to SJ to get chance to be starter in playoff team, but even that he outplayed Niemi in start of the season, he didnt got trust from coach McLellan who did use Niemi, even that Niemi strugled in the playoffs that year and Niittymäki was changed to goal couple time, he didnt get any playoff start that year. After several hip injuries, he had to retire after playing one season in home Turku Finland. If he would been 10 year younger and would be playing NHL now, he would get a lot more starts and games. I like current NHL more, because now days back up goalie can get more starts too, its not one guy who play 70+ games no matter if back up is better or not. I still hope that teams would use two goalie tactics more in playoffs too.