Niemi finds work despite getting pushed out the door by Canadiens

When the Montreal Canadiens gave goalie Antti Niemi a second chance, it turned out to be a great decision. 2017 was a tough year for the veteran goalie, who started off the 2017-18 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins after signing in July as a free agent. However, the Pens didn't have much patience for Niemi, who ended on waivers and later claimed by the Florida Panthers. 

The grass wasn't greener in Miami as he was once again placed on waivers after poor performance and the Habs ended up giving him a shot, claiming him off the wire for the second time this season. He revived his career from November to April 2018 and ended up landing a one-year contract with the Canadiens. However, Niemi found out at the end of the 2018-19 season that luck in Montreal would not strike twice and was told on the dressing room cleanup day that he would not be re-signed. 

That is why Niemi accepted to go back to Finland after he signed with Jokerit and will play in the KHL next season. It will be his first return to Finland since the 2007-08 season, except for 10 contests he played there during the lockout in 2012-13. 

In 17 games with the Habs in 2018-19, Niemi posted a 3.78 goals-against average and a .887 save percentage, along with an 8-6-2 record. He played a total of 463 NHL games with a record of 242-140-57. He won a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks back in 2010.