Call up / Send down
In other roster moves, goaltender Antero Niittymaki has been assigned to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL.
Niittymaki likely plays there the rest of the season.
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Antero Niittymaki News
Call up / Send down
Maybe most interesting - Niittymaki about to be sent to WOR.
Niittymaki going back to the AHL is a clear sign that the Sharks don't trust him to even backup at the NHL level.
Waiver Move
SJS's Antero Nittymaki clears waivers
Nittymaki likely stays in the AHL on his conditioning stint. In five games down in Worchester, the veteran is 2-3-0 with a 3.01 GAA and .890 SV%.
Waiver Move
Anyone want a goalie? SJ has put netminder Antero Nittymaki on waivers.
Nittymaki was unable to be traded but may get another chance as a waiver claim.
For what it's worth, Niittymaki not here and won't join team at any point before the All Star break.
Niittymaki remains the third man on the Sharks depth chart and could be moved in order to solve the three-headed monster. He has no fantasy hockey value at this point.
Call up / Send down
Niittymaki to Worcester on conditioning assignment, will play there this weekend per Sharks PR.
Considering the Sharks have three NHL-caliber goalies, Niittymaki goes to the minors for some extra work. He likely plays the maximum two weeks.
Call up / Send down
Antero Niittymaki has been recalled from @WorcesterSharks to #SJSharks. Is here skating at HP this morning.
Stay tuned for a corresponding move as the Sharks now have a three-headed monster between the pipes.
Call up / Send down
SAN JOSE, California – San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the club has activated goaltender Antero Niittymaki from his previous designation on the non-roster (injury) player list and sent him to the Worcester Sharks on a conditioning assignment.
When Niittymaki gets back from his conditioning assignment the Sharks will have a three-headed monster to tend to.
Line Change
goaltender Antero Niittymaki and forward James Sheppard have been taken off of I.R., according to the team’s official website.
Sounds like Niittymaki will come off the IR and could be going down to Worchester for a conditioning stint. It will be interesting to see what the team does with their new three-headed monster.
Antero Niittymaki’s rehab progress has reached the point that goalie coach/assistant GM Wayne Thomas said this morning that Niittymaki probably will practice with his teammates tomorrow for the first time since undergoing hip surgery in September.
The team will wait until all three goalies are healthy before making any decisions or roster moves. Expect Niittymaki to hold some value as a spot starter for the Sharks.
Antero Niittymaki is out here on the ice as guys start to filter out. First time I've seen him take shots.
Niittymaki last played in last year's playoffs and remains a ways off from returning. Thomas Greiss will continue to man the backup job while the Finnish backup recovers.
SAN JOSE – Goaltender Antero Niittymaki is nearing a return to practice, he said on Tuesday.
Niittymaki expects to return relatively soon and should reclaim his job as the team's backup. Nevertheless, expect Antti Niemi to keep his job for the foreseeable future.
“Niitty is down the road. We haven’t even started to talk about weeks or months or anything like that,” he said. “We just know that he’s down the road. Have I given any thought to it? No, no thought at all.”
At this point there is no reason to own Antero Niittymaki as his status remains indefinite.
Niittymaki out on the ice before the team in full pads and a touque this morning, skating laps and moving around a bit.
Niittymaki getting back on the ice is a welcome sign. His last NHL appearance came back on April 23rd when he relieved Antti Niemi in the playoffs.
Antti Niemi is still recovering from a cyst removal just before the start of training camp. And though he wouldn’t commit to being good-to-go for the Oct. 8 start of the regular season, team officials have said he should be ready.
Should Niemi not be able to play, the Sharks will be down two goalies. Last season, the former Cup winning 'tender posted a 35-18-6 record with a 2.36 GAA and .920 SV%. Look for Harri Sateri or Thomas Greiss to start the season in goal should Nemo not recover in time.
That procedure has taken place and now the Sharks expect to be without Niittymaki for about 12 weeks.
Certainly not a boon for his fantasy value. Niittymaki went 12--7-3 with a 2.71 GAA and .896 SV% over 24 appearances for the Sharks. Look for Thomas Greiss or Harri Sateri to start the season as the team's backup.
Starting in mid-January, Niittymaki was sidelined for 17 games last season with a groin injury, but he did come back to play two games down the stretch.
Niittymaki played only three games in 2011 which worries the local media. He should be able to prove once training camp starts whether he is fully healthy, or not. If not, look for Thomas Greiss to play around 20 tilts for the Sharks.
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