Antti Niemi's tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins could very well be over, but his potential departure raises questions for more than one NHL team.
The veteran goaltender was placed on waivers Monday, possibly putting an end to a Penguins' experiment that went awry in a hurry.
Here are three burning questions that have to be asked following Pittsburgh's decision to expose Niemi to the other 30 NHL clubs.
Is he done?
It certainly looks that way.
The Penguins are apparently cutting bait with their backup netminder - at least at the NHL level - after less than three full games, but he was indisputably terrible in those three outings.
Niemi allowed 16 goals in only 129 minutes, including all seven in a 7-1 loss Saturday to the Tampa Bay Lightning, all five in a 5-4 loss Oct. 12 to the Lightning, and four goals on 13 shots in a 10-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on the second night of the season.
He's 34 years old, and clearly, his best days are in the rearview mirror.
Niemi's last respectable campaign came in 2014-15 with the San Jose Sharks, when he was still a capable starter, but he hasn't proven worthy of shouldering a heavy workload, let alone serving as an NHL backup, since then.
He struggled in a platoon role over the last couple of seasons with the Dallas Stars before joining the Penguins on a one-year, $700,000 deal on July 1.
There are several teams that could use goaltending depth, but he might not be worth the risk.
Should the Golden Knights claim him?
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
One of those clubs is the expansion Vegas Golden Knights, who've had some bad luck with goalie injuries in the early going.
Marc-Andre Fleury has been dealing with concussion symptoms and Malcolm Subban is out for about a month with an injury of his own, thrusting rookie Oscar Dansk into the starting role and AHL/ECHL journeyman Maxim Lagace into the backup position.
That's hardly ideal, and Golden Knights general manager George McPhee has to ask himself if it makes more sense to bring in a washed up but seasoned Niemi or let his inexperienced duo attempt to hold down the fort until Fleury and Subban are ready to return.
It wouldn't be surprising if McPhee simply stayed the course, because while both injuries are concerning, neither appears to be season-ending. Still, is Niemi more of a solution or a problem to have on the roster?
What is Pittsburgh's backup plan?
Meanwhile, the Penguins appear interested in moving on from the Niemi gamble, but where do they go from here?
Matt Murray is off to a bit of a rocky start, but the unquestioned starter's numbers will improve. Still, he's going to need some nights off here and there, and the fact he's been average while being forced to play in seven of the first nine games further illustrates the fact that the Penguins need a reliable second-stringer.
If Niemi goes unclaimed by noon Tuesday, the short-term move would likely be to call up Tristan Jarry from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, assuming Niemi accepts a demotion or is granted his release.
Jarry, a Penguins second-round pick in 2013, posted a .925 save percentage in 45 AHL games last season. He's allowed 12 goals in three games this fall, but Pittsburgh may feel he's ready for the NHL backup role.
Casey DeSmith, the affiliate's other netminder, is a 26-year-old undrafted veteran in his third AHL campaign. He's another candidate to be called up, but Penguins GM Jim Rutherford said "nothing is set in stone," according to The Athletic's Josh Yohe.
Whatever happens, it certainly appears the Penguins are going to get younger in the interim.
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