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.
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.
Both Tampa Bay Lightning forwards earned star of the week honors Monday, with Stamkos claiming first star and Kucherov taking home second star. San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture was the third star.
Stamkos poured in nine assists and 11 points, while Kucherov notched five goals and eight points in four games.
Couture also scored five times over the week, totalling seven points in three contests.
Both Tampa Bay Lightning forwards earned star of the week honors Monday, with Stamkos claiming first star and Kucherov taking home second star. San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture was the third star.
Stamkos poured in nine assists and 11 points, while Kucherov notched five goals and eight points in four games.
Couture also scored five times over the week, totalling seven points in three contests.
Jagr left that contest and didn't return. The 45-year-old has a pair of assists and nine shots on goal through five games with Calgary this season, after signing a one-year, $1-million pact earlier this month.
The NHL's CBA mandates that players placed on IR must be inactive for at least seven days, so the earliest Jagr could return would presumably be Sunday's game against the Washington Capitals, meaning he'll miss at least three contests.
Calgary recalled forward Mark Jankowski from the AHL's Stockton Heat in a corresponding move.
theScore's NHL Power Rankings are published every other Monday. Our second go-round is put together by editors Josh Gold-Smith, Sean O'Leary, and Josh Wegman.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning (7-1-1) ▲
Previously 12th
Imagine a team where a healthy Steven Stamkos isn't even the top offensive weapon? Thanks to Nikita Kucherov, that's the Lightning these days - and that's awfully scary. - Wegman
2. Los Angeles Kings (6-0-1) ▲
Previously 5th
The Kings are faster, younger, and the only team without a regulation loss. New head coach John Stevens has them playing a more aggressive style, and it's working - especially while Jonathan Quick looks like he wants a Vezina. - Wegman
3. Toronto Maple Leafs (6-2-0) ▼
Previously 2nd
The Leafs still have troubles in their own end, but nobody can argue with their prolific offense. Thirteen players are on pace for at least 40 points, and Auston Matthews is an early Hart candidate. - Wegman
4. Chicago Blackhawks (5-2-2) ▼
Previously 1st
The Blackhawks still have plenty of speed and three dangerous lines. It would be foolish to disrespect a team with three Stanley Cups in the last decade. - Wegman
5. Pittsburgh Penguins (5-3-1) ▲
Previously 11th
Glaring weaknesses at third-line center and backup goalie could hold the Pens back until they find upgrades, but the champs still have the firepower to keep them in the top five. - Wegman
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
6. Ottawa Senators (4-1-3) ▲
Previously 21st
The Sens avoided what many thought would be a disaster, going 3-0-2 without Erik Karlsson in the lineup. The captain has now played three games, and already has six points. They'll be a tough team to beat from here on out. - Wegman
The Stars experienced some growing pains to start the year, but those can be expected with a new head coach. They've now won four straight, albeit against a relatively soft schedule. Ben Bishop has provided a long-awaited solution in goal, and we all know this team can score. - Wegman
9. Philadelphia Flyers (5-3-0) ▼
Previously 8th
Moving captain Claude Giroux to the wing has paid early dividends, as he has 10 points in eight games. Sean Couturier, known more as a shutdown player, has flourished in the No. 1 center role, providing offense and defense. Regardless, the Flyers' depth up the middle will be a question mark moving forward. - Wegman
10. New Jersey Devils (6-2-0) ▲
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Previously 19th
The Devils are young, fast, skilled, and exciting to watch, but it's still awfully early. They've had some impressive victories - beating three teams ahead of them in these power rankings - but we're still in wait-and-see mode. - Wegman
11. Columbus Blue Jackets (5-3-0) ▲
Previously 14th
Newcomer Artemi Panarin has settled in quite nicely, and along with Alexander Wennberg and Cam Atkinson, he's part of what's been one of the most productive lines in the NHL. Back-to-back losses to the Lightning and Kings aren't much to be ashamed of. - O'Leary
12. Washington Capitals (4-4-1) ▼
Previously 3rd
Alex Ovechkin has slowed drastically after a scorching start, and losses to the Red Wings and Panthers over the weekend have Washington trending in the wrong direction. - O'Leary
13. Anaheim Ducks (3-3-1) ▼
Previously 10th
Boy, the loss of Cam Fowler is really going to test what's already a depleted defense. Thankfully, John Gibson has quietly posted a .932 save percentage through seven starts - O'Leary
14. Nashville Predators (4-3-1) ▲
Previously 29th
The Preds haven't looked particularly great or particularly bad, but if they can keep up high shot rates, their wildly low shooting percentage (5.95) should improve, and so should their record. - O'Leary
15. Vegas Golden Knights (6-1-0) ▼
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Previously 6th
Vegas keeps winning, but with Oscar Dansk leading the charge in goal from here on out, you can color us skeptical. - O'Leary
16. New York Islanders (4-3-1) ▲
Previously 22nd
The Islanders have been fairly average across the board, but have managed just a 4 percent conversion rate on the power play - how is that even possible? - O'Leary
17. Calgary Flames (4-4-0) ▼
Previously 16th
Mike Smith's early workload has been similar to his prior duties in Arizona, but he's survived so far, posting a .927 save percentage across eight starts. Calgary still might want to cut down on the shots against per game (35.4). - O'Leary
18. Florida Panthers (3-4-0) ▼
Previously 15th
Florida's offered a balanced attack so far, but with Roberto Luongo headed to the IR, the team will need to tidy things up in the defensive zone. - O'Leary
19. Minnesota Wild (2-2-2) ▲
Previously 25th
The Wild have been ravaged by injuries, and should be focused on staying afloat until their talented roster can be reassembled. - O'Leary
20. Edmonton Oilers (2-5-0) ▼
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Previously 15th
The Oilers have managed a worse record than nearly every team on this list, but considering they're averaging almost 40 shots per game and still employ Connor McDavid, they retain the benefit of the doubt, for the time being. - O'Leary
21. Boston Bruins (3-3-1) ▼
Previously 9th
Things have really gone downhill for the Bruins since their season-opening win over the Predators.
A slew of injuries (Tuukka Rask, Ryan Spooner, Adam McQuaid), a pair of losses to the Avalanche, and an overtime loss to the Sabres in which they blew a three-goal lead have left Boston smarting, despite getting Patrice Bergeron and David Backes back from their respective ailments. - Gold-Smith
22. Winnipeg Jets (4-3-0) ▲
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Previously 31st
Winning four of out five games since the last edition of the power rankings gets the Jets out of our basement and closer to where many project they'll ultimately finish.
Victories over the Oilers and Wild inspire some hope, but Winnipeg still has some work to do before it can be considered a legitimate playoff threat. - Gold-Smith
23. Carolina Hurricanes (3-2-1) ▼
Previously 18th
It wasn't easy evaluating the Hurricanes after one game, but it's a little clearer now. Carolina earned big road wins over the Oilers and Flames, but losses to the Jets and Stars showed consistency is still a work in progress. - Gold-Smith
24. Vancouver Canucks (4-3-1) ▼
Previously 17th
Vancouver has won three of its last four, but two of those were over the Sabres and Red Wings. It's only a matter of time before reality sets in. - Gold-Smith
25. San Jose Sharks (3-4-0) ▲
Previously 30th
Wins against a couple of struggling squads in the Canadiens and Sabres and a victory over the surprising Devils were enough for the Sharks to gain some ground, despite a pair of losses to the Islanders.
San Jose still isn't scoring enough, though, and will need to figure that out as it continues a five-game road trip Monday at Madison Square Garden. - Gold-Smith
26. Detroit Red Wings (4-4-1) ▼
Previously 7th
Last week was a big test for the Red Wings, and they failed it by losing three games against legit contenders in the Lightning, Maple Leafs, and Capitals. Following that up with a 4-1 beatdown on home ice at the hands of the Canucks wasn't great, either. - Gold-Smith
27. New York Rangers (2-5-2) ▼
Previously 23rd
The Rangers have lost five of their last six, and while Saturday's win over the Predators was a good sign, New York hasn't been playing to its full potential. We knew the Rangers were going to regress, but it wasn't supposed to happen this quickly. - Gold-Smith
28. Colorado Avalanche (4-4-0) ▼
Previously 20th
Last week, we told you not to get used to seeing the Avalanche ranked as high as they were, and Colorado responded by winning three straight, before losing three in a row. Despite solid play at times, the Avalanche are still too inconsistent to sustain success over the long haul. - Gold-Smith
29. Montreal Canadiens (1-6-1) ▼
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Previously 24th
It's still way too early for the Canadiens to give up on the season, but seven straight losses are definitely cause for concern. Montreal went 0-for-3 on its California road swing last week, as both scoring and defense remain major issues. - Gold-Smith
30. Buffalo Sabres (2-5-2) ▼
Previously 26th
The Sabres earned a big comeback win over the Bruins on Saturday night, but they still have the third-worst goal differential in the league and a host of root causes to account for that. - Gold-Smith
31. Arizona Coyotes (0-7-1) ▼
Previously 28th
The NHL's lone remaining winless team has seven regulation losses in eight games. That's bad. - Gold-Smith
Over the course of the 2017-18 season, theScore will run a series of interviews with former players in which they recall some of the greatest moments of their career. This edition focuses on Rick Vaive, who racked up 788 points in 876 career games with four NHL teams.
On playing for the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association prior to joining the NHL:
The most interesting part was my junior team (the QMJHL's Sherbrooke Castors) not wanting me to leave. They offered me a heck of a lot more money than I would've made in Birmingham.
I kept telling them, “It’s not about the money. I want to be a better player, and in order to do that, I’m going there to play against better players. It’s nothing against you guys, you’ve treated me extremely well, but this is a big step for me and I want to make it.”
They kept upping the ante … it was ridiculous money for 1978. The problem was, most of their best players had already moved on. Attendance had been going down, and they wanted to keep it up. But I said no.
On leading the WHA in penalty minutes that season:
It was a tough league back then; the year before, Birmingham had the toughest team in pro hockey. They beat up on everybody. And then they got rid of those guys, and everybody else figured it was time to take it out on the young guys. I had a few broken noses and quite a few punches to the head.
John Brophy was my coach, and he was a big part of that. We talked a lot; he was a Maritimer, as was I. He said, “We’ve got guys that can look after that, but you have to do some of it yourself.” And I kind of already knew that; I had done that in junior. And I knew that if you don’t stick up for yourself, then they’re gonna run all over you.
I didn’t win too many fights, but I think guys got tired of breaking their knuckles on my helmet and head. And it worked; it gave me a lot more room.
On his first NHL game:
I just remember I was terrified. I mean, it was the NHL; it's where you always dream of playing. The butterflies were floating around like crazy. I don't remember much else, to be honest. All I remember is we wore those Halloween sweaters (laughs). We took a lot of ribbing over that.
I remember my first goal like it was yesterday. It was actually a backhand, believe it or not. I came down the right side and the defenseman kind of cheated to the outside so I cut into the middle through the slot and roofed a backhand past Rogie Vachon. That's a good memory.
On who hit him the hardest in his career:
It was a lot of guys. And the funny thing was, back then, the defensemen were big. Most teams had defensemen who were 6-3, 6-4 and 230 (pounds). And they hit hard. And most of the rinks back then, especially Maple Leaf Gardens and the Montreal Forum, the boards and the glass, they didn't give.
When you look at Montreal's defense my first couple of years, (Larry) Robinson was still there, and (Gilles) Lupien. They'd run you into the boards and it was like hitting a cement wall.
On who dished out the best trash talk:
You know what's funny? It was Glen Sather.
I scored against Edmonton a lot. And Sather wouldn't start until about halfway through the game, and then every time I would skate by, he would say something like, "I'm gonna send (Dave) Semenko after you." And I would turn around and say, "What's that about?" And then I would chirp back at him - so he did send Semenko after me (laughs).
The things he would say ... I remember one time there was a faceoff right by the bench, and he was chirping at me. I turned around and said, "Glen, you were a midget when you played. You never went in a corner. So why are you chirping?" I could see the guys on the bench chuckling a little bit.
On his favorite referee story:
(Laughs) I actually have two of them. In Vancouver, Harry Neale was our coach - and Harry used to have that kind of high-pitched voice, and every time the referee would skate by, he would say, "Come on, come on! You missed that penalty," or something like that.
I think the referee was Ron Wicks. And Harry was chirping at him about something, and Ron skated by the bench, turned around and said, "Harry, I'm trying to help you as much as I can, but your team's not very good!" The whole bench cracked up over that, even though it was a shot at us.
The other one was in Buffalo, when Rick Dudley was head coach. Duds was pretty bad at getting on the referees and the linesmen, and they would come to us and ask if we could talk to him, and we did - but it didn't stop him.
One night we're playing L.A., and we're up 5-2 with about a minute left in the game, and Dudley was getting on Ron Asselstine so bad that night. So right by our bench, the Kings were in on a rush and the lead guy was literally 4 feet offside. Actually, it might have been 6 feet. It was a lot. And Asselstine waved it off, turned around and smiled at Duds. And they scored on the rush.
Duds went nuts. He was banging on the glass, and at the old (Buffalo Memorial Auditorium), the glass would move quite a bit by the bench and it was almost touching the fans, and they were all backing away. I mentioned it to Ron when I saw him recently, and he started laughing and said, "I remember that very vividly." I thought it was pretty funny myself.
On his favorite NHL game:
I don't think I was ever in any really meaningful ones (laughs). I think it would have to be Game 3 of the 1986 playoffs, when we swept Chicago in the first round. It was a best-of-five, and they finished 29 points ahead of us in the Norris Division. We snuck into the playoffs, and swept them in three straight. It was at Maple Leafs Gardens, and I couldn't believe the crowd.
Because we were such underdogs, I don't think a lot of the season-ticket holders bought their (playoff) tickets, so they went on sale to the public. So it was all your rabid, crazy fans at that third game. And late in the game, we were up by two or three goals, and about 40 brooms were thrown on the ice. To see that at the Gardens was kind of unheard of.
That was a good feeling, when we knocked them out three straight. That was probably the most meaningful game I played in.
On the guy from his playing career he considers most underrated:
Although he's in the Hall of Fame, Chris Chelios is the guy.
I think people realize he was a good player, but I don't think they know just how good he was at reading the play, and how smart he was. He didn't overexert himself in any game; he didn't have to, because he was always in the proper position. He was very physical - dirty at times, but that was okay, because he was just giving it back. But he was smart.
He moved the puck well, he saw the ice well, he could run a power play, he could kill penalties ... he could do it all. And he played, what, 26 years? The fact that a defenseman could do that, it's incredible. And he could get under your skin as well as anyone. But he wouldn't say anything - he'd hit you, and then he'd smile, or just skate away. He let his play do the talking.
On playing his last NHL game at age 32:
I remember it very clearly. I was playing for Buffalo. It was at the Montreal Forum. And I didn't get a shift.
John Muckler was in the midst of taking over as general manager, and he fired Dudley early in the season. And I had been playing on a line with Pierre Turgeon. I wasn't scoring, but I had about 70 or 80 shots, and probably three or four quality chances each game. John stepped in as coach, and I suddenly found myself in the press box pretty much for the rest of the year.
My last game, we had some injuries. And the team had called up Jody Gage and someone else from Rochester; both of them had basically played their whole career in the minors and they were in their 30s. And he gave them regular playing time and sat me on the bench, and I didn't get one shift. And that was very disappointing.
I think if I had been able to go somewhere else and get another chance, I could have prolonged my career by three, four, maybe five years. You never want to stop playing - and then that day comes and it's like, "Wow." You can't believe it's over.
On which current NHL player reminds him of himself:
I think if there's anybody that plays a similar style ... I know it kinda sounds crazy, but (Alex) Ovechkin reminds me a lot of the way I played.
It's kind of the same thing with him: if he doesn't get involved early, and hit a few guys or get hit, and get his nose in there, he seems to fade away and you don't really see him the rest of the night. Of course, he might get on a power play and one-time one home. But yeah, a lot of his goals are slappers, he gets around the net a lot, he isn't afraid to hit or get hit.
I would say out of all the guys, he's probably the guy that's the closest to me in terms of style of play. He can play any way he wants to. I considered myself a guy like that. If the coach wanted me to play a bang-and-crash style, okay. If he wanted me to play wide open and score goals, okay. I was good with either one of those styles.
As a 31-year-old unrestricted free agent with three Stanley Cup rings on his resume, Bryan Bickell was in position to cash in this past summer.
Instead, he chose to retire after a 10-year career, and nearly a year to the date he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis - an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body - it's a decision he's clearly at peace with.
"I don't know how many more years I could've played but I wanted to finish and worry about my health," Bickell said in a recent interview with theScore. "Not get injured anymore. To be around the kids. There's an upside compared to last year to move on."
After winning the 2014-15 Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks, Bickell spent much of the next season in the American Hockey League, as he battled injuries, unexplained health problems, and a level of play far below the standard he'd set during his career.
He continues to deal with those recurring health issues in retirement, which he now knows stem from the relapsing-remitting form of MS he's been diagnosed with.
In that form of the disease, Bickell's symptoms come and go, often taking different shapes every time they rear their ugly head. Like a lot of MS patients, he's often left in the dark as to what struggles can be blamed on the disease, which currently has no cure.
"We don't really know exactly when it started, it could've started five years ago. Nobody can really pinpoint it," he said, while admitting to feeling "exhausted" about once a month.
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)
Before stepping away, Bickell opened the current NHL season back in Chicago, where he played the majority of his career after being selected 41st overall by the Blackhawks in 2004. He signed a one-day contract in early October, and then retired as a member of the team.
"It was an honor to do that, not every player gets to do it," Bickell said. "The nine years I was with the 'Hawks and getting the opportunity to come back to retire there was special, 'cause of the memories and the friendships and fans."
It was an honor that helped Bickell put to bed a season in which he played only seven games for the Carolina Hurricanes and scored just one goal before taking a much-needed leave from the NHL level. He was diagnosed with MS soon after, on Nov. 14, 2016.
Bickell would eventually return to the playoff-eliminated Hurricanes for four games to end the campaign, and provided one last on-ice memory with a shootout winner against the Philadelphia Flyers in his career finale.
Long known as a grinder, and with a history of success throughout tough postseason battles, Bickell is now carrying on that persona in retirement as he helps others fight the debilitating disease he's living with.
He and his wife, Amanda, have partnered with Manantler Brewing Co. to raise funds for a new MS service dog program they run via the Bryan & Amanda Bickell Foundation. The program currently has one fully-trained dog, a pit bull, that assists those diagnosed with MS, with plans to add more.
"It's not just for the person; it's for the family as well. That's what we're doing. We'll keep this going and see how it goes," Bickell said.
Per the foundation's website, the dogs "will be specifically trained for the individual that it is going to serve."
In helping others affected by the disease, Bickell is preserving those same principles from which he derived so much on-ice success.
"That's one thing I wanted to do, push on," he added.
The 2017-18 season means different things for the Blackhawks and Hurricanes, who are at opposite ends of the competitive spectrum. But for Bickell - who hasn't ruled out returning to the sport one day in some capacity - his focus is now elsewhere for the first time in more than a decade, and he's OK with that.
"Just being a dad, really. I have two young girls, that are 3 and 1 who are keeping me pretty busy."
DETROIT (AP) Sven Baertschi scored twice, and the Vancouver Canucks used a dominant second period to pull away for a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday night.
Vancouver scored three times in the second, outshooting the Red Wings 18-6 in the period. Baertschi, Derek Dorsett and Jake Virtanen scored in the second for the Canucks, who are 3-1 so far on a five-game trip.
Detroit has lost four in a row. Anthony Mantha scored the only goal for the Red Wings, tying it at 1 late in the first.
Vancouver opened the scoring when Bo Horvat's shot was deflected and trickled right to Baertschi in front of the net. He stickhandled around goalie Jimmy Howard and backhanded the puck in.
Mantha's equalizer came on a wrist shot from the top of the left circle.
Dorsett gave Vancouver the lead back with his fifth goal in the past five games. Horvat found him in front of the net with a pass, and Dorsett's shot bounced in the air off Howard before coming down behind him and going in the goal.
Baertschi's second goal came on a wrist shot from the top of the slot, then the Canucks added another in the final minute of the period.
Detroit's Mike Green was unable to control the puck entering the Vancouver zone and ended up knocking it backward to Daniel Sedin, who went the other way on a 2-on-1. Sedin passed to Virtanen, whose initial shot was stopped before he put away the rebound.
Sedin's assist on that goal brought his career point total to 990.
UP NEXT
Canucks: At Minnesota on Tuesday night.
Red Wings: At Buffalo on Tuesday night.
---
For more AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey
---
Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister
