It’s not easy to be a goaltender in the NHL.
Players today have moves and skills that were unheard of even 10 years ago. Antti Niemi has been in the NHL over the course of the last decade, and at 34-years-old it looked like his NHL career was over early in the season.
Three disastrous starts for the Pittsburgh Penguins resulted in a 7.50 goals against and .797 save percentage. He was then placed on waivers and claimed by Florida where in two games he posted a 5.08 GAA a .872 SV%. He again went on waivers and it seemed unlikely any team would take a risk on a 34 year old goalie who had lost all of his confidence.