Whatever Happened To...Antti Niemi?

Following his 18/19 season with the Montreal Canadiens, this Finnish Goaltender disappeared from the NHL and took his talents across the pond to pastures new.
So that begs the question: Whatever Happened To Antti Niemi? Watch to find out...
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[@Tontu96]

My favorite stat about Niemi is that, while wearing the number 31 and as 31 years old, he got his 31st career shutout, saving 31 shots on January 31st

[@austinallen1797]

goes to show how rigged the game is lol

[@MegaJiiRo]

Is this true?

[@Tontu96]

It is! You can google, for example, "#31 turns up everywhere in Niemi shutout" for a Sportsnet article

[@ebond87]

Lol I was the 31st like to this comment.

[@nouh3053]

Austin Allen You’re a fucking clown🤣

[@markberrett4754]

Take a shot everytime you hear "howevuhhhh" or "the undrafted goaltenduhhh"

[@dolphinsandislanders6291]

Mark Berrett or the Finnish netminder

[@TheWitchOvAgnesi]

Drunk by 2 minutes in...

[@vaultsuit]

Or "side"

[@hotwhiskey243]

Niemi is a great character, having heard some of his english but mostly his finnish interviews. Definitely an epitome of a guy who has had to fight against odds for most of his career. Thumbs up for Niemi and thank you for a great video! 👍

[@viperslax16]

Nemo will always be loved by Sharks fans, he did everything he could for us

[@noah_that_bills_fan1613]

I hate the Sharks (I'm a Nucks fan) But I have the same feelings for Roberto Luongo

[@dr.loomis4221]

Us? You play for the Sharks?

[@viperslax16]

@@dr.loomis4221 us as fans you dumbass

[@illmuskyhunter3313]

Hahahaha he dominated you guys while he was here in Chicago and then you guys in SJ completely overpaid him. He was average

[@viperslax16]

@@illmuskyhunter3313 cool dude

[@j_obaymaac2886]

Pasi Nurminen made Antti Niemi a NHL Level goalie during Niemi's Pelicans years.

[@Kalastajahml]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHa3lZmNbMqoZqs

[@hotdogwater7037]

i used to love pasi nurminen when he was on the chicago wolves. kari lehtonen too. he was even better than nurminen

[@j_obaymaac2886]

@@hotdogwater7037 Pasi Nurminen came to NHL in his mid 20s and just had established himself as Atlanta's Number 1 goalie and most likely was gonna be used as a tandem with Lehtonen after lockout season.... shame that he had to retire due to knee injury after lockout season

[@hotdogwater7037]

@@j_obaymaac2886 yeah i know. the wolves were the atlanta thrashers ahl affiliate. if you're not from Chicago, you might not be aware that there was a time, when bill wirtz (the hawks mind-blowingly behind the times and cheapskate owner) was still alive that the wolves were more popular than the Blackhawks. you can look this up- both teams had home games at the same time, and the wolves outdrew the hawks. even pat foley, the very beloved hawks announcer, and wayne messmer, the famous national anthem singer, left the hawks to work for the wolves. so yes, i know all about nurminen and lehtonen. even ricky dipietro, all time nhl bust, played with the wolves

[@NemechekFan87]

Pasi helped the wolves win their first ever Calder Cup in their first year in the AHL. Kari help the wolves for the 08 calder cup as well

[@TwazkemUSAbi]

Whatever happened to my dad?

[@Heaveaway23]

here i am son.

[@Hxbble]

lmao

[@stopyouneedhelp6115]

TwazkemUSAbi just buying some cigarettes from a local gas station.

[@birdiec]

DO PASCAL LECLAIRE, drafted 9th overall, and done playing by 27, seemingly dropped off the face of the earth.

[@CB-rb7fi]

All I can say is in 2010 my family and I were very happy that Niemi was with the Blackhawks for the SC!! Very happy for him the rest of the team and a long wait for that championship! Thanks again Niemi for being in between the posts that year!

[@gerardvinet8448]

It's the only goalie that The Flyer's never tried out , lol !!!!!!

[@nhlvideosforkids1761]

Gerard Vinet lol

[@CountdeLaFey]

Make Whatever happened to Steve Mason

[@dereklindberg6704]

He played for the Flyers. The land where goalies go to die... The end

[@puhakka4890]

@Brett Lutz he has retired

[@sebastianpatriksson7814]

He was actually pretty good and posted a .910 SV% multiple seasons in Flyers. Even his last stint in Jets got him a .906 SV%. Can't see why no NHL club took a chance on him...

[@tukaanikala]

@@dereklindberg6704 That's bullshit. He was great in Philly. Totally underrated. And he retired because of concussions.

[@dereklindberg6704]

@@tukaanikala he was so great. They missed the playoffs with him as a #1. Smh.

[@LunchLadyy]

Met the guy last year. Very nice man!

[@MrJameslupien]

Antti niemi collided with regular niemi annihilating each other releasing large amounts of gamma rays and other high energy particles. Bet you never expected particle physics jokes.

[@MattRhys20]

Still amazed he didn’t get a call up to the Scotland side

[@frozone2366]

He’s still richer than all of us

[@brendandoesgamez3154]

If it's not already done you should do a video on Christobal Huet

[@austinallen1797]

He was an underrated backup for the Habs. Unique style and personality. I like him and hope he finds success in his new life after the game.

[@jamescox7007]

Underrated because of non-french language.

[@austinallen1797]

James Cox you’re not wrong

[@KristianWontroba]

Totally forgot him playing for the Penguins. LOL

[@KristianWontroba]

@Johnny Dong LOL You're funny dude. Yeah, he gave up 16 goals in 120 minutes of play over 3 games for Pitt. No wonder he was there for such a short time! : P www.hockey-reference.com/players/n/niemian02.html

[@feedherthecorn1176]

Kristian Wontroba I think he’s being sarcastic

[@KristianWontroba]

@@feedherthecorn1176 Yeah, I picked up on it. But when I looked up just how bad that GAA was, it made his comment even funnier. : D

[@bliizzy2828]

I wish it could have lmao. It was so painful to watch.

[@Drew-qm5si]

What ever happened to Victor Fasht

[@jusupp3801]

World championships 2011 and Finland

[@veetee355]

6-1 never forget

[@timbergstrom1864]

TNG_Chicken Wing110 at the moment he’s playing for Växjö lakers in the swedish elite league SHL

[@Sin.Atonement]

Edmonton lol

[@danielm255]

San Jose always deals with the goalie dilemma; they’re good until they’re not

[@idanjussi]

To answer every query about any player in the comments: He's in the KHL!

[@sharkboyben41]

Love the channel man! Should do one on Marian Gaborik! Or Sean Avery!

[@romangagne5842]

Gaborik is on long term IR, Sean Avery is patrolling New York, confronting those who dare block the bike lanes

[@schmuul8746]

good video!!!

[@itsoktobehappy461]

I saw him play live frequently when he was in Dallas. He was fun to watch with his unique style. He could look like the best goalie in the league and the worst goalie in the league within the same week.

[@269productions]

I have his rookie Rockford Icehogs card always just thought it was neat

[@Urb4n0Ninj4]

Wow what a ride. Like a supernova he burned bright, and quick, then disappeared. Bummer too, I loved watching him play in his prime. I hope he finds his stride still in the KHL.

[@lankancheetah]

Overplayed by McLellan and being blamed for that 2014 reverse sweep didn’t help.

[@TheAwesomeness756]

Funny that the first pic of him is of him playing against Jokerit where he plays now, He’s starting today and I’m going to go watch him play

[@supercooled]

Did you show him this video of himself on your phone?

[@ColonizerChan]

I remember toskola, nabby, niemi, and Jones. Nabby and niemi are still favs

[@Alexandros.Mograine]

The funniest thing is that when he won the cup, he just stood there not even smiling or anything, when he lost in the finals he just drank water with a normal face xD

[@Simpsonsnut101]

What ever happened to Robert Esche? Love the videos .

[@ayroau]

West is the best... Niemi should have stayed on his side

[@mam362]

if he had only had a choice...

[@arc7gaming]

he shouldve stayed in chicago

[@emanuelelandino9219]

He is in Jokerit Helsinki, saw him at one of the last games between pipes.

[@HeyLook287]

Damn, he really hit a wall

[@nickarsenault3932]

Can’t even blame the sharks on him that team didn’t help him in the playoffs at allll

[@bradchad4737]

Ty Conklin

[@ericniemi8443]

My cousin was always his own worse enemy and his own biggest critic. Was always in his own head. Will always be my favorite

[@itsoktobehappy461]

Is he really your cousin?

[@BillyRamirez]

He was a solid and entertaining, often unintentionally, goalie for the Sharks after a decade of Nabokov.

[@TinnieTa21]

I'm a Pens fan that usually remembers every player that has recently played for the team, but I completely forgot that Niemi ever played for the team lol. Now that I think about it, I was slightly excited to have him as a backup.

[@brayden2834]

TinnieTa21 it’s time bad that he completely sucked for the pens, 16 goals aloud in 3 games

[@vincenttavella9598]

TinnieTa21 I’m a pens fan to an I forgot myself i remember him getting crushed an after that we got rid of him

[@richrealdeal6606]

Whatever happened to Milan and Zbynek Michalek?

[@gabrielguerrero3404]

Crazy to think tim thomas had one of the best seasons a goalie has ever had and was a year older tham niemi was when he was done in the NHL

[@Ratto]

I would like to know was he drafted or not..... otherwise fun video

As he was "undrafted" the answer is no.

[@noahgraves8799]

You should make a video about Leipsic in the KHL

[@hugh2hoob668]

Johnathan Cheecho could make an nhl comeback too he is still in game shape

[@Zenith626]

What Happened to Alexei Ponikaravski he was good on the Leafs way back then vanished

[@zednik4hart]

I think he was part of the 2011 plane crash who killed the entire roster of a khl team. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[@SovietUnionn]

@@zednik4hart He was not in that Jaroslavl team.

[@supercooled]

Didn't he get traded to Atlanta?

[@HBKshowstopper]

This is a good question. It's an unsolved mystery. He could be anywhere.

[@hugh2hoob668]

Theres tons of old school guys id like to see on this

[@Juju40826]

Nemo is still one of my favorite SJ 🦈 tendies.. behind Nabby

[@supercooled]

What, no mention of Arturs Irbe?

[@Juju40826]

@@supercooled I wasn't into hockey then..

[@asablakely387]

He is playing in the KHL LEAGUE

[@wolfaliceinchains]

Fernando Pisani!!!

[@rikut9220]

Who?

[@richrealdeal6606]

He carried the oilers to the stanley cup final in 2006

[@glennc7931]

"Whatever happened to" the Icing on the skate podcast? 😕

[@jugglemank]

Anyone know if this guy was drafted?

[@Sin.Atonement]

He wasn't, he signed with Chicago

[@datsyuk4dayz137]

vxk it was a joke

[@Chiefsfansince-qb1kt]

The dirty little secret to all of this was that just after the 2010 Cup win by the Blackhawks, the team had to jettison salary almost immediately. Knowing the Hawks were in a tough position, San Jose GM Doug Wilson shrewdly forced the Blackhawks hand by tendering an offer sheet to Niklas Hjalmarsson for 4-million a season. If the Blackhawks chose to re-sign Hjalmarsson, Niemi would then be available because the Blackhawks had cap problems going into 2010-11 and couldn't afford them both. Had the Blackhawks not had a stud goaltender in their system playing in AHL-Rockford in Corey Crawford who ended up coming up to the Hawks in 2010-11 as the backup to Marty Turco, the team may have lost Hjalmarsson. So they opted to allow Niemi to skip off to San Jose and kept Hjalmarsson, then promoted Corey Crawford. Together, Crawford and Hjalmarsson were integral parts of the 2013 and 2015 Stanley Cup Championship teams, while Niemi never made the Cup Final again.

[@maddienight732]

He did everything that was asked of him to do with the San Jose Sharks. We just couldn’t bring a cup home.

[@Itsemurhakone]

Can someone tell me if he was drafted? Didn’t catch that on the video

[@samueldecarlo7814]

Itsemurhakone he wasn’t

[@markberrett4754]

@@samueldecarlo7814 wooosh

[@therealivydawg]

So the sharks happened to him.

[@facoba9332]

Theme of these videos: age is scary

[@We_Caken]

I remember watching the game he played for Pittsburgh against the Chicago Blackhawks within the first 2 weeks of the the season starting. The Penguins lost... 10 - 1.

[@brynncunningham]

Can you do whatever happened to Kari Lehtonen?

[@hyrle]

The "Antii-Tank" actually winning in Montreal kept the Habs from a great draft pick was wonderful. Too bad he isn't finding success in Europe.

[@Kerem9_8]

Whatever happened to jonas gustavsson?

[@supercooled]

The Monster? lol he played for your Detroit team. Was probably sent back home to Sweden shortly after. Same for his former teammate, what's his face in Toronto. Said he would go back to Cooking school / trade after Ron Wilson said "he used to be good" when they were coach/goalie in San Jose. EDIT I'm talking about Vesa Toskola. Toskala spent two years in Finland training to be a chef, although he claims that he was "not particularly good."[12]

[@1989SupraGuyFIN]

Ladies and Gentlemen: The day has come. Antti Niemi kept his net empty today against HC Dynamo Moscow. Yes, you read that 100% correct! Antti Niemi WON a game for Jokerit. Well, that was what 3rd or 4th win for him this season, but it's still CLEAN NET! IMPOSSIBRU?!

[@dr_petter]

Niemi had quite a decent debut game in Dallas.

[@hugh2hoob668]

The way he says Pittsburgh haha *Pitts-Bahurg* lol 13:27 13:27

[@jayd5541]

Whatever happened to every 1st Rd pick of the CBJ besides Rick Nash?

[@the_auditor1017]

Do a video on Huet

[@bigjohn2241]

He was an undrafted goaltender??

[@hotdogwater7037]

as a hawks fan, i wish he woulda stuck around longer than 1 full year. crawfords way too inconsistent and injury-prone, and gave up too many soft goals in the playoffs, and i wonder if we kept niemi if we wouldn't have crashed the way we did. to go from cup contenders every year to bottom-feeders with more or less the same core, albeit a bit older, is cringey at best

[@Furcapper]

Niemi was one of the missing pieces we could've had to make an insane dynasty. We won 3 cups, but possibly could've had one or two more with him.

[@hotdogwater7037]

@@Furcapper i definitely agree, but i also think we'd have won another cup or 2 if we woulda kept niklas hjalmarsson. bowman has gone out of his way to bring back all the old hawks (quite unsuccessfully) like campbell, oduya, saad, sharp, ladd, shaw, kruger, etc etc, but never brought back the one we needed, which was/is hjalmarsson

[@Furcapper]

@@hotdogwater7037 True, yet while bringing back the old guys is all fun and games, we should've tried harder to keep guys like Teravainen and Panarin. Shaw brings back the grit and Saad does his thing, but they're both really expensive and not anywhere as good as some of the players we lost because of the cap situation. Let's hope we'll be at the top of the league in a few years.

[@hotdogwater7037]

@@Furcapper dude i have a teravainen hawks jersey. you don't have to tell me. they shoulda kept vermette and teravainen together. that line f'd sh*t up. and yes, i still don't know for the life of me why they traded panarin for saad

[@hotdogwater7037]

@@Furcapper and saad might be done for the season

[@gocanuckurself1]

Whatever happened to Wayne Gretzky? That kid had so much promise.

[@DBGMAN90]

What happened to David Desharnais?

[@DocNintendo]

Wow he went to Dallas Texas. I wonder if he has any exes there

[@yoggz]

Did you guys know this guy was undrafted?

[@flamewingphoenix1813]

It's time... whatever happened to Sean avery

[@samcurran6764]

Whatever happened to Loui Erikson? As a Stars fan I was glad to see Seguin instead of Loui 😂😂

[@michaelippolito1834]

What ever happened to Dan Ellis

[@MysticMitch95]

He plays in the KHL.

[@hugh2hoob668]

Had the OG black sharks jersey someone stole it from my closet

[@OfficialMichaelLowry]

I think Dallas should of kicked Lehtonen to the curb and had Niemi as backup for Bish.

[@Drew-qm5si]

You know who I mean

[@smithryansmith]

Whatever happened to PK Subban?

[@samrowe8752]

“He’s Finnish no finished”

[@Mateus_Carvalho]

He's not finished, he's only 28!

[@hugh2hoob668]

Do you play NHL 94 theres no British person on the Speedrun 10 goals in the 1st period in game clock

[@11thStreetKid]

What happened to Janne Niinimaa?

[@penttihirsus]

Cant remember if you mentioned it in the vid, but did you know he was unsigned....

[@penttihirsus]

@Johnny Dong woooosh

[@marcelmoreau2733]

Same thing that happens to all players: age, injury, mediocrity, retirement or permanent free agency from nhl.

[@UNUSUALUSERNAME220]

He could of been a great goal tender, if he could have taken Chicago's defense with him. He could have won 2 more cups too.

[@kellyactormosgoog]

What about Niemi's backup, Niittymaki!

[@kevinkearney6634]

Whatever happened to Todd Bertuzzi

[@marcpell133]

This guy won the cup and signed a one year, 2 million dollar contract? Ohh man...that agent should have been fired on the spot.

[@charliemackenzie2485]

Whatever happened to Tie Domi, is he still fighting fans?

[@sebcrakpot1234]

Whatever happened to Dany Heatley, Martin Havlat, Jonathan Cheechoo...

[@intentionaloffside8934]

Most of your presentation is a chronology of his hockey career, not where he ended up. We all assumed he went back to Finland, so this is a 20 minute waste of time. “Ice Hockey” is unnecessary as nobody gets it confused with field hockey.

[@jsfarrier9732]

Pierre Turgeon or Peter Budaj

[@kasrasadrehashemi174]

Whatever happened to Emerson Etem.

[@danielm255]

I’ve been a sharks for since i left the whom and I’ve wondered where antti niemi went. I know he left the nhl after we got Martin jones

[@ezinmusic4424]

USS. ZZSS he went to the habs and then signed with Jokerit Helsinki of the KHL. He is still there

[@danielm255]

I knew he went to Dallas because I was interested where our old goalie went and then I knew he went to the khl where he is now

[@alexhowieson3186]

Whatever happened to Michael Leighton

[@matthewcg87]

He became an uncle.

[@emriadventures6659]

What happened to Alexei Emelin

[@clerkiller18]

He went to the Finnish leauge this year after montreal not resigning hin

[@jounaas]

Oh nice to know that khl is finnish league!

[@nhlvideosforkids1761]

What happened to dedimenico, tommy wingels?

[@LeoMajor1]

what ever happened to kibbles and bits?

[@1bert719]

Although never a truly elite goalie Niemi was a decent stopper and doesn't deserve the vilification he receives as being among the worst goalies to win the cup. Is he a HOF calibre player? No. But he does have a cup. So I'm sure he's happy with his lot.

[@MeatbrickProductions]

Where is grabovski?