Pens go back to Finland to sure up backup job!

[Goffie]

The Pittsburgh Penguins swung a deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night to bring in backup goalie Antero Niittymaki. The Pens sent out Mathieu Garon in a lateral deal that was made to continue to try and shake things up in Pittsburgh. This deal gives the Pens a Finnish duo between the pipes with starter Kari Lehtonen expected to carry the majority of the work for the Pens.

The Pens are desperately looking to shake things up and get back on the winning track as they currently sit 15th in the Gretzky conference, 4 points out of a playoff spot.

[Sylvanfan]

Yeah, Anterro was playing good on some days and not so well on other days. We decided that the swap might shake things up a bit. Both are signed for two years, both will be UFA after these contracts expire, and both have failed to hold onto jobs as starters in the NHL in the past. We get an older more expensive guy with the same rating, but at the same time we feel Garon will get an oppurtunity within the next couple of years to get a some playing time since Uncle Albert Roloson is a bit of a headcase and will likely explode before mid season. Over all both of us had similar views of the players, what they can allow us to do with our organizations and it allowed us to make the trade pretty easily.

[Angelino]

I like this deal for Columbus. I think Garon has a bit more upside.