Canadiens sign backup Niemi for one year

MONTREAL — Goaltender Antti Niemi was seeking stability more than money when he agreed to a one-year, $950,000 contract with the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.

Who could blame the 34-yearold, who was eligible for free agency on July 1, after a whirlwind 2017-18 National Hockey League campaign? Niemi was bought out by the Dallas Stars last summer, signed with Pittsburgh, was claimed on waivers by Florida and then claimed again by Montreal.

“The way I felt when I was playing in Montreal, I was comfortable there,” Niemi said. “I didn’t need to change that. It wasn’t about getting the most money.”

Niemi was 0-3-0 with a 7.49 goals-against average when Pittsburgh placed him on waivers on Oct. 24, and he was 0-1-1 with a 5.11 average — allowing five goals on 39 shots in two appearances — when he was put on waivers again by the Panthers on Nov. 14.

But the Finnish veteran settled down nicely when claimed that day by Montreal, where he was reunited with goalie coach Stephane Waite. The two had worked together when Niemi backstopped the Chicago Blackhawks to a Stanley Cup in 2010.

With the Habs, Niemi went

7-5-4 with a 2.46 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage. The club now has two goalies on one-way contracts vying for the job as back up to Carey price next season — Niemi and prospect Charlie Lindgren, who signed a three-year extension on Feb. 13. It could make for a fierce battle in training camp.