The Penguins picked up a pair of players within the first 10 minutes of free agency starting Saturday, acquiring defenseman Matt Hunwick and goaltender Antti Niemi.
Hunwick’s deal is for three years and carries an average annual value of $2.25 million. Niemi will get $700,000 on his one-year contract.
Niemi, 33, spent the past two seasons with the Stars and before that played for the Sharks and Blackhawks.
For his career, he has a 2.49 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage with 227 wins. Niemi will back up Matt Murray and is expected to make around 25 or so starts.
Hunwick, 32, is a left-handed shot who made $1.2 million last season. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Warren, Mich. native had the second-best offensive season of his career.
In 72 games with the Maple Leafs, Hunwick produced one goal and 19 points. He's also played for the Rangers, Avalanche and Bruins in a career that began in 2007-08.
These satisfy two of the three things general manager Jim Rutherford said he wanted to accomplish today. The remaining order of business is acquiring a third-line center — possibly via trade — now they’ve lost Nick Bonino to Nashville.
Bonino was one of three players to leave along with defensemen Trevor Daley (Detroit) and Ron Hainsey (Toronto).
Antti Niemi (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Antti Niemi
Played in 37 games last season for Dallas (started 30), fewest since he entered the league in 2008-09 -- when he played in 3 and started 2.
3.30 GAA was highest of his career since 08-09 (CHI).
Lowest SV% (.892) since 08-09
No shutouts for first time since 08-09
2009-2010 to 2014-15: GAA below 2.60 each season
OR From 2009-10 to 2013-14: GAA below 2.43 each season.
From 2010-11 to 2014-15: SV% of .913 or above each season
Career in 67 playoff games (65 starts): GAA 2.77 and SV% .905
Matt Hunwick (Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
Matt Hunwick
19 points last season, second most of his career after 2008-09
plus-8 last season, third best +/- of his career
All of his points last season came at even strength
Played in 72 games last season, third-most of his career
Blocked 90 (even-strength) shots last season, second most of his career after 2015-16 (98)
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and @JMackeyPG.
First Published: July 1, 2017, 4:26 p.m.
Updated: July 1, 2017, 7:01 p.m.
