Sharks waive Niittymaki

Any team looking for help between the pipes now has a viable option via the waiver wire, as the San Jose Sharks have placed goaltender Antero Niittymaki on waivers.

The 31-year-old keeper has not played for the Sharks this season after being placed on injured reserve in October after undergoing hip surgery.

Throughout December, and most recently on Jan. 19, he was loaned to Worcester of the American Hockey League on conditioning stints.

With San Jose currently leading the Pacific Division and with Antti Niemi playing well (21-10-5, 2.30 GAA, .918 save percentage), Niittymaki became expendable.

After coming off a career year with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2009-10, Niittymaki signed with the Sharks as an unrestricted free agent last summer.

The Turku, Finland native battled through lower-body injuries for much of his first year in San Jose. In 24 appearances with the Sharks last season Niittymaki went 12-7-3.