The Penguins signed goaltender Antti Niemi in the offseason to back up Matt Murray. He lasted three games. That's probably three more games than he should have had, given how poorly he's played the past two seasons. Niemi is a 10-year veteran and has won a Stanley Cup, though, so it's easy to understand why the Penguins took a chance.
The plan was for Niemi to play 30 to 40 games in relief of Murray so Murray would be fresh for the playoffs. That plan has been scrapped, and though it seems like a backup goaltender is a minor issue, it really isn't. The Penguins have 16 back-to-back games left in this season, so they're forced to rely on their backup for about a fourth of their remaining games.
Murray still is only 23, so he could easily play 60-65 games and still have enough left in the tank for a long playoff run. That's a dangerous game to play, though, especially given his injury history. It wouldn't be ideal to ask him to play 90 games or so.
One of the top reasons the Penguins have won the past two Stanley Cups is that they had essentially two starting goaltenders. In 2015-16, Marc-Andre Fleury went down just before the playoffs, and Murray carried the team to the Cup. Murray went down late last season, and Fleury carried the Penguins through the first two rounds.
The backup position doesn't matter much if Murray stays healthy, but if he doesn't, it becomes a major issue. And there is no reason to talk about Fleury because it wasn't realistic for the Penguins to keep him. They had to trade Fleury in the offseason, but the current situation underscores why Jim Rutherford refused to trade him until after the season.
That Niemi, who gave up 16 goals in three games, flamed out quickly isn't a surprise. The surprise is that the Penguins don't really seem to have a good Plan B. They knew they were taking a chance on a player whose recent production was underwhelming and inconsistent.
The plan to replace Niemi seems to be unclear. Rutherford and Mike Sullivan are unsure of how the backup goaltender spot will be addressed, but both believe they have a plan. The best case had been for Niemi to clear waivers and develop some confidence in the minors. That can't happen now _ the Florida Panthers claimed Niemi on Tuesday.
The Penguins are vulnerable because their backup will now be a minor-leaguer with very little NHL experience. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Casey DeSmith will be the first to get a chance. He is 3-0 with a 0.98 goals against average and .965 save percentage this season. The 26-year-old is a stopgap at best, though, because he doesn't have the size or pedigree to be a long-term NHL goaltender.
The plan to promote DeSmith over Tristan Jarry makes sense in the short term, though. DeSmith has played better than Jarry thus far, but Jarry is considered a much better prospect. Jarry also is four years younger and has proven in small samples that he can be a capable goaltender. Being left behind in Wilkes-Barre allows him to get plenty of work and continue to develop his skills.
DeSmith and Jarry could trade positions, depending on who is playing better, so this plan seems flexible. It doesn't necessarily sound solid, but it's what the Penguins are left with because they gambled on the wrong player in the offseason.
Rutherford and Sullivan have earned the benefit of the doubt, and they likely will make it work. If they can't, though, and Murray is hurt again, goaltending could become the Achilles heel that finally unseats the two-time defending champs.
