Penguins sign Niemi to back up Murray

The Pittsburgh Penguins have found a backup goaltender to replace Marc-Andre Fleury.

The club has signed Antti Niemi to a one-year contract worth $700,000, the team announced Saturday.

Niemi, who will be 34 years old by the start of the regular season, was bought out by the Dallas Stars after posting an ugly .892 save percentage and a 3.30 goals-against average in 37 games in 2016-17.

The Finn does have championship pedigree, hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2010 with the Chicago Blackhawks.

He'll be asked to spell starter Matt Murray whenever he's in need of a game off. Murray will undoubtedly see a larger workload this coming season after Fleury, arguably last year's most proven backup goaltender, was claimed in the expansion draft by the Vegas Golden Knights.

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