The Philadelphia Flyers announced earlier today that former Flyer goaltender Antero Niittymaki has joined the organization as a European scout.
Niittymaki, 32, was drafted 168th overall by the Flyers in 1998. He began his North American career with the Philadelphia Phantoms, helping them win the Calder Cup in 2005. He made his NHL debut on February 4, 2004, winning all three games he started that season.
“Nitty” played in 161 NHL games for the Flyers over five seasons, as well as two more NHL seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the San Jose Sharks. Unfortunately, hip troubles led to an early retirement.
Per the official release, Niittymaki will “work primarily in Europe, scouting alongside fellow Finn Ilkka Sinisalo. Niittymaki’s primary responsibility will be scouting European goaltenders, but he said he will also take notes on some skaters as well.”
Bringing Niittymaki back follows the typical Flyers’ protocol of hiring former players for organizational positions. While the nepotistic practices raise concerns about the credentials of the front office, the Flyers’ scouting department remains fairly balanced between former players and “outsiders.”
Of the eighteen scouts on the books, only nine had once worn the orange and black.
If Nitty can ease the burden of Sinisalo and Neil Little by focusing on European goaltenders, that should further help the organization continue finding “diamonds in the rough” like Sergei Bobrovsky while hopefully avoiding busts like Niko Hovinen.
