BREAKING: Former Canadiens Defenseman Facing Criminal Charges for Tax Fraud

Indeed, the defenseman is facing serious tax fraud charges and could receive a prison sentence of up to five years, as he owes a significant amount of money to the Finnish government. According to reports by the local media outlet *IS*, Helsinki prosecutors accuse the former NHL player of deliberately failing to pay his taxes in 2019.

Furthermore, Janne Niinimaa failed to appear in court on Tuesday afternoon, while his lawyer denied the allegations facing his client, stating that he did not intend to evade income tax.

Wow! Things are not looking good for the former CH defenseman!

Remember that the famous number 6 was already not very popular in Montreal, having been traded for Mike Ribeiro in the 2006-2007 season.

The defenseman only played 41 games with the Canadiens, tallying three assists, while the Quebec forward, Mike Ribeiro, recorded no less than 407 points in 461 games with the Stars. He also played an additional five seasons with the Washington Capitals, the Phoenix Coyotes, and the Nashville Predators, establishing himself as a top forward in the NHL.

Over his career, Janne Niinimaa played 741 games in the NHL, accumulating 54 goals and 265 assists for a total of 329 points. According to the site Capfriendly, the Finn would have earned over 19 million dollars during his 12-season NHL career.

Certainly, this will be a case to follow in the coming weeks!