Niemi question

[klemmer]

From Sassone:



Niemi hasn't faced the San Jose shooters before so he has had to do his homework as well. Is that an edge for the Sharks?



"Potentially, not knowing or having that feel for facing certain shooters, maybe, but when you get to the final four, I don't think you can split hairs there," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "He's a world class athlete and he's got his team to this level."



Granted, McLlellan is an NHL coach and I'm not, but I doesn't think that's an advantage for the Sharks unless the Hawks are giving up a bunch of odd man rushes...

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

[quote name="klemmer"]From Sassone:



Niemi hasn't faced the San Jose shooters before so he has had to do his homework as well. Is that an edge for the Sharks?



"Potentially, not knowing or having that feel for facing certain shooters, maybe, but when you get to the final four, I don't think you can split hairs there," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "He's a world class athlete and he's got his team to this level."



Granted, McLlellan is an NHL coach and I'm not, but I doesn't think that's an advantage for the Sharks unless the Hawks are giving up a bunch of odd man rushes...[/quote]



You would clearly know better than me... but isn't it MORE the shooter's job to learn the goalie rather than the goalie to learn the shooter?



Obviously both need to happen, but as long as the goalie plays to the best of his ability and cuts down the angles... the shooters shouldn't matter.

 

[Ton]

If anything that is more of a disadvantage for the Sharks than anything IMO

 

[roshinaya]

shoot/elevate the puck high, am i doing it right?

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

[quote name="roshinaya"]shoot/elevate the puck high, am i doing it right?[/quote]



Yep... shoot high glove side and you have the sloth beat.

 

[IceHogsFan]

To the Western Conference Finals we go with a rookie goalie (for all practical purposes).



Thanks Antti for the season you have given us so far and for what you are certain to bring for the rest of this post season. I never waivered and always believed.



Just sayin'

 

[klemmer]

[quote name="Stu Grimson"]



You would clearly know better than me... but isn't it MORE the shooter's job to learn the goalie rather than the goalie to learn the shooter?

[/quote]



For the most part, I agree with you, except on odd man rushes.



it is a big advantage for the goalie to know what a shooter likes to do, provided that the goaltender does not lay his cards down first.

 

[wetcoasthawk65]

I have a Niemi question. Who is going to be his backup next year?

 

[IceHogsFan]

[quote name="wetcoasthawk65"]I have a Niemi question. Who is going to be his backup next year?[/quote]



That, my friend, is a great question.



I would be willing to bet there is a trade of some sort made for that position.

I believe that Corey will be gone and Toivonen is not ready (still wonder why

we do not have Fallon).

 

[jakobeast]

[quote name="wetcoasthawk65"]I have a Niemi question. Who is going to be his backup next year?[/quote]



Huet.



I really don't see how they can move Huet and his contract.



But i will play along. Let's assume that Huet is moved in the off season, and and by some odd reason we ain't eating some other teams 5.4 mill blunder.



First, we gotta sign Niemi. Don't forget, he is an RFA, and let's be honest, he's worth a lot more then his $800,000 or so he is making.



You know who is gonna back him up. Crawford.

 

[Razzberry]

I'd love to see them try to pick up a more veteran backup rather than have two young goalies. Huet actually fits that role really well (not only due to age, but in his demeanor), but his price tag is just too high. I think it's understated how much his personality helps the situation that Chicago has been in. Yes, it's his own play that got him in the situation, but he's done an extremely good job of handling it and not being a distraction. There's certain other "Number 1" goaltenders in the league who wouldn't have accepted the situation with a similar amount of grace.



A set-up like what Toronto has going on with Giguere would be ideal. If the Hawks could move Huet and get a guy like Biron, Roloson or Lalime (for cheap) who are comfortable coming in to specifically be a backup and a mentor, I think it would work well.

 

[fat Pat]

provided we could get rid of huet, i think lalime would be a good additon to our flock. hes a servicable backup, he played some pretty good games in khabbys stead 2 years ago and he knows the orginization, he knows most of the guys, and wed keep the french accent around. also hes been around for a while and could teach young niemi some things.

 

[supraman]

[quote name="IceHogsFan"]To the Western Conference Finals we go with a rookie goalie (for all practical purposes).



Thanks Antti for the season you have given us so far and for what you are certain to bring for the rest of this post season. I never waivered and always believed.



Just sayin'[/quote]



Cam Ward won the cup as a rookie backup that got the starting job late in the season.



Just sayin'

 

[supraman]

[quote name="fat Pat"]provided we could get rid of huet, i think lalime would be a good additon to our flock. hes a servicable backup, he played some pretty good games in khabbys stead 2 years ago and he knows the orginization, he knows most of the guys, and wed keep the french accent around. also hes been around for a while and could teach young niemi some things.[/quote]



Yeah I wouldn't mind getting Lalime back. I always liked him and his Marvin the Martian masks are cool. Kinda feel bad for Lalime I feel he's better than a backup but on the other hand he just isn't good enough to be a starter either.

 

[tvltre]

[quote name="jakobeast"]
[quote name="wetcoasthawk65"]I have a Niemi question. Who is going to be his backup next year?[/quote]



First, we gotta sign Niemi. Don't forget, he is an RFA, and let's be honest, he's worth a lot more then his $800,000 or so he is making.



You know who is gonna back him up. Crawford.[/quote]



you know that is going to be the biggest problem. We need to sign Niemi first. However, there is no space under the cap with Hjalmarson and Niemi.



Someone is being sent packing

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Back on the main topic...



I think it's obvious that Niemi over-performed in Game 1. He's a great goaltender, but to replicate that performance in Game 1 will be pretty damn hard to do.



I highly doubt he lets in only 1 tonight (please be wrong) but it should be interesting to see how his normal play that we're used too stacks up against the Sharks.



I think to win tonight, you're going to need at least 4 goals.

 

[IceHogsFan]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDG00tBe81Q[/youtube]