Niemis Arbitration

[bookjones]

[quote name="winos5"]http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklu...uld-Guerin-return-to-BluesNYContender/1/29963[/quote]



Heh, so are these the "multiple offers" that have finally come of the calls from "multiple teams" that Zito talked about way back on Aug. 2nd (or ya know, a WHOLE MONTH ago) when Niemi was relieved of his Indian Head duties? Seems likely teams have been legitimately interested in a young Cup-winning G with potential but that Zito/Niemi are still probably hedging their bets and trying to get high dollars in a tight, mostly-already signed rosters, non-goalie centric late offseason. Idiots.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

[quote name="bookjones"]



Heh, so are these the "multiple offers" that have finally come of the calls from "multiple teams" that Zito talked about way back on Aug. 2nd (or ya know, a WHOLE MONTH ago) when Niemi was relieved of his Indian Head duties? Seems likely teams have been legitimately interested in a young Cup-winning G with potential but that Zito/Niemi are still probably hedging their bets and trying to get high dollars in a tight, mostly-already signed rosters, non-goalie centric late offseason. Idiots.[/quote]



Sadly I don't think Niemi really knew what was going on...

 

[bookjones]

[quote name="Stu Grimson"]



Sadly I don't think Niemi really knew what was going on...[/quote]



Not that I personally buy that as a viable excuse for a grown ass adult trying to become a millionaire but just for the sake of argument let's say that's true. That explains their MASSIVE miscalculation and negotiation #FAIL the FIRST time with the Hawks. They got greedy, overplayed their hand and are reaping what they sowed now. Other than being a moron, there'd be absolutely no post-Hawks fiasco excuse for still trying to stick the fiscal shiv to any teams still willing to make him an offer this late in the offseason IMO. Let's remember here that Zito works for Niemi not the other way around---if at any time this offseason he wanted to get a deal done then he could have instructed his agent to get it fucking done and stop with the money and/or terms ball-busting. Period.

 

[LordKOTL]

While I generally agree...please...consider the source of the article...

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

[quote name="bookjones"]



Not that I personally buy that as a viable excuse for a grown ass adult trying to become a millionaire but just for the sake of argument let's say that's true. That explains their MASSIVE miscalculation and negotiation #FAIL the FIRST time with the Hawks. They got greedy, overplayed their hand and are reaping what they sowed now. Other than being a moron, there'd be absolutely no post-Hawks fiasco excuse for still trying to stick the fiscal shiv to any teams still willing to make him an offer this late in the offseason IMO. Let's remember here that Zito works for Niemi not the other way around---if at any time this offseason he wanted to get a deal done then he could have instructed his agent to get it fucking done and stop with the money and/or terms ball-busting. Period.[/quote]



By no means am I saying Niemi was innocent. But he had no clue at all what happened during arbitration based on his comments immediately following the hearing.

 

[bierboy]

[quote name="Stu Grimson"]...he had no clue at all what happened during arbitration based on his comments immediately following the hearing.[/quote]



...and that's what is REALLY sad about this whole thing....

 

[roshinaya]

While Niemi is by no means "innocent" in this whole debacle, I too have a feeling that he was not really on the ball with the implications of going to arbitration. Niemi has the final say of course, but can't help shake the feeling that he simply got bad advice from Zito and as a result is still looking for an employer. Will be interesting to see where he ends up and for what term and price. I think the most likeliest scenario is that he signs for a 1 year deal and tries free agency from the start next off-season instead of a month into it when most of the teams are pretty much set.

 

[MassHavoc]

Niemi's offers

8:15AM ET

Antti Niemi | Blackhawks



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A source tells ESPNChicago.com that Antti Niemi has multiple offers on the table. Now, there's plenty of speculation that the San Jose Sharks might be one of the teams involved -- but we continue to get hints that GM Doug Wilson is standing pat with his goalie situation, although he might be re-thinking it.



Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers could all be in on Niemi. But we can narrow it down from there, too.



The Caps might be focused more on acquiring defense than adding Niemi; plus, there have been hints that they're committing to their two young goalies. Meanwhile, the Preds have said they'll go with the Pekka Rinne as the starter and a youngster as the No. 2. And the Oilers will likely wait for Nikolai Khabibulin's legal troubles to pass and, in the meantime, go with Devan Dubnyk and Jeff Deslaurier.



So that leaves the Panthers and Habs. If he signs with either team, it'll probably be a short-term deal -- maybe as short as one year.

 

[whiteevo]

niemi to the sharks



http://twitter.com/RealKyper

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

I don't see this as an UPGRADE for the Sharks, rather a lateral move... don't see how this improves the Sharks but I guess they were running out of options.



Should be an interesting tandem in SJ... wonder who ends up with the starting job come Thanksgiving.

 

[winos5]

Ek is posting the same rumor.



http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklu...n-1Reports-say-Niemi-A-Shark-Tomorrow/1/29985

 

[whalerhawk]

[quote name="Stu Grimson"]I don't see this as an UPGRADE for the Sharks, rather a lateral move... don't see how this improves the Sharks but I guess they were running out of options.



Should be an interesting tandem in SJ... wonder who ends up with the starting job come Thanksgiving.[/quote]

I have to disagree with you there. Not a fan of Nittymaki and think Niemi is a very good goalie, if a bit overrated. We will see how he does behind that patchwork defense.



But I do think its an upgrade for the Sharks, for sure. I still think we have a better overall team, but the Sharks have improved with this signing.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

[quote name="winos5"]Ek is posting the same rumor.



http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklu...n-1Reports-say-Niemi-A-Shark-Tomorrow/1/29985[/quote]



Well I guess this rumor is now debunked!

 

[winos5]

Get ready for the "we got fucked by Wilson" rants

 

[Pez68]

I don't understand how this makes sense for the Sharks. It will be interesting to see how Niemi does with a defense that likely can't cover up his rebound control issues.... The funny thing is, if this is true, he should have just SIGNED IN CHICAGO FOR A YEAR TO BEGIN WITH. EPIC fail on the part of Niemi, AND his agent. Have fun in SJ....



Would be awesome if we repeat and win the Cup again this year, and Niemi gets bounced in the first round in San Jose.

 

[bookjones]

[quote name="Pez68"]I don't understand how this makes sense for the Sharks. It will be interesting to see how Niemi does with a defense that likely can't cover up his rebound control issues.... The funny thing is, if this is true, he should have just SIGNED IN CHICAGO FOR A YEAR TO BEGIN WITH. EPIC fail on the part of Niemi, AND his agent. Have fun in SJ....



Would be awesome if we repeat and win the Cup again this year, and Niemi gets bounced in the first round in San Jose.[/quote]





BINGO!

And that is the only way I have ever thought of what went down. The clusterfuckery wasn't on the part of the Hawks IMO.

 

[MassHavoc]

So do you take Niemi at 2 mil or Turco at 1.3

 

[bierboy]

[quote name="MassHavoc"]So do you take Niemi at 2 mil or Turco at 1.3[/quote]

No brainer -- Turco.

 

[Pez68]

[quote name="MassHavoc"]So do you take Niemi at 2 mil or Turco at 1.3[/quote]



I still take Turco. **** Niemi. Leaving the defending Stanley Cup champions and a GUARANTEED starting goaltending job, to be a 2M per season backup on a team with one defenseman that could crack our top four? :lol:

 

[bookjones]

[quote name="MassHavoc"]So do you take Niemi at 2 mil or Turco at 1.3[/quote]





D'uh! Turco at 1.3!



Hawks = one of the fastest and best transition games ever and Turco's style is ideally suited to make that transition game even more fucking badass. Period.