[quote name="R K"]Just because he was granted 2.75 through arbitration doesn't mean he won't sign for less than that with some NHL team.
I do agree Zito has put his client in an extremely difficult situation, but remember Niemi allowed it to happen.[/quote]
He took the Hawks to arbitration... What makes you think they accept any offers below that 2.75M?
On the subject of Niemi and Zito... It is Zito's job to know the current market for goaltenders, and what jobs are out there to be had. He had to know that it would be difficult for Niemi to get a STARTING job if the Hawks let him walk after arbitration. He also had to know that the market hasn't exactly been bleeding money for the goaltenders that have signed this offseason. Rumor has it, Niemi/Zito turned down 3 years at 2.66 per year from the Hawks. If that's true, he's a fucking idiot, and deserves whatever happens. Filing for arbitration with an offer like that on the table, means they must have been hoping for a contract north of 3M per season. Zito had to know the Hawks couldn't afford that.... Basically, Niemi and Zito had zero intentions of staying with the Hawks once they filed for arbitration. There was just no way he would fit under the cap with what they were demanding. The fact that there aren't ANY rumors or rumblings out there about teams offerring him a contract, or negotiations happening, does not bode well for him in the least. You had to think he had feelers out there trying to get an idea on other team's interests.....
Here's what makes ZERO sense to me. Niemi is an UFA after next season. The best way for him to make his money, is taking a one year deal from the Hawks this year, and then testing the UFA market next year... Another year behind this Hawks' defense, another playoff run, and double the amount of NHL games played, with similiar stats to 2009-2010, would GUARANTEE him a nice pay raise, and a longer term contract. Probably with the Hawks, who, after next year, can afford to give him closer to what he's looking for. Either Niemi is extremely greedy, or Zito has fucked him over here. Either way, he has hurt himself financially, and maybe hurt his chances at a long NHL career.