New Hawks goalie Marty Turco tries his hand at painting the team logo on the United Center ice. (Scott Strazzante/Tribune)
By Chris Kuc
Former Blackhawks goaltender Antti Niemi signed a one-year contract with the San Jose Sharks, the team said Thursday.
Terms were not announced, but the deal reportedly is worth $2 million.
"Antti's play last season speaks for itself," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said. "Our goal this summer was to create the best goaltending unit we could and we feel we have successfully done that."
Niemi, who helped lead the Hawks to their first Stanley Cup championship in 49 years, was an unrestricted free agent after he was allowed to walk following an arbitrator's ruling rewarding him $2.75 million for the 2010-11 season. He was 26-7-4 with a .912 save percentage during the regular season and 16-6 with a .910 save percentage during the Hawks' title run.
If Niemi wins the starting job in San Jose, which also signed Antero Niittymaki this summer, he could face his ex-teammates four times during the regular season.
"It's going to be the most exciting games of the regular season next year," Niemi said Thursday during a conference call. "It's going to be weird because I used to play for the Blackhawks."
Photo gallery: Antti Niemi in action for the Blackhawks
Wilson denied that the offer sheet he gave Hawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson was done to force the Hawks to let Niemi go.
"We look at players who can help our team," Wilson said. "The offer we made on Hjalmarsson (four years, $14 million) was basically a very fair offer. They had a decision to make. It should be a compliment, we liked their player. We also liked this goaltender. My job is to put the best team on the ice we can here in San Jose, and follow within the rules, which we did. To connect the two I think I'll leave that up to other people to speculate ... but that's not the case."
The Hawks, who trimmed payroll during the offseason to get under the NHL's salary cap, signed veteran Marty Turco to a one-year, $1.3 million contract Aug. 2 to replace Niemi. They now have the task of facing their former teammate as he plays for the Western Conference-rival Sharks.
On July 1, San Jose signed fellow Finnish netminder Niittymaki to a two-year contract and the goalies figure to split duties. The Sharks also have Thomas Greiss on the roster. Long-time goalie Evgeni Nabokov left the team to sign with the Russian KHL League.
"We look at players who can help our team," Wilson said. "The offer we made on Hjalmarsson (four years, $14 million) was basically a very fair offer. They had a decision to make. It should be a compliment, we liked their player. We also liked this goaltender. My job is to put the best team on the ice we can here in San Jose, and follow within the rules, which we did. To connect the two I think I'll leave that up to other people to speculate ... but that's not the case."
The Hawks, who trimmed payroll during the offseason to get under the NHL's salary cap, signed veteran Marty Turco to a one-year, $1.3 million contract Aug. 2 to replace Niemi. They now have the task of facing their former teammate as he plays for the Western Conference-rival Sharks.
On July 1, San Jose signed fellow Finnish netminder Niittymaki to a two-year contract and the goalies figure to split duties. The Sharks also have Thomas Greiss on the roster. Long-time goalie Evgeni Nabokov left the team to sign with the Russian KHL League.
What wins championships: defense. You need a great goalie to win more than one Cup. The Wings lost to Pittsburgh because their goalies could not play the big game, stand on ones head. Niemi did that against San Jose, which allowed the Hawks to continue. When he does that against the Hawks, the Hawks will only have themselves to blame. Hazek was another European goalie that the Hawks let go, much to the benefit of Buffalo and the Wings. Now San Jose will only benefit getting Niemi for Natta. But then the Hawks gotta Hossa from the Wings in a similar manner, so NO ONE in the NHL feels sorry for the Hawks. They benefitted from the Cap in being able to sign Hossa from the Wings, who by the way took a one year contract to sign with the Wings. So Niemi signs with the Hawks when they paid Lane, ... high salaries. The Wings won since Zetterburg, Lindstrom, ... were willing to take a bit less so that the Wings could keep their team intact, but for Hossa who was a hired gun (mercenary). At any rate, if Niemi helps the Sharks win their FIRST Cup, I am sure their GM will reward with the long term contract that the Hawks gave to Lane, they guy who is so CHEAP he beats up a Cabbie in Buffalo. Go figure.
Niemi has found himself a new home in San Jose, big different comparing to the windy city in Chicago. It will be strange to see Niemi on the other end instead, BUT the Hawks got Turco and Turco will be great with Hawks defensemen. Welcome to the Hawks Marty T.
GO HAWKS. I can not wait for the First game to begin!
Stupid Niemi cost himself at least $500K and a good chance to repeat with Hawks next year.
Mills hit the nail on the head.
Niemi was better than Huet, by a long shot. He played above his head and had a career series against San Jose, but was pretty exposed by Philly in the Cup. Thankfully Philly had NO ONE in goal.
Niemi has promise but was certain no great shakes. Each game in the Cup, the Hawks had to score 4-5 goals just to be in the game.
What should concern Hawks fans is WHY did Huet get signed to such a huge deal when he was not just "Unproven" he was proven and did horribly against Detroit last year.
Did they really need to throw THAT much money at Campbell and Hossa?
As Mills mentioned he was exposed and did not play well in the PP.
I think Hawks repeat and Turco will be fine.
Have a little faith baby. Have a little faith. Hawks will be just fine, because Stan Bowman says so. Niemi will be okay in San Jose. Sad to see him go, but hey that business. The "core" will power the Hawks, or so says Stan. Ya just have to believe in Lord Stan. Enjoy the Cup for a few more weeks and have a little faith in Johnny and Stan.
Hawks Fan Since May
It had nothing to do with the Hawks being cheap. THere is this thing called a SALARY CAP, which you cannot go above. The Hawks literally could not give him more than their rumored $8 mil/3 year offer, which actually came before Jelly's offer sheet which they had to match, making less room for Niemi. If they could have kept him, they would have. But if they're over the salary cap, they forfeit games until they get under it.
King- where do you get off on pointing out the actual facts? We have brilliant so-called Detroit fans who think that Hasek is spelled with a "z" to point out how the Hawks are going to tank! C'mon King, sure they still have their core, but they LOST "no regular season hustle" Buff. The Hawks are not going to ever win a game with 4 top notch defensemen and a goaltender who can play the puck. They NEED Niemi who coughed up the puck while behind the net for easy open net goals. They NEED a goaltender who drops to his knees before the puck is shot. Good thing not everyone in the league saw his weaknesses highlighted by the Flyers.
OK, I actually like Nemo, but part of the reason he did so well was because he was calm, poised and had little scouting against him. However now his tendencies are out there. It's not that hard to see. He's great down low, but put them high and there's a great chance of it going in. I love the fact that they have a goalie who didn't make this about money, but winning.
once again the hockey-dumb prove their ingorance on the sport, all you posters who are wishing for niemi and hating on turco, talking about losing byfuglien, versteeg, eager, burish, etc don't have a clue about what is happening with the hawks.
First off, Niemi could have signed for less but his agent wanted more. Turco took a paycut for $5mil+ to $1.3mil to play for the hawks. Question: who do you think is more committed to winning and who is more committed to $$$
Second, the loss of byfuglien, versteeg, sopel, eager, madden, johonsson, and Ladd(who will be missed the most) isn't that bad of a loss. Hawks needed to trim $$$ and all those guys are replacable. Somebody said they lost their "best players" well you must have never heard of Jonathan Toews (playoff MVP), Duncan Keith (Norris Trophy Winner), Patrick Kane (top 10 in regular season scoring), Seabrook, Hossa, Sharp, Campbell and Hjarmalsson(who round out the best d-corps in the NHL), and oh yeah Kopecky, Brouwer, and the new guy Stalberg(who will eventually be a top six forward).
Third, Turco is a great goalie, and with the hawks d-corp they can return to the form of last season leading the NHL in shots against and top 5 in goals against. Anybody remember Huet's numbers from last season? 26-14-4 .895 sv%(not great) 2.5 ga average. Still good a goalie everyone and their grandma was hatin' on all year. Thats what a good defense does, makes a average goalie look good. Am I saying Niemi was average? NO. He was above average, he played great in the playoffs, 50+ saves against sharks, HUGE OT saves. But heh, good goalies make the saves they need to make and I am confident Turco will be better than good.
Last, don't hate on the Hawks, they won the freaking cup people!
Niemi got bad BAD advice from his agent...
I know it was a joke, hence I said LOL. And my post described why the fair weather fans are clueless and know nothing about hockey.
Boy Niemi must be kicking himself.
Could of had a 3 year $8M dollar deal with the best team in the NHL and city to play for. The whole city was behind this guy and he blows it.
Now he is stuck on a 1 year $2M dollar deal with intense competition at goalie; don't underestimate how good San Jose's goalie is considering they let Nabakov walk.
Fairweather Land...The "Hawks Fan Since May" post was clearly a joke..lighten up and don't take message boards so seriously
LOL @ HAWKSFANSINCEMAY!!!
I have heard from all the fair weather fans how the Hawks are going to be horrible and lost their best players.
You have a core of Kane, Toews, Keith, Sharp, Seabrook, Hossa and Turco (an all star). You also still have vital players like Campbell, Bolland, Brouwer, and Kopecky.
Did we lose some talent? Of course that happens in a salary cap world. But to make Antii Niemi into the next Patrick Roy is insane.
And please look up Byfuglien's statistics for the year. He was -7 for the year. But I am sure you fair weather fans have no clue what that means.
For those of you morons who started watching hockey in the 2nd round of the playoffs, the big story all year was the goalie issue we had two mediocre goalies in Huet and Niemi.
Niemi did help out, but does anyone remember Game 1 of the Stanley Cup where Niemi gave up 5 goals???
And as far as Byfuglien goes he had one good hit on Pronger, the rest of the series he got pounded.
Bolland, Burish and Eager are not superstars!
The only one I'm sad to lose is Versteeg because he always played hard. But once again, SALARY CAP.
Stan Bowman is not a moron.
And please, if you just started watching hockey in the spring, please don't post here, you lower the IQ of everyone on this thread.
Hawks got played on September 2, 2010 8:18 AM
.................
I bet you still believe in the Tooth fairy.
The Blackhawks just got played my friends. This was San Jose's plan all along to sign Niemi. Sharks GM Doug Wilson personally helped dismantle the Hawks this off season and this was the final piece to the Sharks Stanley cup puzzle. Read this article from a couple of weeks ago for more insite:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/435085-will-san-jose-sharks-gm-doug-wilsons-inception-land-antti-niemi
I hope all of you people complaining that the hawks "let _____ go to save money" are joking.
It's called the salary cap. The Hawks had to trim a lot of salary. They didn't get rid of Buff or Versteeg because they wanted to "save money." They HAD to get rid of them.
Anyway, I agree I think Niemi was screwed by his agent. I think it would have been great to see him try to develop in Chicago but let's not pretend like he's the next coming. Turco is going to be playing behind the same defense and is certainly no slouch. I think Turco will be alright for a year... it's just the future I worry about.
San Jose is still San Jose... I will never, ever pick them to get to the finals because they find a way to choke every season. Maybe this could be the year for them, but until it happens I would never put my money on that time.
Did Hossa help the Hawks?
Certainly.
Will Niemi help the San Jose Sharks?
Absolutely. He is a bargain at $2,000,000 a year. How much did Cleveland play LaBum to QUIT on his team mates. LaBum reminds many of us of Não mas fight between Leonard and Duran. It was Não Mas for LaBum, as his fans and coach could not believe. Same with the guy from Toronto. If Wade thinks he will win ANY championships with dos Não Mas guys, he will be saddened with LaBum and LaBosh, pull their Não Mas acts like Duran pulled. Now that they got their Max contracts ...
On the other hand, Niemi and São Jose Sharks ARE HUNGRY, like the Hawks and their GM and owner were. Now that the fans will come, dump the players like Niemi, to save a few bucks. Did the Yankees ever cut their top players? No they are winners and are willing to pay a payroll tax to keep winning. The Hawks ...
It will be nice to SEE NIEMI win his Second Cup and the First for San Jose. He will have a great career in San Jose, while the Hawks will be looking for a goalie in the spring come playoff time. Bowman was a great Coach in Montreal and Detroit, but as a GM?? Turco had better perform because if he flops, the Hawks will be very very sad. And the goalie who is making more the Niemi will be playing in Europe.
The best thing that happened to the Hawks this offseason was Niemi going to arbitration.
Woohoo...can't wait to hear what Mr. Know-it-all David Haugh has to say about this.
C'mon people! This guy helped bring us a Stanely Cup. Do I wish he didn't listen to his agent? Of course! But I will not boo a former member of this team who brought such joy to this Stanley Cup ridden city. Good luck to all our former Hawks.
Screw niemi! He's now an ex-hawk! Maybe his agent will buy him some earplugs to protect against all the boo-ing he deserves for leaving. Could've been playing to repeat a cup win for 500k less and the key to an original six team city. Bye Niemi- nice cheering for you - traitor!
Aussie 2020,
A) Nobody thought Hasek was going to be anywhere near as good as he ended up being.
B) The Blackhawks had this guy named Belfour at the time who won a Calder and two Vezina trophies in three years. They had no reason to switch goaltenders.
Strange how the NBA gives MAX deals to many players who are not have as talented as NIEMI, and the fans do not blink an eye. Niemi HELPS the Hawks win their FIRST CUP in how many years. And did not the Hawks also let go another young UNTALENTED goalie called D. Hazek, who of course failed miserably in Both Buffalo and Detroit. Niemi COULD be the next Hazek or Dryden. Either way, San Jose got the player they wanted from the Hawks, like the Hawks got they player they wanted, Hossa, from the Wings. So San Jose is very thankful to the Hawks, as the (OR AT LEAST MOST) Hawks were to get Hossa from the Wings.
People forgot MOST Stanley Cups winners have goalies who win one or MORE games for them in each series. Dryden gave Montreal many Cup victories over a presumably more talented BUT FRUSTRATED Boston Bruin team with arguably the best Defenseman in the NHL, Bobby Orr. Also the Wings won with Hazek in goal. If the Wings had had Niemi in the Nets they BEAT the Penguins!! and HAVE one more Cup. Losing Niemi WILL Cost the Hawks at least ONE or MORE Cups. If Niemi gets the Sharks over the top, and develops by Dryden did in Montreal and Hazek did Buffalo and Detroit, the Sharks could be the Lakers, Bulls and Celtic in ICE HOCKEY, but what the NHL wanted, a powerhouse West Coast Hockey team. And we now have the Hawks to thank for that. And with his fellow Finn also in San Jose, the chances that San Jose now wins their First Cup are much higher. The Russian goalie in San Jose headed back to Russia to play in the KHL, and San Jose hired the TOP two Finish goalies. I am a Detroit fan, but I would put my money on San Jose breaking their losing streak, like the Hawks finally did last year (which was great for Chicago and the NHL). I could not stomach Pittsburgh and the Crosby nation. But let us see. But again, if I was a betting man, I would put my money on San Jose. Minimally the Hawks will have to go through San Jose, and if the Sharks earn home ice, then ... But the Wings lost Hossa to the Hawks, who helped get them over the top, so it would be poetic justice now, if the Hawks lose Niemi, who helps get San Jose over the top. The NHL wants this kind of shift and to get more teams the CUP. It worked so far:
Detroit -> Pittsburgh -> Chicago -> San Jose -> ...
You got it right on the money, Dan. Niemi ended up getting a raw deal listening to his idiot, greedy agent, who told him to turn down NUMEROUS multi-year contract offers from the Blackhawks. David Haugh wrote a great article a few weeks ago about how this would have been the best place for Niemi to grow as a goalie. Now if he blows the chances he gets in the net for the Sharks, he'll be looking for work, and will probably be nothing more than a journeyman backup. It's a shame, really.
Bill Zito isn't going to get too many votes for Agent of the Year. Niemi could have gotten a better deal from the Hawks if he didn't take them to arbitration. Now, if he gets lit up in San Jose, his market value is zilch. I know the Sharks are good, but they don't have the Hawks defense in front of him. Plus he has veteran competition out there (better than Huet) so a couple bad games and he is riding the bench. BTW, if the Hawks play him in the playoffs next year, they'll turn him into the next Louongo.
I think Hawks are in big trouble if they think Turco is the answer. He's way beyond his glory years and it will take a defense much better than the one we have left to shore him up!
TiredGuy and Spinorama:
Uh... guys... the "HawksFanSinceMay" person is pretty clearly a joke and a funny one at that...
To people B&m ing about the Hawks being cheap.... you may have missed the recent article on the Hawks' finances... but despite their success last year, they STILL lost money.... but then again these are the same meatball fans who complain that all Chicago teams are "cheap" despite each being in the top 10 in payroll
Please return that jersey, now that all there best players are gone. Wow, you are dumb.
Blame the arbitrator. He ruled that Niemi was worth $2.75M and the marketplace said $2M. Either the arbitrator doesn't know what he's doing or he works for the Sharks.
Hey dgpuck, go look up the work sarcasm. I don't think you recognize or understand what it is.
Antti Niemi............Yes, he played great behind our awesome defensive lines, but let's see first how he plays with San Jose's defense before we crown them the NHL Champions! The Blackhawks will do great this year, their core is still intact and TURCO is a seasoned veteran goalie and should equal or surpass Niemi this year behind our defense. Granted, we lost a lot of veterans, and we still have some salary cap issues next year that we will have to deal with, and as much as I like Brian Campbell for his defense, his $7-million dollar hit is killing us. NHL needs to change its rules on salary re-negotiations. GO BLACKHAWKS !!
Hawks Fan Since May, lmao!!!
I'm sure the 'Hawks would have paid Niemi $2M, too bad Bill Zito wanted more.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THE HAWKS WERE SO CHEAP AND LET NIEMI GO AND BUFF AND VERSTEEG AND ALL THEIR BEST PLAYERS ARE GONE AND NOW THE SHARKS ARE GONNA BEAT US CUZ NIEMI'S GONNA SAY NO FOR THEM AND THE HAWKS ARE GONNA BE SO AWFUL NEXT YEAR . . . I WONDER IF I CAN RETURN MY JERSEYS I BOUGHT, THE TAGS ARE STILL ON 'EM!!!!!
Thanks HockeyBroad. I thought it was for the whole NHL and when he was suppose to sign overseas (according to the rumor) I thought that was why they could sign him for less... Either way I wish we could have signed him.
Ronny G: Only the Blackhawks are bound by the arbitration ruling for one year. (In other words, the Hawks couldn't say, "Look, we STILL don't have that kind of money to give you, will you take $2M?")
The other 29 teams in the NHL are not required to match the arbitration decision.
agreed ronnie... how the heck does that make any sense???
So after arbitration, why can they sign him for less money than he was awarded? So in other words, they made it so the Hawks couldn't sign him.
thaaaat figures.