The Goalie Market / Updated Chart

[The Fog]

Hmmm . The Fog's deep goaltending squad might not be that deep, if Deslauriers and Niemi don't get re-signed.

[Beaver]

The Fog also lost Demitra to the KHL today

[The Fog]

Demitra was on my drop list anyway. Not a great lost. Good news is that Hudler is back in the NHL.

[Beaver]

Yeah I figured, just wasn't sure if you had heard. Good news on Hudler. Still looks like Gagne might be playing for a different team come October.

[The Fog]

Yep. Looks like Gagne might be playing somewhere else. Maybe my beloved Oilers? They could use a veteran winger to go along with all those young prospects. I wouldn't mind that at all!
Just like evey year on The FoG Squad. Alot of uncertainity at many positions.

[steelhawk]

"The Atlanta Thrashers have come to terms with restricted free agent goaltender Ondrej Pavelec on a two-year contract worth $2.3 million. The 22-year-old played in 42 games last season, emerging with a 14-18-7 record, including two shutouts, a 3.29 goals against average and a .906 save percentage. The Kladno, Czech Republic native was orginally drafted by the Thrashers in the second round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft."

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=328174

[WharfRat]

Please update the Goalie Chart to show that the Over the Cap Chicago Blackshawks starter is the 5.6 Million Mr. Huet instead on the unsigned Niemi.

[The Fog]

[steelhawk]

Updated SSHL Goalies Chart:
http://www.keeperpool.com/sshlgoaliecarousel.pdf

Price, Niemi, Deslauriers, Dekanich unsigned.

[The Fog]

I guess we might find out on Thursday, what will happen with Niemi. Deslauriers is on Aug 4.

CHICAGO — Blackhawks goalie Antti Niemi‘s 2010-11 salary will be decided on July 29 by an arbitrator unless the team and Niemi can come to an agreement.

Niemi made $827,000 last season and is slated for a raise after helping the Blackhawks to their first Stanley Cup championship in 49 years.

The team and Niemi have not been actively discussing a contract recently, according to a person familiar with the situation, making the date with an arbitrator more and more likely.

“We’re still negotiating with Antti,” Hawks general manager Stan Bowman said. “It’s a back and forth. We’re trying to get it done so we’ll keep at it. “It’s a negotiation. Both sides have their points of view so hopefully it works out.”

Niemi is the only Chicago player slated for salary arbitration

[WharfRat]

So I may as well have a little fun with this Chi/Huet/Niemi thing I guess.

What will happen with Niemi? This is a weird case here with not much experience but he won the Stanley Cup. Some are comparing his case to Halak's. If you read the forums, many Chicago fans say to walk away if it goes to arbitration and it is too high.

So the question is, what is too high?

Halak signed for $3.75 Million cap hit. It can be argued that Niemi was more successful than Halak last year. That would be far too much for Niemi in my opinion and if it goes to arbitration who knows what happens. I say the Hawks try to sign himfor under $2.25 Million before Thursday arbitration. If it does go, he will be awarded more and the Hawks will walk. If I was Niemi, I would do a one year deal for less money this year and then be a UFA next season.

It's easy to say to hide Huet's +$5 M in the minors but I think it would be much more prudent to sign a guy like Niemi for cheap or one of the cheap goalies that are available and try to see if Huet regains his form. That way at the very least you make him more available for possible trade. If not, can any owner really afford to throw away $11 Million dollars over two years?

Chicago only has 17 players signed right now. How much can they afford to give to Niemi?

Anybody willing to make a guess at this outcome???

[steelhawk]

I think Halak's $3.75 million would be the target for Niemi's agents, while the Hawks could use Tuukka's Rask's lowball $1.25 million contract. However, I think it's a big risk for Niemi to go to arbitration - if he is awarded a big deal and the Blackhawks walk away will he be able to find a decent gig with another team? He might end up playing for peanuts in Edmonton or Philadelphia, or wind up back in Europe, if he can't settle with Chicago for a middling one-year deal like the Rat suggests before arbitration.

[WharfRat]

I hope he goes to arbitration and gets over 3 Million !!!!

[The Fog]

I hope he signs just before his arbitration. $2 million perhaps?

[The Fog]

Oh yes. Stop picking om my GOALIES!!!!