In a summer of losses, the Chicago Blackhawks skated away with a minor victory during convention weekend after an arbitrator reportedly awarded goaltender Antti Niemi a one-year salary of $2.75 million. The Hawks championship netminder was seeking in excess of $3 million after an NHL rookie campaign that ended with the Finn hoisting the Stanley Cup overhead. Had Niemi and his agent been more successful in turning a short resume into gold, it would have been his ticket out of town. But with his salary set below the $3 million mark, it is widely believed general manager Stan Bowman will elect to bring Niemi back for one more campaign.
As of late Saturday afternoon, Bowman had yet to comment on the arbitrator's decision as the club prepares for a nightime celebration at the Chicago Hilton & Towers.
I'd imagine the GM is slightly relieved that the dollar value is one that is workable within the Blackhawks cap restraints, but don't expect a gleeful reaction. At $2.75 million, it's still not a sure thing that Niemi will return. Bowman has 48 hours to decide if the Finn will be back, or the young GM can trade the goalie or outright release him. Because of the favorable dollar value, I highly doubt Bowman will allow Niemi to hit the open market. And the trade market would most likely return a mid-level draft pick.
Expect Niemi to be the Blackhawks goaltender next season. For the money, he is the best option on the table for the defending Stanley Cup champions. For an idea of how his salary might fit into Bowman's equation, take a look at Tim Sassone's post at the Daily Herald.
If Niemi has a successful campaign for the Hawks in 2010-11, it will most likely be his final season in Chicago. And if his sophomore year is a bust, the Hawks would need to look elsewhere for their future goaltender. Either way, today's decision buys the Blackhawks another year to develop their own or to discover another little known foreign commodity like Niemi was two years ago.
Frankly, that's why I wasn't on pins and needles waiting for the final number on Niemi's salary. If he turns into a top tier NHL goalie, it most likely won't be in Chicago anyway. Bowman's salary cap nightmare won't end after this summer. The Hawks have too much money tied up in other long-term entities to allow them to afford a high-priced goalie.
It may be a model Hawks fans will need to learn to live with as average goaltenders are easier to negotiate with come contract time. Niemi may even turn out to be an average goalie himself. Another example of the price tag that comes with winning the Stanley Cup.
Filed under: Antti Niemi
Tags: antti niemi, Blackhawks, hawks, Stan Bowman
Here's hoping the Hawks fit Antti under the cap and that he continues where he left off- delivering on everything requested of him. He is batting a thousand as far as I'm concerned. The arbitration award is good news for the Hawks.
I hope you're right... but you seem to be the overwhelming minority. Sounds like Marty Turco will be here by Wednesday.
Jesse Rogers is reporting tonite that sources are saying the Hawks offered 1.5 while Niemi countered with something in the 4 range, and he thinks that means the Hawks really needed a number lower than 2.75. Rogers was somewhat optimistic prior to hearing this, but now thinks Niemi is likely gone.
It is a shame that the sport of hockey, and other sports for that matter, is reduced to talking about salaries and numbers in such a way.
Niemi played great for the Hawks this year and helped bring a cup to Chicago. It is ridiculous for him to have asked for 4 mil, but when there are guys like Huet making 5+, you might understand the reasoning.
Needless to say, he deserves his money for providing a damn great season to watch with outstanding highlight reel saves.
Lets talk about what matters, the damn game and not the money. Make it work and get on with it. Niemi deserves the next season as a Hawk.
We have already lost too many names that (even though they might have hurt their knees jumping on the ban wagon) everyone has come to love.
I'm looking ahead to the middle of the year if our #1 goalie gets injured, sucks, or the flu. Then where are the Hawks? Bowman can't put that big a contract on the bench. The Hawks need a goalie insurance policy to stay near the top.
For 2.75 the Hawks could get Turco and Theodore.
If he can't be the #1, I'd like to see Turco as the #2.
I ran capgeek's cap calculator without monsieur Huet. A 20 man team with the addition of Annti Niemi,Kyle Beech,Shawn Lalonde and Corey Crawford does fit under the cap.
I tried that and came up $337,000 over the cap.
But that's only with 6 defensemen and one of them being John Scott. That won't happen. Need to pencil in at least Jordan Hendry at about 600K which puts them about a million over.
I had the "bonus cushion" checked. Not too sure what the heck that means.
A report late Sunday night, later refuted, had Turco signing for 1.75.
If you put that, plus Crawford's 800K, Hendry at 600K and Beach's 1.1M into the equation, the Hawks end up under the cap by $62,500 plus some change.
Blackhawks sources are denying Turco's signing but Sassone thinks it's possible since the report came from WGN's Dan Roan. WGN should have some inside info, of course.
Blackhawks drop Niemi, sign goalie Turco
August 2, 2010 9:52 AM
http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/08/blackhawks-drop-niemi-sign-goalie-turco.html
I can't figure what bothers me more:
The Hawks letting a potentially great career goalie walk after his rookie year when they overpaid Khabby and Huet for the last 5 seasons...
Or that Niemi chose arbitration with a great team that gave him a chance to play and win the cup in his rookie year.
The money situation in this game is ridiculous. There is zero gratitude or loyalty on either side anymore.
Actually, maybe I agree with SouthSideHawksMan: Campbell's salary bothers me more than anything.
Its a damn shame
Well, continuing a conversation from above, now with Turco at 1.3 and Crawford at 800K, the Hawks could fill out their roster as follows:
Hendry at 600K
Lalonde at 773+K
Beach at 1.170+K
That roster would put them about 500K under the cap, and would make Beach's development and sanity extremely important.
I would absolutely love for all three of those players to be on this years roster. Hendry is a solid 3rd pair d-man and I am excited to see what Lalonde & Beach bring to the team.
That roster would, as you suggest, elevate Hendry to 5th/6th D-man. That might make Scott the 7th guy, which is a bit dangerous.
I could be wrong, but I have a feeling that still isn't comfortable enough to put Beach on the roster. They might have to go with someone like Makarov at 550K so they have wiggle room for injuries. Or AN injury.
All in favor of Borg becoming the new Blackhawks GM, say "aye"!
Aye
Ha!
Thanks for that, but I don't think I'd want that responsibility.
I don't envy Bowman at all. Yes, he's made some statements he shouldn't have, but at the end of the day, this mess isn't his fault, and he's done about as well as possible with it.
Sharp can not go anywhere. Say goodbye to the season if that happens.
I am really hating Campbells deal more and more, his contract might be forcing the Hawks hands for years to come.
StanBow on Corey Crawford during the Convention: "(Crawford's) spent a number of years developing in our system, and I think the time is now for him to get an opportunity to show us what he can do. He's certainly had a chance to learn his craft in the minor leagues. He's carried the load down there year after year. I think it's time for him."
Before y'all start laughing and/or reaching for the Pepto-Bismol, remember nobody thought Jimmy Howard would turn out to be a number one. And he is.
It may well be Crawford's time. And with a Turco or Theodore mentoring him, maybe not a bad idea.
Stan is also the same guy telling anyone who would listen that Huet was the Blackhawks main man all the way up to when he wasn't. Young Bowman has developed a penchant for sounding like a used car salesman early in his GM tenure. I'd don't buy much from his mouth because half of it is plain B.S.
They can be as much as 10% over the cap prior to the start of the season.
They have to move Huet. If they don't, he'll be the starter and Niemi and probably Sharp would be moved to compensate.