Niemi is now a long-time Shark

[li0lsh]

San Jose Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi signed a four-year extension at nearly $4 million per year, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Niemi, who helped lead the Chicago Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup title last season, is 23-15-3 with a 2.44 goals against average and .919 save percentage.

After a four-game losing streak in January, Niemi has won 15 of his last 18 games to help the Sharks rise to No. 3 in the Western Conference.

The Blackhawks let Niemi walk after deciding an arbitration number was too high.

Source: Antti Niemi signed a contract extension with the San Jose Sharks - ESPN

 

[Eddie_Shack]

He's young, so if he continues improving it might not be a bad deal. I don't think he's worth $4M now, but it's not a horrible deal.

 

[dash]

Niemi seems to have two gears (pre all-star game and post all-star game). As he's shifted his game, the Sharks have begun to drive hard to the post-season. Just my opinion, but I think $4 million per is a fair deal for both the San Jose and Niemi.

 

[Darkstone42]

I think it's a hair high not because of a lack of performance, but because of a lack of sample size. I would probably have capped at 3-3.5, but it's also not a massive overpayment by any means.

 

[snowsurfer13sss]

im hearing its for 3.8 sounds a little bit better

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

What was the arbitration award that Chicago walked away from?

 

[dash]

What was the arbitration award that Chicago walked away from?

If memory serves, it was 2.75 million (too lazy to look up).

 

[Destroydacre]

If memory serves, it was 2.75 million (too lazy to look up).

Sounds right.




This contract is probably a bit of an overpayment now, I'm guessing this will be considered a steal by the 4th year. Hopefully anyway.

 

[puckhead]

If memory serves, it was 2.75 million (too lazy to look up).

good memory, sir.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

While he wasn't Patty Roy, he DID win a Cup already... there aren't many Cup winning goaltenders out there who you can tie down for less than $5M..

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

While he wasn't Patty Roy, he DID win a Cup already... there aren't many Cup winning goaltenders out there who you can tie down for less than $5M..

Makes me feel good that we resigned Howard for 2.25 mil/year.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

Sounds right.




This contract is probably a bit of an overpayment now, I'm guessing this will be considered a steal by the 4th year. Hopefully anyway.

I guess that's the wait and see factor. If Chicago walked away from $2.75M for a guy coming off of a Cup victory, even going to $4M does seem a bit high.

 

[Slimpikins]

I'm a little surprised that Wilson didn't wait until the offseason to address this. I would have liked it closer to 3 but I'm a tight ass.

I guess if you look as some similar goalie salaries Leightonen (sp?), Rinne, Halak it seems about right.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

I'm a little surprised that Wilson didn't wait until the offseason to address this. I would have liked it closer to 3 but I'm a tight ass.

I guess if you look as some similar goalie salaries Leightonen (sp?), Rinne, Halak it seems about right.

I don't know, Rinne is a Vezina bound beast (someday, he's playing like it but Thomas is unreal) and Niemi has never once played as well as Halak's run last year. Lehtonen is probably more talented but injury prone. I don't know that there are really many goalies you can compared Niemi to, maybe Howard or Varlomov; nice potential, but small sample size and a very good team in front of him.

 

[li0lsh]

I'm a tight ass.

 

[Slimpikins]

I don't know, Rinne is a Vezina bound beast (someday, he's playing like it but Thomas is unreal) and Niemi has never once played as well as Halak's run last year. Lehtonen is probably more talented but injury prone. I don't know that there are really many goalies you can compared Niemi to, maybe Howard or Varlomov; nice potential, but small sample size and a very good team in front of him.

I agree the sample size is small but check out his numbers over the last two months, compare them to Howards and take into account that Niemi has Wallin and Huskins playing in front of him

I think the plan is that it looks like an overpayment this year but it will be quite the deal in the end. Sharks brass must really like him (or Stalock's season ending injury ruined their back up plan and they felt the need to lock him down early).


On a salary cap related note, anyone want Danny Heatley?