San Jose Signs Niemi

  Antti Niemi has finally found a home as the San Jose Sharks have officially signed the Finn to a one year $2 million contract on Thursday.

  Niemi played  a vital role in the semi-finals last year for the the Chicago Blackhawks en route to a Stanley Cup Championship in his debut season. Little did he, or much anyone else, know just one year later he would be playing for the same team he helped knock out in the Western Conference semi-final against San Jose in a 4-0 sweep for the ‘Hawks.

  Niemi posted a 16-6 record in the playoffs with a 2.63 goals against average and .910 save percentage with two shutouts. He stopped 129 of 136 shots in that matchup, and it’s apparent General Manager Doug Wilson had his eye on him early.He stopped 44 shots in Game 1 for a 2-1 victory, and 44 shots in Game 2 in a 3-2 overtime victory. Wilson said Niemi’s performace was “etched in my mind.”

"He made some big saves in key times," Wilson said. "Our staff is very well aware of him. We took a look at a lot of footage not only in that series."

  When the Blackhawks opted out on Niemi and signed veteran goaltender Marty Turco, for salary cap issues with Niemi’s arbitration award winning of $2.75 million, the rumor mill began as to where he’d end up. Montreal, San Jose, and a trip back home to Finland were the most talked about options for Antti. He apparently had other offers, but opted for the deal with the Sharks.

"I thought for me it would be really important to go to a really good team and also a really good organization," Niemi said. "They really wanted me there too. It wasn't too hard a decision after all."

  The Blackhawks didn’t have much of a choice in letting Niemi go once the arbitrator made his decision as (including Niemi himself) they were forced to part ways with eight roster players from last year. The Sharks didn’t make life any easier for the Blackhawks management when they attempted to sign Niklas Hjalmarsson to a four year $14 million off sheet. This, however, the Hawks would meet to retain young Hjalmarsson’s services.

"My job is to put the best team on the ice we can here in San Jose and operate within the rules like we did. To connect the two, I'll leave that up to other people to speculate or make comments." Wilson said in regards for the contractual blockade San Jose presented Chicago by the offer sheet, ultimately landing them Niemi.

  There is definitely a ‘Finnish connection’ when it comes to the Sharks’ goaltending choices over the years. Long time (nearly a decade) starting goaltender Evgeni Nabokov (currently in the KHL) was let go at the end of last season when his contract ran up. Other top-named Finns under the Sharks’ wing include (current Calgary Flame) Mikka Kiprusoff, and (current free-agent) Vesa Toskala. Now, the tandem of net minders reads a ‘tale of two Finns’ as Niemi joins up with Antero Niittymaki.

  27 year-old Niemi played just 42 games in his rookie season last year posting a 26-7-4 record with a 2.25 GAA and .912 save percentage over the 39 games after he overtook Cristobal Huet’s job as the number one in Chicago. He showed a lot of promise and maturity in that year and despite having some technical issues within his game, he is poised to stay in the NHL and not be labeled as a one-hit-wonder.

  He partners fellow Finn, Antero Niittymaki, who last year played for a much worse team in the Tampa Bay Lightning. In 49 games he recorded a 21-18-5 record with a 2.87 GAA and .909 save percentage. Niittymaki heads into his 7th year pro after playing 210 career NHL games split between Philadelphia and Tampa.

"We liked our goaltending as of yesterday. We like it even more today," general manager Doug Wilson said. "When a player like this comes available and he wants to come to your team, especially on a contract that we feel fits our salary structure and you don't have to give up anything to get him you just have to make it happen."

  Doug Wilson will leave it up to Coach Todd McLellan to split up the ice time between the two Finns and now third string, Thomas Greiss. San Jose looks much better in net than they did with Antero as the sure number-one. Look for this tandem to do quite well together as they fight for top status with the team, but the question still looms as to whether or not it will be as good as Nabokov. Nabokov ultimately signed for $4 million in the KHL, and touted as a change in philosophy and direction in San Jose, the Sharks have instead spent the same amount on two.

  The Sharks plan to challenge seriously for the Stanley Cup next year, and should they win, Antti Niemi will be in quite an elite class. He will be the only goaltender in NHL history to win back-to-back Stanley Cups for two different teams. He would be only the 12th player ever to accomplish the feat, but surprisingly the second player all time to do it his rookie and sophomore years. His only accompaniment: Jack Marshall, who was the first do it when he won in 1901 with Winnipeg, and 1902 with Montreal. Quite a feat, indeed.

-Kendall Grubbs