San Jose Sharks ink goaltender Antii Niemi
The San Jose Sharks announced Thursday that they have signed goaltender Antii Niemi to a one-year deal worth $2 million. Niemi, who helped lead the Chicago Blackhawks to their first Stanley Cup win since 1961, was a large part of why the Sharks were eliminated during the semifinals.
After losing starter Evgeni Nabokov, who signed to play in the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia, Niemi joins fellow Finnish netminder Antero Niittymaki, who signed with the Sharks on July 1. The two should form a solid 1-2 punch for the Sharks, who have struggled with goaltending in the past.
"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."
Niemi, who was awarded $2.75 million in salary arbitration earlier in the summer, was surprisingly let go by the Chicago Blackhawks when they walked away from the decision. Chicago then quickly signed veteran goaltender Marty Turco to a one-year deal worth $1.3 million.
Niemi admitted he had had other offers, but is happy to be 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," he said. "They really wanted me there too. It wasn't too hard a decision after all."
Wilson liked what he saw in Niemi after he helped the Blackhawks sweep the Sharks during the Western Conference semifinals in last year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, admitting that Niemi’s performance in that series was “etched in his brain.”
"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."
Niemi took over as the Blackhawks No. 1 goalie midway through last season after outplaying Cristobal Huet. The 27 year-old goaltender finished the regular season with a 26-7-4 record, posting seven shutouts and a 2.25 goals-against average. Niemi went on to backstop the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup title, finishing the playoffs with a 16-6 record compiling two shutouts, a 2.63 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.
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