I've liked Niemi since it was first rumored we were going after him last summer. 3.5 would have been a perfect signing, but 3.8 isn't that bad, considering that half way through the contract it can look like an absolute steal.
It definitely means the end for Nitty though. No chance the Sharks carry around a 2 million backup while paying Niemi 3.8.
Feels like only yesterday we would adjust our SNOGs to more goals for the other team if Niemi was starting instead of Niittymaki. Sun rise, sun set...
I wonder why DW didnt trade Nitty before the deadline?
Because we needed the backup, Niemi's still making 2 mil this year, and really who's going to want to trade for a guy with groin problems going into the gauntlet this time of year? Sharks still need him right now.
I think another year in the AHL would do Stalock some good; no need to rush him up with Niemi locked in as #1, and you might as well let him play and continue to develop instead of opening doors all year. There are quite a few capable UFA goaltenders that probably won't latch on anywhere except as backups and will probably be cheap - Smith, Budaj, Conklin,and Garon spring to mind. There's also the very real possibility that there will be no takers for Niittymaki and that he'll be here again next year - which, honestly, I don't even think I'd mind that much, assuming there's enough cap space to make it all work.
I think another year in the AHL would do Stalock some good; no need to rush him up with Niemi locked in as #1, and you might as well let him play and continue to develop instead of opening doors all year. There are quite a few capable UFA goaltenders that probably won't latch on anywhere except as backups and will probably be cheap - Smith, Budaj, Conklin,and Garon spring to mind. There's also the very real possibility that there will be no takers for Niittymaki and that he'll be here again next year - which, honestly, I don't even think I'd mind that much, assuming there's enough cap space to make it all work.
"Antti gets all the credit for this contract," Wilson said. "He stepped up and gave us a deal that allows us to keep this group going forward. He had a choice, but he wanted to be here."
I like it
__________________
History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme.
bummer.......I guess this means Greiss has no return spot...
does this mean Nitty will go??
Greiss is probably gonna end up UFA and could go anywhere he wants. That said, given Stalock's injury and I hope trading/waiving/loaning Nitty, I wouldn't mind Greiss coming back to back up Niemi. My guess is, however, that he'd only do that if nobody else in the NHL will give him a chance to be a #1.
__________________
2011: Outcoached by Vigneault. 2012: Outcoached all season and postseason by Hitch.
2013: Outcoached by most coaches in the NHL. Who's left? 12 year olds on Xbox Live? SACK T-MAC NOW
DW has had a very good year, he's climbing back up the mountain after tumbling down it prior years.
The only really dumb move was Wallin, which we can chalk up to a promise he made the prior year (So last year's mistake, not this years).
Brought in Mayers = Fine, he's nothing special, but he's better than Shelley at playing hockey. Sucks at fighting though, but whatever.
Gave Demers a shot = Smart. He didn't overpay a UFA and instead bet on Demers continued improvement this season. He has, and he's been good.
Brought in Niittymaki = Good. Niitty held us up at the beginning of the season. He also created competition for Niemi which is always good. He's played up to expectations, just injuries have hampered him.
Brought in Niemi = Brilliant. Rough start, most of us though it was a dumb move, but he's been putting on quite the show the last few months.
Brought in Eager = Good. Only cost us a 5th and he's really shored up the bottom lines with his tenacity and moments of brilliance.
Brought in Wellwood = So far so good. I was against getting him, but it's not like he gave up anything to get him anyway. He's played extremely well and he still doesn't look like he's 100% back on his game. If he performs in the playoffs like he has in previous years, this will be a brilliant move.
Brought in White = Good. We gave up only a 2nd in 2012 (of which we have two of anyway) and a prospect that the org had given up on and was bound for the waiver wire regardless (and likely claimed). We got exactly what we needed. As perfect as deadline acquisition as you could ask for. Taking a page from Detroit getting Stuart prior to their cup run maybe?
Re-signing Niemi = Great. He almost single-handedly dragged the Shark's out of their slump. He's been an absolute rock for two months now, is better than he was last year when he won the cup, and he obviously likes it here. On top of that, the Sharks really needed a long-term goal tending solution and they have it. They will not need to ask whether their goaltending can do the job for the next 4 years.
I really cannot criticize any of his moves this season too much. All that and we still have all of our picks this season except our 5th. DW might have learned his lesson. Let's hope.
The cap hit is a tad bit higher than I like, but that's mainly because of how close we've been to the cap in the past couple seasons. I honestly really like this contract. Stability in net for the next 4 years at a fair price.
Look at the background for the signing. The top UFA goalies besides Niemi are Giggy, Vokoun and Bryz. Giggy and Vokoun are older and high risk for a long contract with potential injuries because of age. Bryz is more proven than Niemi. With the injuries to Stalock and Nitty, DW was in a spot where he could easily be hung out to dry with only one real candidate besides Niemi.
$4mil was the tail end of the Halak contract which is UFA years. I figured that without significant hardware (Conn Smythe, Calder, Vezina) on the resume $4mil was the top end for a UFA goalie. GMs have learned that the guys who are a little short of hardware are not in a class for the >$6mil contracts. 4 years is not high risk as Niemi has no significant injury history and will only hit the 31-32 age range at the expiration of the contract. Remember the Finnish study on the average age (31-32) of deterioration of hip/groin for goalies.
Look at the background for the signing. The top UFA goalies besides Niemi are Giggy, Vokoun and Bryz. Giggy and Vokoun are older and high risk for a long contract with potential injuries because of age. Bryz is more proven than Niemi. With the injuries to Stalock and Nitty, DW was in a spot where he could easily be hung out to dry with only one real candidate besides Niemi.
$4mil was the tail end of the Halak contract which is UFA years. I figured that without significant hardware (Conn Smythe, Calder, Vezina) on the resume $4mil was the top end for a UFA goalie. GMs have learned that the guys who are a little short of hardware are not in a class for the >$6mil contracts. 4 years is not high risk as Niemi has no significant injury history and will only hit the 31-32 age range at the expiration of the contract. Remember the Finnish study on the average age (31-32) of deterioration of hip/groin for goalies.
i definitely like this signing, and 3.8 cap hit for a #1 goalie is a bargin IMO. I am a bit shocked at the length, considering Doug's MO is 3 years max, but i am definitely excited to see how Nemo continues to develop under the goalie coaches (who he seems to like alot).
I love how the guy puts together a contender for five straight years and still had a "lesson" to be learned. I love you hockeyball
Well, cmon now, he's done some pretty dumb crap in previous years. Mostly referring to poor needs analysis and trading away our draft picks for rentals. He really does seem to have changed his priorities this season, and that's great.
This is the first season of his tenure I think i can say he hasn't done one stupid thing (if you discount the Wallin thing as last years mistake). Maybe he's just been lucky this season, but I'd rather believe he's getting better at GM'ing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Led Zappa
Really
Especially since all the moves he made in the prior years were clearly leading to the gloom and doom of the team.
Many certainly were negative moves that hurt the teams depth and prospects. He's managed to somewhat negate that with some good trades and luck with a few unexpected prospects (Demers, Braun, Ferriero, etc). He's also done a great job of pulling undrafted prospects into the system to fill in for a lack of draft picks.
If we win a cup in the next year or two, that's all that matters. I'll be very happy to be wrong about him.
bummer.......I guess this means Greiss has no return spot...
does this mean Nitty will go??
Greiss wasn't likely coming back anyway. He won't get the handful more NHL GP he needs for the Sharks to retain his RFA rights, so he'll end up being a group VI UFA this off-season and if I were him I wouldn't want to come back to an org that clearly wanted to explore other options to the point of sending me to Sweden.
__________________ "Do you know what "nemesis" means? A righteous infliction of retribution manifested by an appropriate agent." '13 Shark CI Tracker: 48 gms, 19-23-6 (SJ-Opponent-National/Market feed)19 SJ feeds in HD Sorry, I am not taking signature requests at this time.
i definitely like this signing, and 3.8 cap hit for a #1 goalie is a bargin IMO. I am a bit shocked at the length, considering Doug's MO is 3 years max, but i am definitely excited to see how Nemo continues to develop under the goalie coaches (who he seems to like alot).
