What Happens If Niemi Is Awarded A High Dollar Award?

from Scott Burnside of ESPN, Within 48 hours, an arbitrator, who heard evidence from the Blackhawks and netminder Antti Niemi?s agent Thursday morning, will deliver a decision on just how much a Stanley Cup-winning goaltender is worth. If the arbitrator decides Niemi?s worth much more than $3 million a year, Bowman may have no choice but to walk away from the decision, making Niemi an unrestricted free agent shortly before his 27th birthday. The Blackhawks, already over the salary cap and facing a huge salary crunch before the start of training camp, will have 48 hours after the arbitrator?s decision to make up their minds. There are rumors the ?Hawks will accept the decision and then try and trade Niemi so they don?t end up losing a top asset without getting anything back in return. But the marketplace for goaltenders is soft to begin with, and any team dealing with the Blackhawks, let?s say Philadelphia or San Jose or Washington, all Cup contending teams that could use goaltending depth, will know they?ve got the team over a barrel and will be offering little in return. read on

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  • Report- Antti Niemi Awarded $2.75M

    • via Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune at Chicago Breaking Sports, According to multiple reports Saturday, an arbitrator has awarded Blackhawks goaltender Antti Niemi $2.75 million for next season. That figure appears low enough that the Hawks could work under the NHL?s salary cap to retain the netminder or there is still a possibility general manager Stan Bowman could trade him. The Hawks have 48 hours to decide whether to accept the award or walk away from it, allowing Niemi to bec

  • Niemi Talks Blackhawks

    • from David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune, In another 15 years, I wonder if the image of Niemi making saves still will be recognizable in the memories of Blackhawks fans. Or if, by then, Niemi will be a mere answer to a trivia question asking who was the goaltender the first time the Hawks won the Cup this century. If you still have a hard time accepting the salary-cap machinations two weeks ago that resulted in Niemi becoming an ex-Blackhawk, you?re not the only one. ?I thought it w

  • Chicago May Be Losing Their Stanley Cup Goalie

    • from Tim Sassone of the Chicago Daily-Herald, It doesn?t look good as far as the Blackhawks keeping goalie Antti Niemi. Niemi?s arbitration award will be announced today and multiple sources believe the number will end up well past $3 million, perhaps close to $4 million, which the Hawks couldn?t fit under the salary cap the way the roster stands today. ?I think he?s gone,? one of Niemi?s Hawks teammates said Friday before the start of the team?s third annual convention at the Hilt

  • Wheeler Gets $2.2M In Arbitration

    • via Fluto Shinzawa of Bruins Blog at the Boston Globe, Blake Wheeler has been awarded a one-year, $2.2 million arbitration award. The decision was made today following Wheeler?s arbitration hearing on Tuesday in Toronto. Wheeler has yet to sign a contract for the award, but that is considered a formality.

  • Sharp Staying In Chicago

    • from Tim Sassone of Between The Circles, ...Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said on Monday that Patrick Sharp wouldn?t be traded, it doesn?t mean goalie Antti Niemi is as good as gone. Bowman continues to negotiate with Niemi?s agent, Bill Zito, on a contract for the restricted free agent who is scheduled to go to arbitration on July 29. It?s believed both said are trying to come up with a creative solution that will keep Niemi in Chicago and allow the Hawks to stay under the sal



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