Niemi Close to Signing in San Jose

The Sharks are close to landing former Blackhawks goaltender Antti Niemi, as reports are surfacing that the Finnish keeper has already signed a one year deal somewhere in the $2 million range.

“Stanley Cup-winning goalie Antti Niemi is reportedly set to sign a one-year contract with the San Jose Sharks as early as Thursday according to ESPN Chicago and multiple other internet reports. The contract will pay Niemi $2 million for the 2010-11 season.

Niemi was awarded a one-year contract worth $2.75 million through arbitration last month, but the Chicago Blackhawks chose to walk away and let him become an unrestricted free agent. San Jose has been rumored as a likely destination for Niemi ever since the Hawks chose not to accept the arbitrator’s contract award on Aug. 2.

The Sharks were planning to enter the season with Antero Niittymaki and Thomas Greiss as their goalie tandem, but Niemi’s presence will push Greiss to third on the depth chart and create competition with Niittymaki for the No. 1 job.

Niemi went 26-7-4 in the regular season and posted 16 wins, including two shutouts, plus a 2.63 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in the playoffs.” {NHL.com}

It’s something of a confusing move by Doug Wilson, as he’s just signed Antero Niittymaki, and essentially declared the starting job open to either Niittymaki and youngster Tomas Greiss. Some Sharks fans are a bit irked by this potential deal, as most feel like the team really needed a solid defenseman rather than another goaltender, but Wilson could have a trade on the way involving Greiss. We’ll likely know more tomorrow, as Nick Kypreos from Sportsnet claimed that Niemi would sign ‘as early as tomorrow’. More details as they emerge.

Check Out These Hot Stories On The Web