Blackhawks walk away from Niemi; sign Turco to one-year deal

[rbochan]

"The Chicago Blackhawks have walked away from the $2.75 million contract that was awarded to Antti Niemi in arbitration, which makes the Stanley Cup-winning goalie an unrestricted free agent..." (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=329318)

[RockStar36]

I would be livid if I were a Blackhawks fan.

[CuseJetsFan83]

all part of there scheme to kill the payroll...... not surprised but damn whats next...... trading toews or kane?

[JD]

WOW

[CuseJetsFan83]

you know....... part of me says go after niemi....... just to make miller and niemi work........ both striving to be 1st in pecking order.... would be great on paper, but would piss off whomever loses the competition

[Nighthawk]

I would be livid if I were a Blackhawks fan.

I agree, but the Stanley Cup would help me get over it!

[THATHURMANATOR]

you know....... part of me says go after niemi....... just to make miller and niemi work........ both striving to be 1st in pecking order.... would be great on paper, but would piss off whomever loses the competition
This would make zero sense. We have the Vezina winning goalie. Why would Niemi sign to a team where he would play like 10 games a year.

[CuseJetsFan83]

This would make zero sense. We have the Vezina winning goalie. Why would Niemi sign to a team where he would play like 10 games a year.

it's the intent that you would have 2 goalies capable of playing a full season, like i said on paper it would be great but the loser would probably play piss poor

i do not see niemi being a UFA for long

[Ebenezer]

The Hawks had to walk away with no choice; the award put them over the cap.

[SabreEleven]

Niemi could be just a flash in the pan...he could have been just hot at the right time and suck next year just like Cam Ward.

[CuseJetsFan83]

Niemi could be just a flash in the pan...he could have been just hot at the right time and suck next year just like Cam Ward.

true but that might be a better option than what is here as a backup

[RockStar36]

The Hawks had to walk away with no choice; the award put them over the cap.

No they didn't. They could've signed Niemi, gone over the cap, and then cut more payroll elsewhere to get back under.

Take a look at Boston.

[OpIv37]

I agree, but the Stanley Cup would help me get over it!

and that's the key right here. The way to win in the age of the salary cap: draft and develop as much talent as possible, then once you are close, go for broke to bring in guys who can fill in the holes. The most likely result is a year or two of cap jail, but that's worth it for a Cup (or a Super Bowl ring in the other sport with which we torture ourselves).

[Ebenezer]

No they didn't. They could've signed Niemi, gone over the cap, and then cut more payroll elsewhere to get back under.

Take a look at Boston.
No, of course they didn't....but they chose to so that they didn't have to cut others.

[YardRat]

you know....... part of me says go after niemi....... just to make miller and niemi work........ both striving to be 1st in pecking order.... would be great on paper, but would piss off whomever loses the competition

There would be no competition, and Niemi would be the loser.