From ESPN Insider: Niemi may want a discounted deal to stay in Chicago

by Faustus1500 on Jul 16, 2010 7:15 AM CDT

Niemi deal discount?

Antti Niemi wants to avoid arbitration, and he wants to stay with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Chicago Tribune reports. Those two things might mean one thing: Niemi is willing to take a discounted deal.

There was some speculation Niemi could demand more than Jaroslav Halak, who got $3.75 million a year from the St. Louis Blues. But if that's the case, the Hawks will let this go to arbitration. And if the Hawks don't like the number, they could choose to let him go.

That would be a bad situation for Niemi because there aren't many teams looking for a goalie, much less a starter. So Niemi and his agent, Bill Zito, will likely work hard to get something done with the Hawks.

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That's good news

and it’s good to hear from “inside sources” that Zito realizes what most of us saw as the situation.
Can you please make these FanShots instead of FanPosts though? Thanks

Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!

by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 16, 2010 7:58 AM CDT reply actions

ESPN Insider

If it is an insider article then a fan post is right, because you have to pay for it. This way we can all read it as opposed to a shot which we could just read the headline.

by Delta0ne1 on Jul 16, 2010 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions

excellent point

since I dont want to pay to be an insider

FOR SALE: pair of shoes, red, size 32 1/2 wide. Please direct all bids to Joel Quenneville, Chicago Blackhawks. Clown horn sold seperately. Also for sale: 328 dogs+1 pistol (bargain price for Leafs fans!)

by BigCSouthside on Jul 16, 2010 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions

fanshot or comment

you could put this in a fanshot, just not as a link. There aren’t that many words, so it’d fit.

Ditto for CNS

by Hack on Jul 16, 2010 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm confused

I look at this and I see nothing but speculation by the orig. writer. Is there anything saying that Niemi or Zito is looking for a discounted deal? Because it looks to me like the writer is saying Niemi and Zito should look for a discounted deal.

by oregon_hawk on Jul 16, 2010 10:10 AM CDT reply actions

I actually listened the call on Mully and Hanley

The only way the original writer could say that there might be a discount is that when asked if Zito and Niemi were aware of the cap issues Zito responded, “Yes.” He also said his client wanted to stay in Chicago. Niemi may be the dullest interview, but I am certain he knows what is going on. Going to arbitration doesn’t seem like a good situation for Niemi. If the arbitrator rules, it Niemi’s favor and says he is worth a lot more than the Hawks are willing to pay the Hawks will let him walk. In all likelihood, no one is going to pay Niemi what the arbitrator ruled.

by Faustus1500 on Jul 16, 2010 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions

from the Tribune article

“Despite Niemi’s impressive showing during the Hawks’ drive to the Stanley Cup championship, Zito said he’d rather not leave it up to an arbitrator to make sure his client gets a nice raise from his salary of $827,000 last season.”

by Faustus1500 on Jul 16, 2010 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions

well, at least he's not a total dickhole shark

i’d be happy if we got him for 1.75 or less

by BigCSouthside on Jul 16, 2010 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd love to know what they're not agreeing on

Money or term?

nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain

by Johnny Lava on Jul 16, 2010 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Me too

But I’d also be amazed.

by oregon_hawk on Jul 16, 2010 11:15 AM CDT reply actions

reply fail

by oregon_hawk on Jul 16, 2010 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions

but

if he does want to stay in Chiago, he and Zito need to realize that $2 mill is about the max the Hawks CAN pay him this year on accounta the cap.

June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.

by cliffkoroll on Jul 16, 2010 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm assuming that a 2-year, $4 million deal is a $2m cap hit next year..

even if it’s structured 1.5m this coming season, and 2.5m in ‘11-’12, right?

If it’s possible, might the answer be lower money this year in exchange for Niemi getting UFA rights sooner? If he earns it, then it’s Stan’s decision to fit a big goalie deal under the cap next year, or pounce on a mid-priced alternative sooner in free-agency. And Niemi would then have a bigger market without the complication of draft pick compensation, assuming he’s confident in his abilities to “put up” next year.

by The Deputy Mayor of Rush Street on Jul 17, 2010 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions