There won’t be another goal keeper signed for over $4 mill this summer…..now that he is out of the mix.

One thing that has to be realized is Halak signed for 4 years…For the last two at least he would have been a UFA….not really comparable plus he has more NHL games.

Anderson and Quick are at $1.8 ..add in the Cup win and Niemi is about $2.5 mill is my guess.

If Niemi can get a 3 yr. deal instead of arbitration he might be wise to take it..at let’s say $8.5 mill or so..

What if Niemi is only awarded a $2.3 million 2 yr. contract…which would be about a $1.4 million raise???

I think there is only one team which might pay him $3 mill or more…the Flyers.

Before the arb ruling happens the Flyers may sign someone else with more experience….for about the same $2.5-$3.0 mill.

I am no expert on salary arbitration in the NHL. I would like to think that I have a handle on arbitration in MLB. Based on my experiences with MLB, this criterion would pretty much screw Niemi. With more established players like Marty Turco and Evgeni Nabokov still looking for a job, I don’t see how Niemi could get much more than $2 million per year.

Obviously, this depends on the individual prejudices and whims of the arbitrator. Also, MLB tends to overcompensate players based on past performance, not projected future performance. The NHL arbitration process seems much more “arbitrary” to me.

If the Jaroslav Halak reports are true, then this doesn’t bode well for the Hawks. In my mind, Niemi isn’t worth the $3.75 million/year Halak allegedly received (nor is Halak).

My gut tells me that arbitration may well result in Niemi playing outside the NHL next season.

The Hawks are ok imo basically because Niemi has only played in 42 NHL games…not a big sample.

Both sides probably have another month to arm wrestle with each other.

If I’m Niemi I might think twice about taking a chance on arbitration.

Halak unfortunantly isn’t a horrible comparison. Though I still don’t see him getting 3.75.

That all said, if it comes out that way, it becomes a cap decision. If Bowman has the space to grab him, he certainly will if only not to let him walk away and get something in a trade. (Was there a trade clause in arbitration like certain waiver claims – I’m actually not going to bother to look that up :)

The one thing about Bowman is he can be patient and not rush to make moves he doesnt have to. If there’s space for Niemi to sign, he’ll sign because it’s an asset he can potential move if he has to.

$2.8 million for 2 seasons

Or maybe the Hawks stretch to $3 mill for 3 yrs…but if I’m Bowman I wouldn’t go more because I think an arb. ruling would be for less.

BTW ESPNChicago is suggesting Niemi could get 3.75 because of Halak’s STL deal.

Do you think (a) that’s possible, and (b) if so, does Stan let Niemi walk?

The team can elect to go for 2 yrs…the Hawks would probabaly do so.

My guess is it is doubtful this goes to arbitration.

Niemi doesn’t have enough games in the NHL to validate higher comparables…

The Hawks seem to have the upper hand.

Take an aspirin or have a cocktail and read on if you must…

12.6. Walk-Away Rights.

(a) If a Club has elected to arbitrate a one year contract,
and the award issued is for $550,000 or more per annum, then the
Club may, within 72 hours after the award of the Arbitrator is
issued (or if a Club has any other player still eligible for
salary arbitration at that time and for whom a decision has not
been rendered by an Arbitrator at that time, and the Club still
has a walk-away right available to it in such League Year
pursuant to paragraph (d) below, 72 hours after the award of the
Arbitrator for such other player is issued), notify the player,
the NHLPA and the NHL in writing that it does not intend to
tender to the player a Player Contract based on the award as
determined by the Arbitrator. Upon receipt of that notice, the
player shall automatically be deemed to be an Unrestricted Free
Agent, subject to the provisions of paragraphs (c) and (d) below.

(b) If a Club has elected to arbitrate a two year contract
and the award issued is for $550,000 or more per annum, then the
Club may, within 72 hours after the award of the Arbitrator is
issued (or, if a Club has any other player still eligible for
salary arbitration at that time and for whom a decision has not
been rendered by an Arbitrator at that time, and the Club still
has a walk-away right available to it in such League Year
pursuant to paragraph (d) below, 72 hours after the award of the
Arbitrator for such other player is issued), notify the player,
the NHLPA and the NHL in writing that it does not intend to
tender to the player a two year Player Contract based on the
award as determined by the Arbitrator. Upon receipt of that
notice by either the player or the NHL, the player and the Club
shall enter into a one year Player Contract providing for the
Compensation set forth in the award and the player will
automatically be deemed to be an Unrestricted Free Agent at the
conclusion of that one year Player Contract subject to the
provisions of paragraphs (c) and (d) below.

(c) If a Club exercises its walk-away right, the following
applies:

(i) If the player accepts an offer from a
New Club in respect of that year of the contract which the Prior
Club has walked-away from that is less than 80% of the award for
such year, the Prior Club may, within seven (7) days after the
date it receives the applicable Offer Sheet, elect to match the
offer of the New Club and the Player and the Prior Club shall
enter into a Player Contract on those terms and conditions; or

(ii) The player may (A) within seven (7)
days after receipt of notice from the player’s Prior Club that
the Prior Club elects to walk-away from the arbitration award, in
respect of the Prior Club’s request for a one year contract, or
(B) by July 15 of the League Year following
the expiry of the first year of the award issued by the
Arbitrator where the Club had requested a two-year contract, in
either case by written notice to the Club, elect to enter into a
Player Contract with the Club on the terms and conditions set
forth in the Prior Club’s Qualifying Offer. If such election is
timely exercised, the Club must enter into such contract and, at
the end of the term thereof, the Player shall be a free agent
subject to the provisions of Article 10.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b)
above, a Club may exercise the walk-away rights referred to
therein not more than 3 times in any contiguous two League Years
and in any event not more than twice in any League Year. If a
Club exercises its walk-away right with respect to a two year
award, the walk-away right shall be deemed to be exercised in the
first year of the two year contract.

(e) The dollar amount of $550,000 set forth in each of
paragraphs (a) and (b) above, shall be increased on an annual
basis at the same percentage rate of increase as the Average
League Salary, with the commencement of the 1996/97 League Year
being the first year such increase shall take effect. By way of
example, if the Average League Salary on June 30, 1996 has
increased by 10% from the Average League Salary on June 30, 1995,
then the figure of $550,000 stated in paragraphs (a) and (b)
above, shall be increased by 10% on June 30, 1996, and the
ability of a Club to walk-away from an arbitration award rendered
after June 30, 1996, shall be adjusted accordingly. For each
League Year thereafter, a similar comparison and adjustment shall
be made.

If Shruew is around I am sure he is knee deep in the CBA by now…lol

The Hawks probably have more of an interest in signing him to a 3 yr deal…but if Niemi falters this season he will be hard pressed to get a $2.5-$3 mill dollar contract next summer…the door swings both ways.

Fortunately for the Hawks Niemi didn’t earn a big salary last season..even if an arbitrator gave him a huge raise of $2 mill he would still earn less than $3 mill.

My original thinking was $ 8.5 for 3 yrs…

If Niemi is a UFA after next season it would make sense for him to look at a one year deal and prove his worth unless Bowman offers him something substantial in cash and term. Big game of chicken going on I suspect. I like your comparables. 3 mil per seems a bit high to me. I agree with Dave.

If it goes to arbitration do the ‘hawks have the right to refuse and allow him to walk?

Arbitration in the NHL isn’t a science…

But maybe an arbitrator would award Niemi about $2.5 which would more be more than the two I mentioned…

Maybe he would consider Nimei being worth more money because of winning the Cup.

The big issue for the Hawks is if they can agree on a longer term than 1 year.

Out of curiosity, I looked up the criteria for NHL RFA’s and salary arbitration and found this on About.com:

—>

The evidence that can be used in arbitration cases:

•The player’s “overall performance” including statistics in all previous seasons.
•Injuries, illnesses and the number of games played.
•The player’s length of service with the team and in the NHL.
•The player’s “overall contribution” to the team’s success or failure.
•The player’s “special qualities of leadership or public appeal.”
•The performance and salary of any player alleged to be “comparable” to the player in the dispute.

Evidence that is not admissible:

•The salary and performance of a “comparable” player who signed a contract as an unrestricted free agent.
•Testimonials, video and media reports.
•The financial state of the team.
•The salary cap and the state of the team’s payroll.

—>

The above suggests that Zito would have to make a strong case for Niemi to receive an award in the $3Mil/per range, as Antti has only been in the NHL one season.

Re: Modano, apparently he was in contact with the Hawks some years ago when negotiations with Dallas were not going well.

If getting another chance to win a Cup is more important than money; and he is, as he says, ready to be a 3rd/4th line guy, Chicago can certainly use his tangible skills and his ‘intangibles’.