Niemi’s Arbitration Decision Expected On Saturday
Al Cimaglia | Jul 29, 2010 | Comments 13
In an early evening conference call Stan Bowman commented the arbitration ruling should be handed down on Saturday.
He indicated the Hawks have a strategy in place dependent upon the dollar amount of Niemi’s award. Bowman expects the team to compete once again for the Stanley Cup and is confident in the new additions. He fully expects his young core players to be even better in the new season.
Bowman mentioned there are many goal tending options and the club will explore them depending on the result of the arbitration. He stressed there are numerous scenarios as he has tried to plot many different courses of action.
Nothing earth shaking was said, as one member of the media who asked questions didn’t understand how NHL arbitration worked. So some of Bowman’s time was spent explaining the process.
Filed Under: Al Cimaglia • Chicago Blackhawks • Featured • Featured Rumors • NHL
Al, my instinct–for whatever that’s worth–tells me Stan has his backup plan in place.
Niemi could easily be awarded around $3MM by the arbitrator based on his Stanley Cup win, which is, after all, an exceptional achievement. Going back some forty years, only Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy have the won the Cup in the rookie seasons.
The Canadiens, who are reportedly having some issues coming to terms with Carey Price, can afford to pay Niemi that kind of money.
Bowman could pick up a good young player or draft pick in such a transaction, should he elect to go that route.
Al,
Just able to catch up with all the scuttlebutt today. Thanks for all the informative blogs. I’m confident in the route Stan is taking. Glad to have him as our navigator.
Work is still cut out, no matter what the outcome of the Niemi situation, in order to fill out the roster.
We have a guy capable of doing it.
The longer this has dragged on, the less certain I’ve become that Niemi remains a member of the Blackhawks.
Dave, I wonder if the Canadiens haven’t purposely dragged their heels re-signing Price until the Niemi drama played itself out.
Will either of you gentlemen be at the convention?
The Price saga is an interesting one…a head scratcher in a way.
The Habs traded Halak without having an agreement in place with Price.
Price is seeking less money than Niemi…rumor has it…
I will be at the Convention on Friday night.
Al, it would be great to meet you. My wife and I will be there.
HFD>as I am not in Chicago, I will not be at the Convention…BTW Al has great stories about his experiences with the Blackhawks.
I really am curious to see how this all shakes out.
@Al> Turco’s lineage is Italian aristocracy…that would play well in Chicago, no?
Link here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turco_(family)
lol…As long as he can still stop the puck.
It didn’t hurt Tony O.
If you can…When you arrive email at blackhawkswin@comcast.net…and I will try to meet you.
Will do, Al. E-mail will come from davekfitness@gmail.com.
vg
Well I’m surprised it went to arbitration so I guess the award will surprise me too which doesn’t bode well for the Hawks.
Logically I don’t see how the arb salary can be greater than Halak’s first year which is 2.75 but arb generally seems to favour the player so Niemi will likely end up with 3 – 3.5 which will spell curtains for him as a Hawk.
I hope I’m wrong.
What’s your sense Al of how high the award would have to be for the Hawks to walk away or do you think they’ll accept whatever then trade if it’s too high?
This is a really sketchy situation because he is an inexperienced Cup winning goalie.
I think the bottom will be Quick’s contract.
The award could come in between Quick and Rinne.
Not surprised it went to arbitration but it does show the Hawks are comfortable with the possibility of loosing him.
I will have a little something later.
Bill Zito was on AM670 this morning and really didn’t add much one way or another.
He did note that the arbitrator could ask for an extension so the ruling may not come Saturday.
Also confirmed that Niemi could be traded if the Hawks accept the arbitration (he said Niemi could even be traded now).
Although realistically.. Why would another team take a chance on a trade before the ruling?