DAILY RUMORS: Dismissing Blackhawks Possibly Signing & Trading Niemi Upon A Large Arbitration Reward
BDGallof | Jul 26, 2010 | Comments 1
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The Chicago Blackhawks continuing salary cap woes remain of considerable interest amongst NHL followers, leading to plenty of speculation as to what moves they’ll make next to get under next season’s $59.4 million cap.
GM Stan Bowman assured forward Patrick Sharp, the subject of innumerable trade rumors, he wouldn’t be dealt, and while it’s believed Bowman would love to rid himself of the remaining six years (at $7.145 million per) of defenseman Brian Campbell’s contract he’s unlikely to find any takers for that bloated deal.
The Bleacher Report offered up the following as a possible measure: trading goaltender Antti Niemi.
“Niemi has an arbitration hearing coming up and it is expected they will reward Niemi around $4 milion per year, the Blackhawks could then match the offer and keep him or let him go to free agency. This should be something to watch in the next few weeks.”
Unquestionably Bowman wants to keep Niemi but sadly they cannot afford to give him a huge raise. If it’s over $3 million they certainly won’t be able to retain him short of dumping more salary off an already considerably weakened roster.
That being said, it makes absolutely no sense for Bowman to accept an expensive arbitration award for Niemi and then struggle to find a trade partner – who’d likely attempt to put the squeeze on Bowman by trying to force him to toss in a promising young prospect or a first round pick – when they can quite simply walk away from the arbiter’s decision.
Niemi then becomes an unrestricted free agent, and Bowman can then attempt to land a more affordable veteran option, like perhaps Marty Turco or Jose Theodore, both of whom are available and would probably be receptive to a one-year offer of between $2-$2.5 million.
All without having to part with any of the likely additional assets trading Niemi would require.
Lyle Richardson
SpectorsHockey.net
twitter.com/spectorshockey
Filed Under: Chicago Blackhawks • Featured • Featured Rumors • Lyle Richardson • NHL
Assigning a number to a hypothetical Niemi arbitration award seems intellectually dishonest. There has never been a rookie European goaltender with less than 40 regular season games played (less than 36 started), who also won a Stanley Cup, enter arbitration after his first year. Unless you know the arbitrator personally, there is zero basis for assigning a number.
Dion Phaneuf has a $6.5 million cap hit per year. Who would you rather have, Phaneuf or Campbell? Campbell’s deal is a little high, but I wouldn’t call it “bloated.”
This doesn’t change the Hawks’ cap woes, but it might be helpful to address them realistically. Save the hyperbole for the talking heads on Canadian television.