Niemi's arbitration is today

[leaffan]

Hawks confirm they are walking away from Antti's Niemi's arbitration award and have signed Marty Turco to a one-year contract.

lolwut

[Rush]

http://www.chicitysports.com/2010/08/02/blackhawks-sign-goaltender-marty-turko-to-1-year-deal-niemi-leaves-arbitration/

'tis true.

[The Buddha]

Dont agree with the move, but I'm not going to bash it.


Turco should do alright playing behind the Hawks D, but I liked the potential of having Niemi for years and years.

[leaffan]

Sounds like huet is pretty much a goner at this point. The hawks are willing to pay some of his salary if he heads over to Europe. Cory Crawford is most likely going to be their backup to Turco.

I find it hilarious how a high priced contract can make you an unmovable commodity like this.

Also with these moves the hawks now have roughly 3mil to spend on 5 players.

[leaffan]

The oilers and sharks are said to be the most interested teams in picking him up.

Oilers would have to trade a goalie away though to make room.

[killgod]

hope the Sharks do land him at 5.5 over 2, having both nittymaki and niemi at 2M less than Nabokov and Griess works fine for me.

The move would leave us still 1.5M clear of the cap and only needing to add one more forward and healthy scratches.

This would be ideal, would give Doug Wilson the option to deal one at the Trade Deadline for something, or to keep them both and ride the hot hand...then deal one in the offseason and go with whoever appears ready to give another 2-3 years of good play.