The Hawks cast off another of their Stanley Cup pieces due to financial troubles. In arbitration the Stanley Cup champion was award over $2M, the Hawks hardly have the cap to support that deal. The concensus thought was that the Hawks would take one out of the NBA's offseason drama and pull a "sign and trade" deal. Today Eklund broke news that the Hawks were walking away from Niemi and signing UFA goaltender Marty Turco.
All of this leaves Antti Niemi as a Unrestricted Free Agent. The 27 year old goalie is coming off of a great post season run to Lord Stanley's Cup. After arbitration awarded Niemi with a one year $2.75M contract his agent and him will most likely look for a longer term deal with higher pay.
Niemi was looked at as an almost untouchable on a Hawks team being ravished by financial struggles. However the Hawks saw Marty Turco as a more cost effiecient netminder in Chicago high price goalie situation.
If the 'sing and trade' deal went through not many saw the Flyers on the receiving end due to their lack of draft picks. But now with Niemi free of a restrictions he can be signed with no reprecussions. The Flyers are tight on the cap but could still take advantage of the undoubtly mad goaltender.
After leading the Hawks to hockey's goldenland this spring Niemi has to be a little mad for their lack of need for him. Niemi will be looking to prove the Hawks and critics wrong this season. What's a better way to do that then to sign with the most improved team this offseason in the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Flyers have maybe the best defensive corps in the NHL right now, with their top 6 defensemen capable of playing against a top line. The finnish netminder's contract preferences may be the only problem however, as Niemi will want a high pay. If the old saying is true, "A goalie is only as good as the defense in front of him" then Niemi could be the best in the league when all is said and done.
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