Posts Tagged Antti Niemi

Garrioch Rumors Update .. The Cost of Shot-Blocking, Stay-at-Dman is in $4 Million Range … Summit Series Anniversary Matchup?

Posted by Mark in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on March 14th, 2010

  • Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun:
    • With Antti Niemi taking over the starting job from Cristobal Huet, and with a raise he’ll be getting this off-season, the ‘Hawks may bury Huet and his $5.625 in minors or buy him out.
    • The price for shot-blocking stay-at-home bluelines, Zbynek Michalek (Pho.), and Anton Volchenkov (Ott) could be in the $4-4.5 million range. Michalek will most likely have out priced himself in Phoenix. Volchenkov and the Senators are hoping to work something out.
    • The Ducks asked Teemu Selanne if he wanted to go anywhere at the trade deadline, he wanted to say. The Kings called about him.
    • After July 1st, the Bruins can talk to Zdeno Chara about a contract extension. He’ll be a UFA in 2011, and currently carries a $7.5 cap hit.
    • Sheldon Souray’s no-movement clause expires on July 1st, and Oilers will work hard to move him. He’d prefer the west coast to be closer to his family. The New York Rangers will most likely make a pitch.
    • The Canadiens didn’t want to move Jaroslav Halak at the deadline but may look deal him before the NHL Draft.
    • Contract talks between the Penguins and Sergei Gonchar are not going well. He could hit the open market and get in the $6-7 million range, the Pens were hoping for a hometown discount.
    • Jaromir Jagr is still a possibility for the Oilers next year, and the Rangers would like to get him back …. “But some believe it’s a risky move. “I just don’t know about Jagr. I understand why (the Oilers) want to make the move, I’m just not sure they should do it. I’m not sure if there is any gas left in that tank,” said one league executive”
  • Pierre LeBrun of the ESPN: The Russians have talked to Hockey Canada about a 2012 Summit Series, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the ‘72 event. LeBrun thinks the Canada and USA should do the same. Signs are pointing to the Canadiens resigning Tomas Plekanec, but they would probably have to move out some salary to make it happen.
  • Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun: Brian Burke said in a radio interview the other day that he expects Tomas Kaberle to remain a Maple Leaf next season, and coach Ron Wilson hopes he’s back as well. If Burke gets a really good offer for Kaberle, he might end up pulling the trigger.
  • Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer: Manny Legace has played really well of late for the Carolina Hurricanes, but it still may not be good enough to earn a new contract from the ‘Canes. Carolina may go with the 23 year old Justin Peters as Cam Ward’s backup next year, instead of the 37 year old Legace. But Legace thinks some team will come calling for next year.

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    Rumors from the Pacific … Hawks-Panthers Talking? Interest in Kozlov

    Posted by Mark in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on February 23rd, 2010

  • E.J. Hradek and Puck Prospectus of ESPN:
    • Doug Wilson and the Sharks would like to add some secondary scoring and a puck moving Dman. It would have to be a rental player, as Patrick Marleau and Evgeni Nabokov need to be re-signed. The Sharks may also look at adding a backup goalie with some experience.
    • The LA Kings are looking to add a scoring winger and will look at Ray Whitney, Freddie Modin, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Paul Kariya, and Raffi Torres. They may also look at a goaltender with experience.
    • The Phoenix Coyotes might be one team that is looking to add players that won’t be UFAs after the season. Peter Mueller has been rumored all season to be on the outs. Andrew Brunette of the Wild might be a good fit with the Yotes.
    • The Anaheim Ducks have UFA’s Scott Niedermayer, Teemu Selanne, and Saku Koivu that will draw some interest. Bob Murray has said that Niedermayer isn’t going anywhere. James Wisniewski’s name has been mentioned with the Blackhawks (for Cam Barker before he was dealt).
    • Dallas Stars need an upgrade on the blueline. They won’t be bringing in any big contracts. Marty Turco is the most likely player to be moved. Mike Ribeiro, Stephane Robidas, Fabian Brunnstrom and Steve Ott, could find themselves playing in a different city after the deadline.
  • Harry Teinowitz on ESPN Radio: I don’t know how reliable this guy is, but he mentioned on Monday of a trade rumor between the Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers. The Hawks would send Cristobal Huet, Corey Crawford, and Kris Versteeg to the Panthers for Tomas Vokoun and an defenseman (maybe either Dennis Seidenberg or Jordan Leopold).
  • TheFourthPeriod: The Kings, Bruins, and Red Wings are rumored to have an interest in Slava Kozlov. UFA’s for the Atlanta Thrashers that could be moved are: Kozlov, Colby Armstrong, Jim Slater, Maxim Afinogenov, Eric Boulton, Pavel Kubina, Christoph Schubert, Mark Popovic and Johan Hedberg. Kozlov, Kubina, and Armstrong should draw the most interest.
  • Jeremy Roenick on ESPNChicago: Roenick is putting his hand in the rumor mill, saying that Jaroslav Halak wants out of Montreal, and he’d be better suited to lead Chicago to the Cup than Antti Niemi and/or Cristobal Huet. Vokoun would be a perfect fit in Chicago.

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    More Trades Coming for Lou? Teams interested in Turco, Niedermayer

    Posted by Mark in NHL Rumors on February 17th, 2010

  • Mark Everson of the NY Post: It appears New Jersey Devils GM, Lou Lamoriello, isn’t done dealing. Rumors are floating around that he’s trying to acquire another centerman. He talked to Hurricanes about Matt Cullen and the Maple Leafs about Matt Stajan. Though not a center, there is speculation that the Devils might be interested in Alexei Ponikarovsky.
  • Rich Chere of the Star-Ledger: Lamoriello will also look at adding another defenseman, maybe Scott Niedermayer.
  • Tim Sassone of the Daily Herald:
    • There is still plenty of speculation in Chicago that the Blackhawks are unsure of their goaltending situation. Antti Niemi has started 4 consectuative games, and is most likely their #1 goalie. Does management think a Marty Turco would be an upgrade over Niemi? They’d also have to look at what it would cost to acquire Turco, a 1st and a prospect?
    • If the Anaheim Ducks and Scott Niedermayer decide to move on, the Blackhawks, Canucks, and Devils would be interested.
    • Are the Capitals unsure of their goaltending situation, and make a run at Marty Turco.
    • Big names in Florida that may be available; Tomas Vokoun, Nathan Horton, David Booth, Dennis Seidenberg, and Jordan Leopold.
  • Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: 3 goalies, 2 spots … What will Dallas do? If the Dallas Stars think Marty Turco has played well enough recently and is their best shot to make the playoffs, they may look at trading Alex Auld or sending him to the AHL. They could also trade Turco, which has been rumored for months, but in Heika’s opinion, they’d need to receive more than a 2nd round pick.

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    Vokoun to Waive No-Trade? Torres Getting Some Interest … Chicago Goalies get Vote of Confidence

    Posted by Mark in NHL News, NHL Rumors on February 13th, 2010

  • Steve Gorten of the Sun Sentinel: Tomas Vokoun has said he might consider waiving his no-trade clause if the sitution is right.
  • James Murphy of NESN: Blue Jackets LWer, Raffi Torres, is drawing interest from the Bruins and Penguins.
  • Tim Sassone of the Daily Herald: Blackhawks GM, Stan Bowman, has given his goalies, Antti Niemi and Cristobal Huet, another vote of convidence. “I understand why people are talking about goaltending, but we have the best goals-against average in the league,” Bowman said. “We just don’t give up many goals.”
  • Kevin Baxter of the LA Times: Kings GM, Dean Lombardi, is done trading veterans for draft picks. He could use another servicable defenseman. “There aren’t too many sellers,” Lombardi said.
  • Michael Russo and Brian Stensaas of the Star-Tribune: The Wild and Marek Zidlicky are talking contract extension. So far, the stumbling block is the term length for the 33 year old defenseman.
  • Chip Alexander of Raleigh News & Observer: The Hurricanes have moved out Matt Cullen and Niclas Wallin so for. Next up are Ray Whitney, Aaron Ward, and Joe Corvo.

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    Around the Boards: Scouts watching Ducks, Antti Niemi getting more games, ‘Hitch’ safe for now, OV returns

    Posted by Mark in NHL News, NHL Rumors on December 7th, 2009

  • The Orange County Register: The Anaheim Ducks have lost 5 consecutive games, and only won 4 of their last 14 games. They find themselves close to the bottom of the league standings. Is it time to make changes? Scouts from 10 teams were at last nights game.
  • Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune: Chicago Blackhawks’ backup goalie, Antti Niemi, has played well of late and may find himself getting more starts in net.
  • Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: Despite going 1-5-3 in their last 9 games, GM Scott Howson has said that Ken Hitchcock’s job is safe. “Hitch is safe,” Howson said. “To suggest otherwise is just ludicrous. It has not even entered anybody’s mind. It’s not something we’d even consider.”
  • Alexander Ovechkin returns from his 2 game suspension tonight.
  • Slick Nik Antropov and Pavol Kubina return to Toronto tonight as the Thrashers face the Leafs.

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    Frustration in Fantasy Hockey

    Posted by Mark in NHL News on October 12th, 2009

    There are 2 things in fantasy hockey pools that can be so frustrating, injuries and shutouts. Long term injuries to key players, especially early on in the season, can be really frustrating.

    In the 1st week and half fantasy players have seen Andre Markov and Johan Franzen go on the shelf for up to 4 months. If you have both, you’re season may be over before it really got started.

    If you’ve done a ‘pick from a box’ type of pool and had one of them, your odds of winning have dramatically dropped. Any type of long term injuries in one of those pools where you can’t interchange players, I wish you luck.

    The latest player to be out, albeit for not as long Markov and Franzen, is Daniel Sedin of the Canucks, who’s gone for 4-6 weeks with a broken left foot.  Though he may be back in a month or so, it may take a little longer for him to get going after recovering from a broken foot.

    Getting back to why shutouts can be really frustrating. After seeing one of your players get seriously injured, having a backup goalie get a shutout while you have that teams starter, has to be the next most annoying thing in fantasy hockey. It’s not as bad for teams that have goalies that split time (which seems like plenty of NHL teams are doing so far), but when you goalie usually gets 60-70 starts in a season, it makes you want to throw you computer mouse across the room. Stephen Valiquette was the last goalie to do this, with a 3-0 shutout last night. Antti Niemi of the ‘Hawks and Mathieu Garon have also recorded shutouts. In all 3 cases, the teams #1 starter has yet to record a shutout.

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