Sharks sign Antti Niemi

[playmaker7]

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The San Jose Sharks have signed the goalie who helped knock them out of the playoffs, agreeing to a one-year, $2 million deal with Antti Niemi.

The team announced the deal Thursday.

Niemi stopped 129 of 136 shots in the Western Conference finals to help the Chicago Blackhawks sweep the Sharks. The Blackhawks went on to win the Stanley Cup behind Niemi, but cut ties with the goalie because of salary-cap concerns.

Niemi, 27, played all but one period of the Blackhawks' postseason run, going 16-6 with a 2.63 goals-against average, .910 save percentage and two shutouts.

"Antti's play last season speaks for itself," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said in a statement. "Our goal this summer was to create the best goaltending unit we could and we feel we have successfully done that."

Last season, Niemi was 26-7-4, had a 2.25 GAA -- fourth-best in the league -- and seven shutouts (third-best in the league).

He was awarded a $2.75 million salary in arbitration. The Blackhawks, strained by the salary cap, chose to let him go and signed former Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco.

Sharks win this

 

[snipezo]

So Nittymaki's gonna be the back up then?

 

[Gtown81]

Wilson is the best GM in the league