SJ Sharks sign Niemi!!

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=332405

1x$2M

What's funny to me was Wilson saying last week that "We're very pleased with our goaltending."

Guess he was wrong.

That is a huge signing... balance of power definitely tipping in SJ favour now.

Think of it as an excellent insurance policy. A Nittymaki/Niemi tandem is something the sharks will be very comfortable with. What happens to Greiss now?

Dash wrote:That is a huge signing... balance of power definitely tipping in SJ favour now.

Now...about that defence of theirs. Niemi was excellent for the Hawks, but he also had one of the best D units in the entire league in Keith, Seabrook, Campbell, Hjarlmasson, Sopel (who blocked a ton in the playoffs) and Boynton. The Sharks boast Boyle, Vlasic, Murray, Huskins, Demers, Joslin, Wallin?

FAR cry from being even a good defence, that's a very average to below average core.

Wow! What a deal they got too. Nuttiness!

SensGirl11 wrote:Wow! What a deal they got too. Nuttiness!

Yeah, good thing he went to an arbitrator....so he could end up signing for less money anyways.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Dash wrote:That is a huge signing... balance of power definitely tipping in SJ favour now.

Now...about that defence of theirs. Niemi was excellent for the Hawks, but he also had one of the best D units in the entire league in Keith, Seabrook, Campbell, Hjarlmasson, Sopel (who blocked a ton in the playoffs) and Boynton. The Sharks boast Boyle, Vlasic, Murray, Huskins, Demers, Joslin, Wallin?

FAR cry from being even a good defence, that's a very average to below average core.

You mean relative to CHicago's D? Sharks D was pretty good last season. They lost Rob Blake who ate pretty big minutes, so I expect them to be a bit worse this season. And yeah having Nabokov helped too

Michallica wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Dash wrote:That is a huge signing... balance of power definitely tipping in SJ favour now.

Now...about that defence of theirs. Niemi was excellent for the Hawks, but he also had one of the best D units in the entire league in Keith, Seabrook, Campbell, Hjarlmasson, Sopel (who blocked a ton in the playoffs) and Boynton. The Sharks boast Boyle, Vlasic, Murray, Huskins, Demers, Joslin, Wallin?

FAR cry from being even a good defence, that's a very average to below average core.

You mean relative to CHicago's D? Sharks D was pretty good last season. They lost Rob Blake who ate pretty big minutes, so I expect them to be a bit worse this season. And yeah having Nabokov helped too

Boyle and Vlasic are top notch. After that, it's a question mark. Demers could improve enough to parry the loss of Blake.

i knew it! now do i put SJS back to number 1 in my stadings???
i'll wait to see if they add a top 4 D.

I wonder if Doherty makes the team out of camp? adding a 6'8" d-man isn't the worst thing....

Dash wrote:I wonder if Doherty makes the team out of camp? adding a 6'8" d-man isn't the worst thing....

Chara wasn't "all-that" when the Isles gave up on him. Making the team out of camp at that size with the speed of the NHL can be tough. There is a reason why There's only Chara (6'9") and Myer (6"8") at the top end. I don't think there's any top D-men at 6'7"( unless you consider Hal Gill), then the drop off to Pronger at 6'6". Even at 6'6" there aren't a lot of top-end players, and it's a huge difference between 6'6" and 6'9" (and is the kid still growing, perhaps?)

Bottom line, the chances of him making it out of camp this year are very low. If he does, though, and he does it on merit and not for marketing reasons, look out.

PKC wrote:

Michallica wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Dash wrote:That is a huge signing... balance of power definitely tipping in SJ favour now.

Now...about that defence of theirs. Niemi was excellent for the Hawks, but he also had one of the best D units in the entire league in Keith, Seabrook, Campbell, Hjarlmasson, Sopel (who blocked a ton in the playoffs) and Boynton. The Sharks boast Boyle, Vlasic, Murray, Huskins, Demers, Joslin, Wallin?

FAR cry from being even a good defence, that's a very average to below average core.

You mean relative to CHicago's D? Sharks D was pretty good last season. They lost Rob Blake who ate pretty big minutes, so I expect them to be a bit worse this season. And yeah having Nabokov helped too

Boyle and Vlasic are top notch. After that, it's a question mark. Demers could improve enough to parry the loss of Blake.

The Sharks D is horrendous as it sits right now. No way it stays like that in my opinion. I think Clowe will be moved for a quality defenceman. They can not go into the season with that defence.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Dash wrote:That is a huge signing... balance of power definitely tipping in SJ favour now.

Now...about that defence of theirs. Niemi was excellent for the Hawks, but he also had one of the best D units in the entire league in Keith, Seabrook, Campbell, Hjarlmasson, Sopel (who blocked a ton in the playoffs) and Boynton. The Sharks boast Boyle, Vlasic, Murray, Huskins, Demers, Joslin, Wallin?

FAR cry from being even a good defence, that's a very average to below average core.

Below average is right; probably even lower than that in my opinion. Look for a trade to happen before the season to strengthen their defence.