Antti Niemi signs with the Sharks, solidifies netminding
Alexander Monaghan explains why the Sharks will be better off with Antti Niemi between the pipes.
Categories: San Jose Sharks Tags: Antti Niemi, Chicago Blackhawks, hockey, NHL, nhl hockey, NHL Hot Stove, San Jose Sharks, stanley cup
Blackhawks get creative; send Huet to Switzerland
Goaltender Cristobal Huet's cap hit for his remaining two seasons is going be a hefty $5.625MM, and it was apparent that his role going forward would be, at best, as a backup.
Categories: Chicago Blackhawks, NHLHS Features Tags: AHL, Antti Niemi, Chicago Blackhawks, collective bargaining agreement, Cristobal Huet, Fribourg-Gotteron, Marty Turco, NHL, NHLPA, salary cap, stanley cup, Swiss Nationalliga A
Diamonds in the rough
NHLHS New York Islanders correspondent Anthony Curatolo breaks down the news that came out recently about the New York Islanders and their e-mail invitation to all player agents for those players that are still available come training camp.
Categories: 30 Team Series, Around the League, Atlantic, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, New York Islanders Tags: Antti Niemi, Arron Asham, Islanders, Jonathan Cheechoo, Jose Theodore, Kevin Poulin, Mikko Koskinen, National Hockey League, New York, NHL, Patrick O'Sullivan, Raffi Torres, Rick DiPietro, Robert Nilsson, Slava Koslov, Tim Kennedy
Flyers’ Offseason Recap
NHLHS Philadelphia Flyers Correspondent David Strehle reviews the offseason dealings and probable roster for training camp, set to officially open in Vorhees, NJ on September 17th
After the Philadelphia Flyers’ game six overtime loss clinched the Stanley Cup for the Chicago Blackhawks, GM Paul Holmgren vowed that changes would be made during the course of the offseason.
Categories: Around the League, Atlantic, By Teams, Eastern Conference, Eastern Conference, Morning Papers, NHLHS Features, Philadelphia Flyers Tags: Andrej Meszaros, Antti Niemi, Brian Boucher, Chris Pronger, Dan Ellis, Jody Shelley, Kimmo Timonen, Matt Walker, Michael Leighton, NHL, Nikolai Zherdev, Patrick Kane, Paul Holmgren, Philadelphia Flyers, Sean O'Donnell, Simon Gagne
No to Niemi, But Totally Turco
NHLHS Chicago Blackhawks Correspondent Ryan Hackett discusses the Hawks walking away from Antti Niemi and choosing Marty Turco.
Now Playing: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Mojo
So the Chicago Blackhawks have decided to let Antti Niemi and agent Bill Zito try their luck on the open market by saying “NO!” to his arbitration award of $2.75MM, thus sending seismic shockwaves not only through the hearts of the Blackhawks’ faithful but also the entire NHL. It’s been a trying off-season to say the least for fans of the Indian Head sweater, as the team has been forced to say goodbye to nearly half of the roster from last season, including such fan favorites as Dustin Byfuglien, Adam Burish, and now the Stanley Cup winning goaltender, Antti “The Finnish Fortress” Niemi.
Categories: Around the League, Central, Chicago Blackhawks, NHLHS Features, Western Conference Tags: Adam Burish, Antti Niemi, arbitration, Brent Seabrook, Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, Duncan Keith, Dustin Byfuglien, Jonathan Toews, Marty Turco, New Jersey Devils, NHL, Tomas Kopecky, Troy Brouwer
NHL Arbitration: Moulson, Carcillo, really?
NHLHS wrtier Anthony Curatolo ponders the arbitration filing by some players from the league. If you want the money, prove your vaule prior to cashing in.
With yesterday’s deadline to file for salary arbitration arrived, two names amongst the 31 players who filed that I, personally, did not expect to see were New York Islanders forward Matt Moulson and Philadelphia Flyers forward Dan Carcillo.
Categories: NHLHS Features Tags: Antti Niemi, Bobby Clarke, Dan Carcillo, Erich Fehr, Free Agency, Ian White, john leclair, Matt Moulson, National Hockey League, New York Islanders, NHL, Philadelphia Flyers, salary arbitration, Tomas Fleischmann
Blackhawks and Thrashers: Wheelin’ and Dealin’
NHLHS Chicago Blackhawks Correspondent Ryan Hackett and his thoughts on the blockbuster deal made between the Hawks and the Atlanta Thrashers.
Now Playing: Pearl Jam – Live at the Gorge
OK, so according to league sources, this trade has been made official.
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, Central, Chicago Blackhawks, NHLHS Features, Western Conference Tags: Antti Niemi, Atlanta Thrashers, Ben Eager, Blackhawks, Brent Sopel, Chicago Blackhawks, Dustin Byfuglien, Edmonton Oilers, Ilya Kovalchuk, Jeremy Morin, Joey Crabb, John Madden, Jonathan Toews, Marty Reasoner, New Jersey Devils, NHL, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Patrick Kane, Roberto Luongo, St. Louis Blues, stanley cup, Vancouver Canucks
Hartnell Contributing Once Again
NHLHS writer David Strehle takes a look at the reemergence of winger Scott Hartnell, pretty much a forgotten man in Philly for most of the season.
Coming off of a career-high 30-goal season last year, Scott Hartnell was being counted on to have another big year for the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2009-10 campaign.
He had been in Philadelphia for two seasons and had recorded 54 goals over that span, so why wouldn’t he be counted on to contribute heavily?
Categories: NHLHS Features, Philadelphia Flyers, Playoff Coverage Tags: 2010 Playoffs, Antti Niemi, Chris Pronger, Danny Briere, Jeff Carter, Joffrey Lupul, NHL, Peter Laviolette, Philadelphia Flyers, Scott Hartnell, Stanley Cup Finals, Tomas Kopecky, Ville Leino
“Puck-Gate” Nothing More Than Playoff Gamesmanship
The National Hockey League’s postseason has always seen it’s share of gamesmanship and hi-jinx.
And through the years, the Philadelphia Flyers have been involved in their fair share.
In the 1985 Stanley Cup Finals, Philly goaltender Pelle Lindbergh, battling dehydration, asked that a water bottle be placed on top of the net so that he could drink at stoppages. Edmonton Oilers’ head coach Glen Sather saw it as a ruse, and wryly commented: “What are they going to want up there next, a bucket of chicken?”
Officials allowed the bottle to be left on the net, and has since become a fixture for all goaltenders.
Categories: NHLHS Features, Philadelphia Flyers, Playoff Coverage Tags: 2010 Playoffs, Antti Niemi, Ben Eager, Chicago Blackhawks, Chris Pronger, claude lemieux, ed hospodar, Glen Sather, glenn resch, Mike Richards, NHL, Pelle Lindbergh, Peter Laviolette, Philadelphia Flyers, shayne corson, stanley cup
Pros & Cons: Philadelphia Flyers vs Chicago Blackhawks
Our newest feature, Pros and Cons, holds a debate between two of our featured writers as they make an argument for each team in the series. We will continue this series throughout the playoffs as we delve deeper into how these two teams will fare against each other.
The final stage has been set and tonight, the 2010 Stanley Cup finals begin live from the United Center in Chicago at 8 p.m. EST.
We hope you have enjoyed our pros and cons debate throughout the playoffs. For the final time, we present our debate. Thank you for all the reading you have done over the course of the season.
Categories: 30 Team Series, Around the League, Atlantic, By Teams, Central, Chicago Blackhawks, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Philadelphia Flyers, Western Conference Tags: Antti Niemi, Braydon Coburn, Brent Seabrook, Brian Boucher, Chris Pronger, Danny Briere, Dave Bolland, Duncan Keith, Dustin Byfuglien, Jeff Carter, Jonathan Toews, Kimmo Timonen, Kris Versteeg, Lukas Krajicek, Marian Hossa, Matt Carle, Michael Leighton, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Paul Holmgren, Ryan Parent, Scott Hartnell, Simon Gagne, Ville Leino
Blackhawks Key to Victory: Stay Disciplined
Is it possible to get through this without using the phrase “standing on his head”? Oh well, guess not.
Even though it’s the most abused cliche this side of “throwing someone under the bus”, most would agree that after witnessing Antti Niemi‘s performance Sunday afternoon, it is actually warranted here.
That is, unless you’re a member of the San Jose Sharks. It seems as opposed to saying the young netminder had a career performance between the pipes, they chose to go the route of criticizing themselves for “making him look really good”.
Categories: 30 Team Series, Around the League, By Teams, Central, Chicago Blackhawks, NHLHS Features, Pacific, Playoff Coverage, San Jose Sharks, Western Conference Tags: Antti Niemi, Brent Seabrook, Brent Sopel, Chicago Blackhawks, Devin Setoguchi, Jason Demers, Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, Marian Hossa, NHL, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Patrick Marleau, Patrick Sharp, San Jose Sharks, Western Conference Finals
The Man Behind the Mask: Antti Niemi
The NHLHS Man Behind The Mask series is a profile on some of the best goalies in the league to ever wear the “mask”. We hope you enjoy the latest installment of the NHLHS MBTM series.
The position of goaltending is a funny one, especially in the sport of hockey.
If you notice, the term “head case” is used quite frequently when discussing goaltenders. Martin Brodeur, Ron Hextall, Billy Smith, Sean Burke, Dan Cloutier, and others have all had their share of “problems” both on and off the ice.
It seems to play from the maturity level of a goaltender.
For the Chicago Blackhawks, maturity was developed quickly.
Antti Niemi was born on August 29, 1983 in Vantaa, Finland.
Read more…
Categories: 30 Team Series, Around the League, By Teams, Central, Chicago Blackhawks, NHLHS Features, Playoff Coverage, The Man Behind the Mask, Western Conference Tags: AHL, Antti Niemi, Billy Smith, Chicago Blackhawks, Cristobal Huet, Dan Cloutier, Finland, Finnish, Martin Brodeur, NHL, Rockford IceHogs, Ron Hextall, Sean Burke, SM-liiga
Pros & Cons: Chicago Blackhawks vs. San Jose Sharks
Our newest feature, Pros and Cons, holds a debate between two of our featured writers as they make an argument for each team in the series. We will continue this series throughout the playoffs as we delve deeper into how these two teams will fare against each other.
Read more…
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, Central, Chicago Blackhawks, NHLHS Features, Pacific, San Jose Sharks, Western Conference Tags: Antti Niemi, Brent Seabrook, Chicago Blackhawks, Dany Heatley, Duncan Keith, Evgeni Nabokov, Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks
Blackhawks and Canucks Round Two: Electric Boogaloo
NHLHS Chicago Blackhawks Correspondent Ryan Hackett breaks down the second round series between the Hawks and Vancouver Canucks.
After a good test facing a pesky Nashville Predators in Round One, the Chicago Blackhawks start a much anticipated rematch with the Vancouver Canucks Saturday night on Chicago’s west side. The Blackhawks should use the series against the Predators as well as last year’s Western Conference Semi-final against the Canucks to learn a lot about themselves and do the right things to secure a second straight trip to the Conference Finals.
Categories: Chicago Blackhawks, Playoff Coverage, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Antti Niemi, Brent Seabrook, Brent Sopel, Chicago Blackhawks, Duncan Keith, Dustin Byfuglien, Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, NHL, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Norris trophy, Patrick Kane, Roberto Luongo, Troy Brouwer, Vancouver Canucks
Pros & Cons: Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Our newest feature, Pros and Cons, holds a debate between two of our featured writers as they make an argument for each team in the series. We will continue this series throughout the playoffs as we delve deeper into how these two teams will fare against each other.
Read more…
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, Central, Chicago Blackhawks, NHLHS Features, Northwest, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Alex Burrows, Andrew Alberts, Antti Niemi, Brent Seabrook, Chicago Blackhawks, Duncan Keith, Dustin Byfuglien, Henrik Sedin, Kyle Wellwood, Mayson Raymond, Mikael Samuelsson, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Roberto Luongo, Ryan Kesler, Ryan Smyth, Steve Bernier, Troy Brouwer, Vancouver Canucks, Willie Mitchell
