Antti Niemi was awarded $2.75M; the Blackhawks have 48 hours to decide what to do with him.

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mechaphil

I think Chicago will sign him since they already offered 8 mil over three years prior to arbitration.

I agree. Thing is, when they sign Niemi, they'll be $3.1M over the cap with only 18 players signed. Huet HAS to be demoted or traded, it's the only option.

The stories surfaced that had Turco coming to Chicago as an alternative to Niemi, but I think they should sign him to the agreed-upon $1.5M deal for three years to play as Niemi's backup. It would leave $4.5M to fill four more roster spots, and with some tinkering, the team could work out.

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mechaphil

I think they will also go with a short roster of 21 or 22 players.

I really didn't think Niemi would get a lot. He's certainly worth a lot more than 2.75(IMO), and the Hawk got a deal. If anything, from their perspective, their cap situation just got a lot better. If they were sweating balls then, they sure are breathing easier. Back-to-back seems quite possible now. Hell, make the Sharks pay up big to get Hjalmarsson off your hands, and that's an easy fix, which doesn't really hurt too much at all. I knew the Hawks would wiggle out of cap woes, they probably all will.

They matched the Sharks and kept Hjalmarsson. They're over the cap ceiling by $3.1M.

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mechaphil

Now make the Sharks pay for that offer sheet. Offer them the guy for the draft picks, plus a little palm greasing. Haha. It's not like SJ is in any position to dictate, they have already stated what he's worth to them(at least). Cap woes pretty much solved then. Remember, it's not a strict cap, either.

SJ is in every position to dictate - if they don't want him now, they can't be forced to take him.

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mechaphil

all i'm sayin is they dipped their hand.

Yea, and now that Chicago matched, the Sharks are off the hook. I just don't understand what you're trying to say or where you're going with it.

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mechaphil

I'm saying make a trade for more than the RFA compensation.

The Sharks have 7 NHL defensemen under contract now, they aren't taking Hjalmarsson off of Chicago's hands. I don't think anyone would take Hjalmarsson. In fact, the only thing Chicago will be able to do is probably demote Huet to Rockford for the last two years of his deal. Someone might be willing to take Campbell off of their hands, but that's unlikely.

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mechaphil

If SJ wanted Hjalmarsson that badly, they would've traded for his rights instead of making an offer sheet. Chicago proved they want the guy buy matching, they aren't going to turn around and trade him now.

What would trade, acquisition, and roster ideas be like if NHL93-10 was never made?

sending Huet to Rockford has been my personal choice since June and i agree that its really their only option. I dont know what it is about Huet though. i want to like him and see him do good (like he did in montreal a couple years ago) but every time he gets a chance he seems to fuck it up.

that being said, if i were the Hawks, id be tempted to let Niemi go. i see him being a flash in the pan and thats really about it. he did great last year but in watching him play last year, he never looked settled or in control which doesnt inspire a lot of confidence.

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