Ex-Blackhawk Niemi Gets Four-Year Extension
Former Chicago Blackhawks' goalie Antti Niemi helped the team win the Stanley Cup Championship last season before moving on to the San Jose Sharks as a free agent, on Tuesday he signed a four-year extension.
So far this season Niemi is 23-15-3 with a 2.44 goals agaisnt average and a .919 save percentage. The second-year goaltender got off to a horrific start to the season but has steadily improved with each passing month.
Month Games W L OTL Save %
October 4 1 3 0 4.50
November 5 2 2 1 3.58
December 10 5 4 1 2.38
January 10 5 4 1 1.99
February 13 10 2 0 1.89
The contract negotiations between Niemi and the Blackhawks, after the 2010 season, went to arbitration after the two sides couldn't agree to a deal. The arbitrator awarded Niemi a one-year $2.75 million contract for the 2010-11 season. The Blackhawks instead chose to release Niemi to free agency and sign Marty Turco.
