Niemi Out, In With.....Marty Turco?

It is official, Antti Niemi is out of Chi-town. The Blackhawks were forced to make the decision whether to accept the $2.75 million arbitration offer for Niemi, or walk away making Niemi an unrestricted free agent. Unfortunately for Niemi, he got the boot. The Blackhawks agreed to a one-year deal with veteran, Marty Turco. Turco has spent the last 10 seasons with the Dallas Stars.

Niemi's (26) 2009-2010 stats: 26-7-4 2.25 GAA .912 SV%
Turco's (34) 2009-2010 stats: 22-20-11 2.72 GAA .913 SV%

Turco's career totals: 262-154-37 2.31 GAA .911 SV% 40 SO's
2001,2003 Winner of the Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award: Awarded to the goaltender who has played a minimum of 25 games and finished the season with the best save percentage. (Currently held by our boy Tuukka Rask)

Niemi is coming of his first full season, qualifying him as a rookie goaltender. He was a key player in helping the Chicago Blackhawks to their first Stanley Cup in 49 years.
Turco, a veteran goaltender, will be entering his 11th season. This will be the first season where Turco will not be sporting a star on his uni.

I'm going to be totally honest and say that I did not see this coming. Turco is a nasty goaltender, there are no if's and's or but's about it. I am so astonished that the Blackhawks were able to just turn their back to Niemi and send him packing. I mean, the guy did just help you win a Cup. We can't say that about Turco. If I learn that Turco will make more than $2.75 million in this one-year deal, I'm going to be a little peaved because they simply do not have the cap space. They would need to let some people go in order to make cap.

So Niemi is now an unrestricted free agent. I would have said that the Edmonton Oilers could be potential bidders for Niemi, but they just re-signed Jeff Deslauriers to a one-year deal. Deslauriers filled in for the injured Khabibulin last season. The Oilers are a young team and they are just missing a few pieces to pull everything together and Niemi is a proven goaltender and at the ripe age of 26. The San Jose Sharks would have been potential bidders for Niemi, but they too filled their goaltender position with Antero Niittymaki. Other teams that could be in the mix: Stars, Panthers, Islanders, and Lighting. Expect someone to step up by the weekend and make an offer for Niemi.

So where will Niemi end up? Let us know what you think.