I bet he is. I am surprised Chicago didn't give him a cup ring for his help in the finals
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Well to be fair. Niemi kept you guys in that series. He was terrible in the Finals.

Yes to this - they didn't think Wilson (or anyone else) would put in an offer sheet on Hjalmarsson - and Wilson (according to conventional wisdom) was trying to force Chicago's hand on one of them: Wilson would get either Hjalmarsson or Niemi.
It worked.
- StLBravesFan

I don't know much, but I know this to be a fact. Wilson knew that by offereing Hjalmarsson an offer sheet there was a good chance he'd walk away with either Hammer or Niemi, and he was right. In the end I think Stan made the right choice by keeping Hjalmarsson.

The problem with calling Bobby Orr #1 is, he only played for 12 years in the NHL. Only 6 of those years was he basically Gretzky playing on defense. Very short career. And he was basically the greatest skater in the game so he could have been playing offense or defense or whatever, he just soared all over the ice. Not enough structure in his game and longevity of consistency. Thats why I chose Lidstrom over Orr as the greatest defenseman ever.
- xcheckmajor

He dominated on one leg.

The problem with calling Bobby Orr #1 is, he only played for 12 years in the NHL. Only 6 of those years was he basically Gretzky playing on defense. Very short career. And he was basically the greatest skater in the game so he could have been playing offense or defense or whatever, he just soared all over the ice. Not enough structure in his game and longevity of consistency. Thats why I chose Lidstrom over Orr as the greatest defenseman ever.
- xcheckmajor

I get it, but this says it all for me:

Bobby Orr scored 139 points in 1970-71 en route to his second consecutive Hart trophy and 4th Norris in a row. The closest defenseman to that number? JC Tremblay with 63, or 76 fewer points. There have only been 70 seasons in the NHL's 96-year history of over 76 points total by a defenseman.

And let's not forget: he played his entire career without one knee, and much of it without both.

Both players were subject to waivers at that time. Neimi slightly outplayed Crawford for that roster spot in '09-'10.
- EKolb13

The only reason Niemi was on the team was because of the difference in salary. Crawford outplayed Niemi during the preseason. The only reason Niemi went to Helsinki is because he is from Finland.

I don't know much, but I know this to be a fact. Wilson knew that by offereing Hjalmarsson an offer sheet there was a good chance he'd walk away with either Hammer or Niemi, and he was right. In the end I think Stan made the right choice by keeping Hjalmarsson.
- DarthKane

He sure did.

I get it, but this says it all for me:

Bobby Orr scored 139 points in 1970-71 en route to his second consecutive Hart trophy and 4th Norris in a row. The closest defenseman to that number? JC Tremblay with 63, or 76 fewer points. There have only been 70 seasons in the NHL's 96-year history of over 76 points total by a defenseman.

And let's not forget: he played his entire career without one knee, and much of it without both.
- andru2797

True, but thats part of why I hate the Norris Trophy. A defenseman's job is more than to just score points. The Norris Trophy has be widely ridiculed as being the "best offensive defenseman" trophy. If you were to select a fantasy all time team, you would really pick Orr over Lidstrom when you could have Gretzky or Lemieux scoring the points for you? Who would actually shut down the other team if it was only about scoring? Just my 2 cents...

The only reason Niemi was on the team was because of the difference in salary. Crawford outplayed Niemi during the preseason. The only reason Niemi went to Helsinki is because he is from Finland.
- Elbows15

Neimi's cap hit was $26,875 higher than Crawford's that season. Salary or cap hit wasn't the concern.

http://espn.go.com/blog/c...-outduels-crawford-barely

Best goaltenders of all time:

1) Jocelyn Thibault
2) Cristobal Huet

True, but thats part of why I hate the Norris Trophy. A defenseman's job is more than to just score points. The Norris Trophy has be widely ridiculed as being the "best offensive defenseman" trophy. If you were to select a fantasy all time team, you would really pick Orr over Lidstrom when you could have Gretzky or Lemieux scoring the points for you? Who would actually shut down the other team if it was only about scoring? Just my 2 cents...
- xcheckmajor

Well, on a fantasy team I'm picking Orr AND Lidstrom, lol.

And as for Orr's defense, the only reason he doesn't get more credit for it is because of his gaudy offensive numbers. He was +589 in 631 games.

Also, if you have the puck as much as Orr did, you're not so worried about the other team scoring, are you?

Neimi's cap hit was $26,875 higher than Crawford's that season. Salary, or cap hit wasn't the concern.
- EKolb13

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/2704

Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman claimed it was partly a business decision to keep Antti Niemi as the backup goalie instead of Corey Crawford. But Niemi showed Saturday it was more than that with a 4-0 shutout of the Florida Panthers in his first start. Niemi had a slightly better camp than Crawford, a former second-round draft pick who now has to wonder if there’s much of a future for him in Chicago. Little was said about Niemi winning the backup job, although Bowman told the Sun-Times some of what went into the decision. “They came into camp neck-and-neck and had similar camps,” Bowman said. “It came down to Corey being exempt from re-entry waivers, so if a player is injured, we can bring Corey up. Antti wouldn't have been exempt. “In a lot of ways it was a business decision. You'd like one to be so much different than the other one, but they were similar in camp.” Crawford has cleared waivers on Friday and can be sent to Rockford, where he will start his fifth season in the American Hockey League.

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/2704

Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman claimed it was partly a business decision to keep Antti Niemi as the backup goalie instead of Corey Crawford. But Niemi showed Saturday it was more than that with a 4-0 shutout of the Florida Panthers in his first start. Niemi had a slightly better camp than Crawford, a former second-round draft pick who now has to wonder if there’s much of a future for him in Chicago. Little was said about Niemi winning the backup job, although Bowman told the Sun-Times some of what went into the decision. “They came into camp neck-and-neck and had similar camps,” Bowman said. “It came down to Corey being exempt from re-entry waivers, so if a player is injured, we can bring Corey up. Antti wouldn't have been exempt. “In a lot of ways it was a business decision. You'd like one to be so much different than the other one, but they were similar in camp.” Crawford has cleared waivers on Friday and can be sent to Rockford, where he will start his fifth season in the American Hockey League.
- DarthKane

That settles that.

Neimi's cap hit was $26,875 higher than Crawford's that season. Salary or cap hit wasn't the concern.

http://espn.go.com/blog/c...-outduels-crawford-barely
- EKolb13

Yeah whatever. DK showed it was about waivers. So we were both wrong in some aspect. Except for the fact Niemi didn't outplay Crawford until the game in Helsinki. Though if the game as in Montreal, I suspect a different outcome.

And Bowman saying it was partly a business reasons means it was all a business reason.

Yeah whatever. DK showed it was about waivers. So we were both wrong in some aspect. Except for the fact Niemi didn't outplay Crawford until the game in Helsinki. Though if the game as in Montreal, I suspect a different outcome.

And Bowman saying it was partly a business reasons means it was all a business reason.
- Elbows15

Agreed. I think we're both straightened out here.

Agreed. I think we're both straightened out here.
- EKolb13

Speak for yourself.

No. The team put that spin on the story when they lost Niemi. Niemi outplayed Crawford that preseason AND the prior year in Rockford.

Let me add: Stanley said of Niemi and Hjalmarsson "they're not going anywhere." Fact.

Then because he miscalculated Toews' Stanley Cup bonus (or someone did), he lost Nemo to an offer sheet (essentially—I don't recall whether the actually got an offer sheet or not). THEN, the story came out, well Corey beat him out in 2010. Crawford did not beat Niemi out. Was the contract thing a concern? Sure. But Niemi was the better of the two in that preseason and the prior year.

So why, if Crawford was better anyway, make a public statement that you're not going to lose the guy that everybody was quite comfortable with as your #1? Because he WAS #1.
- John Jaeckel

Came out where? I remember right after it happened, it was discussed here and elsewhere. Many of us, myself included believed Crawford got the shaft that pre-season. Long before Niemi even played a game in the bigs.

They just found the missing link

John Scott
- FourFeathers773

Fixed it for you

Came out where? I remember right after it happened, it was discussed here and elsewhere. Many of us, myself included believed Crawford got the shaft that pre-season. Long before Niemi even played a game in the bigs.
- Ogilthorpe2

I bet a lot of Blues fans felt the same way in the Bishop vs Elliott duel a number of years ago. Bishop outplayed him but still got sent down and eventually traded.

Crawford is criminally underrated on this block and amongst all the kool-aid drinkers!

Agreed. I think we're both straightened out here.
- EKolb13

Niemi gave up 20 goals in 5 games against Canucks in the 2010-11 posteason

Citing Crawford for two soft goals at bad times against PHO is yes, bad, but Niemi has been brutal at times too.

I dont know how Niemi gets a no.7 nod and CC doesnt get a top 10 then

As much praise as Niemi gets for being able to steal games, he is just as hot and cold as CC. Niemi has been backstopping some VERY good Sharks teams and he still hasnt gotten any of them to a cup finals

Niemi gave up 20 goals in 5 games against Canucks in the 2010-11 posteason

Citing Crawford for two soft goals at bad times against PHO is yes, bad, but Niemi has been brutal at times too.

I dont know how Niemi gets a no.7 nod and CC doesnt get a top 10 then

As much praise as Niemi gets for being able to steal games, he is just as hot and cold as CC. Niemi has been backstopping some VERY good Sharks teams and he still hasnt gotten any of them to a cup finals
- FourFeathers773

Not entirely sure how official these lists are anyways

Not entirely sure how official these lists are anyways
- kneughter

They're not at all, we're all just monkeys throwing poop at each other on here

They're not at all, we're all just monkeys throwing poop at each other on here
- FourFeathers773

Well to be fair. Niemi kept you guys in that series. He was terrible in the Finals.
- Elbows15

He wasn't good but He was better than Leighton. Two key thinks that helped Hawks win was Toews and Kane showed, Carter and Richards didn't and Neimi was a lot better than Leighton was.