Antti Niemi isn't a superstar goaltender. He’s a questionable number one at best.
His saving grace his entire career has been that he’s had a stellar defensive unit in front of him. Expectations aren't high for the Sharks netminder, only that he makes routine saves and a big one every now and then to keep the Sharks alive.
Has he done that this year? Sort of.
He’s made some big saves, but he’s let a few floaters get back more so than in previous season. But is it all his fault? Hardly.
Niemi’s save percentage this season (.914) is actually better than his save percentage from last year (.913), yet his goals against has risen from 2.39 to 2.57.
The team in front of him hasn't been getting the job done, that’s been well documented. Niemi’s not built to face a barrage of shots night in, night out, and keep up a respectable number. The more shots that get through to the Sharks goaltender the more that get by him. There’s no other gear in Niemi’s game. There isn't much variance in his stat line for save percentage over the years.
His games this season have been a roller-coaster since the start of the season but I really can’t blame him fully because he’s under constant attack from the opposition; he’s in constant panic mode.
From time to time he’s going to make big saves but more often than not you’re going to get average goaltending with a pinch of ‘nice-save-by-Niemi’s’. That’s the reality of things. The Sharks have been able to avoid excessive scrutiny on their goaltender in previous years because the group of defenders guarding him weren't asleep on the job.
There is no savior coming in the crease. Niemi is a hard sell in the trade market. Niemi and Stalock will be the teal bearing goalies for the duration of the season and we've just got to lower our expectations. Stalock has played better, this season and last, but while there may be room for another player under the bus it shouldn't be Niemi. He’s just doing what he’s always done.
There is a definite room for an upgrade in goal, and the Sharks aren't the only team that can use one, but the goalie market is thin right now. Are there any available goaltenders that you think could upgrade the Sharks without giving away a valuable piece of the roster? I don't think so.
I think it's a safe bet to say that Niemi is going to finish out the last season of his contract as a member of the Sharks, however the split with Stalock looks, and move on in the off-season. I can't imagine a situation where the Sharks bring him back simply because of how well Stalock has played in comparison. Will they seek another goaltender in the market, via trade or FA? I'd like to think so, but don't expect it anytime soon.
If the Sharks acquire a top-4 defenseman before the trade deadline I'd bet you'll see Niemi's save percentage remain generally the same as what it is now but his goals against will start to come back down. The Sharks need to help out their goaltender and keep pucks away from him. Good teams with average goaltenders have success by keeping the workload light for their braided buddy. San Jose needs to start doing just that or this season isn't going to get any easier.
Sharks vs Flyers Notes
With rumors swirling between these two teams it makes it that much more interesting to watch who's in and who's out.
Lecavalier is out for the Flyers but I highly doubt he's on his way to San Jose, unless the Flyers want to take Mike Brown, Johnn Scott and Scott Hannan. I'd be open to that, just kidding.
Niemi will be in goal tonight for the Sharks.
After this comment from McLellan regarding defensemen it's hard to know what he's thinking for tonight's game.
McLellan on rotating some d-men, "We have 8 of them here, everyone has to play to keep fresh and to continue to grow our young prospects"
— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) December 1, 2014Perhaps Mueller and Tennyson will both draw back in, for the sake of "keeping them fresh".
I'd expect Barclay Goodrow to draw back in over John Scott tonight as well, Scott only needs a game every 50 or 60 to stay fresh.
The Sharks should be able to take advantage of Philadelphia's league worst PK% (73.8%) and use that to help them come away with two points.
Puck drop is at 10:00pmET(7:00pmPDT)
Thanks for reading.