San Jose Sharks: Antti Niemi Looking To Have Bounce-Back Season
By Felix Chow
Overview
After a highly disappointing season apart from a great start, Antti Niemi’s job as the San Jose Sharks number one goaltender is at risk.
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2013-14 Season Review
Nemo’s performance overall was far from his Vezina-finalist performance in the 2012-13 season. In fact, more times than not, he looked pretty shaky in net. He’d allowed a total 149 goals against with a 2.39 GAA. While some were shots that should never have gotten on net but did due to poor defensive coverage around him, some were weak goals he should have saved. Thus sparked the question. Should Todd McLellan have given him more rests and given back-up, Alex Stalock, more starts? It certainly seemed so.
2014-15 Season Preview
Niemi knows that his starter position is at risk of being taken away from him, and that he could potentially be traded away if he doesn’t perform well. Although Stalock’s only just finished his first full NHL season and still played fewer games, his performance was absolutely stellar for a rookie goaltender coming up from Worchester. Nemo’s going to have a chance to redeem himself, and he might do well at first but I have a strong feeling Stalock will soon take the position over.