Apr 4, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi (31) looks on during the first period against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Antti Niemi’s tenure with the San Jose Sharks is likely over.
Following his worst season with the Sharks, Niemi will be looking for a new home this offseason after spending the past five seasons in teal. Ever since joining the Sharks back in 2010 after winning the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks, Niemi has been the workhorse in goal for San Jose.
He was the go-to-guy between the pipes once again this year, but he seemed to struggle with consistency this season. Niemi was his usual self starting 59 games and posting a 31-23-7 record with a 2.59 goals-against-average (GAA) and a .914 save percentage.
Part of the reason for his downturn in numbers was the lack of defensive presence in front of Niemi. San Jose ranked 24th in the league in goals against per game after ranking fifth a season ago. However, it all seemed to fall on Niemi’s shoulders when it came time to evaluate the defensive flaws. For whatever reason, Niemi seemed to struggle and it was highlighted by San Jose’s February downturn when they failed to register a win at home.
Despite his struggles in 2014-15, Niemi stuck right by his career numbers during his tenure with the Sharks. Niemi has registered a 2.39 GAA and a .916 save percentage during his NHL career, and he basically put up the same numbers in teal with a 2.40 GAA and a .917 save percentage.
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However, Niemi’s tenure will be scarred by the playoff collapse last season. During that playoff run, Niemi was 3-3-0 with a 3.74 GAA and an .884 save percentage. For a number one goalie, those numbers are unacceptable. From that moment onward, it seemed that Niemi was destined to find a new home once his contract ran out.
Niemi appeared in 296 games, starting 294, over his five seasons with the Sharks, posting a 163-92-35 record. His best season came in 2012-13 when he finished third in the Vezina voting after posting a 24-12-6 record with a 2.16 GAA and a .924 save percentage in 43 games. Niemi epitomized the Sharks as he was solid if not spectacular during the regular season, but could never get the Sharks over the hump.
He was one of the hardest working players during his time in San Jose, but he will likely depart knowing that his Sharks teams fell short. Niemi will likely find a new home this offseason and it will be interesting to see who Doug Wilson brings in to replace him next year.
While Niemi was unfairly criticized in San Jose, the facts are he will be moving on after failing to backstop the Sharks in the key moments. He was 1-8 during San Jose’s two trips to the Western Conference Finals and could not carry the Sharks during the postseason.
There’s not much else to say except farewell Nemo.