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SJ Sharks GM Doug Wilson fires down Antti Niemi, Owen Nolan rumors

Antti Niemi

A shot by Philadelphia Flyers left wing Ville Leino sails past Chicago Blackhawks goalie Antti Niemi (31), of Finland, in the third period of Game 4 of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey finals on Friday, June 4, 2010, in Philadelphia. The Flyers won 5-3 to even the series 2-2. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

AP

Now that the San Jose Sharks lost out to the Los Angeles Kings in the Willie Mitchell Sweepstakes, the rumors switch back to former captain Owen Nolan and Cup winning goalie Antti Niemi. Great Sharks beat writer David Pollak shot down both rumors in a post tonight.

2) Never say never, but do not expect to see Owen Nolan back with the Sharks this season. Just not going to happen, says a front-office source.

[snip]

In recent years with Calgary and Minnesota, Nolan seems to take particular delight in scoring against the Sharks - the team that traded him to Toronto in 2003 - and you might think his performance against San Jose might be reason enough for the Sharks to re-sign him, even at age 38. But the Sharks say they believe they’ve got prospects - think Cam Macintyre or maybe Tommy Wingels - ready to step into the role Nolan would occupy at this point in his career and seem determined to go that route.

3) Again, never say never, but though the Sharks continue to be cited in some circles as a logical place for Blackhawk castoff Antti Niemi to land, sources insist that won’t be happening, that an all-Finnish goalie tandem of Niemi and Antero Niittymaki is not part of the plan.

“We made our move on our goaltender,” has been general manager Doug Wilson’s standard response when the question comes up.

Both rumors make at least some sense, though.

I’d imagine if there was a good fit for Niemi in a “Put in one more good year to make more money next year” kind of way, it would be the always-close-but-not-quite-there Sharks. The common question is: “Are they really going to trust their goalie situation to Antero Niittymaki and Thomas Griess?” Yet Doug Wilson seems quite comfortably laying in that netminding bed.

Nolan seems like a lower risk, lower reward type move. While both are likely to need to settle for a short term, low-money contract, Nolan would only occupy a low priority bottom-six forward spot rather than the most pivotal position in the game.

Regardless, Wilson prefers cheaper players in net and younger players in the bottom six. If he does decide to change course, though, we’ll be sure to let you know.