Minnesota Wild: 5 Goalies to Target Via Trade

December 27, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi (31) defends the goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Antti Niemi

Until Alex Stalock came to town, Antti Niemi was the unquestioned number one goalie for the San Jose Sharks. That was still the case last season, although Stalock did get his first postseason start in last year’s Stanley Cup Playoff. According to Russo, Niemi is an option, although it is unclear whether the Sharks are willing to part with him.

While it makes sense that if the Sharks choose to keep only one of their netminders that it would be the younger Stalock, Niemi is still playing more. In fact, he has started three times as many games as Stalock thus far. While I suppose this move is a possibility, I cannot ever remember a playoff team trading away their number one goalie in the middle of the race. If he is in fact available though, I would not be opposed to bringing him onboard. He won the Stanley Cup with Chicago in 2010, and has plenty of postseason experience. He struggled in last year’s Playoff with a 3.74 GAA and .884 save percentage, but was stellar the season before, with a 1.87 GAA and .930%.