Former Sharks goalie Niemi appears to be done in Dallas
A person with direct knowledge of the decision has confirmed to the Associated Press that the Dallas Stars have placed goalie Antti Niemi on waivers with the intention to buy out the final year of his contract.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity Monday because the Stars have not announced the move, which was first reported by the Dallas Morning News.
Niemi, the Sharks’ goalie from 2010-15, is due to make $4.5 million next season and would be bought out at $3 million spread over two years. Niemi, who won a Stanley Cup with Chicago in 2010, is coming off a disappointing season in which he went 12-12-4 and had a 3.30 goals-against average in 37 games.
He became the odd man out in Dallas behind Kari Lehtonen and Ben Bishop after Bishop was acquired in a trade last month. Dallas has until Saturday to sign Bishop before he’s eligible to become an unrestricted free agent.
Niemi had 163 of his 227 victories with the Sharks, including a single-season best 39 during the 2013-14 season.
Dallas did announce it resigned defenseman Esa Lindell to a two-year, $4.4 million contract, and forward Mark McNeill to a one-year deal. Lindell had six goals and 18 points in 73 games last season.
The Stars also acquired defenseman Marc Methot, 32, from the Vegas Golden Knights for goaltending prospect Dylan Ferguson and a 2020 second-round pick. Methot was taken from Ottawa in the expansion draft.
Sharks moves: San Jose issued qualifying offers to forwards Chris Tierney, Marcus Sorensen and Barclay Goodrow and will retain its negotiating rights with them as restricted free agents.
The Sharks also announced that they did not issue qualifying offers to forward Nikita Jevpalovs, defenseman Patrick McNally and goalie Mantas Armalis. They will become unrestricted free agents.
Briefly: St. Louis did not extend a qualifying offer to forward Nail Yakupov, making him an unrestricted free agent. ... Carolina agreed to a oneyear, $1.425 million deal with forward Derek Ryan . ... Edmonton signed forward Zack Kassian to a three-year extension. Kassian had seven goals and 17 assists in 79 games last season.