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Dallas Stars rumors: Antti Niemi to be bought out

By Brad Berreman

Dec 15, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars goalie Antti Niemi (31) in action during the game against the New York Rangers at the American Airlines Center. The Rangers shut out the Stars 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars goalie Antti Niemi (31) in action during the game against the New York Rangers at the American Airlines Center. The Rangers shut out the Stars 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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After trading for Ben Bishop, the Dallas Stars have apparently chosen who the odd-man out will be between the pipes.

The Dallas Stars took a step to address their goaltending situation on Tuesday, acquiring Ben Bishop from the Los Angeles Kings for a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft. Technically Dallas only acquired the exclusive negotiating rights to Bishop, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but a deal should be a formality.

Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi were lackluster between the pipes this season, combining for a league-worst .893 save percentage and a 3.17 goals-against average (29th in the league). Bishop is coming off a down year (.910 save percentage), split between the Kings and Tampa Bay Lightning, but he is a clear upgrade to Dallas’ biggest weakness.

The Stars could lose Lehtonen or Niemi to the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft, and it seems certain they’ll both be left unprotected if a deal is reached quickly with Bishop. But a preferred odd-man out among Dallas’ goaltenders may have already been chosen.

Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News suggested if the Golden Knights pass on Lehtonen and Niemi in the expansion draft, the Stars will look to trade or buy out Niemi. A trade seems unlikely, based only on Niemi’s level of play this season, but he has just one season remaining on his contract at a $4.5 million cap hit.

A buyout of Niemi would leave the Stars with a $1.5 million cap hit in each of the next two seasons. Lehtonen is also signed for one more season, with a $5 million salary and a $5.9 million cap hit, so his buyout would be a bit more expensive cap-wise to carry over.

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No team has room for three goaltenders that can theoretically start. The Stars will be making a significant investment in Bishop, and Niemi may be the guy who will be looking to ply his trade elsewhere next season.

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