Dreger on Sharks' mindset regarding re-signing Niemi

Darren Dreger was on Edmonton’s TSN 1260 on Tuesday morning.

On if there’s a reason the Sharks haven’t signed Antti Niemi to a contract extension yet:

“Well, I wouldn’t say that there’s a reason, but there are theories out there that the San Jose Sharks are very much in a transition build here. They’re going about it slow and methodical. Again, Doug Wilson has told everyone who has asked what his plans are moving up to the trade deadline. He may do very little. He’s certainly not looking at getting any older, regardless of where they’re positioned. And again, there is that transition from old to young – or younger – in San Jose and he insists that they’re not going to deviate from that plan of transitioning those guys.

“So you’ve got to wonder a little bit about Antti Niemi. Not that his best years are necessarily behind him, but is he the best fit? And he might be. He might be.

“It’ll come down to money. It’ll come down to term. Probably term more so than money. I’d be real surprised if Wilson and the Sharks didn’t have an interest in keeping him because again, there’s a familiarity there. And those who have quality goaltending maybe don’t recognize how valuable it is until you don’t have quality goaltending. Then you have to go searching for it and you end up in almost a carousel effect trying to rotate guys through.

“But if there’s someone in that organization that Doug Wilson feels is close to being ready to being a No. 1, then maybe you’ve got that balance and that transition and Niemi is a good fit in that regard.”

Source: TSN 1260/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

Related: Dreger: Wilson "very aware" of Sharks' transitional phase