The Islanders reportedly are interested in Stanley Cup winning goalie Antti Niemi, who was let go by the Blackhawks in a salary-cap move.
“The Islanders have been mentioned” as one of the teams “interested” in the now unrestricted free agent, along with the Sharks, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Niemi, at home in Finland with the Cup, told the newspaper he will not play in Europe.
“The NHL is the only place I am willing to play,” he said. “I don’t know right now where, but I will play in the NHL.”
Niemi won a $2.75 million salary in arbitration, but the cap-crunched Blackhawks walked away from the deal, letting Niemi hit the market.
The Sharks lost No. 1 goalie Evgeni Nabokov, who left to play in Russia. Niemi reportedly told a Finnish newspaper that playing for the Sharks, “doesn’t sound so bad at all.”
Earlier this month, Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro said he would be ready for training camp after sitting out most of last season with a knew injury.
Dwayne Roloson is the other goalie on the roster. Martin Biron left to Islanders to join the Rangers as a free agent.