Wednesday Sharks Links: Still no serious negotiations with Niemi
Your daily assortment of links to news and analysis from around the hockey world.
- Per Kevin Kurz, the Sharks and pending unrestricted free agent goaltender Antti Niemi have not had any serious discussions on a contract extension. In other contract news, Adam Burish could be bought out this summer after spending most of the year buried in the minors. [CSN Bay Area]
- Lots of interesting information on the Sharks' impending extension to stay at SAP Center. In exchange for the city of San Jose partially footing the bill for arena renovations, the Sharks are expected to ink a five-to-ten-year commitment to continue playing at the Tank past the current agreement's expiry in 2017-18. The deal could also set the stage for a new San Jose arena to eventually be built to house the team. [Mercury News]
- Ben Smith skated on Team USA's second line in their 4-1 win over Team Austria in pre-tournament action ahead of the 2015 IIHF World Championships in Prague. [USA Hockey]
- At the Blues' post-elimination media availability, head coach Ken Hitchcock said he "needs time" before deciding on his future with the team. Expect the Sharks to be interested if St. Louis cuts ties with Hitch. [Eye On Hockey]
- Chicago is closing in on signing 23-year-old KHL sniper Artemi Panarin, another indication they're likely to move a big-ticket scorer like Patrick Sharp this summer to escape from their salary cap bind. [Second City Hockey]
- Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall was suspended for tonight's Game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning for his hit on Bolts forward Nikita Kucherov in Game 6. [Pro Hockey Talk]/