Antti Niemi

As a Blackhawks fan, July 29th has been noted in my Android since we learned of the arbitration date.

As many know, an arbitrator will decide on a ruling regarding the showdown between the two parties.

Many have been waiting in hopes to see the situation being resolved beforehand, but unfortunately those hopes have been extinguished...well to a mere flicker.

Thanks to a flurry of fantastic under the radar moves over the past couple weeks, the Blackhawks might now be able to afford having Antti Niemi back on their roster for the 2010-11 season.

Although Blake Wheeler's arbitration hearing today will set the standard for arbitration in the NHL, most NHL GMs probably have July 29 circled on their calenders. This is because that is the day of Antti Niemi's arbitration hearing.

During the regular season Niemi played 39 games with a save percentage of .912 and a GAA of 2.25 with seven shutouts. He had a record of 26-7-4. Pretty good, but not brilliant as he played in less than half of Chicago's regular season games, though the record was phenomenal.

Here are the latest rumors I've been hearing from all across the NHL:

It is looking like Antti Niemi may be dealt; the Blackhawks have said over and over there is no chance they are moving Patrick Sharp, and it is safe to say not many (if any) teams want Brian Campbell's contract, so Niemi looks like the only big contract that could be moved.

The summer of Chicago Blackhawks trades continued today as the 'Hawks dealt Marty Reasoner, acquired in the Dustin Byfuglien trade, to the Florida Panthers for forward Jeff Taffe.

Last season, Taffe appeared in 21 games for the Florida Panthers scoring one goal and one assist while seeing most of his time on the Panthers' fourth line.

A former first round pick of the St. Louis Blues, Taffe has never really panned out at the NHL level, appearing in 174 games and accumulating only 44 points.

This article is a response to stupidity .

There has been a great deal of discussion all over the Internet about the salary cap issues facing the Chicago Blackhawks in the wake of their Stanley Cup victory.

Not too long ago it was 2006, and the Carolina Hurricanes had just defeated the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Winning goaltender and Conn Smythe winner?

That would be Cam Ward.

Throughout the 2005-06 season, the Hurricanes stomped through their schedule en route to compiling 112 points.  Shattering team records in wins (52) and points (112), they were led by coach Peter Laviolette.

Over the course of the season Ward played back-up goaltender to Martin Gerber, who started in 60 of the 82 games played.

The Blackhawks are looking to return to the position to be back-to-back as champions next season, and to do this many believe they will need a goalie that has won the big prize before.

Though many want the goalie Annti Niemi who was between the pipes for the magical run last season, that may not come to fruition.

Another Stanley Cup winning goaltender may be starting for the Blackhawks when the season starts in a couple of months, and that may be none other than former Hawk' Nikolai Khabibulin.

Note: This article also contains a quick free agency update.

With their second to the last pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks selected defenseman Nick Mattson. Mattson played with the Indiana Ice (part of the USHL) and was part of the United States National Team Development Program. He will play hockey at the University of North Dakota starting next season.

There are a lot of rumors flying around the NHL right now. Here is what I have heard.

One source has told me that the New York Islanders are considering sending an offer sheet to Blackhawks goaltender Antti Niemi. I can't confirm this, but it makes sense as the Islanders would get a very good young goaltender for the future and add a pretty big name to the team which would help sell tickets. Like I said, I can't confirm this, but it makes sense.