Antti Niemi: Acquired by Stars

The Stars acquired Niemi from the Sharks on Saturday morning in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis:

With the Sharks uninterested in retaining Niemi, a soon-to-be-free-agent, the Stars elected to surrender a draft pick in order to obtain first-negotiation rights with the netminder. It's a strategy similar to what the Islanders used in their acquisition last May of Jaroslav Halak, who ultimately agreed to a four-year, $18 million contract with New York. Widely viewed as the top veteran goalie option on the market, Niemi would likely be viewed by the Stars as an upgrade in net over fellow Finn Kari Lehtonen, who regressed considerably last season. The Stars will look to reach a deal with Niemi before he officially becomes a free agent on midnight of July 1.