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Anti Niemi is the perfect example of why there is no loyalty in pro sports, why players are in the right to pursue the maximum value in contracts, and being an important piece of the puzzle in bringing a championship to a team who hasn't seen on in decades still doesn't guarantee you'll be sticking around.

Niemi just backstopped the Chicago Blackhawks to their first Stanley Cup in 50 years. His contract was up, and he deserved a raise, no question about it. As a restricted free agent, he wouldn't get top dollar in the open market, but would still get a substantial increase, and he held arbitration rights to ensure he got said increase.

He was awarded a $2.75 million dollar contract for one year in his arbitration case. An outrageous sum for us 9 to 5 folk, sure, but a very reasonable salary for a guy that had the moxy to backstop Chicago all the way to Lord Stanley.

So Chicago walked from the arbitrator's decision. They say it's too much, and Niemi is now unemployed.

I have read countless opinions saying Niemi is still "unproven" and showed how "loyal" he is to Chicago by forcing arbitration on the team. And some went further by saying it didn't matter who was playing in net, the Hawks would have won anyway.

Bullsh*t.

Niemi took over the #1 job from Cristobal Huet because Huet was playing like garbage and wasn't earning his $5.6 million a season salary. If he backstopped the team during the playoffs, they would have been done.

And compared to the other salaries around the league, $2.75 million for a #1 goalie is pretty reasonable. Just ask Ottawa how much they enjoy eating a $4.5 million cap hit paying Pascal Leclaire to be injured half the time.

The Hawks wasted no time signing Marty Turco out of Dallas to be Niemi's replacement. His play has declined in the last couple of years, and with just a few weeks away from turning 35 years old, isn't likely to get better. Their fans are supposed to be okay with this signing.

My point of all this is I don't blame players one bit for milking every dollar they can come contract time. Chicago could have made it worked, they could have held onto Niemi, but chose not to. Niemi's service of giving them a Stanley Cup was not rewarded. If that doesn't get you a new contract at a reasonable salary, what will?