Antti Niemi Trade Deadline Rumors

As the 2015 NHL trade deadline approaches, rumors surround Antti Niemi of the San Jose Sharks. Pierre LeBrun said:

"(The Sharks) continue to get younger. If you look at their lineup, it's the youngest it has been in a long time. And that will continue to the point where I was talking to a team today that says that they were told again by San Jose that Antti Niemi is on the table.

So here's a team that's in a playoff spot, albeit by a slim margin; but, because Niemi is a pending UFA, the Sharks are taking calls on him."

The Sharks currently hold the second wild card spot in the Western Conference, two points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings. The Minnesota Wild, the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche are also chasing for the last wild card spot.

Moving Niemi may impact their playoff chances but the alternative is to risk losing him for nothing. The Sharks could probably get a second round pick for Niemi from a team such as the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Edmonton Oilers.

Do you think Alex Stalock is capable of taking over the starting goaltender role for the Sharks?