Dan Rosen

  Stanley Cup-winning goalie Antti Niemi is reportedly set to sign a one-year contract with theSan Jose Sharks as early as Thursday according to ESPN Chicago and multiple other internet reports. The contract will pay Niemi $2 million for the 2010-11 season.

Niemi was awarded a one-year contract worth $2.75 million through arbitration last month, but the Chicago Blackhawks chose to walk away and let him become an unrestricted free agent. San Jose has been rumored as a likely destination for Niemi ever since the Hawks chose not to accept the arbitrator's contract award on Aug. 2. 

The Sharks were planning to enter the season with Antero Niittymaki and Thomas Greiss as their goalie tandem, but Niemi's presence will push Greiss to third on the depth chart and create competition with Niittymaki for the No. 1 job.

Niemi went 26-7-4 in the regular season and posted 16 wins, including two shutouts, plus a 2.63 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in the playoffs.