Good Bye Nieminen
August 2, 2005

Fan favourite Ville Nieminen was the lone Flames NHLer from the 2003-04 season not to receive a qualifying offer before yesterday's deadline, which makes the pesky forward an unrestricted free agent, along with Martin Gelinas. 

Flames GM/head coach Darryl Sutter couldn't be reached for comment regarding the decision to set free Nieminen, whose qualifying offer would have been just over $500,000 US. 

Receiving qualifying offers, thus having their rights retained by Calgary, were: RW Chris Clark, D Andrew Ference, G Miikka Kiprusoff, RW Chuck Kobasew, C Daymond Langkow, D Jordan Leopold, C Matthew Lombardi, LW Lynn Loyns, C/LW Steven Reinprecht and D Rhett Warrener. 

Nieminen era comes to end
No qualifying offer tendered by Calgary

August 02, 2005
Jean Lefebvre 
Calgary Herald 

Suddenly, it's the Here, There and Nowhere Line.

A brief but eventful chapter in Calgary Flames history came to end Monday with news the club declined to tender a qualifying offer to Ville Nieminen, the feisty Finn who is half buzz-saw left-winger, half cartoon character.

Since Nieminen's qualifying offer -- a shade over $500,000 US -- would barely have been more than the National Hockey League's new minimum yearly wages ($450,000), the 28-year-old pest is apparently no longer in the Flames' plans.

All of Calgary's other significant restricted free agents -- Miikka Kiprusoff, Daymond Langkow, Steven Reinprecht, Rhett Warrener, Jordan Leopold, Matthew Lombardi, Chris Clark, Andrew Ference and Chuck Kobasew -- were qualified, as was farmhand Lynn Loyns.

The qualifying offer made in June of 2004 to Jarome Iginla remains in force.

Much like Mike Commodore, who was traded to Carolina last week, Nieminen was a shortlived Flame whose legacy will be far greater than a modest regular-season-game total -- 19 -- indicates.

Shortly after joining the Flames in a Feb. 24, 2004, deal with Chicago, Nieminen's outlandish behaviour and zany comments had teammates, fans and reporters alike alternately shaking their heads and laughing out loud.

For instance, there was an enthusiastic but delayed celebration after his first Calgary goal.

"Every time it goes in," he explained later, "I surprise myself."

After scoring a doozy of a marker in a home-ice win over Ottawa, Nieminen quipped: "I told the guys before that I had good hands -- but it was in the casino."

But it was in the spring of '04 the spikey-haired Scandinavian really got the circus going.

On the nefarious side, he was slapped with one-game suspensions for trampling Detroit netminder Curtis Joseph and boarding Tampa Bay star Vincent Lecavalier.

When he wasn't incurring the wrath of NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell, he was wreaking havoc with linemates Shean Donovan and Marcus Nilson. It was Nieminen who dubbed the energetic and remarkably effective trio "The Here, There and Everywhere Line."

His no-look goal against San Jose in Game 2 of the Western Conference final was one of the most memorable tallies of the 2004 playoffs.

The line was spectacular in the critical Game 5 victory in the same series.

While Nieminen made a profound impact in his short Calgary stint, Anders Eriksson came and went without being noticed at all. Signed shortly before the lockout was imposed, the Swedish blue-liner was a Flame on paper only until becoming an unrestricted free agent Monday.

Calgary also declined to qualify five minor-leaguers -- defencemen Brennan Evans, Deryk Engelland and Roman Rozakov and goalies Sebastien Centomo and Davis Parley. Only Evans, pressed into two 2004 playoff tilts because of an injury-ravaged blue-line corps, ever appeared in a game for Calgary.

Around the league, a trio of ex-Flames was tossed onto the heaping UFA pile -- Marty Murray (not qualified by Carolina), Jamie Wright (Edmonton) and Jason Botterill (Buffalo). Botterill has already indicated he will retire.

Rangers sign Nieminen, Ward 

By IRA PODELL, AP Sports Writer
August 4, 2005
yahoo.com

NEW YORK (AP) - Ville Nieminen is bringing his hard hits to Madison Square Garden.

The rugged left wing who was suspended for two Game 5s during Calgary's run to the 2004 Stanley Cup finals signed with the New York Rangers on Thursday.
"Ville is a hard working player who competes every shift," Rangers general manager Glen Sather said. "He is difficult to play against and relentless when it comes to pressuring the puck and frustrating the opposition. We're excited to add his grit and determination to our lineup."

It's that kind of edge and intensity that sometimes gets the 28-year-old Finnish forward in trouble.

Nieminen was suspended for Game 5 of the finals last year because of his check from behind that drove Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vincent Lecavalier into the boards and glass.

He wouldn't say then whether he felt the suspension was deserved, he only vowed to be ready for Game 6.

"I tell you one thing, I will be well rested and almost arrested," Nieminen said.

He was also barred for Game 5 of the Flames' second-round series with Detroit. Nieminen was forced to sit out after he ran over Red Wings goalie Curtis Joseph with 4 seconds left in another Calgary loss.

During the NHL lockout, Nieminen played in 26 games with Tappara Tempere in a Finnish league, tallying 14 goals and 27 points - both third highest on the team. He also played for Finland in last year's World Cup of Hockey.

In five NHL seasons with Colorado, Pittsburgh, Chicago and Calgary, Nieminen has played 271 games, posting 39 goals, 52 assists and 227 penalty minutes.

He played in 79 regular-season games for Chicago and Calgary in the season before the lockout. Nieminen has eight goals and 10 assists in 47 career playoff games.

Terms of his deal were not immediately announced.

The Rangers also signed 26-year-old forward Jason Ward to a two-year deal worth $1.275 million.

Ward played 77 games with Hamilton of the American Hockey League last season, netting 20 goals and 54 points.

He has played 110 NHL games, all with the Montreal Canadiens. Ward was in a career-high 53 contests during the 2003-04 season and scored five of his 10 goals.

Nieminen and Ward Join Team
Cup Finalist Ville Nieminen Joins Rangers

http://www.outsidethegarden.com
Thursday, August 4 2005 

The fourth day of the NHL free agency period brought yet more signings for the New York Rangers. Ville Nieminen, a member of the Calgary Flames squad that lost in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning, has reportedly signed a two year contract for an undisclosed sum. Known for his ability to get under the opposition's skin, the 28 year old Finn will join his fifth NHL team after stints with Colorado, Pittsburgh, Chicago and Calgary.

Drafted by in the 3rd round of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche, Nieminen spent parts of three seasons with the team before being traded along with Rick Berry to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the deal that brought defenseman Darius Kasparaitis to Colorado. A relatively ineffectual stint with the Penguins lead to his free agency in 2003 and his signing with the Chicago Blackhawks. Dealt at the deadline to the Flames, Nieminen immediately found a home and registered 3 goals and 8 points in the final nineteen games of the regular season and a further 4 goals and 8 points along with 55 penalty minutes in 24 playoff appearances.

The 6-0 210 lb Nieminen spent last season playing for his home team Tampere in the Finnish SM-Liiga and amassed 14 goals and 13 assists in 26 appearances.

Rangers Sign Free Agent Forward Ville Nieminen 
8/4/2005 

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has signed unrestricted free agent forward Ville Nieminen.

“Ville is a hard working player who competes every shift,” stated Sather. “He is difficult to play against and relentless when it comes to pressuring the puck and frustrating the opposition. We’re excited to add his grit and determination to our lineup.”

Nieminen, 28, appeared in 26 games with Tappara Tempere in the SM – Liiga (Finland) last season, registering 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points, along with 32 penalty minutes. His 14 goals and 27 points ranked third on the team, while his point-per-game ratio led the club. In eight post-season contests, Nieminen led his club in scoring, collecting two goals and four assists for six points. The Tampere, Finland native also represented Finland at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

A veteran of five NHL seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks and Calgary Flames, Nieminen has skated in 271 career NHL games, registering 39 goals and 52 assists for 91 points, along with 227 penalty minutes. In 2003-04, he combined to play in 79 games with Chicago and Calgary, totaling five goals and 16 assists for 21 points, along with 58 penalty minutes. On February 24, 2004, he was traded to the Calgary Flames from Chicago in exchange for Jason Morgan and a conditional draft pick.

The 6-0, 210-pounder has also appeared in 47 career playoff contests with Colorado and Calgary, registering eight goals and ten assists for 18 points, along with 75 penalty minutes. In addition, Nieminen was a key member of Calgary’s 2003-04 Western Conference championship team, appearing in 24 post-season contests, collecting four goals and four assists. Along with being a member of Team Finland at the 2004 World Cup, he represented his country at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Nieminen was originally Colorado’s fourth choice, 78th overall, in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, along with Rick Berry, from Colorado in exchange for Darius Kasparaitis on March 19, 2002. On July 29, 2003, the Chicago Blackhawks signed him as a free agent. Chicago then dealt him to the Calgary Flames on February 24, 2004, in exchange for Jason Morgan and a conditional draft pick.