CHICAGO -- An arbitrator set Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Antti Niemi's salary at $2.75 million on Saturday.

The Stanley Cup champion Hawks have a 48-hour window to make a decision. They can walk away and make Niemi an unrestricted free agent immediately, or accept the decision and sign Niemi at that salary for one season. The Hawks could also accept the decision, sign and then trade Niemi.

The Hawks offered the arbitrator $1.5 million and the Niemi camp came in at $4 million, according to sources familiar with the case.

Niemi earned $826,875 last season as a rookie. He played all but one period of Chicago's postseason run to the title, going 16-6 with a 2.63 goals-against average, .910 save percentage and two shutouts.

Niemi, 26, filed for arbitration as a restricted free agent after his agent, Bill Zito, and Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman were unable to agree on contract terms.