Post by Jazz on Jun 16, 2004 0:48:03 GMT -5
Careers of more than 100 NHLers are in limbo as July 1 date for free agency nears[/u][/color]
NEIL STEVENS
Canadian Press
Monday, June 14, 2004
source: www.canada.com/sports/hockey/story.html?id=9AB206E5-C1A6-467E-A1EC-A20CA2C8BFEC
(CP) - Brett Hull, Mark Recchi, Paul Kariya, Teemu Selanne, Gary Roberts, Joe Nieuwendyk, Vince Damphousse, Mike Ricci, Craig Conroy . . . the list goes on and on.
More than 140 NHL players can, potentially, be unrestricted free agents July 1. With persistent talk of a lockout by owners after the collective bargaining contract expires Sept. 15, it stands to reason that big pay increases that were common for UFAs in years past will be few and far between this summer.
Philadelphia centre Keith Primeau signed a new four-year deal Monday worth an estimated $17 million US, which averages out at $4.25 million US a year. He made $5 million US this year. Don Reynolds of Burlington, Ont., who represents Primeau, said the chilly climate created by the CBA situation had a bearing on his talks with the Flyers.
"No one knows what's going to happen but I know that the Flyers are operating with a $33 million to $35 million US cap," said Reynolds.
Primeau is set now but many others face uncertain futures as teams cut payrolls. Some big-name players might find their careers in limbo.
Hull, who made $5 million US last season and who turns 40 in August, has already been told he won't be offered a new deal in Detroit.
Detroit has a $6.5 million US option on Brendan Shanahan but will only have the 35-year-old left-winger back if he agrees to a pay cut. Same goes for teammate Chris Chelios, 42, who can't expect another $5.9 million US.
Nicklas Lidstrom would have been on that list, too, but the Red Wings gave him a two-year contract extension believed to be worth about $20 million US in early April.
In the past, most star players just turned 31 with expiring contracts looked forward to their freedom because it meant big bucks in a new deal. Not this year with salary caps and luxury taxes swirling in the CBA cauldron - as the Primeau deal shows.
Recchi also got $5 million from the Flyers for 2003-2004. At the age of 36, he might be smart to grab what he can before July 1. After signing Primeau under his self-imposed cap, GM Bob Clarke isn't going to have a lot more cash to spread around.
Kariya, 29, can qualify for unrestricted free agency because the $1.2 million US he earned in Denver this year was below the average. Avalanche GM Pierre Lacroix is going to have to think long and hard about whether he wants to re-sign a winger who had negligible impact. If it doesn't happen, Kariya would be one of the few unrestricted free agents widely sought-after by other teams because of his price tag.
Selanne, 33, isn't going to get anywhere near the $5.8 million US Colorado paid him to score 16 goals.
If Ottawa is trying to sign Dominik Hasek, 39, as has been reported, you can bet they won't be offering as much as the $6 million US he wrung out of Detroit last year.
Roberts, 38, and Nieuwendyk, 37, earned $4.25 million US and $2 million US, respectively, with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Don't expect to see either in blue and white next season unless pay is sliced in half. If they don't like it, tough. That'll be management's stance.
Al MacInnis, 40, Ron Francis, 41, Steve Thomas, 40, and Luc Robitaille, 38, might as well retire.
The most active market will be for affordable foot soldiers. The Dallas Stars were quick to retain two Monday when they completed new deals for Rob DiMaio, 36, and Don Sweeney, 37, both of whom could have become UFAs but who re-signed for less than the average league salary.
Zigmund Palffy, Alex Kovalev, Alexei Zhamnov, Teppo Numminen, Glen Murray, Mathieu Schneider, Alexei Zhitnik, Scott Young, Jozef Stumpel, Yanic Perreault, Sean O'Donnell, Richard Matvichuk, Scott Mellanby, Dallas Drake, Bryan Marchment, Rob Zamuner, Mike Keane, Curtis Leschyshyn, Mike Sillinger, Martin Rucinsky, Travis Green, Grant Marshall, Matthew Barnaby, Steve Konowalchuk, Stephane Quintal, Ken Klee, Chris Simon, Turner Stevenson, Kelly Buchberger . . .
The list goes on an on. Nobody knows where they'll all end up. They can either scrounge a deal now or become UFAs and take their chances. It's a risky game - on and off the ice.
Besides all the UFAs, there are 300 restricted free agents. Those who do not receive qualifying offers by June 30 become UFAs. It seems that many teams have set themselves up for a lockout.
A question: If teams are individually reducing payroll and applying caps, why the need for a league-wide lockout?
There is none, says Art Breeze, who is DiMaio's Winnipeg-based agent.
"In the event of a work stoppage of any duration, protracted or otherwise, fault clearly and unequivocally lies with the owners," says Breeze, talking as if a lockout is inevitable. "This work stoppage, which is fuelled by the spin-doctoring by the league - cost certainty is clearly salary cap - is a unilateral, owner-imposed lockout.
"The players, who are very fan-sensitive, want to work. They want to continue to entertain. The owners won't let them."
© Copyright 2004 The Canadian Press
NEIL STEVENS
Canadian Press
Monday, June 14, 2004
source: www.canada.com/sports/hockey/story.html?id=9AB206E5-C1A6-467E-A1EC-A20CA2C8BFEC
(CP) - Brett Hull, Mark Recchi, Paul Kariya, Teemu Selanne, Gary Roberts, Joe Nieuwendyk, Vince Damphousse, Mike Ricci, Craig Conroy . . . the list goes on and on.
More than 140 NHL players can, potentially, be unrestricted free agents July 1. With persistent talk of a lockout by owners after the collective bargaining contract expires Sept. 15, it stands to reason that big pay increases that were common for UFAs in years past will be few and far between this summer.
Philadelphia centre Keith Primeau signed a new four-year deal Monday worth an estimated $17 million US, which averages out at $4.25 million US a year. He made $5 million US this year. Don Reynolds of Burlington, Ont., who represents Primeau, said the chilly climate created by the CBA situation had a bearing on his talks with the Flyers.
"No one knows what's going to happen but I know that the Flyers are operating with a $33 million to $35 million US cap," said Reynolds.
Primeau is set now but many others face uncertain futures as teams cut payrolls. Some big-name players might find their careers in limbo.
Hull, who made $5 million US last season and who turns 40 in August, has already been told he won't be offered a new deal in Detroit.
Detroit has a $6.5 million US option on Brendan Shanahan but will only have the 35-year-old left-winger back if he agrees to a pay cut. Same goes for teammate Chris Chelios, 42, who can't expect another $5.9 million US.
Nicklas Lidstrom would have been on that list, too, but the Red Wings gave him a two-year contract extension believed to be worth about $20 million US in early April.
In the past, most star players just turned 31 with expiring contracts looked forward to their freedom because it meant big bucks in a new deal. Not this year with salary caps and luxury taxes swirling in the CBA cauldron - as the Primeau deal shows.
Recchi also got $5 million from the Flyers for 2003-2004. At the age of 36, he might be smart to grab what he can before July 1. After signing Primeau under his self-imposed cap, GM Bob Clarke isn't going to have a lot more cash to spread around.
Kariya, 29, can qualify for unrestricted free agency because the $1.2 million US he earned in Denver this year was below the average. Avalanche GM Pierre Lacroix is going to have to think long and hard about whether he wants to re-sign a winger who had negligible impact. If it doesn't happen, Kariya would be one of the few unrestricted free agents widely sought-after by other teams because of his price tag.
Selanne, 33, isn't going to get anywhere near the $5.8 million US Colorado paid him to score 16 goals.
If Ottawa is trying to sign Dominik Hasek, 39, as has been reported, you can bet they won't be offering as much as the $6 million US he wrung out of Detroit last year.
Roberts, 38, and Nieuwendyk, 37, earned $4.25 million US and $2 million US, respectively, with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Don't expect to see either in blue and white next season unless pay is sliced in half. If they don't like it, tough. That'll be management's stance.
Al MacInnis, 40, Ron Francis, 41, Steve Thomas, 40, and Luc Robitaille, 38, might as well retire.
The most active market will be for affordable foot soldiers. The Dallas Stars were quick to retain two Monday when they completed new deals for Rob DiMaio, 36, and Don Sweeney, 37, both of whom could have become UFAs but who re-signed for less than the average league salary.
Zigmund Palffy, Alex Kovalev, Alexei Zhamnov, Teppo Numminen, Glen Murray, Mathieu Schneider, Alexei Zhitnik, Scott Young, Jozef Stumpel, Yanic Perreault, Sean O'Donnell, Richard Matvichuk, Scott Mellanby, Dallas Drake, Bryan Marchment, Rob Zamuner, Mike Keane, Curtis Leschyshyn, Mike Sillinger, Martin Rucinsky, Travis Green, Grant Marshall, Matthew Barnaby, Steve Konowalchuk, Stephane Quintal, Ken Klee, Chris Simon, Turner Stevenson, Kelly Buchberger . . .
The list goes on an on. Nobody knows where they'll all end up. They can either scrounge a deal now or become UFAs and take their chances. It's a risky game - on and off the ice.
Besides all the UFAs, there are 300 restricted free agents. Those who do not receive qualifying offers by June 30 become UFAs. It seems that many teams have set themselves up for a lockout.
A question: If teams are individually reducing payroll and applying caps, why the need for a league-wide lockout?
There is none, says Art Breeze, who is DiMaio's Winnipeg-based agent.
"In the event of a work stoppage of any duration, protracted or otherwise, fault clearly and unequivocally lies with the owners," says Breeze, talking as if a lockout is inevitable. "This work stoppage, which is fuelled by the spin-doctoring by the league - cost certainty is clearly salary cap - is a unilateral, owner-imposed lockout.
"The players, who are very fan-sensitive, want to work. They want to continue to entertain. The owners won't let them."
© Copyright 2004 The Canadian Press
