Let’s talk about salary arbitration for a minute, shall we?
According to NHL.com 20 NHL players have filed for salary arbitration. Arbitration is a right that players have by which they can have an impartial arbitrator rule on what kind of salary they deserve for a one-year contract. The player and/or agent meet with the arbitrator and team management , both sides present their case, and a ruling is made that determines the player’s salary. In the past those hearings could get ugly. Now they’re mostly stat based and the mud-slinging that used to be common is rare.
The only reason I’m bringing this is up is because Colby Armstrong has filed for arbitration, as is his right. Most players that are eligible for arbitration file for it just in case they don’t work out a long-term deal before the hearing dates (July 20- August 4). Numerous Thrashers past and current (including Pasi Nurminen, Garnet Exelby and Jim Slater) have filed for arbitration, but none of those cases ever went before an arbitrator. Every Thrashers player who has filed has come to terms on a new contract before their hearing. If that pattern holds true then you should expect a new contract for Colby by August 4 at the latest. Armstrong is most definitely in the long-term plans of the Thrashers and it won’t be surprising to me if he signs a multi-year deal well before his arbitration hearing.
**UPDATE**
James Mirtle points out that 15 players filed for salary arbitration last summer and only two went all the way through the process.
Armstrong will sign before his hearing…will be interesting to follow the Blackhawks issue about not getting their offer to a player (or two) in on time. They blamed it on the Canada Day holiday but rules are rules. Wonder if the league will enforce the rule? Potentially the players who did not receive the offers ‘on time’ could become UFAs. If the players are Barker and/or Versteeg they might draw some interest.
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It does seem some of the recent signings we’ve seen for guys like Grabovski (overpaid at $2.9 M avg), Pahlsson and John Madden have inflated the market value for Colby Armstrong. After a 22 goal season, Colby rightfully expects to get market value and that seems to be closer to $2.75 M per year rather than $2.25 or $2.5 M which the ASG was probably hoping to pay. How about a 3 year deal worth an avg of $2.5 M with some incentives tied in for performance to get him over $3 M if he scores 25 goals or something along those lines? Hopefully, the recent signing of Mikael Samuelsson at $2.5 M per will help the two parties get on the same page.
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Colby Armstrong isn’t eligible to sign an incentive-based contract. the only players who can have incentives built in are players on entry-level deals or players returning from significant injuries. I’m rusty on the CBA but there may be an option in there for players who are old too, like Mark Recchi (or back in the day) Peter Bondra.
On the off chance the case does go to arbitration, players who signed contracts as UFA’s can’t be used as comparables.
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What is the case with Jim Slater now? Has he resigned?
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Thanks Ben for that clarification. I learned something new today!
Anyway, I take it as a good sign that Colby has opted for arbitration rather than sign an offer sheet from another team to force Waddudley’s collective hand.
Do you think it’s possible Colby has received some tempting offer sheets and seeing what his “open market” value is has led him to choose arbitration? Or is this more of a case of “covering all your bases” kind of thing?
Lastly, should this actually go to the arbitrator, does the arbitration process preclude them from doing a LT deal? In other words, does it automatically become a 1 year deal or does the judge simply determine the one-year value of the player to be used in drawing up a contract?
Sorry for all of the questions!!
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Joey- Jim Slater has not re-signed with the Thrashers yet.
Smoothie- Offer sheets are rare and are almost never used. I won’t retend to know Colby or his agent’s strategy, but I doubt offer sheets have anything to do with his filing.
All contracts awarded via arbitration are for one year.
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Generally speaking, restricted free agents are a bit lower on the priority list than unrestricted free agents. Teams (and agents) take care of UFAs first while they’re available and then re-sign restricted players who can’t really go anywhere barring offer sheets (which are extremely rare). Unrestricted players are more time sensitive than restricted players.
I’m not privy to contract talks- I don’t know which players have begun negotiations and which ones haven’t.
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Ben – Thanks for answering. Why the holdup on Slates? You think he is holding out for more $$?
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