With a lack of restricted free agents on the roster this summer, the Tampa Bay Lightning don’t have much to worry about over the next couple of weeks. Other teams (cough, Philadelphia, cough) have some work to do. It’s never fun to sit in a room and tell a player why he isn’t worth what he thinks he is, so most of the time the two sides come to an agreement.
For a reminder, if any of these players do actually go to arbitration an independent adjudicator listens to the two sides and makes their decision as to which amount to award. The contracts can only be for one or two years, and the length is decided by the party that did not elect arbitration. So, if the player elected arbitration, then the team gets to choose the term, and vice versa.
If it’s a player-elected arbitration and the award is for more than $4.95 million, the team can choose to walk away from the deal and the player becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Once a team has settled all of its arbitration cases or they have all been awarded, a second buyout window opens for 48 hours. If they elect to buyout a contract on their roster, it has to have an AAV of at least $4 million.
While the Lightning are in the clear this summer, they do have two players that will have arbitration rights next summer in Gage Goncalves and Emil Lilleberg. Julien BriseBois has done a pretty good job of signing his RFAs (or trading them) before ever having to step into an arbitrator’s office. The most recent Lightning player to file for arbitration was Tanner Jeannot, who settled prior to his hearing.
Hockey News
Hearing dates set for arbitration cases [PuckPedia]
Just think of all the planning that goes into setting up these arbitration hearings. Meeting rooms have to be booked. Flights arranged. Snacks have to be ordered. All for hearings that are likely to be settled before they happen. What about the deposits? Who thinks about the deposits?
Sabres agree to four-year deal with Peyton Krebs [Die by the Blade]
See what we mean? Scratch one arbitration off of the list. Krebs agreed to a four-year deal with a $4.5 million AAV. Not a bad bit of business for a player that can play anywhere from the second line to the fourth line.
Rangers sign Braden Schneider to one-year deal [Blue Shirt Banter]
The Rangers punted their RFA situation with defenseman Schneider down the road as they signed him to a one-year deal worth $5.5 million. Is it too much? Who knows these days? At least they don’t have to meet with him in a room on July 29 and tell him to his face why he’s not worth the money he’s asking for. At least until next year as he’ll still be a RFA next summer.
Winnipeg signs Viggo Bjorck to entry-level deal [Winnipeg Jets]
The 18-year-old was the eighth pick of the most recent draft and becomes the third member of the draft class behind Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenburg to ink their entry-level deal. There is a chance that Bjorck joins the Jets this year, if not he may head back to the SHL.
NHL Alumni announces wellness plan [NHL.com]
Taking care of those that built the game into what it is today is important. With the help of the NHL and NHLPA the alumni association announced benefits for former players.
Shane Wright: Intriguing reclamation project [The Province]
It seems Vancouver is the preferred destination for the Kraken center. Can they work out a deal to get the former first-round pick back on track?
