If nothing else, at least we have a timeline for when the Tanner Jeannot contract situation will be resolved. The NHLPA posted the arbitration dates for the restricted free agents that elected to go to mediation. For the Lightning and Jeannot the date that has been set for July 24. If they get to the hearing, the arbitrator has 48 hours to make a decision. So, at the very latest, we’ll know by July 26th what Jeannot’s contract will be for next season.
Other than that, not much else changes. The two sides can continue negotiating right up until the hearing starts so it doesn’t stop them from talking to each other over the next two weeks. From all appearances it seems that there isn’t much acrimony in these talks and a deal should get done at some point. So carry on about your business and we’ll keep you updates.
While it might just be a coincidence, it seems things do get sped up a bit once the hearing dates are set. For instance, two cases settled today as Noah Cates (two years, $5.25 million total) agreed to terms with Philadelphia and Ian Mitchell, acquired by Boston in the Taylor Hall deal, signed with the Bruins for one year, $775,000.
For those of y’all wondering, Ross Colton’s hearing is on the 27th of July.
Lightning / NHL News
Corey Perry’s Goal of the Year [Raw Charge]
It was a typical year for The Worm who scored 12 times for the Lightning, mostly from in front of the net. He’ll take his skills to Chicago next year.
Lightning Lore: The Lightning name [Lightning YouTube page]
Uncle Phil is still upset about the Anaheim and Florida expansions (he claims they were promised there would be no expansion until at least 1996). Also, the reason why Anatoli Semenov asked to be traded is hilarious.
Syracuse Crunch sign Devante Stephens [Syracuse Crunch]
An old friend is coming back to Salt City. After spending the last two seasons in Abbotsford and Tucson, the defenseman is coming back to Syracuse as he signed a one-year AHL deal with the Crunch.
Lake Tahoe is getting a professional hockey team, and a familiar name is attached to it [ECHL]
The ECHL is expanding to 29 teams and their newest location will be in Lake Tahoe. The team will be managed and operated by Zawyer Sport and Entertainment and owned by David Hodges and Tim Tebow. Yes, that Tim Tebow.
It’s great that Mikhail Sergachev is teaching the next generation how to shuffle along the blue line, but can we talk about that jacket? We need that jacket.
San Jose Sharks sign Filip Zadina [Yahoo Sports]
After severing his ties (and contract) with Detroit, Zadina signed with the San Jose Sharks for one-year, $1.1 million. He should get plenty of playing time in California, something that wasn’t promised to him in Detroit.
