Chicago Blackhawks' RFAs could become UFAs?
Kris Versteeg, Cam Barker, Ben Eager, Colin Fraser, Aaron Johnson and Troy Brouwer could all become UFAs pending an investigation into the qualifying offer process.
Which one should Burke swoop to sign in a best-case scenario?
over 2 years ago
PPP
49 comments
0 recs |
Email
PrintComments
Barker!!!!!!
There’s a reason he was #3 behind Ovechkin and Malkin.
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on Jul 3, 2009 8:28 PM EDT reply actions
SIGN ALL OF THEM!
Especially Versteeg and Barker.
The Handsome Man's Guide To Life- Now With 300% More Handsome, Thanks To Mike Komisarek!
oh yeah
and Versteeg.
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on Jul 3, 2009 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I realllly like Versteeg.
(843): the red head has a bf
(1-843): just because there's a goalie doesn't mean u can't score
by Wrap Around Curl on Jul 3, 2009 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Ditto
Had him in my Yahoo pool to start, very good.
Not really at the level of a first line winger, but is a great 2 way player and has some skills, especially his skating.
"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jul 3, 2009 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions
any of the forwards would be great.
versteeg is the real deal, but i get the feeling he’d rather have an Eager or Brouwer type. I wouldn’t complain either way.
Chances are, if he does target any of them, it’ll be Barker. Cuz we don’t have enough d.
"If you are going through hell, keep going." Sir Winston Churchill, a Leafs fan...
Stalk me here...
by blurr1974 on Jul 3, 2009 8:29 PM EDT reply actions
you can
sign Barker and you have you Kaberle replacement – for years to come.
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on Jul 3, 2009 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions
And then you can trade Kaberle for forward help.
Tallon seemed confident that the faxed offers were good enough but we’ll see soon enough :)
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Jul 3, 2009 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Repeat after me, Dale: “Would you like fries with that, sir?” You may need this phrase in your next placement.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
Yeah
The last thing we want is to be luxuriously overstocked at a position that is pretty thin for a lot of teams.
The Handsome Man's Guide To Life- Now With 300% More Handsome, Thanks To Mike Komisarek!
handsomeness???
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on Jul 3, 2009 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions
skill
ability?
goal scoring?
"If you are going through hell, keep going." Sir Winston Churchill, a Leafs fan...
Stalk me here...
by blurr1974 on Jul 3, 2009 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Defence.
Is a pretty valuable commodity.
The Handsome Man's Guide To Life- Now With 300% More Handsome, Thanks To Mike Komisarek!
sure is
and ours ain’t too shabby
the things i’m talking about are what two cup finals teams have in spades.
"If you are going through hell, keep going." Sir Winston Churchill, a Leafs fan...
Stalk me here...
by blurr1974 on Jul 3, 2009 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Is there such a thing as sweeps week on the internets?
If not, there is the remote possibility the qualifying offers could be ruled invalid and the players listed above, conceivably, could be deemed unrestricted free agents because of the blunder.
Methinks this will turn out to be nothing. The Hawks are a huge new market for the NHL and I’m sure the “investigation” will smooth this over quickly in the club’s favour.
Now if it were Toronto…
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
You’d think TSN didn’t need any help to get pageviews.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Jul 3, 2009 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions
I imagine they need to compete with all the other big sports outlets: CBC, Sportsnet, PPP, ESPN.
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
Not if the union gets involved
What’s the deal with sending out your qualifying offers two days before the deadline, anyway? And in regular mail? That’s incompetence. Although I’m amused at the thought that the Blackhawks may have messed up because they forgot about Canada Day…
Oh, and Versteeg. Also Barker, if possible. Brouwer would be nice, too.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on Jul 3, 2009 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Now that Nash is Gone
Plan B looks great!
Yes, I know there is a 99% chance that nothing will come from this, but I have been drinking from the Eyebeleaf well of optimism. I don’t think the Well has water in it, though.
"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jul 3, 2009 9:28 PM EDT reply actions
We have to be happy about something. I mean, if Komikazi can bring us joy, what is so wrong with that? You can’t be part of a sport and resolve to be miserable all the time. Even as a Leaf, you have to find something.
I quote Reality Bites;
There’s no point to any of this. It’s all just a… a random lottery of meaningless tragedy and a series of near escapes. So I take pleasure in the details. You know… a quarter-pounder with cheese, those are good, the sky about ten minutes before it starts to rain, the moment where your laughter become a cackle… and I, I sit back and I smoke my Camel Straights and I ride my own melt.
(843): the red head has a bf
(1-843): just because there's a goalie doesn't mean u can't score
by Wrap Around Curl on Jul 3, 2009 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, I can't beat a quote from Reality Bites but
Let’s try one from Billy Shakespeare’s MacBeth
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jul 3, 2009 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I'll see your young Will,
And raise you one Lebowski-
This is a very complicated case, Maude. You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous. And, uh, lotta strands to keep in my head, man. Lotta strands in old Duder’s head. Luckily I’m adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regiment to keep my mind limber.
"We've had an ongoing problem with Grabovski this year." Bob Gainey, 4/04/09
Dude, they peed on your carpet!
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
Versteeg first, then Barker…both really…but in typical fashion, I’m doubting the Leafs will be able to get anything out of speculation!
Mee-Mee-Meep Meep Go Leafs Go Meep Meep! MEEP!!!
by blindfolded tank driver on Jul 3, 2009 9:44 PM EDT reply actions
Turns out this has happened before
From the New York Times:
[In 2000] the Devils made mistakes filing paperwork that allowed John Madden and Brian Rafalski to become free agents. Lamoriello had to sign each player to four-year extensions that cost the team $18 million.
And from Al Strachan:
The New Jersey Devils had an option to renew the contracts of defenceman Brian Rafalski and forward John Madden, but forgot to send out the necessary paperwork.
As a result, both players qualified to become free agents without compensation.
Rafalski was due to earn US$450,000 this season and Madden $550,000. Knowing the Devils, they could have expected 10 percent raises for the next few seasons.
Instead, general manager Lou Lamoriello had to cave in big time. Rafalski got a four-year, $11-million deal. Madden will earn $7 million over the same span.
Anyone know if the Hawks players have aggressive agents? They could make some nice fees negotiating UFA contracts for these guys.
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
I think all agents are agressive, if they are any good. They react to the smell of money in the air the way sharks react to the scent of blood in the water.
"A vacuum is a hell of a lot better than some of the stuff that nature replaces it with." -- Tennessee Williams
Many players on entry level deals don’t have agents since the contracts have been reduced to templates. I wonder if these guys went with a family member or if they have a someone at one of the bigger firms like Newport, IMG or Octagon.
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
OV8's Mom did pretty good...
Of course if you are Ovetchkin, you just name your price and Leonsis pays it.
"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jul 4, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions
It has happened to the Leafs before too,although both players were yet to be established at the time.
Matt Cooke and Kyle Wynveig.
by wayne scarlett on Jul 4, 2009 8:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Wanvig was a fax error on trade deadline day, I’m not familiar with the Cooke story.
The situation in Chicago is a little different as it’s an outright contravention of the CBA (Article 10.2(a)(ii) and Exhibit 3.)
Qualifying offers explicitly need to be sent by overnight courier. Not fax, not regular mail:
During the Playing Season, a Player shall receive
notice(s) from his Club via hand delivery. From the
day after the conclusion of a Player’s Playing Season
until the commencement of the Player’s subsequent
Playing Season, notice(s) shall be sent via overnight
delivery to the Player’s off-season address which the
Player provides to the Club, and if no such address is
257
provided by the Player, the notice(s) shall be sent via
overnight delivery to the Player’s last known address.
I think this will go as far as the NHLPA and the respective agents push it. This could wreak havoc with the Blackhawks cap structure…
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
Not so sure this will be quickly swept under the rug
In legal matters, such as the tendering of an offer, the manner of delivery of certain documents is an important concept. Lawyers are used to "serving" one another with papers that constitute discrete steps in a formalized process like litigation. It is incredible to me that the Hawks front office would fail to comply with the process formally set out in the CBA for delivery of important, relationship and rights defining documents such as these.
There will be pressure from the league to protect the Hawks – no doubt. But the potential monetary implications for the players involved are potentially enormous. There will also be huge pressure from the PA, I would expect, for the players to insist upon the full complement of their rights under the CBA. I don’t think this is the kind of decision the league will be able to make unilaterally; the PA would have to go along with any decision to basically overlook the Hawks’ mistake, wouldn’t it?
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
This is all going to hinge on whether or not the NHLPA greives it. It’s interesting that, as far as I know, there’s been no comments from any of the players or their agents.
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
True ‘dat. The individual players and their agents are probably looking for some guidance from the PA before speaking out – they need to know how strong their position is (i.e. whether the PA is prepared to back them up if they insist that the CBA be strictly construed against the Hawks) before opening their yaps. It would be tough to start banging the drum to become a UFA and then have the rug pulled out from under you by the PA essentially signalling that it didn’t care and wasn’t going to push the issue with the league – could be tough to walk back into the dressing room and look your teammates in the eye in that scenario.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
The ghost of Bill ‘Cheapass’ Wirtz strikes again… didn’t want to pay the extra postage?
Obviously, they did not Go Brown
"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jul 4, 2009 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m shocked Healy hasn’t been on this like he was with the mere idea of McCabe not getting 20 minutes a night.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
I would sign Barker in a heartbeat
"Pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding"
by let_them_eagles_fly on Jul 3, 2009 11:18 PM EDT reply actions
Sign all of them and trade them all back for Jonathan Toews.
What?
Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell
That could work...
(843): the red head has a bf
(1-843): just because there's a goalie doesn't mean u can't score
by Wrap Around Curl on Jul 3, 2009 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions
failing that
Brayden Schen!!!
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on Jul 4, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions
It ain't gonna happen but...
if it were, I’ll add my support for Versteeg and Barker, but definitely Eager too, maybe even ahead of Versteeg. He’s exactly the kind of player Burke would love to have.
Versteeg and Barker, why not? Also, RFA Zajac from the Devils, make a pitch for him.
3 million each, boom cap is done. deal Kaberle to free up some more just in case.
$3M for Zajac and the Leafs have to give up their 2010 1st and 3rd round draft picks. No thanks.
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
no kidding…if Burke wants him…trade for him, then sign…he’ll get a better deal
Mee-Mee-Meep Meep Go Leafs Go Meep Meep! MEEP!!!
by blindfolded tank driver on Jul 4, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Sorry, I misread your comment (got hung up on the RFA part)
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
I’d add Troy Brouwer to the list after Versteeg and Barker. Young, big, throws hits and has some offensive potential.
Man, I feel badly for Hawks fans, they must be flipping right now. As if it’s not bad enough that when they talk hockey they have to say “I like the Blackhawks.” (say it 3 times fast)
Also, would it be considered bad form for a GM to take advantage of another GM’s clerical error like that?
Also, would it be considered bad form for a GM to take advantage of another GM’s clerical error like that?
That’s sort of what I was thinking too.. total dick move, but then if another GM is gonna swoop in and pinch them might as well make a pitch I guess. I would think it could definitely sour relations with the chicago GM down the road though – if the whole front office group isn’t out on their asses after this debacle, that is.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Pension Plan Puppets
Related FanShots on Pension Plan Puppets
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Nikolai Zherdev takes stick to crotch, elbow drop in KHL game (Video)
- Puck Headlines: Accused coach Pravilov dead; more Tim Thomas heat; Junior team goes nuts post-shootout
- After Scott Gomez scored, other candidates for NHL goal drought obsessions
- Marek Vs. Wyshynski Radio: Game Show Friday, Mats Sundin debates and did Gomez score (yes)?
- Boston Bruins’ Nathan Horton has a concussion rehab setback
SBNation.com Recent Stories
StatCounter
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
