N&O article with update on contract negotiations/salary

[nccanes]

Quiet before the storm
Canes taking their time with remaining few free agents
By LUKE DECOCK, Staff Writer

With less than two months to go before training camp, the Carolina Hurricanes have little business left on their offseason calendar.
Only a few restricted free agents are unsigned, and none has arbitration rights, so there's no hurry.

Not counting Danny Markov, who appears likely to play in Russia this season, Erik Cole, Josef Vasicek and Jaroslav Svoboda remain unsigned.

"They're moving along," Carolina assistant general manager Jason Karmanos said of the negotiations. "The process for guys without arbitration rights is we issue them the qualifying offer and negotiations begin off of that. It's just in process, and we'll see where it goes."

Counting Vasicek, Svoboda and Cole at the salaries in their qualifying offers, the Canes' NHL payroll stands at about $34.8 million. That doesn't include restricted free agent Markov or exiled goalie Arturs Irbe, whom the Canes owe $2.7 million next season.

As for Eric Staal, the No. 2 pick in June's draft, the Canes don't plan to offer him a contract unless he makes the team out of training camp.

WHEELING AND DEALING: To keep Jeff Heerema's rights, the Canes made the restricted free agent a qualifying offer of $637,000. Heerema ended up signing for $500,000 -- and he's pretty excited about it.

Heerema exchanged a chunk of his NHL salary for a big boost on his AHL salary -- from $32,000 to $80,000. He also gave himself a better chance of making the team in the fall.

Financial considerations play a major role in Carolina's roster maneuvers, so Heerema is one of a number of Carolina players who are taking pay cuts in an attempt to increase their odds in training camp.

"Both sides came up with that number," said Heerema, who scored three goals in his first 10 NHL games last season before breaking a wrist.

"It's just a little more security if I don't make the team, and it probably gives me a better chance of making it. I'm happy with it."

Heerema and Bruno St. Jacques were among those who traded portions of their NHL salaries for other considerations. St. Jacques took a cut from $425,000 to $375,000 but got a one-way contract that will pay him the same amount whether he plays in the NHL or the minors.

Last summer, the Canes considered trading Kevyn Adams until he dropped his base salary from $787,900 to $700,000 in exchange for a two-year contract. Adams ended up being, arguably, the Canes' most valuable player last season.

"It worked out pretty well for him," Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford said.

[puckin_A]

St. Jacques took a cut from $425,000 to $375,000 but got a one-way contract that will pay him the same amount whether he plays in the NHL or the minors.

smart boy!

[Shell]

This was at the bottom of today's N&O article about training camp:

Cole's recovery may not keep him out of training camp, but his contract could. Cole, like Josef Vasicek and Svoboda, remains unsigned. All three allowed the team's qualifying offers to expire on Thursday. None has arbitration rights.

In Cole's case, he never had any intention of accepting the team's qualifying offer. The team's offer was a two-way deal, under which Cole would be paid a different salary in the NHL and the minors even though he has spent all of the past two seasons in the NHL.

[Turbulence]

There's no way in Hades that Cole'd ever be sent back to Lowell...if I were him I'd take the two way contract because generally it only means more money for him...
Cole's an intrigal part of the offense. If he's sent back to Lowell this year I'll personally pay him the difference between a Lowell salary and a Raleigh salary...

...I guess I just want to see him signed sometime soon...

[nccanes]

Maybe I'm dense, but I just presumed the two-way nature of the qualifying offer was just there because it was a standard minimum qualifying offer to retain him. JR and Cole (and agent) knew there would be negotiations before the final contract offer is made (and signed presumably) so why go thru the trouble to make a "nicer" qualifying offer when you know you'll be negotiating after the other UFA and RFAs with arbitration rights first.

[Guyute]

couldn't agree more Eileen.. you're right on the money.

a qualifying offer is jack. you don't expect it to be accepted, you're just going through the motions. this isn't a big deal.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Maybe I'm dense, but I just presumed the two-way nature of the qualifying offer was just there because it was a standard minimum qualifying offer to retain him. JR and Cole (and agent) knew there would be negotiations before the final contract offer is made (and signed presumably) so why go thru the trouble to make a "nicer" qualifying offer when you know you'll be negotiating after the other UFA and RFAs with arbitration rights first.

I know, this has probably been discussed but it's been a rough couple months for me so I've forgotten.

My question is has anyone on the team filed for arbitration? Does anyone even have rights? I was thinking the answer was "no" and if so I don't see what we're waiting on. Do you think we're still looking at a UFA?

[nccanes]

No arbitration for these last three, SHC. All three were drafted in '98 and I believe signed their Canes contract for the 2000-2001 season.

[Guyute]

I believe someone did have arbitration rights... don't remember who. but no, we didn't have anyone actually go to arbitration.

as to 'the holdup'... I just have a feeling that JR is taking his time, because he can. there hasn't been a real rush to get these guys signed, because there's time. probably the only ones nervous about it... are the fans. heh

[ontheboards]

The only Cane with arbitration that I'm aware of is Markov and he elected not to pursue as it would have compelled him to play-- the offer from Carolina was above what he would have gotten via arbitration

[nccanes]

Vasicek has switched agents - no reason given (or even speculation), but he's now with Rich Winter who is also Jaro's agent.

AGENT SWITCH FOR VASICEK: Carolina center Josef Vasicek changed agents this week.

Vasicek dropped Don Meehan and hired Ritch Winter. Both Meehan and Winter are among the game's most prominent agents. Winter also represents the Canes' Jaroslav Svoboda.

Vasicek, Svoboda and Erik Cole, all restricted free agents, remain unsigned. Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford said he's a month away from being concerned about any of the three.

"It's just running its course. We've still got plenty of time to sign them," Rutherford said. "I guess Josef Vasicek could play in Europe if he wanted to but that wouldn't make any sense. And in Cole and Svoboda's case, they really don't have anywhere to go."

Defenseman Danny Markov, who has threatened to play in Russia, also remains unsigned.

[Jeff O Rocks]

I can see why Joe and Jaro might be delayed in signing ...out of the country, switching agents, iffy last seaon...but any speculation about why Erik is taking so long??? :roll:

[nccanes]

Dunno Mona, maybe something like this:

JR: How 'bout this?

Agent: Nah.

JR (a week later): How 'bout this?

Agent: Hmm. Nah. How 'bout this?

JR (3 days later): Not quite. Lemme think some more.

;)


But don't fear too much, the Canes aren't the only team with RFAs yet to sign. I think it's typical when there is no viable alternative for the players. For example, Tampa Bay still have to sign Cory Stillman and Brad Richards - two key players for them!

[Guyute]

any speculation about why Erik is taking so long??? :roll:

yes. because there's no rush. :p

we've been through this... there is Plenty of time to sign these guys, so there's really no need to rush through getting a deal done. I absolutely guarantee you that JR is still talking with Markov's agent. That and watching videos of camp (or camp itself) is most likely where all of his efforts have been.

I'll say it again... I'm not worried. ;)

[Jeff O Rocks]

any speculation about why Erik is taking so long??? :roll:

yes. because there's no rush. :p

we've been through this... there is Plenty of time to sign these guys, so there's really no need to rush through getting a deal done. I absolutely guarantee you that JR is still talking with Markov's agent. That and watching videos of camp (or camp itself) is most likely where all of his efforts have been.

I'll say it again... I'm not worried. ;)

If guyute and Eileen ain't worried, I ain't either!! ;) I don't see that he would be on the ice with the rookies, if he didn't have plans of remaining a Cane!! :D

[Shell]

This one is from today's Herald-Sun

Canes have questions to answer
BY R.L. BYNUM : The Herald-Sun
rbynum@heraldsun.com; 419-6667
Aug 7, 2003 : 12:54 am ET

RALEIGH -- With the off-season winding down, the Carolina Hurricanes' two biggest question marks surround veteran defenseman Danny Markov and young center Eric Staal.

Markov, acquired from the Phoenix Coyotes for David Tanabe and Igor Knyazev, is a free agent and has threatened to play in his native Russia this season if his contract demands aren't met. Staal, Carolina's top pick in the NHL Entry Draft, will be given a shot at making the roster but could end up playing juniors hockey for another season.

Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford's goal of bolstering his defense would be a rousing success if the gritty 6-1, 190-pound Markov is signed. Rutherford remains hopeful that he'll be able to do that.

Markov has the advantage of a two-year contract offer from a Russian league team as leverage.

"We'll continue to work through the process until we sign him, and I feel we will," said Rutherford, who admitted that signing Markov would put the Hurricanes over their budget.

"We're certainly in position that we've spent to our budget, but at the same time we're also in position where we're trying to put the best team on the ice," Rutherford said. "[Owner Peter] Karmanos has told me to continue to pursue Danny Markov and with him being signed, we'll be over budget."

Also unsigned are wingers Erik Cole and Jaroslav Svoboda and center Josef Vasicek, but Rutherford is confident that they'll be signed before the season starts.

Staal already is in Raleigh participating in the Hurricanes' prospect conditioning camp. A decision about whether to keep the 19-year-old center with the Hurricanes is more difficult because he can't be sent to the minor leagues.

Because of his age, if he doesn't secure a spot on the Canes roster, he'll return to Petersborough, Ontario, to play another season of juniors hockey with the Ontario Hockey League.

"I know I want to be here, and I'm going to work as hard as I can to stay," said Staal, who needs to add bulk to his 6-3, 182-pound frame to handle the physical play of he NHL. "I'm going to work as hard as I can in the next month to give myself the best shot to make it."

Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice said that it was too early to tell if Staal will make the roster.

"The question is 'Does it make sense?' " Maurice said. "He needs to develop, and time will tell. If he never sees another junior game, that will be decided by his play."

Maurice said one option will be to keep Staal on the roster for the first half of the season and then let him play for Canada in the World Junior Championships.

Another decision would then be made after the championships about whether he would return to the Canes or play for Petersborough.

"There's always pressure and a lot of guys are going to be trying to get stops," Staal said, "and I'm the same as anybody else."

[e2ipiand1]

If we're going to go over budget, let's sign some offense!

Arvedson would be nice.
Dahlen would work.
I'm sure there's plenty more out there.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Someone brought this up somewhere else I was reading....OK, so we sign Markov and we're over budget. Now, what happens when we try to sign Staal (if we do)? Isn't he gonna want a nice deal? We must have a plan to unload some of these extraneous players somewhere.

I know why Joe switched agents! Did you see what Jaro is making compared to him? :eek2:

[Shell]

No kidding! Joe had the 3rd lowest salary on the team last year at 350,000 compared to Jaro's 900,000 (which was more than Bates, Cole, and others)

[AbNormal27]

If guyute and Eileen ain't worried, I ain't either!! ;) I don't see that he would be on the ice with the rookies, if he didn't have plans of remaining a Cane!! :D

Right on. I'm with y'all on this. I mean, it's August 7th (all day long from what I hear), and play doesn't begin until SEPTEMBER 19TH. Relax a bit. Contract negotiations are another one of those things that happen in the NHL that none of us will truly understand unless we are part of the actual negotiating. Staal is skating, Cole is making appearances, JR and the agents are still talking, I see no need to worry. Just sit back and hope the calendar begins to flip quickly and we will be watching the boys play rather than worry about things beyond our control. Someone pour me a drink.

Aaryn