Mellanby_equals_grit
08-05-2003, 01:01 AM
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/Sports/Blues/320054A3900DADFE86256D79001581A6?OpenDocument&Headline=Demitra+is+awarded+2nd-largest+arbitration+payout+ever
An arbitrator on Monday awarded Blues center Pavol Demitra a $6.5 million salary for next season, and now the Blues must decide if they want to pay it.
The Blues did not immediately agree to accept the one-year contract, although there are signs they are leaning in that direction. The Blues have 72 hours to decide. If they do not pick it up, Demitra becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Demitra's arbitration award, a raise from his 2002-03 salary of $3.975 million, was the second-largest in NHL history, behind only the $7 million decision for Philadelphia's John LeClair in 2000. It was closer to the Blues' proposed salary than the one proposed by Demitra's agent. Demitra's representative sought $8.5 million, a figure based roughly on the salary paid Blues center Doug Weight, who had 26 fewer points in eight fewer games last season.
"The biggest thing with it, as we've said all along, is that there's a contract and it gets done," Blues general manager Larry Pleau said. "We've got 72 hours. We'll spend some time going through things. We'll talk to ownership. We've got some time here."
Time, they have. Dollars are another matter.
The Blues are furiously trying to cut costs. It would be difficult to reconcile the slashing of 11 positions in the franchise's and Savvis Center's support staffs earlier this summer while raising the on-ice payroll this fall. But the Blues have not yet set a final budget for the coming season. It could be the same as last season's payroll, which was a cash total of $55.7 million.
While the Blues expected a decision in the $5.7 million to $6.2 million range, the $6.5 million appears to fit in their budget. The length of one season is something that the Blues like, too.
Demitra's contract is the last of the Blues' unsettled contracts.If the Blues decide to meet the arbitrator's award, they will have a 23-player payroll of $58.98 million. Last season's payroll hovered around $60 million, with the insurance payoff for Chris Pronger's season-long injury cutting it down.
The quickest way for the Blues to reduce their payroll is to walk away from Demitra. That would cut the Blues' payroll to less than last season's.
But if the Blues knew they were going to deep-six Demitra because of his salary, why do it now and get nothing? A trade would have netted at least draft picks. So, why let him be an unrestricted free agent, especially with Detroit looking to snap up the top-line center of its needs?
The more likely reason for waiting to agree to the arbitrated contract is ... possibilities. The least likely possibility is walking away from the arbitration decision and trying to negotiated a multi-year deal with Demitra.
A team has walked away from an arbitration decision once before. Boston declined Dmitri Khristich's $2.8 million award in 1999. Khristich signed with Toronto.
A more likely reason to wait on finalizing Demitra's contract is the Blues have 72 hours to play with and Pleau can fish for free agents. If there's a combination of free agents - Joe Nieuwendyk, maybe, and another - that could be signed for less than $6.5 million, it would make fiscal sense
If staying competitive were the only concern, Demitra's deal would be done.
"I like Pavol as a player," Pleau said. "I like Pavol as a good player, but we have to look at our payroll, too. ... We're not going to be the team without Pavol that we are with Pavol. We like Pavol. We'd like to have him on the time. But the bottom line is the bottom line."
An arbitrator on Monday awarded Blues center Pavol Demitra a $6.5 million salary for next season, and now the Blues must decide if they want to pay it.
The Blues did not immediately agree to accept the one-year contract, although there are signs they are leaning in that direction. The Blues have 72 hours to decide. If they do not pick it up, Demitra becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Demitra's arbitration award, a raise from his 2002-03 salary of $3.975 million, was the second-largest in NHL history, behind only the $7 million decision for Philadelphia's John LeClair in 2000. It was closer to the Blues' proposed salary than the one proposed by Demitra's agent. Demitra's representative sought $8.5 million, a figure based roughly on the salary paid Blues center Doug Weight, who had 26 fewer points in eight fewer games last season.
"The biggest thing with it, as we've said all along, is that there's a contract and it gets done," Blues general manager Larry Pleau said. "We've got 72 hours. We'll spend some time going through things. We'll talk to ownership. We've got some time here."
Time, they have. Dollars are another matter.
The Blues are furiously trying to cut costs. It would be difficult to reconcile the slashing of 11 positions in the franchise's and Savvis Center's support staffs earlier this summer while raising the on-ice payroll this fall. But the Blues have not yet set a final budget for the coming season. It could be the same as last season's payroll, which was a cash total of $55.7 million.
While the Blues expected a decision in the $5.7 million to $6.2 million range, the $6.5 million appears to fit in their budget. The length of one season is something that the Blues like, too.
Demitra's contract is the last of the Blues' unsettled contracts.If the Blues decide to meet the arbitrator's award, they will have a 23-player payroll of $58.98 million. Last season's payroll hovered around $60 million, with the insurance payoff for Chris Pronger's season-long injury cutting it down.
The quickest way for the Blues to reduce their payroll is to walk away from Demitra. That would cut the Blues' payroll to less than last season's.
But if the Blues knew they were going to deep-six Demitra because of his salary, why do it now and get nothing? A trade would have netted at least draft picks. So, why let him be an unrestricted free agent, especially with Detroit looking to snap up the top-line center of its needs?
The more likely reason for waiting to agree to the arbitrated contract is ... possibilities. The least likely possibility is walking away from the arbitration decision and trying to negotiated a multi-year deal with Demitra.
A team has walked away from an arbitration decision once before. Boston declined Dmitri Khristich's $2.8 million award in 1999. Khristich signed with Toronto.
A more likely reason to wait on finalizing Demitra's contract is the Blues have 72 hours to play with and Pleau can fish for free agents. If there's a combination of free agents - Joe Nieuwendyk, maybe, and another - that could be signed for less than $6.5 million, it would make fiscal sense
If staying competitive were the only concern, Demitra's deal would be done.
"I like Pavol as a player," Pleau said. "I like Pavol as a good player, but we have to look at our payroll, too. ... We're not going to be the team without Pavol that we are with Pavol. We like Pavol. We'd like to have him on the time. But the bottom line is the bottom line."