15 replies to this topic

[Reb]

That would be Scott not Rob. Perhaps things are not so hot in Joisey!
Now Scottie will have to make his case why he's worth it and, of course, the Devils have to make a case why he's not worth what he's asking for.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=91...180&hubName=nhl

[Veca]

:bye: Thanks for the link there Reb. Looks like things are getting down right ugly!!! So far no Ducks are quacking!!! Hope it stays that way.
What ever happened to Lammie saying that they would pay whatever for Scottie???? Does that mean that Scottie indeed wants to come here????

[PortBeach13]

Thnx for the linko Reb :tu:

[ahtikullervo]

It is interesting development. Day after Lamoriello promises "anything he asks", Scott files... There might be serious issues in Devils camp... News from there are very contoversial. A few weeks ago Viktor Kozlov declared that he is ready to play in Russia (signed with Togliatti Lada) and now he re-signed with Devils... Who can understand what is really going on in NJ???

[Stanislav Chistov]

:bye: Thanks for the link there Reb. Looks like things are getting down right ugly!!! So far no Ducks are quacking!!! Hope it stays that way.
What ever happened to Lammie saying that they would pay whatever for Scottie???? Does that mean that Scottie indeed wants to come here????

Or Vancouver. I find it hard he'll do this for any other teams.

[duckingermany]

rob and scott in a team cool deal!!!!

the best skater with one of the best players shorthanded!!!!
the norris trophy winner together with ozo!!!!good!!!!!!

[hattrick74]

scott was known to be goin to arbritration for a while now, Lamerello basically said that what ever was awarded they would pay. Scott will not be a duck anytime soon, basically Rob has a better chance of being a devil then Scott being a duck

[JasonAKADfan8]

Rob didn't elect for arbitration which could be a good sign...I am hoping he is happy with the Mighty Ducks and signs soon. Salei did select arbitration and Holmqvist signed today. As for Scott Nieds...I am not sure what it all means except that Lammie did say he would pay for Scott and that means whatever arbitration decides that's fine with him...Is it up to Scott? Hopefully he wants to be a Duck...others are saying that both as Canucks...I really don't want to see that happen. x: :jason:

[QuacksMeUp]

Attention Mighty Ducks management: Please follow these instructions if you want fans in seats at the Pond in bucketloads next season ---

1. Read this: LINK

2. Dump Sykora and Prospal.

3. Sign Scott for $8 Million.

There, all better now.

[Just Duckie]

The Devils don't have much choice but to pay what the arbitrator decides. Things can't be so amiable if they are going to arbitration because a player is basically going in to say why he thinks he deserves to be paid x amount and the team is going in there to tear down that argument. It's an adversarial process and may create bad feelings between the two parties. And negotiations can't be going well if Scott N. feels strongly enough about his case to take it to arbitration.

I doubt there is much of a chance of Scott coming to the Ducks. But things aren't necessarily happy families in NJ either for Scott.

[Just Duckie]

QuacksMeUp, can you recap what the article says for us? Sorry, but I'm not registered on the NYT's web site.

Thanks.

[Dark Knight]

I'm sorry, I don't get the logic of dumping Prospal and Sykora for Scott and how that's going to fill the seats at the Pond...

[QuacksMeUp]

QuacksMeUp, can you recap what the article says for us? Sorry, but I'm not registered on the NYT's web site.

Thanks.

Niedermayer, who turns 31 on Aug. 31, ended the three-year Norris reign of Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom. But Lidstrom has something Niedermayer does not: a contract for the 2004-5 season.
And Lidstrom is to make $10 million, more than any other defenseman, should there be a season. Niedermayer made $4 million last season.
The collective bargaining agreement between the owners and the players union is to expire Sept. 15, and a new agreement does not appear to be imminent. Teams are generally going about their business as usual, but the deadline creeps closer.
And everything is in flux, including Niedermayer's long-term future, not to mention his earning power.
"Things are a lot clearer when people know what they're dealing with a month from now, let alone three years from now," Niedermayer said in a telephone interview from his summer home in British Columbia. "It could work out either way."
Niedermayer became a restricted free agent after the season. He turned down an offer from the Devils to opt for salary arbitration last week. He is hopeful he can get a multiyear contract with the Devils before his arbitration hearing Aug. 11 in Toronto.
But that is not a certainty. Niedermayer, who with center Jason Arnott had a 19-game contract holdout at the beginning of the 2000-1 season, could accept an arbitrator's ruling to play for the Devils next season, then move elsewhere.
"I think it's a difficult situation for Scott," his agent, Kevin Epp, said yesterday from his office in Vancouver. "When you play your career in one place, you'd like to choose to see what you might be worth on the open market. He's never been in that position. Sometimes you don't know if the grass is greener if you're not able to look."
The Devils were reported to have lost $20 million last season, and General Manager Lou Lamoriello had said they would not be dipping too deeply into the free-agent market this summer before they signed defenseman Richard Matvichuk last week to a four-year contract worth more than $7 million.
Epp, who has been representing Niedermayer with Jarrett Bousquet, a Calgary-based agent, said he planned to keep negotiating with Lamoriello until the hearing, even though no one really knows what will happen after Sept. 15.
"I think there's a lot of uncertainty," said Epp, who did not represent Niedermayer during his holdout. "Over the process, and I think a lot of other players' processes, top players will always be paid as top players. Those are the people who, in hockey or baseball or football, will always put people in the seats.''
"He helps teams win championships," Epp said of Niedermayer. "Scott has been so valuable to the New Jersey Devils. Lou's a smart man, and he realizes that, too."
Niedermayer has played his entire 12-season N.H.L. career with the Devils, who have won the Stanley Cup three times with him. He likes playing for the Devils, and all three of his children were born in New Jersey.
"It's been great for me," he said. "I've been there a long time."
The Devils like having Niedermayer too. He became especially valuable last season after Scott Stevens, the relentless veteran defenseman, was sidelined by a concussion.
Niedermayer became the captain in Stevens's absence and averaged nearly 26 minutes of playing time a game. He was second among league defensemen with 54 points, and he finished with a plus-minus rating of plus-20.
"He has, no question, been an integral part of our team," Lamoriello said. "We'd like to do everything we can to keep him."
So how much is the Norris trophy worth? If Niedermayer is better than Lidstrom, or even his equal, he should get a $6 million raise. Colorado defenseman Rob Blake, who won the Norris in 1998 with Los Angeles, is to make $8.3 million next season.
"I suppose it helps," Niedermayer said of the trophy. "But I don't think it changes anything in Lou's eyes. Lou knows how I play."
But Lamoriello also likes to believe that the Devils used a team concept to build their success. Stevens, 40, will make $6,916,747 if he returns for the 2004-5 season, and goaltender Martin Brodeur, 32, who was as important in the Devils' three Stanley Cup victories as anyone, will make $6,891,103.13.
"Always, from a player's standpoint, you look at the whole spectrum, the whole marketplace," Epp said.
It seems as if Niedermayer will ask for close to what Lidstrom is making, but Lidstrom signed as an unrestricted free agent, and Niedermayer is a restricted free agent. Only contracts signed under similar circumstances can be compared.
The only Group II restricted free agent to whom Niedermayer's performance can be compared is that of St. Louis defenseman Chris Pronger, who was given a qualifying offer but has yet to accept it. So Niedermayer's market value remains a mystery.
Niedermayer is getting set to play more hockey while preparing for a season that may not happen. He is to play for Canada in the World Cup later this summer. Then, who knows?
"I think, for both sides, playing hockey would be the best for everybody," Niedermayer said.

DK --- That's just my opinion. Ducks don't have enough available payroll to just add Scott at $8M -- but if they trade away Sykora and Prospal that gives them some $$ to work with. I don't want to see Sykora or Prospal leave, but everyone has their own personal bottom line about players they want to see in Anaheim at just about any cost, and mine is Scott.

[Dark Knight]

DK --- That's just my opinion. Ducks don't have enough available payroll to just add Scott at $8M -- but if they trade away Sykora and Prospal that gives them some $$ to work with. I don't want to see Sykora or Prospal leave, but everyone has their own personal bottom line about players they want to see in Anaheim at just about any cost, and mine is Scott.

Fair enough. :tu: Although I think they will make an impact this year. I'll agree with you on the fact that Scott N., would be a great public relations move.

[Veca]

:rant: :rant: :rant: :rant: There will be NO dumping Sykora!!!!! Sykora STAYS!!!! I will say no more!!!!! :rant: :rant: :rant:

[QuacksMeUp]

DK --- That's just my opinion.  Ducks don't have enough available payroll to just add Scott at $8M -- but if they trade away Sykora and Prospal that gives them some $$ to work with.  I don't want to see Sykora or Prospal leave, but everyone has their own personal bottom line about players they want to see in Anaheim at just about any cost, and mine is Scott.

Fair enough. :tu: Although I think they will make an impact this year. I'll agree with you on the fact that Scott N., would be a great public relations move.

I am just very glad that I don't have to make those kinds of decisions.