3 replies to this topic

[PortBeach13]

TSN.ca Staff



8/1/2004

The change of the month means the start of salary arbitration in the NHL.



Two players are scheduled to have their cases heard today, unless they can come to some last minute agreement with their respective teams.



The Tampa Bay Lightning will put their perfect salary arbitration record on the line when defenseman Pavel Kubina makes his case Sunday. General manager Jay Feaster tells the St. Petersburg Times he does not expect a deal to get done before the hearing.



Related Info
Salary Arbitration Schedule

"We don't see him being awarded that," said Feaster of the $3.7-million a season Kubina has been asking for as part of a two year deal. "If he gets it, it'll be through arbitration because we're not going to negotiate that. I'll do two years but not at ($3.7-million a season)."



Kubina, who set career highs for goals and points this past season, earned $2.5-million last year. The Lightning have offered a three year deal worth $9-million.



The Lightning also have four other players scheduled for salary arbitration this month, Ruslan Fedotenko, Cory Sarich, Fredrik Modin and Cory Stillman.



In the arbitration process, arbitrators award a contract sought by either side or anything in between. Decisions come within 48 hours, and if the team decides to walk away from the decision, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent.



Despite winning the Stanley Cup, Feaster indicated he is prepared to walk away if he feels the decision is not financially viable.



"I don't mind paying players," Feaster tells the Times. "I'm not prepared to overpay players.



"We have a budget we have to work within.



Joining Kubina on the arbitration docket Sunday is Boston Bruins defenseman Sergei Gonchar. He is coming off a four year, $13.95-million deal which saw him earn $3.65-million this past season.



Agent J.P. Barry says Gonchar will be present at the hearing even though he has the option not to attend the proceedings.



"If that's the approach that's taken (by the team), then that's part of the process and (the players) should hear it," Barry tells the Boston Herald. "If (the team is) prepared to say it, then they should be prepared to mean what they say."




Feaster is right; Kubina is not worth 3.7 mil a year. Whats with all these one year heroes thinking they deserve more than they're worth. Watch Kubina go to the Rangers.

[Jigger]

I'ver heard that the Blackhawks are interested in signing Kubina.This would be a bad lose for the Bolts,but they would also get a lot of picks for the next years.

[duckingermany]

yes kubina played amazing in the finals against iginla!!!that would be a huge lose for them!!
amd gonchar is the best offense defender but defensive not to good!!!
difficult to decide!!

[JasonAKADfan8]

Kubina to the Blackhawks would really push Chicago up there...and Tampa losing him would create a void and make it very difficult for them to repeat.. :bbn: x: :bbn: :jason: