The NHLPA announced today that 31 players have opted to go for salary arbitration with their clubs. While players and their teams can still negotiate for a new contract, if things reach the stage where an arbitration hearing is needed to settle things out, things can get ugly. At arbitration, teams present cases against the player to tell why they should pay them what they believe their worth is.
The list of players looks like this:
Anaheim Ducks
James Wisniewski
Atlanta Thrashers
Ben Eager
Andrew Ladd
Clarke MacArthur
Boston Bruins
Greg Campbell
Blake Wheeler
Buffalo Sabres
Tim Kennedy
Calgary Flames
Ian White
Chicago Blackhawks
Antti Niemi
Columbus Blue Jackets
Jared Boll
Anton Stralman
Dallas Stars
Fabian Brunnstrom
Detroit Red Wings
Derek Meech
Edmonton Oilers
Gilbert Brule
Jeff Drouin-DesLauriers
Jean-Francois Jacques
Los Angeles Kings
Brad Richardson
New Jersey Devils
Mark Fraser
New York Islanders
Matt Moulson
New York Rangers
Daniel Girardi
Ottawa Senators
Chris Campoli
Peter Regin
Philadelphia Flyers
Daniel Carcillo
St. Louis Blues
Cam Janssen
Tampa Bay Lightning
Nate Thompson
Vancouver Canucks
Tanner Glass
Jannik Hansen
Mason Raymond
Washington Capitals
Eric Fehr
Tomas Fleischmann
Jeff Schultz
There are some potentially interesting cases here. The main one involves Blackhawks goalie Antti Niemi, a case we analyzed here earlier today.
Others involve NHL plus-minus leader Jeff Schultz from Washington, Atlanta’s newly acquired duo from Chicago in Andrew Ladd and Ben Eager, Boston’s enigmatic winger Blake Wheeler, Dallas’ bust-like Finnish import Fabian Brunnstrom, and the ever curious case of Philly’s Daniel Carcillo. I’d enjoy being a fly on the wall for an arbitration hearings involving Carcillo and Brunnstrom as hearing their teams arguing against them would be popcorn-bringing-worthy events.
Teams have a deadline for Club-Elected Salary Arbitration of July 6th, tomorrow, at 5:00 p.m. EDT. Hearings will be held in Toronto from July 20 to August 4.