Posts Tagged ‘Mason Raymond’

The Blake Wheeler Decision By The Bruins Will Be The First Domino

29, Jul 2010

The Blake Wheeler arbitration decision will come today. So we will find out how much money Wheeler got and if he will be a Boston Bruin for much longer. The Bruins have the option of keeping him, letting him go to free agency, or signing him and then trading him.

The main knock on Wheeler is that he does not use his size. That is not too big of a problem in my opinion because he is still young, he can still learn how to more effectively use his large body. Furthermore, I think he will gain say 15 more pounds and really be able to throw that weight around. In other words he will grow into his body.

This is one big domino because the Boston Bruins have very little cap space. Of course by putting Sturm on the LTIR his cap hit will not count and that will mean Boston should have plenty of space to sign him.

However, if the money is too much the Bruins may get rid of him to be fiscally prudent. Personally I expect him to get $2.4 million per year as he is not as good as Mason Raymond so a bit less is reasonable.

The reason this would be a domino is that the Bruins have been trying very hard to get Tomas Kaberle to pair him up with Zdeno Chara. I can see the attraction, but no cap space means Wheeler can be a big bargaining chip along with Mark Stuart as a starting point. It is interesting but I don’t see it happening, especially if the Leafs can get Ryan Clowe.

However if they start offering Wheeler the trade winds can start blowing as they have been quieter than usual this offseason (minus the dismantling of the Stanley Cup Champions). So will they? This becomes a question.

I think it more likely they offer Bergeron to free up the cap space. The reason I mention Bergeron is his cap hit this year is quite large at a bit over $5 million. This would allow them to sign some of the free agents still floating around.

Another reason is that they have a glut of centres but a lack of wing depth, so why deal Wheeler? Makes much more sense to deal the overpaid, underperforming centre for just cap space.

In the end though I expect the Bruins to just stand pat. They will do nothing, just accept the Wheeler arbitration. However once the number comes in the teams will know what to expect for their own arbitration eligible players and will adjust accordingly. This is the main domino that will fall. 

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Canucks re-sign Mason Raymond

26, Jul 2010

NHLHS Vancouver Canucks Correspondents Will & Valerie Wittstruck take a look at Mason Raymond’s new contract. The Vancouver Canucks have re-signed Mason Raymond to a 2-year deal that will pay the speedy winger 2.5 million this season and 2.6 million in 2011-12. The deal happened right before both sides were going to present their case [...]

Vancouver Canucks Sign Restricted Free Agent Mason Raymond

26, Jul 2010

It was announced today that the Canucks have re-signed forward Mason Raymond to a two-year deal thus avoiding arbitration. In keeping with club policy, terms were not disclosed.

However NHL.com stated that several media reports (including local radio station TEAM 1040) that Raymond will make $2.5 million this season and $2.6 million in 2011-12.

That seems like a reasonable amount when you compare Alex Burrows $2 million and Mikael Samuelsson’s $2.5 million contracts.

Well now that the easy part is out of the way, time to get down to the hard part which is the salary cap issue.

This now puts the ‘Nucks $2,658,333 million OVER the cap limit and even with the LITR break they will get with Sami Salo’s injury of $3.5 million (will make it $800,000 approx. under the cap), they will still have a problem if (a big IF here) Salo returns to the lineup.

There is another LITR break that may surface if Burrows is not ready due to his offseason shoulder surgery which was to repair a torn labrum.

In all of this lies the problem.

Most teams will have gotten to their operating cap by the time the season starts so waiting until around the Christmas point in the season (Salo’s expected return) is a gamble to try and shed that $2.6 million and still have a bit left over to operate (at least $1 to 1.5 million).

Of the total numbers of forwards that the Canucks have signed, 12 are roster players and eight non-roster.

Some of these non-roster types like Cody Hodgson, Victor Oreskovich, Sergei Shirokov, Jordan Schroeder, and Anton Rodin just to name a few, would bump up the cap some more if they were to make the team.

Let’s say any two of the three names like Hodgson ($1.7 million – rounded up), Oreskovich ($575,000), or Alex Bolduc ($500,000) make the team.

That would mean the Canucks would have to shed about $2.2 million plus another $1 to 1.5 million buffer to operate.

This leads the Canucks back to someone or a combination of players that total about $4.1 million.

So with that being said, will the Canucks still try to trade or shed outright Kevin Bieksa and his $3.75 million contract?

The other question that begs to be answered is, should the ‘Nucks risk playing with just seven defensemen—Dan Hamhuis, Keith Ballard, Alex Edler, Christian Ehrhoff, Shane O’Brien, Aaron Rome, and Andrew Alberts?

What I don’t see is anyone that is ready in Manitoba that could come up in an emergency situation and play many minutes for an extended period of time if needed.

If today’s NHL has shown us anything, it’s that you need nine defensemen to not only get through the regular season but the playoffs as well.

I still do not feel that the ‘Nucks have that tough scoring third line that they were trying to rebuild. Nor do they have the cap space to go out and sign some of those UFA players still on the market.

So that means they are trying to make do with what they have.

And except for Manny Malhotra, please don’t tell me that Cody Hodgson and Jannik Hansen will be the other portions to the line.

Hodgson has no NHL experience and Hansen has 16 goals in 109 games. These are not the type of players nor numbers the Canucks need for a productive third line.

Oh to be a capologist in today’s NHL!

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Peter Tessier: As per Kyprios Raymond Signs

26, Jul 2010

The Greek broke it and Mason Raymond has signed a two year 5.1 million deal avoiding arbitration. It pays 2.5 and 2.6 million for the term.

Now I’m no prophet but this is exacty where I thought and hoped he would be in the salary hierarchy- he took Burrows money knowing there is more to come if he continues his development.

So what do you think and more importantly who and how created the ca…

Peter Tessier: As per Kypreos Raymond Signs

26, Jul 2010

The Greek broke it and Mason Raymond has signed a two year 5.1 million deal avoiding arbitration. It pays 2.5 and 2.6 million for the term.

Now I’m no prophet but this is exacty where I thought and hoped he would be in the salary hierarchy- he took Burrows money knowing there is more to come if he continues his development.

So what do you think and more importantly who and how created the ca…

Peter Tessier: Anyone Getting Worried About Raymond?

22, Jul 2010

With the recent developments of two key contract situations, I think there are more questions about the arbitration hearing with Mason Raymond for Canucks fans than they would like.

Clarke MacArthur was awarded a 1 year 2.4 million dollar salary for not scoring 20 goals and barely going beyond 30 points. The Thrashers have let him loose and he is now a UFA. David Perron who has very similar n…

NHL Rumors: Where Will Ilya Kovalchuk, Simon Gagne and Mike Modano End Up?

19, Jul 2010

While most of the big-name signees have put pen to paper and are now preparing for a whole new training camp, there are still a couple of interesting names out there. There are also some big pieces to be acquired through trade, restricted free agents that need contracts, and teams that need buying.

Although this is that typically quiet time we get between the second week of July and the first week of August, plenty can still happen. Here’s a look at what’s got ears burning around the NHL right now…

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Arbitration and the Three Vancouver Canucks

6, Jul 2010

By now, you have all heard that Tanner Glass, Jannik Hansen, and Mason Raymond have filed for arbitration after having received qualifying offers as RFA’s.

Now, I can understand Raymond taking this to arbitration as he had a minimum qualifying offer of $700,000.

Glass and Hansen? Not so much.

Sure I can see that Glass and Hansen want one-way contracts, and the team wants two ways. But for Glass, what does he have for an arguing point?

He was a fourth line player for most of the season and before he joined the ‘Nucks, he played a total of 44 games in the NHL with the Florida Panthers, and had a total of one goal, one assist, and 46 PIM.

Conversely with the Canucks, he played in 67 games—had four goals, seven assists, and 115 PIM, but is he worth any more than the $550,000 then he was offered?

Go have a look at the names of the available UFA’s that can play that role.

There are players like Josh Gratton and Warren Peters just to name a few, and for a similar price.

Vancouver might have a plan. If the arbitration decision is more than they want to pay, than they can walk away and Glass would become an unrestricted free agent.

They then have the option of signing not only another player to fill that role, but also a bigger, tougher version.

Hansen seems to have a bit more to argue his case with.

Since his arrival to the NHL, he has never been a big scorer but did have his best year last season in the 47 games he did play.

Nine goals and six assists with 18 PIM. And in five games with the Moose—two assists in five games.

I don’t see him as a third line player because the ‘Nucks want a grittier player that can score 15–20 goals and he doesn’t suit the fourth line pro-type either.

So, if the arbitration ruling is not in the ballpark, Hansen could see himself out on the market with the rest of the 50 plus UF or RFA’s.

Tim Jackman and Ben Guite could fill Hansen’s role at the qualifying offer.

With Mason Raymond’s career year (25 G, 28 A) the team will argue that Raymond scored most of the goals early in the season and went through long periods of drought.

In the playoffs he has not been productive, unless you think five goals and two assists in 22 games meets that criterion.

In the end though I would think they will come to some sort of compromise unless the arbitration ruling is too high.

Alex Burrows ($2 million) and Mikael Samuelsson ($2.5 million) are better players at this stage of the game, and if Raymond was awarded somewhere close to the $3 million mark, than it may make Raymond unaffordable with the limited cap space.

For all parties concerned, arbitration can be a gamble. And at times, from what has been reported, not very pleasant.

Let’s hope in Raymond’s case the two settle before that date at a price they both can live with.

I will be reporting after attending the Summer Summit Prospects Camp on Wednesday.

 

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Canucks back at it

19, Apr 2010

With 2 games already in the books and the series tied 1-1 between the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings, here are a few observations.

The Kings youth hasn’t been a liability… yet
Their core of young players have played extremely well under early pressure. Facing the raucous crowd in Vancouver is no easy task, [...]


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