Leafs take Jonathan Bernier to arbitration, Senators re-sign Pageau and Cameron, Jets re-sign Chiarot plus updates on the Oilers and Flames.
Leafs taking Jonathan Bernier to arbitration.
TSN: The Toronto Maple Leafs have filed for salary arbitration with goaltender Jonathan Bernier. Contract talks between the two sides are reportedly ongoing.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: So much for yesterday’s wild rumor suggesting an Instagram picture of Bernier’s son was some secret reference to a potential trade. This not only means Bernier cannot receive an offer sheet, it also means the Leafs can’t trade him unless the two sides agree to a new contract before the arbitration hearing. If Bernier is awarded a contract via arbitration, they cannot trade him for one year from the date of the arbiter’s decision. Because the Leafs are taking Bernier to arbitration, they cannot walk away from the awarded contract.
OTTAWA CITIZEN: The Senators have re-signed center JG Pageau to a two-year, one-way contract worth an annual cap hit of $900K. The club also re-signed head coach Dave Cameron to a two-year extension.
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: The Jets re-signe defenseman Ben Chiarot to a two-year, one-way contract worth $850K per season.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Should the Oilers offer up the 33rd overall pick for New York Rangers goalie Cam Talbot or Ottawa Senators netminder Robin Lehner?
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sure, why not? The Oilers have the first and 16th overall selections in this year’s draft. They’re landing Connor McDavid with the first overall and should get a good player with the 16th. They can afford the gamble. If the Rangers or Senators are interested in that high second-round pick for Talbot or Lehner, I say do it.
CALGARY HERALD: The Flames are undergoing a thorough pre-draft, pre-free agency process.
@Lyle
My memory is fuzzy on this, but in the past I recall teams walking away from the arbitrator’s decision, making the player a free agent. Did the newest CBA take that option away?
If the team files for arbitration, they cannot walk away from the arbiter’s decision. That’s always been in the CBA.
Thanks for the clarification!
Seems a bit arbitrary (truly not punning), I’m surprised it matters who initiates the process. Being able to walk away from a player initiated Arbitration seems like a petty action by the GM. You want that? See ya!
That said, the fact that if the team initiates it, it prevents offer sheets to that player, is an interesting part of the GM game.
The way I understood it when offer sheeting Dougie Hamilton was discussed a few weeks ago and arbitration was brought up was that the player still has until July 5th to look at signing an offer sheet… I could be wrong though…