Laich's Arb. Hearing Scheduled for Today
I've heard nothing from the Caps about Brooks Laich and Milan Jurcina agreeing to new contracts, so it sounds like both players are going to allow an arbitrator to set their pay. I can understand why a player would want to go to arb--I just wouldn't want to be that player while club officials rip him apart during the hearing.
Laich's hearing is scheduled for this morning in Toronto. Jurcina's is scheduled for next Monday.
Decisions must be announced within 48 hours of the hearing. If the team doesn't like the decision, it can walk away. If that happens, the player can declare himself an unrestricted free agent.
Laich, a 24-year-old forward who bounced around from line to line last season, earned $606,100 for his eight goals and 10 assists. Whether the arbitrator sees fit to give him a raise remains to be seen.
I just pulled out my copy of the CBA and read up on the arbitration process. The arbitrator will consider the player's statistical performance as well as his "leadership qualities" and "public appeal". The arbitrator can also consider injuries and the number of times the player was a healthy scratch.
The arbitrator cannot consider newspaper columns, the financial condition of the team or the team's salary cap situation.
One of the biggest factors, I've heard, is "player comparisons", which will be submitted by both sides.
Like I said, I'm really happy not to be Brooks this morning. Arbitration is often brutal for the player.
Note:I'm covering the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis on Sunday, which means I've got a few days off during the week. So I'll be in and out, but will make sure to provide updates for significant stuff like player signings and arbitration decisions.
By Tarik El-Bashir |
July 23, 2007; 6:54 AM ET
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Posted by: Tomppav | July 23, 2007 7:47 AM
Being a Laich fan, I hope it all works out today!!! I think he deserves the 4th line spot.
Posted by: Reston | July 23, 2007 8:38 AM
i think brooks is hoping the team will walk away. with gordon taking the third line center spot, suts (or better yet, steckel) taking the fourth, brash probably dressing nightly and any combination of clymer, bradley, pettinger, etc. filling up the rest of the bottom 6, laich isn't exactly guaranteed a sweater next season...
Posted by: pgreene | July 23, 2007 9:21 AM
pgreene -- i think you are right.
Posted by: Tarik | July 23, 2007 9:41 AM
I can see your point, PGreene. The problem that I think Laich faces is that he might become a free agent at the end of July. It would have been better for him to get there in June when he could field some offers for someone who fits into the bottom six. It seems to me, at least -- and I could be really wrong, that the big names and the under $1M types have been taken care of. I think BL fits in the latter. Getting a contract someplace else, other than Europe, might not be all that easy.
Posted by: Old Bob | July 23, 2007 9:50 AM
they have 48 hours after the team's last hearing, actually. So the Caps don't have to decide anything on Brooks until 48 hours after Jurcina's hearing.
I watched Brooks play in Seattle and I really like the guy -- sadly, I fear I've seen him play his last game in a Caps sweater. :(
Posted by: jess | July 23, 2007 9:55 AM
Check out Ovechkin and Kozlov at OFB
Posted by: Anonymous | July 23, 2007 10:06 AM
Unless I'm mistaken, I don't think the team can walk away from an award unless it's above a certain dollar threshhold (which is over $1m, and I can't imagine any sane arbitrator giving Laich more than that).
Posted by: J.P. | July 23, 2007 10:26 AM
That's correct. Section 12.10 of the CBA spells out the thresholds and limitations. The amount is $1,042,173 (before adjustment for proportionate increases in average league salary).
Posted by: ThePeerless | July 23, 2007 11:10 AM
Then he is safe. I can't see anyone giving him that much.
Posted by: Old Bob | July 23, 2007 11:14 AM
ThePeerless and Old Bob - I hope you are correct! I want Laich to stay in DC. Let them battle it out at training camp. And I thought it was 48 hrs after his hearing not after the team's last one. Would someone confirm for me? Thanks
Posted by: Reston | July 23, 2007 11:58 AM
Peerless gave the citation, see 12.10 of the CBA, which can be accessed via the NHLPA website.
My understanding form prior readings is same as Peerless and J.P.'s...that the walk away rights only apply if the award is 1.042M figure or more (adjusted for 07-08).
Given the dollar figure issue this may not apply, but the 48 hr question: the parties involved have to be notified within 48 hours of the arb's decision and the team then has 48 hours. If there is another player for the team still headed to arb and walk away rights apply, the team has until 48 hours after the last award is issued.
Posted by: sk84fun | July 23, 2007 12:27 PM
Reston:
from tsn (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=7545):
Arbitrator decisions must be made within 48 hours of the hearing, and teams then have 48 hours (or 48 hours after the team's last hearing is concluded if they have more than one) to accept the contract or walk away, immediately making the player an unrestricted free agent. Note that a team that requests arbitration does not have walk-away rights.
Posted by: jess | July 23, 2007 12:35 PM
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Caps prospect Oskar Osala has been signed by Finnish Elite League team Blues. It's a one year deal and there's a clause that allows Osala to leave the team, if he signs with Caps before the NHL regular season begins.