Colby Armstrong to Toronto, 3 years, $9M: Leafs keep following Burke's plan, adding truculence. And Colby has leadership and some offensive skills. Good deal.
Matt Cullen to Minnesota, 3 years, $10.5M: Wild fans can expect a listless, uninterested, overpaid center who will decide to show up only when not feeling so homesick for Carolina that he calls into their broadcasts lamenting leaving Raleigh.
Dan Ellis to Tampa Bay, 2 years, $3M: Ellis will battle Mike Smith for starting time and hopefully that will make both better. Stevie Y is looking as smart off the ice as he was on it, adding Ellis and re-signing little Marty St. Louis. Tampa will be a lot better next season.
Kurtis Foster to Edmonton, 2 years, $3.6M: Big slap shot to go with good puck skills and some toughness, Sheldon Souray's replacement is younger, stronger and healthier. Good addition for Tom Renney's team.
Sergei Gonchar to Ottawa, 3 years, $16.5M: Gonchar keeps the same 5.5 salary he made with Pittsburgh and brings his sublime offensive skills to a team that desperately needs them. He is the Wade Redden replacement that they needed years ago and should hugely improve their power play with Spezza and Alfredsson.
Dan Hamhuis to Vancouver, 6 years, $27M: Canucks overpay for an overrated defender but after watching Luongo go swimming after rebounds last spring, they had to do something.
Olli Jokinen to Calgary, 2 years, $6M: Hahaha!! And I thought Sather would come through for Olli and we would all be left scratching our heads. Instead it is the poor Flames fans. Poor, poor Flames fans.
Toni Lydman to Anaheim, 3 years, $9M: Solid and steady Finn will help add stability to a blueline rocked by the loss of Niedermayer. Add in Saku Koivu re-upping, and the odds of Teemu coming through another season just jumped up.
Manny Malhotra to Vancouver, 3 years, $7.5M: Big money deal for our former top draft pick, Manny will be a rock in the middle for the Canucks. He can contribute on both sides of the ice and is stellar in the faceoff circle. That being said, a third liner making more than two mil a year is a lot ... but the Rangers pay theirs over seven so whatever ...
Chris Mason to Atlanta 2 years, $3.7M: Just in case Pavelic isn't ready, the Thrashers add a good goalie who can easily start 60 games and steal more than a few of them.
Paul Martin to Pittsburgh, 5 years, $25M: Amazing that Martin left Newark for just a 500k raise but how can you blame him? Martin gets a legitimate chance at a Stanley Cup run with the Pens. Pittsburgh doesn't replace Gonchar's offense but Martin helps in all three zones, not just the front two.
Zbynek Michalek to Pittsburgh, 5 years, $20M: When you consider the Pens added Martin too, this signing is HUGE. Michalek gets a massive raise from the 1.5 million he made last season but he is well worth the money, especially at just 26 years old.
Antero Niittymaki to San Jose, 2 years, $4M: It woulda been great to see the two 2006 Olympic gold medal game goaltenders holding court in New York but two mil a season for a backup is a bit much. San Jose was desperate to get someone in there and they got a guy who comes cheaper than the top flight but is capable of top flight goaltender. Sometimes.
Sean O’Donnell to Philadelphia, 1 year, $1M: Big, tough, smart and experienced, O'Donnell is a big addition for the Bullies. They make a huge improvement over Bartulis and Krajicek with O'Donnell and Andrej Meszaros.
Henrik Tallinder to New Jersey, 4 years, $13.5M: Another steady defender, Tallinder should quietly fit in and fill a third or fourth defenseman roll there.
Alex Tanguay to Calgary, 1 year, $1.7M: Tanguay took a 800k pay cut to go back to Calgary where he will reunite with Jarome Iginla and hopefully re-ignite his career.
Jody Shelley to Philadelphia, 3 years, $3.3M: What can you say? Philly adds class and toughness, perhaps even improving on Arron Asham, who is likely to sign elsewhere.
Ray Whitney to Phoenix, 2 years, $6M: The Wizard has serious skills, even at his age. He may take some ice time away from Prucha but he also may help Pru become a better player. The Yotes can certainly hope ...
Anton Volchenkov to New Jersey, 6 years, $25.5 M: Anton, meet Avery. Avery, meet Anton. Strong shot blocker should become close 'friends' with Sean this coming season.
Not So Free Agents: Understanding Restricted Free Agency in Sports
In the world of professional sports, the term "free agent" often conjures images of players exploring new opportunities, signing lucrative contracts, and making headlines. However, not all free agents are entirely free to choose their destinations. Some athletes find themselves in a unique category known as "Restricted Free Agents." In this article, we will delve into the concept of restricted free agency, how it works in various sports leagues, the impact on players and teams, and answer frequently asked questions about this intriguing facet of sports contracts.
What is Restricted Free Agency?
Restricted free agency is a contractual arrangement in professional sports that gives a team certain control over a player's future, even when their contract expires. When a player's contract expires, and they have not reached unrestricted free agency status, the team they played for typically has the right to retain that player by matching any contract offer they receive from another team. This system is designed to help teams maintain a degree of stability while also allowing players the opportunity to negotiate better deals.
Here are the key components of restricted free agency:
Qualification: Players typically become restricted free agents after their initial contract (rookie contract) expires. The specific criteria for becoming a restricted free agent may vary by sports league.
Right of First Refusal: The player's current team has the right of first refusal, meaning they can match any contract offer made by another team to retain the player's services.
Compensation: If the player's current team chooses not to match the offer, they may receive compensation in the form of draft picks from the team that signs the restricted free agent. The exact compensation rules vary by league.
Tender Offers: Teams must submit a "qualifying offer" or "tender offer" to their restricted free agents by a certain deadline to maintain their rights.
Negotiation Period: Restricted free agents and their current teams often have a period during which they can negotiate a new contract or reach an agreement.
How Restricted Free Agency Works in Different Leagues
Restricted free agency operates slightly differently in various professional sports leagues. Here's a brief overview of how it works in some major leagues:
NBA (National Basketball Association): In the NBA, players become restricted free agents after their rookie contracts expire. Teams have the right to match any offer sheet signed by a restricted free agent. The qualifying offer sets the player's salary cap hold.
NFL (National Football League): Restricted free agency in the NFL is relatively rare. Players with three accrued seasons become restricted free agents, and their current team has the right to match any offer. Compensation varies based on the tender level placed on the player.
NHL (National Hockey League): In the NHL, players typically become restricted free agents after their entry-level contracts end. Teams must extend qualifying offers to their restricted free agents to maintain their rights. Compensation, in the form of draft picks, is determined by the offer sheet's value.
MLB (Major League Baseball): Baseball operates under a different system. Players usually go through arbitration before becoming true free agents. Once a player reaches a certain level of service time, they can become free agents with no restrictions.
Implications for Players and Teams
For Players:
Negotiating Power: Restricted free agency allows players to test their market value and potentially secure more lucrative contracts.
Risk of Staying: If a player's current team matches an offer sheet, they may remain with the team under the terms of the new contract, which may or may not align with the player's preferences.
Compensation: Players who sign offer sheets with new teams may provide draft pick compensation to their previous team if the offer isn't matched.
For Teams:
Control: Teams can retain valuable players by matching offer sheets, helping maintain roster stability.
Salary Cap Management: Teams must balance their salary cap space when deciding whether to match an offer, as doing so affects their cap situation.
Compensation: Teams losing a restricted free agent receive draft picks as compensation, helping to replenish their talent pool.
FAQs:
1. What's the difference between a restricted free agent and an unrestricted free agent?
An unrestricted free agent is free to sign with any team without restrictions once their contract expires, while a restricted free agent's current team can match any offer they receive.
2. Can a restricted free agent refuse to sign an offer sheet from another team?
Yes, a restricted free agent has the choice to sign or not sign an offer sheet from another team. However, doing so may limit their options.
3. How is compensation determined for a restricted free agent in the NFL?
In the NFL, compensation for a restricted free agent depends on the level of the tender offer placed on the player. Higher tenders come with higher draft pick compensation.
4. Can a restricted free agent negotiate with multiple teams simultaneously?
Yes, a restricted free agent can negotiate with multiple teams, but they can only sign one offer sheet. Once an offer sheet is signed, their current team has the option to match it.
5. What happens if a restricted free agent doesn't receive any offer sheets?
If a restricted free agent doesn't receive any offer sheets from other teams, they may sign their current team's qualifying offer or negotiate a new contract with that team.
Restricted free agency adds an intriguing dimension to the world of professional sports contracts. It gives players an opportunity to explore their market value while affording their current teams a chance to retain valuable talent. The intricacies of restricted free agency vary from one league to another, but the core principle remains the same: it's a balancing act between players' aspirations and teams' desires for stability and compensation. The interplay of negotiations, tender offers, and matching decisions makes restricted free agency a captivating aspect of sports business that keeps fans and analysts engaged during the offseason.
No comments:
Post a Comment