Did Peter Chiarelli slip up by informally announcing that Marc Savard was all but done for this season and perhaps beyond? The news was probably more intriguing to the Brad Marchand camp than you think.
At the professional level, contract negotiations receive a lot of media attention, with every deal argued on television and in print media, not excluding the FanSided network. In order to ensure the players sign professional contracts that satisfy the parameters of fair market value, it seems we the media must be heard just in case there is a one in a million chance we get the terms of the contract correct before it is even signed. Like we have anything to do with it…
There has been much concern in recent years about the financial conditions of NHL teams. A struggling economy isn’t good for any sports team, but the NHL takes a hit first as the least popular of the four major sports in overall viewing and revenue. It’s interesting to see how the recent economy has changed the methods of negotiations.
So back to the original question – Did Chiarelli screw the pooch?
With $8m in cap space, a mystery winger invite which might be a costly 1 or 2 year contract, and a plethora of free agents at the end of the 2011-2012 season it seems that the Boston Bruins would want to portray an image of financial uncertainty. But Chiarelli informally announced that Marc Savard is out for 2011-2012 and perhaps beyond. On the surface, the news meant nothing. Savard was publically expected to sit out this season and quietly expected to retire. But underneath the surface of this news, Wade Arnott thinks he controls a little bit more of the Boston-Marchand negotiations.
Savard’s salary/cap hit was $4m and being on injured reserve for the season nulls the cap hit. Now the Bruins are playing with $12m in space. Although Chiarelli will likely stand firm (or close to firm) with his offer to Marchand, he has taken an excuse/reason for a lower salary offer off the table.
In reality, most of this information means almost nothing to either side of the negotiations. It does mean a lot more to the media.
I’m guessing it’s the balance of the different deals that are offered by the Bruins that are keeping Marchand from grabbing a pen. Chiarelli has probably offered up two different deals – one at $2.5m/2 years and one at $2m/3 years. Marchand is likely looking for a better payout for his stellar performance last year, in the range of $3m/3 years.
Marchand’s camp can use Chiarelli’s statement as leverage to try for a little more blood from the stone, but I don’t see the GM budging. His statement about Savard lets us all know he is not concerned about the financial aspect of the deal yet to be made and inadvertently hints that Marchand is probably looking for an extra year or two or perhaps a signing bonus.
While we can speculate what is holding up the finalization of a deal so far, it is only speculation. Chiarelli is numb at the mouth to the media during negotiations and Wade Arnott’s only statement is “Nothing is imminent.”
Heads up guys, training camp starts soon…
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