The most bitter of battles

Sporting News, The, July 22, 2002 by Tim Wharnsby

Salary arbitration can be as nasty as a Kyle McLaren forearm shiver or as intense as a bargaining session between Bob Goodenow and Gary Bettman.

The process, in which a player and club each argue their case for a new salary in front of an arbitrator, doesn't have to be nasty. But when a player takes his salary demands to an arbitrator, what transpires is difficult to predict. The deadline for a player to declare an intention to go to salary arbitration was July 15.

How bitter can the battle be? Ask Oilers goalie Tommy Salo. Five summers ago, when he was with the Islanders, he took the team to salary arbitration. Salo was coming off his first season as a No. 1; he appeared in 58 games and won 20 for the weak Isles.

Islanders G.M. Mike Milbury, as only Mad Mike can do, spewed vitriol against his budding goalie. In Milbury's mind, Salo's mental approach was suspect, and he was in danger of losing his job to a rookie the next season. Milbury also said Salo was one of the worst-conditioned athletes on the team, and his performance was inconsistent.

Salo was reduced to tears. He won 23 games the next season, but the relationship was never the same, and he was dealt to the Oilers in March 1999.

Two summers ago, sniper John LeClair was coming off five seasons with the Flyers in which he averaged 47 goals a year; his 235 goals were the most in the league during that period. But Philadelphia G.M. Bob Clarke told the arbitrator LeClalr wasn't strong defensively and as a result didn't play late in games--and that LeClair failed to perform up to snuff in the playoffs.

The words shocked LeClair. He missed most of the season after the hearing because of a back injury. Last season, his production slipped to 25 goals.

"It's a process we have to live with," Blues G.M. Larry Pleau says. "Can it be better? Everything can be better.

"It doesn't have to be nasty. I think the players have to realize that when they choose salary arbitration, we are going to say how we feel. And both sides have to live with the results and move on."

Pleau has experienced positive and negative results from salary arbitration cases. An arbitrator awarded forward lira Campbell a $900,000 salary in the summer of 1998. Campbell scored four goals the following season and has been trying to get his career back on track since then.

Blues forward Pavol Demitra, on the other hand, more than doubled his salary last summer, receiving a two-year contract worth $3.7 million last season and $3.975 million next season.

Pleau and Demitra handled the hearing with maturity and class. And the Blues were rewarded with what Pleau calls Demitra's most consistent season. Demitra was the Blues' leading scorer with 35 goals and 78 points.

"As soon as it was over, I sat down with Pavol and had a chat," says Pleau, who knocked Demitra in the hearing for his inconsistent play. "I told him that the process was over and that we would live with the decision.

"I think he came out of that as a stronger person and a better player."

The arbitration process is open to players 22 or 23 years old with a minimum of three years of pro experience, 24-year-olds with at least two years of pro experience and players 25 and older with at least one year of pro experience.

A player still can sign or agree to a new deal with his team up until the arbitrator's ruling. The hearings take place August 1-15 in Toronto.

One of the more high-profile players eligible for salary arbitration this summer is Glen Murray of the Bruins. Hart Trophy winner lose Theodore of the Canadiens and scoring champion Jarome Iginla of the Flames also are eligible but will not file, choosing to work out new deals with their clubs.

They are leaving the confrontations for the ice.

INSIDE DISH

The Stars offered RW Teemu Selanne a two-year contract worth $14 million but reached an agreement first with RW Scott Young at two years, $7 million. Selanne settled for a one-year, $6.5 million deal with the Sharks. The Stars believe Young was a better fit on the second line with C Pierre Turgeon because he played with Turgeon in 2000-01 with St. Louis and scored 40 goals. By spending less, the Stars will have cash available if they need to make a trade during the season.... Coyotes G Sean Burke asked for a hefty raise while he was negotiating a new contract with management. That troubled the Coyotes, so Burke might be dealt during the season.... RW Theoren Fleury, an unrestricted free agent, is being pursued by a handful of clubs, but he won't pick a team until late July.... D Steve Duchesne fired his agent, Pat Brisson, after a communications breakdown over a contract. After the Red Wings declined to pick up their $1.6 million option, Duchesne thought Brisson would renegotiate a contract worth between that amount and the $1 million player option. Instead, Brisson picked up the $1 million. Duchesne is now an unrestricted free agent, but he hasn't gotten an offer he likes.... The average league salary went to $1,642,590 from $1,434,000 last season.... Blues G.M. Larry Pleau signed D Tom Koivisto, 29, who was the Finnish elite league's defenseman of the year the last two seasons, in the hopes he can step right in the way Russian D Alex Khavanov did two seasons ago. Koivisto will be given a chance because the Blues will not have D Chris Pronger for half the season because he had knee surgery.--T.W.