NHLPA File Blackhawks Grievance

by drfrankentweed on Jul 6, 2009 4:45 PM CDT

Per TSN:

Sources tell TSN the National Hockey League Players Association has filed a grievance over the Chicago Blackhawks mishandling of a number of its qualifying offers and intends to argue the players affected by the mishap, who remain unsigned, should be ruled unrestricted free agents.

The NHL will be notified and can agree with the NHLPA's filing, or the league can disagree and the case will move on to an expidited hearing.

"In response to various media inquiries, the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) confirms today that it has filed a grievance regarding the failure of the Chicago Blackhawks to submit Qualifying Offers to its 2009 Restricted Free Agents prior to the deadline stipulated in the CBA. The NHLPA will make no further comment on the matter, which is now pending before the Impartial Arbitrator," said Jonathan Weatherdon, NHLPA Spokesperson.

At this moment, it's the Players' Association's contention, these players are unrestricted free agents and free to negotiate with any team.

The NHL is sure to fight back.

If the PA is accurate and the players involved are deemed unrestricted free agents, the Blackhawks could lose both forward Kris Versteeg and defenceman Cam Barker to the open market.

The interest in these two players league wide as UFA's would be significant. In Barker's case, one league source cites his value at $3 million on the low end, and as much as $5 million on the high end.

The Chicago Blackhawks have cap issues and may not be able to afford to compete in the feeding frenzy without making drastic moves to free up money.

This issue is far from resolved, but early indications suggest it may not end well for the Chicago Blackhawks.

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Comments

Karma

Its karma for making the retarded hossa deal. Something terrible needs to happen to Detroit now as well as punishment for using the loophole to sign ridiculously long contracts for lower cap hits.

by Icion on Jul 6, 2009 4:55 PM CDT reply actions

History usually show injuries take care of that, for example Rick DiPietro.

Hatred Walking

by Doc Whiskey on Jul 6, 2009 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions

According to Darren Dreger on Twitter...

(TSN has yet to post a link to this), Cam Barker has re-signed for 3 years at 9.25 mil total.

Sooooo… Versteeg… you sure you want to stay committed to that Indian?

Reporter: There`s a "stamp out the Beatles movement" underway in Detroit. What are you going to do about it?

Paul McCartney: We`re going to start a campaign to stamp out Detroit.

by hildymac on Jul 6, 2009 7:18 PM CDT reply actions

Suspicious.

You would think the blackhawks would wait this one out a bit to try and win the RFA case. Unless ofcourse they know they are fucked and are trying to lock Cam up quick. If Pietrangelo(pie-an-jello?) makes the team thats a 3mil cap hit, polak will make 1-1.5 . If i do my math right we have about 4 mil to work with.

by Icion on Jul 6, 2009 7:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Unless I'm wrong...

Petro wouldn’t be 3 mil. Isn’t the rookie salary in the hundreds of thousands range? Versteeg would be a interesting signing for us, provided they could get him without a big ding in the cap. Boy that would be some sweet sweet irony. Chicago screws up their order sheets and we get one of there stars. I would be forced to laugh/do a happy dance.

Barret Jackman is my hero.

Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun.

by BluesTiger on Jul 6, 2009 9:07 PM CDT up reply actions