Fire The Cannon | Columbus Blue Jackets Blog » unrestricted free agent

Start Spreading The News, Z's Leaving Today . . .

Jeff Little — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:13:00 +0000

My apologies to John Kander and Fred Ebb, the composer and lyricist, respectively, of New York, New York, for taking liberties with their song in the header — but it was too perfect to pass up.

Anyway, as expected, CBC is reporting here that the Rangers are walking away from the $3.9 million dollar arbitration award handed down to perennially troubled winger Nikolai Zherdev, thereby making Niki an unrestricted free agent. Let the speculation begin!!

Before anybody starts charging off in the wrong direction, Puck-Rakers is already reporting that the Jackets are not interested in staging a reunion with Z.

So, what is next? Here’s a hint . . . .

Континентальная хоккейная лига

Jackets, Methot close to Arbitration

Rob Ogden — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:32:36 +0000

For the first time in their nine-year history, the Columbus Blue Jackets could be forced to attend an arbitration hearing later this week.

Jackets defenseman, and restricted free agent Marc Methot, is scheduled to have his case heard Thursday morning in Toronto unless the two sides can agree on a contract, the Columbus Dispatch reports.

Methot’s agent, Larry Kelly, and Blue Jackets General Manager Scott Howson have both stated that their side would like to avoid the hearing if possible.

With the player demanding more money and the team telling him why he does not deserve it, arbitration hearings have never been considered a good way to build a strong relationship between team and player.

“I’m hoping we can settle up before the hearing,” Methot said. “The Blue Jackets are a team that I really want to be a part of, obviously.

“This is the way the business is set up, though. If we do go to a hearing, hopefully we’ll come out of it happy and forget about (what was said) and go on with this coming season. That’s what I plan to do if it comes to that.”

Methot was a solid contributor for the Jackets last season, totaling 4 + 13 =17 with a plus 7 rating and an average ice time of over 17 minutes. These numbers mean he will likely receive a raise from the estimated $500,000 he made last year.

Negotiations between the two sides will continue up until the hearing in effort to avoid it. If a deal is not forthcoming by Wednesday afternoon, both groups will fly to Toronto.

If that is the case, and a hearing is needed, the Jackets will have 48 hours to accept the decision or decline, thus making Methot an unrestricted free agent.

Only two other Blue Jackets, defenseman Jamie Pushor and winger Jason Chimera, have ever filed for arbitration.

The team came to terms quickly with Chimera, nearly two weeks before the hearing, but did not get a deal done with Pushor until they were standing outside the doors of the meeting room the morning of the hearing.

It is clear that both sides want to get this done. Expect the two parties to settle on a deal, if not before the hearing, than after.

Defensemen Tollefsen not offered a contract

Devon Kunkel — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:57:04 +0000

Hard hitting defensemen Ole-Kristian Tollefsen who was a restricted free agent, was not tendered a contract from the Blue Jackets today. This will make the 25 year old defensemen from Norway an unrestricted free agent. Tollefsen was a 3rd round draft choice by the Jackets in 2002 (65th overall) and made his Blue Jackets debut in the 2005-2006 season. Ole-Kristian went on to play 145 games for the Jackets, while compiling a mere 10 points during his tenure. More impressive were the 273 penatly minutes he took while suiting up for the Blue Jackets. Ole is still young and has good size (6’2″ & 211lbs). He should be able to catch on with another team looking to add some grit. Perhaps the Leafs as GM Burke has stated he is looking to get tougher.

Here are a couple of Toffefsen’s scraps

Hopefully this kid is able to catch on with another NHL franchise.