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Steve Bernier Given Offer Sheet by the Blues
by Alanah McGinley on 07/08/08 at 05:57 PM ET
Comments (13)
From the St. Louis Blues, this:
St. Louis Blues President John Davidson announced today that the club has signed Group II free agent forward Steve Bernier to an offer sheet worth $2.5 million for next season. The Canucks will have seven days to match the offer or receive St. Louis’ 2nd round draft choice in 2009.
“Steve is a good young player who would play a big part in our youth movement,” said Davidson. “Our coaches and scouting staff are extremely positive about him.”
No doubt Davidson is simply doing the best thing for his club, but it still smells like payback.
Bet on Mike Gillis to match the offer, but regardless, I’d say the #$*!@ is about to hit the fan, no matter what.
Update 3:56pm PT: Canucks have matched the offer. Not a surprise. [TSN]
Update 4:25pm PT: Mike sent me a link to this story from July 5th, right after Bernier was traded from the Sabres. Here’s the money quote (gotta love agents!) --
There were rumours Bernier would sign an offer sheet, but Lupien said that was never in the plans.
“I don’t work like that,” said Lupien, who also represents Roberto Luongo and could have gone the offer-sheet route after Luongo accepted his qualifying offer from the Canucks. “I’ve always asked teams to be honest with my client and I’m sure he (Gillis) is going to be honest with players after being a former player himself.”
Filed in: vancouver canucks | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Tags: gilles+lupien, john+davidson, mike+gillis, steve+bernier,
Comments
what a “richard”!
Posted by t.van on 07/08/08 at 05:04 PM ET
I laughed, too.
God, NHL GM’s are like children. Gillis has no choice (that I can conceive) but to match that offer. Thank god Davidson didn’t go higher! 
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 07/08/08 at 05:05 PM ET
Much higher and they would have had to give up a 1st rounder I think.
Posted by Dean on 07/08/08 at 05:11 PM ET
Bernier is worth it. Hope Cnucks lock him up for a few seasons. If thay would have offered more, then I would have let him go and take St.Louis’s pick. It wouldn’t bug me if the St.Louis offer was because they really wanted Bernier, but I doubt it. I wish GM’s just face the facts, that this is allowed and live with it!
Posted by Buffdaddydarren from Saskatoon on 07/08/08 at 05:19 PM ET
If Vancouver matches, then it will be for the 1 year on the offer sheet, so now there’s no way Vancouver could ink him to a longer deal, correct?
Posted by James from MI on 07/08/08 at 05:25 PM ET
Bernier’s (potential) fourth team in half a season…
You’d think Vancouver would have to match, right? If they don’t, then they gave up a second and third round pick to Buffalo to ultimately end up...a second round pick. This RFA business is a hoot!
Posted by Dan from Pittsburgh on 07/08/08 at 05:34 PM ET
James - I think (and I may be wrong - someone else chip in, please?) Vancouver can negotiate a longer deal in the final year of a contract. Though I doubt they would; signing this thing will lock him up this year and they could decide half-way through the season if they want him longer. Odds are he’d take the same ballpark amount anyway (assuming he liked playing in Vancouver) unless he had some blowout performance this season.
That being said, Mike Gillis is hard to predict being new to the GM game. Maybe he would want to sign him longer if he could.
But I sure wouldn’t. Not yet.
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 07/08/08 at 05:37 PM ET
Well, Vancouver signed Backes to a 3 years, $7.5 million offer and Bernier is now one year, $2.5 million. Seeing how the numbers are the same (and no first rounder lost) I think it’s just a message and not so much payback. Unless payback can be considered “hey, we can waste your time too.”
More disconcerting is the fact Bernier signed it.
Oh well, remember things like this when another lockout rolls around in a few years and we have to pity the poor GM’s again.
Posted by Mike from NYC on 07/08/08 at 05:42 PM ET
If Vancouver matches, then it will be for the 1 year on the offer sheet, so now there’s no way Vancouver could ink him to a longer deal, correct?
If I’m reading the CBA correctly (Article 10.3, subsection b), that is not the case. Additional terms can be added to the existing offer if both sides agree.
Posted by shep from california on 07/08/08 at 05:43 PM ET
the value of both the bernier offer and the backes offer are 2.5M per because at 2.6M (i think) the compensation goes up.
still, this such a weak, immature thing to do. is john davidson in grade 3 or just an ass? i vote both.
Posted by bitterguy on 07/08/08 at 06:14 PM ET
It’s not about being immature folks, its business and obviously the RFA program instituted in the CBA is one that the GM’s dislike to a great extent. Let’s not get all namecalling because the RFA acts as a shield and sword. And hey, eye for an eye in the NHL.
Posted by Come on Now on 07/08/08 at 07:07 PM ET
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Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003, sharing opinions, rants and not-so-deep thoughts with anyone who will listen. In addition to writing Canucks & Beyond and helping manage Kukla’s Korner, Alanah is one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast, as featured at Canucks.com.
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That is hilarious! I love it. Too bad it wasn’t for more though.
Posted by James from MI on 07/08/08 at 05:01 PM ET