Well, Jiri filing for arbitration may well be the end of his time in Detroit. When the Blackhawks signed David Bolland to a five-year deal averaging $3.375 million per season, they pretty much set the “standard” for a guy like Jiri. Bolland had 19 goals, 28 assists and a plus-19 rating in 81 games. Happy had 23 goals, 34 assists and a plus-7 rating in 82 games.

If the arbitrator uses Bolland as a “comparable” (and you can bet Jiri’s agent will point to that deal), there’s no way the Wings could accomodate that salary this year. The best they could do is accept the one-year contract at that price and then try to trade him. Otherwise, he walks away for nothing.

This definitely is not starting out as The Summer of Ken.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 07/05/09 at 10:31 PM ET

That is assuming he actually goes to arbitration.  Filppula filed for arbitration, and they reached a deal before the hearing - and it prevented any other teams from tendering offer sheets to him in the meantime.

This may very well be settled before the hearing; most teams do just that.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/05/09 at 10:42 PM ET

...it prevented any other teams from tendering offer sheets to him in the meantime.

Tick Tock prevented that from happening when he qualified Happy...even doing it on time.

But, you’re right, they could reach an agrrement before the hearing. It’s that Bolland contract that has me worried. The Hawks overpaid, and I would imagine Happy’s agent started licking his chops as soon as the details were released. I guess we’ll see just how much Happy likes being a Red Wing.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 07/05/09 at 11:03 PM ET

He could still get an offer sheet without filing for arbitration - filing a qualifying offer just means that the team retains his rights and he isn’t a UFA, but he is still an unsigned RFA vulnerable to an offer sheet unless he has filed for arbitration or is under contract.  If there were not a qualifying offer, any team could sign him without compensation to Detroit.

With many players it seems more standard operating procedures to file for arbitration instead of an expectation that the negotiations will be contentious or lengthy.  I’m not reading anything extra into this.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/06/09 at 05:55 AM ET

matt hunwick is a defensemen

Posted by DrW from Royal Oak, MI on 07/06/09 at 05:55 AM ET

...he is still an unsigned RFA vulnerable to an offer sheet unless he has filed for arbitration or is under contract.

You’re right. I was mixing the two up. Hey, I’m old.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 07/06/09 at 09:18 AM ET