"I'm looking for my market value" is the quote from Brian Rolston in today's paper explaining why he turned down the Wild's latest undisclosed offer. The article went on to say that Rolston is not going to give the Wild a hometown discount because he wants to play in Minnesota.

Rolston has played the last 3 years for $2.432 million annually. He is now 35 years old which entitles him to a guaranteed contract under the terms of the current CBA such that if he quits/retires ala Wes Walz or is injured, the Wild is on the hook for the entire term and amount of his contract and it would count against the Wild's cap space. Earlier reports had the team and the player agreed on the "term" i.e. length of the deal. Now it comes down to his value which begs the question: what is Rolston's "market value"?

In fairness to Rolston, despite his age, he is coming off of a 3rd 30-goal season. Last season he ranked 25th in NHL scoring just behind Briere, Datsyuk, Morrow and Kopitar and just ahead of Langkow, J. Thornton and D. Sedin. In points, he ranked 59th in the NHL last year, just behind D. Brown, Whitney, Bouchard, Sykora and Kariya and just ahead of Brunette, Tkachuk, Radulov and Drury. He ranked 20th in total minutes just behind Jokinen and just ahead of Drury and he ranked 31st in mins/GP just behind Sundin, Antropov, D. Brown and Jagr and just ahead of Morrow, Sakic, Pominville and Jokinen.

The question in my mind becomes who is Brian Rolston's comparable given both his age and his statistics? Ray Whitney and Keith Tkachuk are my answers to that question. Last year, Whitney had 25 goals and 36 assists for 61 points, while Tkachuk had 27 goals and 31 assists for 58 points compared to Rolston's 31 goals and 28 assists for 59 points. Whitney earns $3.55 million per year and Tkachuk earns $4 million per year currently. It is rumored that Rolston is looking for between $4 and $5 million annually over an unknown term. Whitney in his second year of a 3 year deal where he earns $3.55 million annually, while Tkachuk currently has a 2 year deal where he earned $3.5 million last year and will earn $4.5 million this year. My guess is that Rolston's agent is pushing for 3 to 4 years and trying to get as close to $5 million as possible. If so, I applaud Wild management. If Rolston and his agent are closer to Whitney's and Tkachuk's value and term, then I applaud them and implore the Wild to sign Rolston in the same or similar ball park.

Obviously, I am not privy to management's plans and paying Rolston an average of $4 million in the next two years may not fit into their "model". Although, I'm not sure there even is a plan anymore. Risebrough recently wrote a blog for wild.nhl.com where he stated that "Flexibility = Opportunity". I believe that means that he wants to have money available so that when he takes a wait and see approach during free agency to who is available after the craziness of the first week dies down, he will have the ability to make a move or two. However, as we all know, the quality in this year's UFA is not what it has been in years past. I also suspect that we will begin to see how new owner Craig Leipold will run his new team. Nashville fans have been warning that we should expect very conservative moves on average, but history has shown that he is competitive and wants to win. What will the new owner's first couple of moves be? I would think that he wants to first endear himself to Minnesota fans so I don't expect him to let Rolston get away or, if he does, he will make a bigger splash with someone else i.e. Jokinen? However, I would rather keep Rolston than get Jokinen because in re-signing Rolston, you're not losing players, prospects or picks; just money and Jokinen will cost his fair share and more than Rolston.

It's getting interesting Wild fans! So what are your thoughts? Is there another guy who is as comparable to Rolston as Whitney and Tkachuk that I missed? What do you think the Wild will do and why? Let's start a pool with guesses on whether Rolston re-signs or not and then what term and value he gets either here or in free agency. I have Rolston re-signing with the Wild. It will be a 3 year deal where he will get $11.5 million with more being paid in the beginning and less over the term of the contract. What's your guess?

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