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Pronger Has All The Negotiating Power

June 27, 2009, 11:56 AM ET [ Comments]
Andy Strickland
St Louis Blues Blogger •1380 ESPN • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Let me start by saying this, could Chris Pronger be sitting in any better position than he's in right now? Can the Flyers really afford to give up this type of package that includes two first round picks and not re-sign the guy? There will be lots of pressure on the Flyers to sign the former MVP to an extension after paying such a huge price. Not to mention the player has only one year remaining on his deal. Pronger has all the negotiating power here and one can only assume he's going to take full advantage of it. I am very surprised Philadelphia was willing to take a risk by making a deal of this magnitude without talking to the player first.
Flyers GM Paul Holmgren plans on speaking with Pronger's agent Pat Morris as soon as he returns to Phildelphia.


Blue select Brett Ponich from the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey league with their second round pick.

Ponich is a big 6 foot 6 kid who is already 200 pounds. Currently taking power skating in Portland and is not here in Montreal. Could be Portland's Captain this coming season and he's only 18 years of age. He's an excellent passer and very, very tough.

Sergei Andronov was taken with the Blues third pick. A kid who was passed up in last years draft but saw his stock rise after a strong showing at the World Junior Championships. Andronov is considered a very good offensive player who brings some quality skill and scoring ability to the table. He played this past season in the KHL, the top league over in Russia.

I mentioned on my twitter page yesterday that the Blues were thrilled to see David Rundblad available at #17. He is considered to be more offensive than fellow swede Victor Hedman who was taken 2nd overall. He obviously needs to get stronger and will begin working with Blues Strength and Conditioning coach Nelson Ayotte immediately. The knock on this kid is his skating which he knows he needs to improve on. A few teams had Rundblad in their top 10 including St. Louis, while some clubs had him rated between 40-50. His strengths are his feel for the game, his poise and ability to hang on to the puck and read plays are a few of his strengths. The Blues are hoping Rundblad attends the Blues Pro Orientation camp in early July.

I'm told the Blues would have taken Landon Ferraro if Runblad was off the board at 17.

Congrats to St. Louis product Chris Wideman who the Ottawa Senators selected with their 4th round pick. Wideman attended Chaminade High School before leaving to play one season with Cedar Rapids in the USHL. He just completed his Freshman season at Miami of Ohio where was able to pile up 26 points on defense. Wideman is known in St. Louis for his smooth stlye of play and strong passing ability. He was also a member of Basil McRae's 1990 AAA St. Louis Blues National Championship club and played for Scott Sanderson's AAA Blues U-18 team.



Chris pronger has been traded but sources close to Pronger tell me he has not agreed to a contract extension. Technically he can't sign until July first, but he could certainly agree to a deal in principle today. Interesting a deal was completed without an extension in place. That's a lot to give up for one season.

The St. Louis Blues are likely watching how this develops as they will aggressively try to sign the All-Star D-man if he becomes unrestricted next summer.

Flyers GM Paul Holmgren tells me he plans on sitting down with Pronger's agent Pat Morris as soon as he returns to Philly.



Scott Niedermayer's agent Kevin Epp tells me Niedermayer has decided to play in the NHL next season. This doesn't mean he's definitely returning to Anaheim. More on this later.



It's being reported that the Canucks and the Sedins have broken off talks. My source with first hand knowledge tells me negotiations are ongoing and the report is false.




Despite what you might be hearing, yesterday was a very quiet day around the NHL. Very little talk taking place here in Montreal on Thursday. I don't expect the same to happen today.


Things are about to get real interesting in regards to Ottawa forward Dany Heatley.
Senators GM Bryan Murray is struggling holding back his emotions when talking to people around the NHL .

Murray is telling people that if they’re stuck paying Heatley his signing bonus on July first then they won’t be moving him. How awkward will that be for Heatley and everyone else in the Senators organization if he ends up playing in Ottawa this season?

Things would really be interesting if Senators Owner Eugene Melnyk sticks to his threat of not paying Heatley his signing bonus if they are unsuccessful in moving him.

A league source tells me Melnyk has said “There is no way we are paying him his $4 million bonus, I don’t care if he sues us.”

Who knows if Melnyk will follow through with such a claim? Can you blame him for being angry though?

I'm not so sure they can find a way to get around paying Heatley, but it gives fans a idea of how upset the club is at their star player.

Ottawa has bent over backwards for Heatley since the day he was traded there. His career was at a crossroads when you consider his off-ice issues combined with a serious eye injury he suffered.

Ottawa did everything to protect him from the media when Heatley was performing his community service hours which was required as part of his plea deal. They also hired and paid for a personal driver to chauffer Heatley around after he had his driver’s license suspended.

The bottom line is Ottawa went above and beyond for Dany Heatley to revive his career and this is what they get in return. Sources with first hand knowledge of the Senators tell me the whole Heatley situation has made Melnyk “sick”.

There is no doubt he’s an awesome hockey player, but you can’t overlook what Ottawa has done to help this kid out.

You would think a team who is close to trading for Chris Pronger would be negotiating a contract extension with the All-world D-man. I spoke to Pronger as recently as Thursday night and he tells me he has yet to hear from anybody. Is Anaheim even saying they are trading Pronger? As of Thursday night they have not. Things could obviously change in a hurry today.

A league sources tells me an NHL GM called Blues GM Larry Pleau asking for a top six forward and the team was interested in promising talent David Perron. Word is Pleau told the other GM Perron is not available.

Colorado is trying to move both Ryan Smyth and D-man Scott Hannan.

The average salary in today’s NHL is just under $2 million. Compare that to an average of $1.7 prior to the NHL lockout. Every year the NHLPA and the league get together to determine the dollar amounts and the compensation for signing players to offer sheets.

Offer Sheet (AAV)

$994,433
or below
None (compensation)


Over
$994,433
To
$1,506,717

3rd Round Pick


Over
$1,506,717
to
$3,013,433
2nd Round Pick

Over
$3,013,433
to
$4,520,150
1st, 3rd

Over
$4,520,150
to
$6,026,867
1st, 2nd, 3rd

Over
$6,026,867
to
$7,533,584
(2) 1st, 2nd, 3rd

Over
$7,533,584
to
(4) 1st Round Picks

(Dollar amounts to be increased each year per the increase in NHL Ave Salary)


That’s a pretty big increase when you consider the 2nd round compensation last season was cut off at $2.5 compared to $3.3 this season.

It’s pretty amazing that you can sign a player to an offer for $3 million and only have to give up a 2nd round pick. Even worse than that is if you can’t afford to keep the player and all you get in return is a 2nd rounder!

The reasoning behind Lightning GM Brian Lawton sending out the infamous e-mail is because Len Barrie was calling agents trying to negotiate contracts before July first.

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More to come,

Andy Strickland

[email protected]
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