An arbitration hearing to determine whether the Toronto Maple Leafs buyout of defenseman Jared Cowen will stand has a set date.
According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, the defenseman’s grievance hearing to appeal the Leafs buyout will take place on October 19, one week after the club opens the 2016-17 regular season against the Ottawa Senators in Kanata, ON.
The 25-year-old defenseman was acquired from the Ottawa Senators along with forwards Milan Michalek, Colin Greening, Tobias Lindberg and a second round pick in the Dion Phaneuf deal last February and was immediately placed on IR for hip tightness, but later was cleared medically before being placed on waivers.
Cowen was informed by Toronto that he would not play for them and that the club would buy him out after the season.
McKenzie reports that the NHL and Leafs consider Cowen’s contract to be bought out, but that the result of the hearing can reverse that decision based on evidence presented.
If it is determined that the Leafs were within their rights, the former Senators first rounder will receive one-third of his 2016-17 salary (for buyouts of players 25 and under) spread over the next two seasons ($750,000 in 16-17 & 17-18) while the Leafs clear his $3.1 Million cap hit for this season and gain a $650,000 cap credit.
If the arbitrator rules in Cowen’s favor, he cannot be bought out because of his injury status and will remain on the roster. The defenseman will then collect his full $4.5 Million salary for the final year of his contract.
Cowen is not expected to be healthy until after the NHL All-Star break, which means that Toronto will place him on injured reserve or LTIR to start the season.
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Training Camp News and Notes
The Maple Leafs practiced in two split squads at the MasterCard Center in Etobicoke, ON, as the club prepares for back-to-back games against the Buffalo Sabres at the Meridian Center in St. Catharines on Thursday and at Key Bank Center in Buffalo (formerly First Niagara Center) on Friday.
#Leafs back in Toronto, split squads for today's activities pic.twitter.com/HGd6ZkgwDr
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) September 28, 2016
It is likely squad #1, that features William Nylander, Nazem Kadri and Zach Hyman will go in St. Catharines on Thursday, while head coach Mike Babcock coaches Team Canada in Game 2 of the World Cup of Hockey at Air Canada Center.
If Canada wins over Team Europe, Babcock could be behind the bench in Buffalo on Friday night for the exhibition debut of Auston Matthews. The 2016 top pick joined the club on the ice for the first time since they returned from Nova Scotia and made his presence known at MCC, shattering a pane of glass at the end of his practice session.
Auston Matthews shattered the glass with a shot at the end of #leafs practice. pic.twitter.com/r797bv1KX9
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) September 28, 2016
Babcock indicated to TSN’s Frank Seravalli that Matthews will begin the season as the Leafs #3 center behind Kadri and Tyler Bozak, but that the 19-year-old center could ascend in the lineup based on his performance.
TSN’s Kristen Shilton reports that Nylander practiced 5-on-5 and on the power play as a center, skating with Hyman and new Leaf Matt Martin.
Matthews in the later practice lined up with veterans James van Riemsdyk and Leo Komarov, while Mitch Marner skated with Milan Michalek and Bozak.
Goaltender Frederik Andersen participated in some goalie drills, but will not see game action till late in the exhibition schedule, while injured winger Nikita Soshnikov did not take to the ice.
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