| Subject: Collective Sigh of Relief |
Author:
Sal Trachan
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Date Posted: 10:28:31 12/04/02 Wed
Today if you happened to be anywhere near the Northlands Ice Stadium in Whitehorse you probably heared the cheers as if you were inside the arena itself.
This was because all the collective breaths of the Whitehorse Warriors board of governors and board of directors let out there collective sighs today. Whitehorse franchise superstar and number one goalie, Martin Brodeur, is said to have agreed to Whitehorse's qualifying offer! Details are sketchy, but it is believed a press conference is scheduled for Friday where this may be only part of the announcement Whitehorse GM Steve Gandour will make.
Brodeur was offered a contract at over 25 million spread out over a total of 4 years. Despite this huge contract, it represents only a raise of $1,300,000 a season from last years salary. It has yet to be made official, but word is spreading that Brodeur is now locked up as a Warrior for that four year duration!
Brodeur was a restricted free agent, so any offer would have meant Whitehorse would have been given the right to match, and if they passed the right to four first round picks. It was widely believed however that they would have matched almost any offer on Brodeur. It was a surprising twist to what has been a surprising free agency so far.
Richard Zednik was thought to be tops on Whitehorse's free agent list, and even yesterday it was believed that they had placed a bid on the restricted free agent. However today it was revealed their only bid had been on unrestricted free agent Theo Fleury. And that offer had been no where near the final contract Saskatoon signed Fleury to, a whopping $21 million over two years (and a stunning $14 million of that for this first year of the deal). Zednik went without a bid from any team. The salary was not overly high, and compensation would not have been very high either for the young and skilled rising star. However avoiding the restricted free agents seemed to be the design at least for the start of the free agency as Brodeur and Whitehorse discovered today.
However the first and to date only ripple in the restricted free agent market may have come today. Rumours are circulating the Whitehorse has offered a contract on day two to restricted free agent Petr Nedved. It is believed the ball is now in London's camp as to whether or not they will match or take the three first round picks that would be the compensation. It is also believed an answer will be known by late tomorrow. Speculation is that this is why a press conference may be set for Friday.
It is early yet in the Free Agency period, but Whitehorse seems to be following a pattern this year... attempting to re-uniting the Warriors family. Fleury was a Warrior this season before being dealt to Victoria just before deadline day. Nedved was also a Warrior until he and Primeau were moved to London in the Shanahan / Gomez deal. Brodeur signing seems like a good omen for Deadmarsh, Peca and Gill, Whitehorse's three remaining free agents.
Will the Warriors try to bring more ex-Warriors back into the fold? Will Nedved come back home or stay in London? Will Brodeur confirm he has signed in Whitehorse? Will teams start bidding on restricted free agents?
Stay tuned...
Reporting for your Whitehorse Warriors,
Sal Trachan
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