Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
Looks to me like the agent decided on the angle of getting the salary above the bury in the AHL limit instead of making his client favourable to fit the roster for cap concerns.
I see why both make sense, but I think he picked the one least likely to succeed and with that has painted himself into a corner.
Now the arbitrator will come in midpoint (especially with waivers) and his client will be neither a) above the AHL line or b) cheaper than Valimaki
That's a mistake in my mind.
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This is bang on - Kulak's agent overplayed his hand and Treliving called. Now the best case for Kulak is likely to force a trade, as a return to the AHL would stall his progress, and he has to look ahead to being best positioned at UFA to cash in.
RFA with arbitration rights is the first time a player has leverage, but it is not always the best time to play hardball. Kulak could keep growing and become a #4D. He could also stay a bottom pairing guy, or fade into a AHL tweener. His skill development is a factor, but so is his NHL game time, and this power play only serves to hurt his game time
EDIT: Of course he can also lower his demands before the verdict comes in, if he becomes more motivated to seal a deal that prioritizes playing time over $$