Quote:
Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen
No, but I was arguing that was likely the holdup prior to the numbers coming out. Circumstantial evidence supports that fact. Most notably the amount of players on one-way contracts and the amount of prospects who we believe could make the team. The Flames had no reason to want to sign a one-way contract if they believe it was very possible Kulak ended up in the AHL - especially when they know Kulak isn't going to break the bank in the arbitration numbers. It's a business, they don't want to throw away unnecessary money. It's Occam's razor. Likewise, Kulak had no reason to sign a two-way contract if he was confident that he could be awarded a one-way contract if he went to arbitration. And that's the crux of the argument from the sides.
But you've suggested that the agent had screwed up a couple times, where there's no real reason to suggest that he had so there should be more onus on you to provide support that the Flames had or would have offered a one-way contract.
Why? They've already put Kulak on waivers, they are clearly not afraid of losing him on it. Especially not when the season is about to start and every team sneaks through waivers a player or two of Kulak's caliber. Kulak could still impress at camp, still make the team, still become a bonafide NHL regular. But the Flames wanted to keep their options available, and one way to do that was a two-way. It's a business, if there's a way to cut cost, they'll do it.
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I think the onus is solved by common sense.
The only way the Flames care about a one way versus a two way for a player under a million bucks is if ownership is sweating about the actual dollars, as it wouldn't impact the bottom line.
We saw it with the Glass contract last year, so clearly it wasn't a big deal then.
But they are tight and need to keep contract levels down for support players so wanting league minimum for Kulak is a clear aim.
If Kulak is competing with two players that already have contracts signed for dollars greater than that of league minimum it then leads to common sense that his best bet is to be the cheapest.
I don't consider any of that a real leap.