[News] Kulak arb numbers. Kulak asking for $1.15M. Flames countering with 2 way $650k

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Bingo

$700K isn't really up for grabs here though is it?

I'm just sort of assuming an 800K-100K two-way contract. At least in that vicinity. I mean maybe it would have been closer to 750K-350K in which case it's only 400K.

Originally Posted by Bingo

Bottom line Kulak's best chip this season was having a salary under Valimaki at 894K and Kylington at $714K

There's 0 indication that the Flames offered him anything other than his two-way qualifying offer. I believe (obviously, while you don't) that he would have signed a $713,999.00 contract if it meant one-way, but I don't think the Flames would have been happy paying him that in the AHL if Valimaki and Kylington still make the team. Also, Prout is probably his most direct competition so $799,999 would put him with a lower cap.

It comes down to 6 one-way contracts already on the team. Kulak doesn't want to be the odd-man out when it comes training camp and these prospects fighting for a spot.

Anyways, my prediction is that the arbitrator sees the terrible non-advanced stats of Kulak and sides closer to the Flames, but agrees that (as he played 71 games) he is worthy of a one way contract, 825K per.

A prospect makes the team, and since the difference between Kulak and Prout is nearly non-existent, Kulak starts off the season as the 7th defenseman while Prout is waived.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

I'm just sort of assuming an 800K-100K two-way contract. At least in that vicinity. I mean maybe it would have been closer to 750K-350K in which case it's only 400K.


There's 0 indication that the Flames offered him anything other than his two-way qualifying offer. I believe (obviously, while you don't) that he would have signed a $713,999.00 contract if it meant one-way, but I don't think the Flames would have been happy paying him that in the AHL if Valimaki and Kylington still make the team. Also, Prout is probably his most direct competition so $799,999 would put him with a lower cap.

It comes down to 6 one-way contracts already on the team. Kulak doesn't want to be the odd-man out when it comes training camp and these prospects fighting for a spot.

Anyways, my prediction is that the arbitrator sees the terrible non-advanced stats of Kulak and sides closer to the Flames, but agrees that (as he played 71 games) he is worthy of a one way contract, 825K per.

A prospect makes the team, and since the difference between Kulak and Prout is nearly non-existent, Kulak starts off the season as the 7th defenseman while Prout is waived.

Appreciate the write-up. I see it differently, in that the Flames will keep Prout as the warm body in the box for ~10 games, and trade Kulak for a 4th round pick, making way for one the kids.

I feel the Flames could sewer Kulak's development by making him the 7th/press box guy.

[Stay Golden]

800k 2 way is what Kulak is worth currently.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

I'm just sort of assuming an 800K-100K two-way contract. At least in that vicinity. I mean maybe it would have been closer to 750K-350K in which case it's only 400K.


There's 0 indication that the Flames offered him anything other than his two-way qualifying offer. I believe (obviously, while you don't) that he would have signed a $713,999.00 contract if it meant one-way, but I don't think the Flames would have been happy paying him that in the AHL if Valimaki and Kylington still make the team. Also, Prout is probably his most direct competition so $799,999 would put him with a lower cap.

It comes down to 6 one-way contracts already on the team. Kulak doesn't want to be the odd-man out when it comes training camp and these prospects fighting for a spot.

Anyways, my prediction is that the arbitrator sees the terrible non-advanced stats of Kulak and sides closer to the Flames, but agrees that (as he played 71 games) he is worthy of a one way contract, 825K per.

A prospect makes the team, and since the difference between Kulak and Prout is nearly non-existent, Kulak starts off the season as the 7th defenseman while Prout is waived.

I guess we just disagree.

His agent would have been smart to turn the two way qualifier into a one way at league minimum.

I don't see Kulak's competition as Prout, as Prout is the new Bartkowski and unlikely to play a lot of games. He's in it with Kylington and Valimaki for left side third pairing and his best advantage could have been cap savings.

Instead the agent turned that into an arb case with almost zero control and the advantage lost.

[Locke]

When do we find out the result?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Locke

When do we find out the result?

Arbitrator has 48 hours from the end of the hearing to notify the parties about their decision via e-mail.

Will probably take the full 48 hours in the hopes that a settlement can be reached before an official ruling has been made.

[Geeoff]

At the end of the day, regardless of salary, Kulak is gonna have to outplay Valimaki and Kylington to get the spot. Those odds are not bad because Kulak always brings it in the preseason.

[Azhouse]

I want Prout as a 7th so that he can pound out the Neanderthal of the north (like he has done many times in the past) .

[neo45]

Originally Posted by Azhouse

I want Prout as a 7th so that he can pound out the Neanderthal of the north (like he has done many times in the past) .

I feel like Prout wouldn’t have even been re-signed if Lucic didn’t punch Smith last year

[Azhouse]

That's what I'm banking on.

[Toonage]

Huska likes Prout a lot, wanted him brought back and because he's coaching with the big team now its highly likely Prout will be too. Even listening to Treliving talk about what a great teammate he is and comparing him to Engelland you kind of know what the plan is for Prout this coming season.

And I agree that he dresses against the Oilers. No doubt there.

[genetic_phreek]

I wonder if Kulak would ask to be traded to get a chance with another organization. You look at the likes of John Gilmour who seems to be getting a shot with the Rangers yet was so far from making our roster.

[PugnaciousIntern]

At least we have a few games to start the season before the Oilers. Those first few Grossman shifts against the Oilers a few seasons ago still make me furious. A fully expected disaster.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

I wonder if Kulak would ask to be traded to get a chance with another organization. You look at the likes of John Gilmour who seems to be getting a shot with the Rangers yet was so far from making our roster.

While true the Rangers are rebuilding and looking for high draft picks and Gilmour helps them do that.

[PugnaciousIntern]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

I wonder if Kulak would ask to be traded to get a chance with another organization. You look at the likes of John Gilmour who seems to be getting a shot with the Rangers yet was so far from making our roster.

Oof, just looked him up for the first time in years and two numbers jumped out at me: 28 NHL games played, and -11 +/-. Regardless of if he was the cause, starting that deep 28 games into the league is not a fun way to begin!

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by PugnaciousIntern

Oof, just looked him up for the first time in years and two numbers jumped out at me: 28 NHL games played, and -11 +/-. Regardless of if he was the cause, starting that deep 28 games into the league is not a fun way to begin!

Although, most of those games would've been played after the Rangers went into full tank mode. After the deadline, they didn't exactly have the best roster.

[Freeway]

Prout is this year's Bartkowski, no more, no less. He's a body that won't be harmed if he's sitting in the press box for 75 games, and he's enough of a veteran that he won't pout about it.

[lazypucker]

So when will be the hearing? And when will be the decision coming out?

OT - What are the dates for the hearings for other Flames cases?

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

So, they wanted to develop Wotherspoon because they were so high on him...and to do so they put him through waivers where any team could have grabbed him?

Every team does that with older prospects every year. Doesn't mean they have given up on the players.

No, Wotherspoon was not highly regarded by the Flames (for on-ice purposes). They put him on waivers and played him in the AHL because of that.

They put him on waivers and played him in the AHL because they wanted him to be on the ice somewhere and not sitting in the press box. Bartkowski they didn't care about at all; he was just a spare tire.

During the season, three other defence prospects definitely passed Wotherspoon on the depth chart (not counting Fox) and Kulak made the team full-time. Having that information, the Flames decided not to re-sign him. That had nothing to do with their decision last October.

You seem to think that everything is set in stone at the beginning of a player's career and management are not entitled to react to new events.

[AC]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

So when will be the hearing? And when will be the decision coming out?

OT - What are the dates for the hearings for other Flames cases?

It was yesterday. Arbitration decision within 48 hours as sureLoss said a few posts up.