Comrie is signed...rumors are just rumors

[swflyers8*]

http://nhl.com/onthefly/news/2003/12/193856.html



PHILADELPHIA - Center Mike Comrie and the Philadelphia Flyers (news) have agreed on a one-year contract, The Associated Press learned Friday night.



Comrie was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers (news) on Tuesday for former first-round pick Jeff Woywitka and two draft picks.


The team will announce Comrie's signing before Saturday's game against the New York Islanders (news), a team source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.


Terms of the deal weren't immediately known.


Philadelphia entered Friday night's games with the most points in the league, but had lost its last three games, all at home.


The Oilers received a first-round pick in the 2004 entry draft and a third-round choice in the 2005 draft from the Flyers. Comrie has not played this season because of a bitter contract dispute with Edmonton that resulted in his departure.


Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe said earlier this week that Comrie's decision not to re-sign with Edmonton wasn't a financial one.


The Oilers thought they had a deal last week to send Comrie to Anaheim, but it was held up by Lowe, who wanted Comrie to pay the club $2.5 million first.


The Oilers offered Comrie the minimum raise allowed entering this season, which he rejected. The Oilers would not negotiate and Comrie asked to be traded.


In 69 games for the Oilers during the 2002-03 season, Comrie had 20 goals and 31 assists for 51 points. In 192 career NHL games over three seasons with Edmonton (2000-01 through 2002-03), Comrie has 61 goals and 72 assists for 133 points.


He set career highs for goals in a season (33), points in a season (60) and games played in a season (82) during the 2001-02 season. Comrie was selected by the Oilers out of Michigan in the third round of the 1999 entry draft.

[X8oD]

i was thinking last night when I read that he wanted a 2 year deal and philly only wanted to give him a 1.

i was just wondering if Comrie was the type who may Kariya his situation and take less than the league average to be an UFA next year.

just curious

[Jeffrey]

Originally Posted by X8oD

i was thinking last night when I read that he wanted a 2 year deal and philly only wanted to give him a 1.

i was just wondering if Comrie was the type who may Kariya his situation and take less than the league average to be an UFA next year.

just curious

maybe if he played 10 years on a Pro team...
he's 23 ... so i doubt he could be UFA next year..

[Dr Love]

Originally Posted by X8oD

i was thinking last night when I read that he wanted a 2 year deal and philly only wanted to give him a 1.

i was just wondering if Comrie was the type who may Kariya his situation and take less than the league average to be an UFA next year.

just curious

He can't.

Group V NHL Free Agent
If a player has completed at least 10 seasons of professional hockey (in the NHL or minor leagues) and earned less than the NHL average salary during the previous season, he has the right to become Unrestricted Free Agent. Eligible players have until July 15 to elect Group V status. A player can be a Group V Free Agent only once in his career.

[hockey_nut]

according to the fourth period... the deal's worth around $1.75 mill

i'm sure there are bonuses in there

[Whinks]

ESPN says its only a 1-year deal ...


Comrie Signed

[stanley]

Originally Posted by Dr Love

He can't [become a Group V free agent next summer]

Doc is right, although I'm sure everyone didn't need me to write it.

He'll be a Group II (restricted) free agent, but he's not eligible for arbitration until the summer of 2005. Evaluating in hindsight, it gives both Comrie and the Flyers flexibility in regard to any changes to the CBA.

[Guest]

Of course all of these great mentions are of the current CBA, which expires at the end of this season. Who knows what situation he may find himself in during the offseason as a new CBA is hammered out. They could easily change the rules and structure for RFA's, and they could also change the rules for arbitration. Not to say it wouldn't hurt him as much as help him, but you guys are quoting a bunch of outdated information regarding his next contract after the 1 year expires.

[oilers_guy_eddie]

Originally Posted by GoCoyotes

Of course all of these great mentions are of the current CBA, which expires at the end of this season. Who knows what situation he may find himself in during the offseason as a new CBA is hammered out. They could easily change the rules and structure for RFA's, and they could also change the rules for arbitration. Not to say it wouldn't hurt him as much as help him, but you guys are quoting a bunch of outdated information regarding his next contract after the 1 year expires.

Comrie's status will be exactly the same as any other RFA this summer. Contract expires July 1; Flyers will have sent in a qualifying offer to retain his rights. CBA expires Sept 15; Flyers are in the same position with respect to Comrie as any other team in regard to 23 year old RFAs whose rights are held.

[stanley]

Originally Posted by GoCoyotes

...but you guys are quoting a bunch of outdated information regarding his next contract after the 1 year expires.

Well, I think both Doc and I and quoting current information, and speculating regarding the future. I'm aware of it, and I know from reading several other of Doc's posts that he knows it, too. I just didn't include it here because I didn't realize it hadn't been mentioned in the thread, so thanks for mentioning it because it's not a trivial point.

All that hogwash being written, presuming that the article of the current agreement governing restricted free agency will encounter wholesale changes is at least the same degree of speculation. The Union would have to make some serious concessions in other areas, I would think, in order to have unrestricted free agency lowered to 24 years of age (Comrie's age next summer). Without knowing Bob Clarke, I would think that he is gambling that unrestricted free agency will not be reduced by 7 years. I would think that's a pretty safe gamble.

[Dr Love]

Originally Posted by GoCoyotes

Of course all of these great mentions are of the current CBA, which expires at the end of this season. Who knows what situation he may find himself in during the offseason as a new CBA is hammered out. They could easily change the rules and structure for RFA's, and they could also change the rules for arbitration. Not to say it wouldn't hurt him as much as help him, but you guys are quoting a bunch of outdated information regarding his next contract after the 1 year expires.

I highly doubt the rules regarding Group 5 would change from 10 years to 4. I think it's safe to say that if that rule is changed, it wouldn't be as drastic as a 6 year difference.

[NFITO]

Originally Posted by oilers_guy_eddie

Comrie's status will be exactly the same as any other RFA this summer. Contract expires July 1; Flyers will have sent in a qualifying offer to retain his rights. CBA expires Sept 15; Flyers are in the same position with respect to Comrie as any other team in regard to 23 year old RFAs whose rights are held.

I'm surprised how many people seem to miss this point with this offseason...

at best we have a CBA hammered out by Sept. 15 - but more than likely we're looking at at least a shortend season next year, if not a complete wiped out season (or two!!)...

this means that this coming offseason the rules of the current CBA will be in effect for all contracts - which end on June 30th officially.

somehow most people seem to miss all this, and are just assuming that we'll have a new CBA at the end of this season.

[stanley]

I enjoy this type of discussion. It sure beats the anger and innuendo of a trade rumor.

Originally Posted by oilers_guy_eddie

Comrie's status will be exactly the same as any other RFA this summer. Contract expires July 1; Flyers will have sent in a qualifying offer to retain his rights. CBA expires Sept 15; Flyers are in the same position with respect to Comrie as any other team in regard to 23 year old RFAs whose rights are held.

Ed,
This is a valid point - which need not be made smugly (nuckfan), as if the C-H-I-L-D-R-E-N are in the room and would be best served to not exposed to such things. I should have read a little more beyond GC's post before I wrote. Your statement is a valid one, too, nuckfan - nobody knows when a new deal will be worked out, but it doesn't appear now that it will be as soon as September 16.

Anywho, to take things a little further, it's clear that Clarke wanted a one-year contract (the Flyers' website reported Rich Winter wanted a two-year deal), and he stated that it was due in part to uncertainty with the way in which the eventual new bargaining agreement will shake out. Why? He either isn't aware of how the bargaining agreement works (unlikely), or thinks the organization is in a better financial situation to wait.

Will Clarke want to sign his restricted free agents before September 15? If you listen to him - which is a gamble in its own right as he's a cryptic negotiator - it seems he wouldn't sign them. Well, he'll certainly have to submit a qualifying offer long before if he wants to keep them or their rights. Maybe he thinks his restricted won't accept the 10% raise, and the impending work (ha!) stoppage will be a mutually understandable reason. In that case, it might be worth it from his point of view to take a chance the player will sign the qualifying offer. If that is true, it's wise negotiating. However, maybe he just wants to see how the player does this year, and he's using the excuse of his team's finances as a bartering tool for next summer's negotiations.

Will Comrie want to sign a contract before a new agreement is hammered out knowing that he might have many more benefits by waiting for a contract that has no grandfather clause? I don't know, but it's another situation that's not as cut-and-dry as "sign-the-contract-in-July or slave-in-the-furniture-warehouse." Perhaps players and organizations in this situation will take a wait-and-see approach. As nuckfan and Ed have mentioned, organizations will have to make their restricted players qualifying offers or they will become unrestricted.

After that, it's a guess.

[jumptheshark]

my prediction is that after the next CBA---the URFA age will be 27

[Teezax]

the should just take out unrestricted free agency. That's what's ruining the game and leading to ridiculous contracts that see the Avs Wings Leafs Stars Rangers and Flyers always getting the premier players because oft heir bank accounts.