[Devils-list] Devils' Sykora receives record raise from arbitrator
JM2714@aol.com
JM2714@aol.com
Thu, 16 Aug 2001 19:26:18 EDT
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Devils' Sykora receives record raise from arbitrator
2001 NHL free agents
By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY
New Jersey Devils winger Petr Sykora, considered one of the NHL's most
underpaid players, lost that distinction Thursday when an arbitrator awarded
him a 389% raise to bump his salary from $675,000 to $3.3 million.
Sykora's two-year award, with $3.535 million coming in his second season,
represents the largest percentage increase awarded in an NHL arbitration case.
"For a player who led the NHL in (cumulative) goal scoring over the last
three seasons and led the Devils in goals and points in those three seasons
and helped lead the team to a Stanley Cup and a trip the Finals, you would
have to say the award is on the low end of what is reasonable," said Sykora's
agent, Rich Winter. "But it's acceptable."
The Devils had offered an average of about $2.6 million, while Sykora had
asked for more than $4 million.
"It's a good result, but it's not an overwhelming win, given the nuances of
his ability," Winter said. "To put it simply, if (Devils general manager) Lou
Lamoriello and asked any team in the National Hockey League if they would
consider paying Sykora $3.3 million and $3.5 million over the next two
seasons, it wouldn't be an impediment to a trade."
Arbitrations can turn ugly because team officials can feel obliged to tear
down the player in order to prove to an arbitrator that the player isn't
deserving of a big raise.
Lamoriello, with a reputation of taking a hard line on keeping down player
salaries, didn't use those tactics.
"They didn't lowball Petr," Winter said. "Lou made a reasonable proposal
prior to the hearing. He was a professional."
Lamoriello, Winter and Sykora had dinner together the night before the
hearing.
"It was just a difference in Lou Lamoriello's business philosophy and Petr's
feelings about the matter," Winter said.
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<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT COLOR="#0000a0" SIZE=3>Devils' Sykora receives record raise from arbitrator
<BR> 2001 NHL free agents
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY
<BR>New Jersey Devils winger Petr Sykora, considered one of the NHL's most
<BR>underpaid players, lost that distinction Thursday when an arbitrator awarded
<BR>him a 389% raise to bump his salary from $675,000 to $3.3 million.
<BR>Sykora's two-year award, with $3.535 million coming in his second season,
<BR>represents the largest percentage increase awarded in an NHL arbitration case.
<BR>"For a player who led the NHL in (cumulative) goal scoring over the last
<BR>three seasons and led the Devils in goals and points in those three seasons
<BR>and helped lead the team to a Stanley Cup and a trip the Finals, you would
<BR>have to say the award is on the low end of what is reasonable," said Sykora's
<BR>agent, Rich Winter. "But it's acceptable."
<BR>The Devils had offered an average of about $2.6 million, while Sykora had
<BR>asked for more than $4 million.
<BR>"It's a good result, but it's not an overwhelming win, given the nuances of
<BR>his ability," Winter said. "To put it simply, if (Devils general manager) Lou
<BR>Lamoriello and asked any team in the National Hockey League if they would
<BR>consider paying Sykora $3.3 million and $3.5 million over the next two
<BR>seasons, it wouldn't be an impediment to a trade."
<BR>Arbitrations can turn ugly because team officials can feel obliged to tear
<BR>down the player in order to prove to an arbitrator that the player isn't
<BR>deserving of a big raise.
<BR>Lamoriello, with a reputation of taking a hard line on keeping down player
<BR>salaries, didn't use those tactics.
<BR>"They didn't lowball Petr," Winter said. "Lou made a reasonable proposal
<BR>prior to the hearing. He was a professional."
<BR>Lamoriello, Winter and Sykora had dinner together the night before the
<BR>hearing.
<BR>"It was just a difference in Lou Lamoriello's business philosophy and Petr's
<BR>feelings about the matter," Winter said.
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
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