Blues get back at Canucks

July 8, 2008   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

One of the common trends we’re seeing is GMs sign Group II’s to offersheets ticking off rival executives who either make a big threat as the Sabres did last summer when Kevin Lowe gave Thomas Vanek that huge offer sheet or make disparaging remarks such as know it all Brian Burke did taking jabs at the Edmonton GM for stealing away Dustin Penner. Funny how the NHL didn’t call the former employee into the office but as soon as Lowe fired back, they finally asked both to the principal’s office.

I wouldn’t mind seeing Lowe give Burke a beatdown because the latter thinks he invented the game. Is he a good GM? Absolutely. But sometimes, his arrogant attitude can get a little irksome. His rival Lowe hasn’t broken any rules. As far as I know, teams can ink restricted FA’s to deals if they’re willing to sign on the dotted line giving the original team seven days to match. There’s nothing wrong with that. Either the organization concludes that the player is worth keeping and antes up or decide they can’t afford to due to the cap and go in a different direction.

Ironically, Burke’s former team the Canucks are involved in the latest Group II game. They signed Blues’ forward David Backes to an offer sheet which St. Louis quickly matched to keep his rights. Less than a week later, the Blues have signed recently acquired forward Steve Bernier to an offer sheet worth $2.5 million for next season.

Out of curiosity, is this why the penny pinching Sabres dealt away the potential power forward last week so quickly after acquiring him at last season’s deadline? At least they finally upgraded their blueline picking up steady veteran Craig Rivet from San Jose.

The 23 year-old Bernier is a solid player. In 76 combined games with the Sharks and Sabres, he finished with 16 goals and 16 helpers for 32 points along with 64 penalty minutes. It was kind of odd how Buffalo got him in the Brian Campbell deal only to later deal him off. He’s a former 2003 first round pick who has solid size going 6-2, 235. No wonder teams are after him.

Unlike rival GMs who take these kind of deals personally as if it hurts their egos, current Vancouver GM Mike Gillis didn’t see anything wrong with what the St. Louis organization did:

“We have a great deal of respect for the St. Louis Blues, John Davidson, Larry Pleau and their management team, The offer sheet to Bernier is a clear indication of how highly Steve is thought of in our league.”

It’s refreshing to see no cheapshots being dished out for what looked like some payback. I do wonder though about where this league is headed when a guy who’s yet to reach 100 career points is going to make $2.5 million. The average cost for FA’s will only continue to escalate spiraling out of control.

Former Flyer center R.J. Umberger who ironically was drafted by Vancouver but never set foot there due to contract demands is already on his fourth team having played 228 total games producing a little over half (116 pts) before the Blue Jackets traded for him rewarding the 26 year-old with a four-year $16 million deal. Now, he did post a career best 50 points and had an outstanding postseason torching the Canadiens for eight of his 10 markers while posting 15 points. At this juncture, he’s no better than a checking center.

This is where the league’s headed. No wonder Jaromir Jagr picked up and left for a richer return to Russia to play for Avanguard-OMSK. Here’s the sad aspect. A star player though older at age 36 who could add a lot more to a contender only attracted offers from three teams (Oilers, Pens, Rangers). Most just weren’t willing to pay No.68 top dollar due to producing only 71 points in Tom Renney’s defensive system which held him back. If he played in a more high tempo system, no question he’d have fared better despite going through long goal droughts and lingering questions as to whether he could bounceback. If you saw how he performed in two rounds with the Blueshirts, you know better.

It’s a young man’s league even though the Devils committed too much for 35 year-old Brian Rolston giving him four years at an average of five million per. Now, Rolston has been a quality NHL player and will certainly boost New Jersey’s struggling offense. He’s a solid two-way forward who can play power play with that booming shot from the point and is a shorthanded threat. But do you think giving him four years is a little bit much? He’ll be 38 in the final season.

How do they justify this? By knowing that the Flint, Michigan native is a reliable player who’s scored at least 30 goals in his last three seasons even though his point total went down in each year. It’s still much easier to conclude paying Rolston five million on average for what he’s accomplished than one million less for Umberger, who looks to be a similar player if he can take that next step in Columbus.

Still, when you look at these salaries, just remember the Maple Leafs led by NHL fossil Cliff Fletcher gave Jeff Finger four years at an average of $3.5 per-year.

Don’t try to laugh too much.