Callahan, Zajac, Zherdev head arbitration list

July 5, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

Salary arbitration is a tedious process. It’s usually uncomfortable because there’s such give and take between what players request and what GMs put in for. Unfortunately for the Rangers and Devils, a few key guys are headed there unless something can be worked out before hand.

Hearings don’t begin until July 20 running through August 4. We’re fairly certain this fellow Ranger blogger and Devil blogger Hasan will be rooting for early agreements. On the Ranger side, both forwards Ryan Callahan and Nikolai Zherdev who opted for arbitration while top Devil pivot Travis Zajac was the big name on the other side of the Hudson.

For the Blueshirts who already have a significant amount commited with the cap rumored to be decreasing, it puts more pressure on President/GM Glen Sather to get things done. Especially with Callahan, who posted career highs in games (81), goals (22), assists (18), points (40) and penalty minutes (45).

If there was one constant on a low scoring club, it was the gritty 24 year-old from Rochester who deservedly won the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award. What he might wind up depends on other cases unless Slats realizes how vital he is with John Tortorella loving the effort. In my mind, Cally should get strong consideration for one of the alternates. Figure the cost to range between 2 and 3 million. If I were the club, I’d try to get him to sign a long-term progression deal where he gradually gets bumped up.

As for talented Russian enigma Zherdev, who turns 25 this Fall, my guess is as good as anyone’s. Sure. He tied for the club lead in scoring with 58 points but disappeared down the stretch including zilch in a first round vanishing act. How much does he expect? He made $3.25 million this past season. Would you bump him up to four? Yikes. I honestly wouldn’t pay more than 3.5. If his agent thinks he’s worth more, let him bolt for the KHL. Just say Dac vee daniyah.

For the Devils, Zajac’s a more intriguing case because he bounced back in a big way exploding for career highs in goals (20), assists (42), points (62) and plus/minus (+33) while anchoring the top line that featured leading scorer Zach Parise and Jamie Langenbrunner. Zajac’s also 24 and should get a significant raise from the 984 K he banked. Comparatively speaking, Callahan made 600 K and RFA Brandon Dubinsky 645 K.

Does Lou Lamoriello handout a similar progression deal to the one he wisely gave Parise which still has two years left with him set to earn $3 million this season and go up to $5 million in 2010-11? That would seem to make economical sense for the penny pincher, who hasn’t put his team in dire straits like past summers when losing key players. It’ll be curious to see what happens here.

The other Battle clubs are also represented with Buffalo’s Clarke MacArthur and Isles’ energizer Nate Thompson each going to arbitration along with 15 other players including former Ranger Nigel Dawes. Other notables are James Wisniewski, Tuomo Ruutu, Tomas Plekanec (haha at Gainey) and Jiri Hudler.