McMichael files for arbitration

[STL fan in MN]

Not really surprising.

That makes him no longer eligible for an offer sheet.

https://www.nhlpa.com/news/15-players- ... itration/

[UMR-alum-05]

I wonder if it's term or AAV or both that's holding them back.

I guess (total speculation) that McMichael wants 7x7 or something longer term at a pretty high rate and the Blues are trying to keep it 5x6 or something.

[TAFKAP]

I hope this is just stalling to get the deal done because arb is just for a one year deal. He'll be more expesive next year if he's as good as we hoped.

[STL fan in MN]

I hope this is just stalling to get the deal done because arb is just for a one year deal. He'll be more expesive next year if he's as good as we hoped.

Arbitration can result in a 1 or 2 year contract. The party that doesn’t file gets to choose the length. That said, McMichael is 2 years away from UFA status so the Blues would clearly choose 1 year.

But around 90-95% of players that file for arbitration come to an agreement before the hearing. This will just give him and the Blues a drop dead date they need to come to a deal by to avoid an arbitration hearing.

[stljrs]

I wonder if they’d entertain trading McM for Wright in some sort of package. That’d free up space to try to get Nikishin. I’m just not that sold on McM being worth 7M which is what he’s probably looking for. His production is nowhere near Holloways.

[Bubble4427]

I hope this is just stalling to get the deal done because arb is just for a one year deal. He'll be more expesive next year if he's as good as we hoped.

Arbitration awards can be both a one year OR a two year deal. Hockey is different from other sports.

[UMR-alum-05]

I wonder if they’d entertain trading McM for Wright in some sort of package. That’d free up space to try to get Nikishin. I’m just not that sold on McM being worth 7M which is what he’s probably looking for. His production is nowhere near Holloways.

I could see something like that happening, at least the Wright trade part.

[TBone]

I hope this is just stalling to get the deal done because arb is just for a one year deal. He'll be more expesive next year if he's as good as we hoped.

Arbitration can result in a 1 or 2 year contract. The party that doesn’t file gets to choose the length. That said, McMichael is 2 years away from UFA status so the Blues would clearly choose 1 year.

But around 90-95% of players that file for arbitration come to an agreement before the hearing. This will just give him and the Blues a drop dead date they need to come to a deal by to avoid an arbitration hearing.

If the party that doesn't file gets to choose the length why wouldn't the Blues choose two years?

I would hope either submitted number would be less than multiple years at $6-7+ mil being speculated about.

If I'm the Blues there's not enough of a track record with McM to feel good about handing out a long-term extention largely on faith.

[tfriede2]

I hope this is just stalling to get the deal done because arb is just for a one year deal. He'll be more expesive next year if he's as good as we hoped.

Arbitration can result in a 1 or 2 year contract. The party that doesn’t file gets to choose the length. That said, McMichael is 2 years away from UFA status so the Blues would clearly choose 1 year.

But around 90-95% of players that file for arbitration come to an agreement before the hearing. This will just give him and the Blues a drop dead date they need to come to a deal by to avoid an arbitration hearing.

If the party that doesn't file gets to choose the length why wouldn't the Blues choose two years?

I would hope either submitted number would be less than multiple years at $6-7+ mil being speculated about.

If I'm the Blues there's not enough of a track record with McM to feel good about handing out a long-term extention largely on faith.

MN already said it - 2 years takes him straight to UFA. By selecting 1 year, McMichael would be an RFA after next season.

[TBone]

I hope this is just stalling to get the deal done because arb is just for a one year deal. He'll be more expesive next year if he's as good as we hoped.

Arbitration can result in a 1 or 2 year contract. The party that doesn’t file gets to choose the length. That said, McMichael is 2 years away from UFA status so the Blues would clearly choose 1 year.

But around 90-95% of players that file for arbitration come to an agreement before the hearing. This will just give him and the Blues a drop dead date they need to come to a deal by to avoid an arbitration hearing.

If the party that doesn't file gets to choose the length why wouldn't the Blues choose two years?

I would hope either submitted number would be less than multiple years at $6-7+ mil being speculated about.

If I'm the Blues there's not enough of a track record with McM to feel good about handing out a long-term extention largely on faith.

MN already said it - 2 years takes him straight to UFA. By selecting 1 year, McMichael would be an RFA after next season.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other then.

I want to see him prove it here before tying up significant dollars in him.

[skilles]

1 year sounds pretty good to me actually.

[UMR-alum-05]

Reality is the Blues likely don't want to be paying McMichael, Buch and Neighbours 6-7-8MM each for the next 5 years.

Maybe just doing a year on McMichael is the right way to go. Then decide do they want to keep and extend Neighbours or McMichael after this season. They will both be RFAs at that time. Or maybe they keep both but they will have a clearer market view in a year.

[tfriede2]

1 year sounds pretty good to me actually.

Agreed. I was thinking of a 1-year bridge anyway, but I’m assuming we’ll reach a 4-5 year extension ahead of the arbitration date. I’d personally like to see how he performs with the Blues prior to extending him long-term, but I’m sure the Blues have a good idea of what they’re getting if they do opt to extend long-term.

[TruBlueFan_1970]

Other than the one interview, haven’t heard much from CM. Granted he said he’d be busy with getting married I believe, but this makes me wonder. Is it a negotiating tactic? Does he not want to be a Blue, but had no way to block a trade? Was he ok with the trade, but once they got McTavish, reality set in that the Blues most likely won’t play him at center which is his stated preference?

Lots of unanswered questions in my mind. My gut tells me it’s a combination of a way to create leverage to get overpaid, or be walked into a one year deal, where the Blues trade him. Guess we’ll know later this summer when his arbitration hearing date is set.

[skilles]

Other than the one interview, haven’t heard much from CM. Granted he said he’d be busy with getting married I believe, but this makes me wonder. Is it a negotiating tactic? Does he not want to be a Blue, but had no way to block a trade? Was he ok with the trade, but once they got McTavish, reality set in that the Blues most likely won’t play him at center which is his stated preference?

Lots of unanswered questions in my mind. My gut tells me it’s a combination of a way to create leverage to get overpaid, or be walked into a one year deal, where the Blues trade him. Guess we’ll know later this summer when his arbitration hearing date is set.

I'm guessing he is just trying to get as much money as he can while he has the chance.

Probably one of the most important times of his entire life right now.

[UMR-alum-05]

If they do a one year deal now on McMichael, they will have Neighbours, Mailloux, McMichael, Hofer and Snuggurud all RFAs after this season. Steen will have his work cut out for him.

The Blues have 10.2MM in space now. Likely drops to around 4MM after they do something with McMichael. So about 100MM in contract commitments so far for this season after McMichael signs.

Cap goes up likely from 104 to 120MM next year is that what they are saying? Is that right?

Only expiring contracts out of the Blues 100MM is Suter at 4, Carlo at 4, Berggren at 2, Dube at 1, Binnington at 6. Round numbers. So going into the season a year from now the Blues will have 83MM in contracts committed.

Therefore Blues would have about 36-37MM in space next offseason to ink deals with McMichael, Neighbours, Hofer, Mailloux, Snuggy.

Obviously a few other things can change. But that's the current situation very roughly laid out.