Time running out for Brown talks
Will the Ottawa Senators and Connor Brown be saved by the bell?
Only time will tell and it's ticking away.
Last-minute discussions to try to get a contract extension in place between Senators general manager Pierre Dorion and Brown's Toronto-based agent Jeff Jackson were continuing Wednesday, with a virtual hearing in front of an independent arbitrator set for Thursday morning.
As noted in this space Wednesday, in briefs required to be exchanged between the two sides 48 hours before the hearing, the Senators are seeking a one-year settlement at US$2.25 million while Brown's camp wants a oneyear deal at $4.8 million.
That number alone suggests Brown's camp is using the $4.725-million extension signed by Kevin Labanc of the San Jose Sharks as a comparable. The Senators can't do anything about those contract comparisons, but they likely aren't prepared to go that high on a new deal.
The belief in league circles is if the Senators and Brown's camp can come to an agreement on a three-year deal in the $3.5-million range, that should be enough to get it done.
The arbitration award can only be a one-year deal because the 26-year-old Brown is a season away from being an unrestricted free agent and the thinking is he'll get an award of $3.2 million to $3.5 million from an arbitrator. He had 16 goals and 43 points in 71 games last season.
Yes, the Senators want Brown here for his leadership, and he has a good role under coach D.J. Smith, but they don't want to overpay him, either. With the arrival of winger Evgenii Dadonov as a UFA from the Florida Panthers last week, Brown is already going to play a lesser role.
Last year, Brown got an opportunity to play more minutes because he was one of the more experienced players on the roster. Often, filing for arbitration can spur a deal, and you have to think the two sides will be engaged in discussions right up until the last minute.
No, the Senators don't want Brown to walk into UFA status next summer, but if he doesn't sign a deal with some term they'll probably trade him at the deadline, get a draft pick in return and have money to spend next summer on a player who can perform a similar role.
Some people don't want to hear that, but that's just the reality of what's going to take place as the rebuild enters another phase. The issue is Brown likely won't be a top-six forward when this team gets to its competitive stage in a couple of years.
Once the calendar turned to October and the off-season officially got underway, Dorion has been busy putting pieces into place. The club acquired goaltender Matt Murray from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a trade along with defencemen Josh Brown from the Florida Panthers and rugged blueliner Erik Gudbranson in a deal with the Anaheim Ducks.
Murray and Brown were both signed to extensions immediately after their arrival.