Stone, Ceci take next step in salary talks
It’s business as usual as free agents opt to file for arbitration ahead of deadline
Mark Stone and Cody Ceci have taken the next step in getting contracts signed with the Ottawa Senators, filing for arbitration at the league-imposed deadline of 5 p.m. Thursday.
With no new deals in place, the moves were expected by the restricted free agent winger and defenceman, but nobody should be alarmed by this news because it’s not unusual or unexpected.
It means that, if neither player is able to reach an agreement on a new deal with the Senators before his hearing is held in late July or early August, then it will be up to an independent arbitrator to decide the salary both players will earn next season.
Last summer, 30 players filed for arbitration and 29 settled before their hearings were held.
With Stone, 26, only a year away from becoming an unrestricted free agent, he can only get a oneyear award in arbitration. In the case of the 24-year-old Ceci, his age means he could end up with a one- or two-year deal. It’s up to the club to decide before the process is held if it wants a two-year award on Ceci.
The reality is, though, that most of these cases never see the light of day at arbitration, and that’s why this is good news for the organization and the players. It also reassures the Senators that both players are going to be at camp in September.
The Senators certainly want to get Stone signed to a long-term contract because he’s consistently shown he’s one of the club’s best players at both ends of the ice.
There haven’t been any serious discussions between general manager Pierre Dorion and Stone’s representatives at Newport Sports, but the fact he has now filed will help spur the discussions.
A lot of the decisions in arbitration are based on offensive numbers, and Stone had 20 goals and 62 points in 58 games last season.
It can be an ugly process, though, because often times the organization will point out a player’s flaws, and that’s why both sides try to avoid it.
The decision by Stone, who had a cap hit of US$3.5 million last year, to go to arbitration also removes the threat of an offer sheet by another team. There was speculation in league circles that he might be the target of an offer sheet, which Ottawa would have been forced to match.
It’s not known what Stone will be seeking in a new deal, but the speculation is it would be in the range of $7.5 million to $8 million a season.
The Senators will also now get serious in discussions with Ceci, and what he makes next season will partially depend on the role he’s expected to take on if captain Erik Karlsson is traded before training camp opens in September.
Ceci had a cap hit of $2.8 million the past two years.
In the past, Dorion has done a good job of avoiding the arbitration process completely. He was only minutes away from a hearing in Toronto last summer with winger Ryan Dzingel when he agreed to a two-year, $3.6-million deal.
Dzingel had 23 goals and 41 points in 79 games last season.
And, in the past, Dorion has been able to get contracts in place that have made sense for the organization.
The decision by Stone and Ceci to file for arbitration also gives Dorion other options on what do with the club’s roster.
Once a player files for arbitration, it opens up another buyout window for the organization. The Senators have already completed a buyout with winger Alex Burrows, and there’s been some speculation they may go that route with winger Marian Gaborik. He was acquired in the deal that sent defenceman Dion Phaneuf to the Los Angeles Kings before the trade deadline. Gaborik had back surgery in April and isn’t eligible for a buyout because he hasn’t been declared healthy yet.
If he’s healthy, that option will at least be on the table for the Senators after either Stone or Ceci gets an award or settles before their hearing. That’s a possibility the Senators may study, and they’ll have 48 hours to decide after a decision or settlement with Stone or Ceci.