Young Flames know the deal
Hanifin, Gaudreau can relate to Nylander’s contract situation Defenceman Noah Hanifin was traded to Calgary amid difficult contract talks with Carolina.
Maple Leafs winger William Nylander is discovering the foibles and pitfalls of getting caught in a contract impasse. It’s a lesson Flames defenceman Noah Hanifin and forward Johnny Gaudreau have already learned.
Nylander has yet to suit up for the Maple Leafs this season, unable to come to terms with GM Kyle Dubas on a contract. As a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level deal, he has no arbitration rights. His only choices? Sign what’s offered or wait, hoping for a better offer.
Like Nylander, Hanifin was coming off his entry-level deal this year after having been selected fifth in the 2015 NHL draft by the Carolina Hurri- canes. Talks between the Hanifin camp and Hurricanes weren’t going so well when — presto – Hanifin was traded to Calgary along with Elias Lindholm, another player coming off his first contract.
“That was some of it,” Hanifin said about contract issues before the Flames took on the Leafs on Monday night.
“(The trade) came pretty abruptly to me. It was around the draft, and I found out I was coming to Calgary. It was pretty abrupt.”
The Flames sent defenceman Dougie Hamilton, forward Micheal Ferland and blue-line prospect Adam Fox to the Hurricanes, who were looking for — among other things — cost cer- tainty in acquiring three veterans under contract.
Calgary signed both Hanifin and Lindholm over the summer, Hanifin to a six-year, $29.7-million deal (all dollars U.S.), Lindholm for six years and $29.1 million.
That wasn’t the case in the summer and fall of 2016, when Gaudreau missed training camp before agreeing to a sixyear, $40.5-million deal.
“It was difficult, but it was the business side of the game,” said Gaudreau.
“I didn’t have too many rights, which sucked. But that’s part of coming out of (an entry-level deal). Maybe that’s something that gets resolved.
“I was happy to get the contract done before the season started and I didn’t have to miss any games.”
Meanwhile, Nylander sits. Maybe he’s gained a bit of leverage with Auston Matthews injured and the Leafs’ depth at forward being tested. Specula- tion is rampant that teams are lining up offers in case the Leafs decide to deal the right winger.
But it’s only players such as Nylander who are caught in the situation: NHLers coming off their entry-level deals don’t have arbitration rights, like restricted free agents who have four to six years of experience. (Those with seven years can become unrestricted free agents when their contracts expire.)
“Obviously, it’s strange that guys don’t have arbitration rights,” said Hanifin. “Maybe that will be adjusted in the next CBA. It’s tough. It’s a negotiation. It’s business. For both sides, it’s important to come to a fair agreement.”
Hanifin is not complaining. He got his contract and he quite likes life in Calgary.
“It’s a little bit different from Carolina, for sure,” said Hanifin.
The start — 5-5-1 heading into Monday night — is not ideal for a team with high expectations.