What's shady about bidding on a free agent? Who cares that he's mine? I've put a price on the player I feel he's worth. If someone feels he's worth more, then offer more. If not, I'm prepared to pay the salary I've offered.
I like the player and have offered what I think is fair. Should someone else offer more, I'll re-evaluate then. I've put in my last offer to his agent. We'll see what happens from here.
I'm not questioning your ability to win championships, I'm questioning the shadiness of the way in which you are attempting to do it. Not once did I question your ability to manage your team.
That said, I'm more concerned about the ambiguity in the rules regarding the matter than you specifically. Personally I don't think a team should be allowed to bid on their own RFA. They already had three chances to agree on a deal with the player, you missed your chance, now its time to allow him to look elsewhere... why would he settle on a 3 million dollar deal with you now if you guys couldn't agree before? (or why would you suddenly be willing to offer three million now if you weren't willing to before). It just doesn't make sense.
Anyway, I'd just like to see how people feel about this, and see what the league thinks, it should be cleared up at some point here wether this is actually allowed or not.
Nahhh I tihnk what hes doing is fine. Letting an RFA going into the UFA pool is risky, but if you think you can get him for less than the agents were saying he should go for, then its a risk you can take.
Otherwise compensation is in order. Im fine with this.
Yes, he had chances to bid before, but that was before the player could see what the market was like. Why should he be excluded now if he is willing to offer the most money?
That said, I see no reason to bid on your own RFA at this point, seeing as how you have the right to match, unless Toronto woud actually prefer to take a 1st if someone is willing to go that high?
Considering that Avery was asking for a shade over a million at the time of negotiations, as his agent I'd be freakin thrilled right now.
This would be one of those things that need clarified, though my original opinion would be that it is allowed, and here's why.
In the NHL there is a much larger pool of RFA's out there and their teams are able to negotiate with them at the same time as other teams. If Penner had a 3 million offer from the Ducks but decided to hold out for more and got it, it would really be the same situation.
Good point though Steve, thanks for bringing it to our attention.
Yeah, I dont really see whats wrong with this at all. If he signs him for more than you think hes worth, then you just stick it to him and let his offer go through.
The only problem i could see with it is GMs bidding it up so they get more compensation with no real intentions of signing.
But if you do that you run the risk of being stuck with him if nobody beats your offer.
I agree with most of you and think there is nothing wrong with what toronto did. If he gets stuck paying avery 3 million when he would have signed for half of that he only screwed himself