Cammalleri update
First, just to clarify, some facts:
-- When Cammalleri elected to file for arbitration, the Kings got to choose whether they wanted a one- or two-year contract. They opted for a two-year contract, so that's what Cammalleri will get. It's up to the arbitrator to determine what that contract is worth. Then it's up to the Kings to decide if they want to accept it or make Cammalleri a UFA.
-- If the Kings accept the contract, they will have Cammalleri under contract through 2008-09, after which he would become an unrestricted free agent. As for the question of trading him, I don't know why they would request a two-year contract if they had any thoughts of trading him. Plus, I didn't get the feeling that it was even a possibility.
-- The arbitrator has up to 48 hours to announce his decision. Since the weekend is coming up, I'm not certain if that would push it to Monday if a decision isn't reached Friday.
-- The hearing lasted roughly five hours, according to Lombardi, and as expected, both sides were armed with attorneys. Cammalleri attended the hearing.
Now, on to Lombardi. He was nice enough to give me a quick call, even though we were both struggling with cell-phone reception. Once the situation is settled, I'll be able to get more questions answered. Understandably, he didn't want to talk too much about what the contract size might be. I first asked him, generally, what the hearing was like from his perspective.
``It's a grueling process,'' Lombardi said. ``You meet with the lawyers and try to negotiate. It's five hours and when you get out, it feels like you ran 100 miles. You're trying to get something resolved but you have to be careful about how you present your argument because it's still your player and you don't want to damage the relationship. I've been through this before and it hasn't changed much. It's the same process and the same attorneys. It's really taxing and not a lot of fun.''
I asked Lombardi about the arguments that went back and forth, and the balance between making his point and not offending the player (such as the Sean Avery situation).
``These younger players are getting a lot bigger share of the pie than in the past,'' Lombardi said. ``It's just part of the market right now. You look at what happened with Vanek and Penner and they're trying to take that into account when they negotiate. Most of the hearing was... obviously you critique the player a bit, but most of it was spent talking about how much the market has changed for young players. These things for young players are different than they used to be. We're trying to put a rein on it. I think seniority matters and I think a guy who has done it four times is worth more than a guy who did it once.''
Lombardi said he didn't fear any lingering bitterness between Cammalleri and the team.
``I don't like going through the process but at least you know you'll have the player in training camp,'' Lombardi said. ``Hopefully it will be a situation like Lubo and we can get something done (before 2009). Hopefully (Cammalleri) is going to the next level as a player. There are things in his game that hopefully he can upgrade. Hopefully he can do that this year.''
Lombardi gave a little insight as to what it was like in the room.
``It gets a little intense at times,'' Lombardi said. ``I don't deny that a little emotion showed on both sides. I met with Cammy afterward and I said, `Hey, when this is over we have to go back and be a team.' You just have to keep it from getting personal, and that's not easy sometimes.''
Lombardi declined to speculate as to how much the contract will be worth.
``I don't even want to get into projections,'' Lombardi said. ``I really have no idea.''
Thanks for the update, Rich.
Sounds like they're intent on keeping him, which is good... It'll be interesting to see what they have to stay cap flexible by Oct. 1st.
Thanks for the updates, Rich. It is just awesome getting this level of coverage of the Kings. In the SUMMER, no less!
I feel like 2 years will be good. It will show the Kings whether Cammy will be a franchise player, or whether he'll just be a very good player. And the fact that his contract expires at the same time as Kopitar and Johnson may help if they gel well these next two years. Hopefully, they'll all take a bit less than market price to stay together, but maybe that's wishful thinking.
Thanks Rich!!! Again, you prove to be worth 8 times your current salary!!!
The information stated in your posting about the arbitration was informative. Seems like DL is committed to the core group he keeps metioning and is not just all talk. And thanks for shuting down the rumor mill, I was getting worried.
This is the exact reason why we need this site, there is no other site to get this kind of inside info.
Thanks Rich!!
Thanks Rich. I've always felt that Cammalleri had a bit too high of an opinion of himself, hopefully the arbitrator will see the full picture and not give him a huge salary. It would be good for Cammalleri's ego to deflate a little.
Relative to what Josh posted, both Kopitar and Johnson have been quoted as saying they would like to spend their entire careers with the Kings. Would that this could happen if they become the impact players they project to be. The economic situation may undermine this desire to play here even if they want to. I hope it works out for the Kings.
If it is indeed true that Kopitar and Johnson want to stay here, and they take relatively reasonable contracts, maybe that will rub off on Cammy a little. I mean, I'd think there would be some pressure to take a little less when players more valuable to the team (if projections stay true) aren't bickering for that extra million or two. It would reflect pretty bad on him if he were the only holdout of the group. Then again, whether he cares or not is another matter I guess.
This award would have to be over 2M more than what Lombardi wants to pay for the Kings to walk away from it. I am one of those "lawyers" to whom he refers and if I judge his comments from that perspective (and unless Dean is keeping things very close to the vest), his comments are encouraging. He spoke more of the process than anything terrible that may have happened and that is a positive sing. Hope springs eternal & right now, that's all we got.
Thanks for the information. I can't wait to see what they award him. Hopefully we will get that information tomorrow. I really hate waiting.
Rich, love the site. Keep up the good work. Thanks.
Sad, so sad..
Michael Cammalleri IS worth more than an a 'arbitrators negoitiated' two-year contract.
Whatever the dollar amount ends up being...
=( Michael is gone shortly.. or within 18 months.. (next years' trading deadline)
SO SAD.
Thanks for the updates Rich, well done.
I would love to go to arbitration with my employer to get what my fair market value is. If only teachers made 1/20th of what these guys make!
Rich! your the man, always coming through with the info! i have faith in dean he seems to know what hes doin. he'll do the right thing for this team
rich i appreciate your tenacity in feeding us kings fans something in the lean months of summer. moreover i appreciate DL's availability during this baffling and difficult time.....its so bizarre. i imagine what it was like in court with my ex....its strange for both sides to maintain this air of benevolence while hammering out whether you get 4 mil or 5. its difficult for us fans to imagine.
Mr. Hammond: Thank you for providing us fans with up-to-date information from a source we can trust, as well as a place to discuss our favorite topic, Kings hockey, with a member of the media. Just wanted you to know that all of us anxious Cammalleri fans are appreciative of what you are doing!
Great update Rich! Thanks for keeping the fans informed.
I find it interesting that the Avery situation was part of the equation.
Avery acted so offended by the stuff the Rangers said about him, and when you read his comments you'd expect him to ask for his release or to be traded.
And if you believe the Rangers, if he was such a detriment to the team, they would refuse the arbitrator's award, making Avery a UFA.
Yet the day after arbitration, Avery is signed.
The point I'm making is that I don't think DL has to worry so much about damaging the relationship with Cammalleri. It seems to me arbitration hears can get "that way", and most people are mature enough to realize it's just business.
I'm confident the award for Cammy will be reasonable, and he'll be a King for 2 more years.
thanks Rich, your updates are much appreciated. And this is the offseason. Awesome!
I hope that you are here to stay because "Inside the Kings" is becoming my favorite web page.
Thanks Rich & Dean. Look forward to your next.
Thanks again Rich. You are the best source of Kings info out there. We would be lost without you
Hey Rich,
Is there any truth to the rumors on hockeybuzz, that the Kings are in talks with Toronto for trading Cammy? Please say this is some bogus rumors.
Thanks
Rich, this is EXACTLY why the fans love your blog. We need this kind of information. Please don't ever change this site into a message board! We don't need any more rumors, speculations and lies, so are glad to come here for factual insight! Thank you.
The Toronto media, especially Fan 590AM, is ABUZZ today with rumors of a Andrew Raycroft for Mike Cammalleri trade. GEEZ, I hope this another case of Toronto myopia and a result of their self-proclaimed existance at the center of the hockey universe. I will be sooooo upset if Mike gets traded away for another backstop who was difficulty stoping beach balls.
Say it ain't so, DEAN-O, SAY IT AIN'T SO!!!!!!!!!
GOOd job Hammond! goota resolve this situation! i think deano is not yet sold on cammi as i'm still on the fence(one great season does not a career make)lets get this outta the way and move on to more important tasks(like making a big splash come playoff time with a gelled team GO KINGS GO!!!!!!
i gotta say... for all my complaining about DL not signing a marquee player...im right with him on the cammy thing ... highest goal scorer on the team doesnt count much when the team finished in the bottom third in scoring in the league
I'VE GOT AN IDEA... and rich you tell em it came from your blog first!
All players in the league will get the league minimum ... then after each season players will get bonuses based on performances of the last year(i'm sure there's a math genius out there who can work that out)
Then the next year...clean slate again! if you want it you gotta work for it!
No more Anson Carter / Jeff Friesen / Janne Niinimaa overpayment crap.
(Im still a little peeved about Carter in LA ... what a bonk that was!)
Thanks for the info Rich. Keep up the great work.
At least we only gave up Aulin for Carter. What a huge bust Aulin was.
Cammalleri for Raycroft. (e3)
Just kidding :D
Toronto and Montreal media are a joke. Every "big name" is rumoured to go to Toronto and every French player is rumoured to go to Montreal. Take those rumours with lots of skepticism.
Remember when Milbury made Tommy Salo cry during his arbitration hearing? LOL.
Chris H,
You are right on with your comments about how Toronto fans expect every big name player to play for them. Also, aside from 1993, I think Maple Leaf Nation still resents the Kings for unloading Aki Burg onto them! HA!
Funny you mention Aki Berg. Traded to Toronto for a 2nd round pick used to pick Cammy.
"These things for young players are different than they used to be. We're trying to put a rein on it. I think seniority matters and I think a guy who has done it four times is worth more than a guy who did it once.'' -DL
BINGO!!!!!!!!!
Funny mentioning Aki Berg in the Cammalleri discussion, it was the trade of Aki Berg to Toronto which netted the Kings Adam Mair and a second round pick used to select Cammellari. Not a bad deal.
Weird thing about Aki Berg -- the second round pick that came back for him when he was traded to Toronto was used to pick Cammalleri.
I agree with NMKingfan, "Not a bad deal"
Thank You Mr. Dave Taylor!
NMKings, Chris H, Model 62,
I'm glad all you guys caught the two degrees of seperation between Aki-Petri Burg and Mike. Its good to know where all the smart Kings fans congregate on the internet!! :-)
Rich, do you know if Dean's still going to speak to the media today despite the reward still not being releaseD?