With Sauer,
Anisimov and Boyle out of the way Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan, the two
most complicated of the restricted free agent deals are all that are left for
the New York Rangers. Earlier I looked
at how Andrew Ladd’s new contract should be a base for Dubinsky new deal, but
there is something else to keep in mind when talking the arbitration cases for
each player.
Larry Brooks
of the New
York Post points out that because of the differential in years before they
reach unrestricted free agency the Rangers have the option of asking for a
decision on Dubinsky for two-years, while Callahan can only be for one season.
Dubinsky, whose hearing is scheduled for next Thursday, is two years away from unrestricted free agency under terms of the current collective bargaining agreement. The Rangers would be expected to elect a two-year arbitration award should the parties be unable to agree on a long-term contract prior to the hearing.
Callahan, however, would be eligible to hit the open market next July 1 if the Rangers are unable to sign him to a long-term deal before then. As such, there is more urgency to avoid arbitration with Callahan, whose hearing is scheduled for July 28 and can only receive a one-year award.
The fact that the Rangers can get a two-year award on Dubinsky
might give the team slightly more leverage in terms of a long-term deal and
would also allow the team to avoid having to negotiate with Dubinsky again next
summer. Callahan being only one year
from unrestricted status does create some added pressure on the organization for
a long-term deal since he would hit the open market along with him being the
presumed next captain of the team. Even
if Callahan does get a one-year arbitration award they could certainly negotiate
a long-term extension during the season next year.
