Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 3060159" data-attributes="member: 2012">Zherdev, Blue Jackets remain far apartCanadian Press9/12/2006 5:29:59 PMNikolai Zherdev began his Russian league season Sunday and it appears more and more likely that he's going to stay there this year.The Columbus Blue Jackets are set to open camp Friday and the 21-year-old restricted free agent won't be there as he remains far apart on a new contract."Right now it would appear he's not going to be playing here unless there's a sudden change," Jackets GM Doug MacLean told The Canadian Press on Tuesday.MacLean said he offered the Zherdev camp US$6.9 million over three years but hasn't heard back."We told them Friday night to get back to us and they never responded. That would lead me to believe they haven't accepted it," said MacLean.The $6.9-million offer is similar to what fellow winger Joffrey Lupul signed with the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Lupul signed for $6.935 million."They want to use that as a comparable but I told them we can't use that as a comparable," Zherdev's agent Rolland Hedges said Tuesday. "Nikolai Zherdev is in a different set of circumstances than any player they've mentioned as a comparable."Zherdev, who made $942,400 last season, was second in goals (27) and points (54) with the Jackets last year, his second in the NHL. Lupul, who turns 23 next week, had 28 goals in 81 regular-season games last year and another nine in the playoffs. It was also his second NHL season.MacLean also offered $1.25 million for one year and $3.9 million for two years."I'm trying to be fair here," said MacLean. "It's not a pissing match or anything, it's just a matter that we don't agree on the comparables."Hedges said they've countered with either $8.5 million over three years, $5.75 million over two years or $2.5 million for one year.In the meantime, Zherdev continues to play with Russian club Khimik Voskresenk where it's believed he's earning $1.5 million _ tax-free."Nikolai would not have signed a deal and reported to the Russian team on June 23 had we been having reasonable discussions with Columbus," said Hedges. "That says it all in a nutshell."The Russian deal includes an out clause if Zherdev can agree to terms with Columbus before Oct. 5, the day before the Jackets' regular-season opener. If there's no deal by then, Zherdev is gone for the season."I'm looking at other options right now," MacLean, hinting at a possible signing or trade. "He's had a fair offer from us."He's got the option to stay in Russia and that's fine but he's going to have to go through us at some point to come back to the NHL."</blockquote>

Verification