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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 3066199" data-attributes="member: 2012">Nonis doesn't know why Clarke made offerCanadian Press9/15/2006 5:07:00 PMVERNON, B.C. (CP) - Vancouver Canucks general manager Dave Nonis says Bob Clarke's actions in signing centre Ryan Kesler to a US$1.9 million offer sheet make no sense.The Canucks were caught off guard earlier this week when the Philadelphia Flyers general manager signed the restricted free agent to an offer sheet.The Canucks said Thursday they would match the offer, which was worth far more than they had planned on paying Kesler this year."Philadelphia didn't do anything wrong in this process," Nonis said Friday at the Canucks training camp. "Bob Clarke is free to do whatever he wants in signing free-agent players. He didn't break any rules, as he's told the world."But I don't understand it. To sign a player to a deal, at far more than what he would normally sign too, knowing full well we were going to match the offer ... To me that doesn't make any sense."Nonis was controlled and didn't show any visible anger in talking about the situation, but did throw a dig at Clarke."Clarke has always been good to me, he's been nice to me," Nonis said. "I was told a long time ago Bob Clarke would kick his grandmother down a flight a stairs if he thought he'd have a better chance of winning. That's what it comes down to."It's something I didn't understand. It's something I don't understand this minute."Kesler and the Canucks were believed to be close to agreeing on a $1.9-million, two-year contract before Clarke made the surprise move of signing Kesler to an offer sheet.Philadelphia wanted the six-foot-two, 205-pound centre to replace former captain Keith Primeau, who was forced to retire because of concussion-related problems.It was the first offer sheet signed by a player since 1999. The Canucks had a week to decide whether to match the offer or receive a second-round draft pick.Kesler, picked 23rd overall in the 2003 draft, played his first full season in the NHL last year, scoring 10 goals and adding 13 assists and 79 penalty minutes in 82 games.In 110 career games with the Canucks, he has 12 goals, 16 assists and 95 penalty minutes.Clarke's move sparked debate around the league. Some GMs believe his action will be inflationary and affect future comparable players.Signing Kesler moves the Canucks payroll to around $43 million,  very close to this year's $44-million cap. It could affect who the Canucks sign as a backup goaltender behind Roberto Luongo.The Canucks had qualified Kesler at $564,000 earlier this summer.Technically, the last official offer sheet before Tuesday was in July 1999 when Tampa Bay made an offer for little-known Oiler Brett Hauer. Edmonton matched it.The last offer sheet of any note was in February 1998 when Carolina went after Detroit star Sergei Fedorov and the Red Wings matched it.For his part, Clarke wasn't concerned about how the move was viewed by others."That's the rules in the CBA," Clarke said. "The rules aren't convenient just for one team, they're there for everybody. You can't pick and choose. If you like one rule and I like one rule, does that mean we can only use one rule? That's crazy."If you're unhappy with the rules, complain to (commissioner) Gary Bettman."</blockquote>

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