Today is the scheduled arbitration hearing between the Florida Panthers and defenseman MacKenzie Weegar. If the two parties don’t come to an agreement beforehand, an arbitrator will hear from both sides and have 48 hours to award Weegar either a one or two-year contract, depending on what term the Cats choose.
The Panthers have the right to walk away from the new deal if the amount is for $4,397,832 or more. If the award is for a one-year contract and the Panthers choose to do this, Weegar will become an unrestricted free agent and be able to negotiate with any other team in the league immediately. If Weegar is awarded a two-year contract, and the Cats elect to walk away, the two parties will enter into a one-year contract equal to the compensation awarded for the first year as outlined in the arbitration decision. They can only walk away from the second year if the awarded contract is for two years.
Weegar played last season on a one-year contract that paid him $900,00.
Hockey Headlines
The Winnipeg Jets and Neal Pionk avoided arbitration with a two-year contract worth $6 million. Winnipeg acquired the 23-year-old defenseman from the New York Rangers on June 17 as part of the package for Jacob Trouba. (Arctic Ice Hockey)
Oskar Sundqvist and the St. Louis Blues also avoided a scheduled arbitration hearing by agreeing to a four-year pact worth $11 million. Sundqvist posted career-highs with 14 goals and 17 assists last season. He totaled four goals and nine points in 25 postseason games as the Blues captured the Stanley Cup. (St. Louis Game Time)
Would the Montreal Canadiens have made it to the playoffs if team had had a better backup netminder? (Eyes On The Prize)