It is pretty clear that the Chicago Blackhawks are doing whatever they can to minimize the damage they may have been done by mishandling qualifying offers tendered to their restricted free agents last week.
As the NHLPA grieved the matter yesterday, the Blackhawks inked five restricted free agents to new contracts. Today, they signed a sixth – defenceman Cam Barker, the third player chosen in the 2004 entry draft and an up-and-coming power-play specialist.
Barker finished 27th in scoring among NHL defenceman, despite starting the season in the minors, largely for salary-cap reasons. By the end of the year, he was playing regularly on a Blackhawks’ defence corps, about 18 minutes per night – the only defenceman in the league to score 40 or more points and play fewer than 20 minutes per game.
Still, the Blackhawks saw his offensive upside and wanted to get him locked up. Provided they can sign Calder Trophy finalist Kris Versteeg as well, the arbitration hearing requested by the NHLPA to investigate whether the qualifying offers were submitted properly may be a moot point.
The 23-year-old Barker signed a three-year contract with the Blackhawks. After nurturing him in the minors for years, GM Dale Tallon is anxious to see what's next for Barker. “We have had the privilege of watching Cam grow up in our organization and agree that his contributions are going to help take us to the next level," said Tallon.
Barker had the option of awaiting the outcome of an arbitrator’s ruling before agreeing to terms. If the verdict had been favourable, Barker could have potentially become an unrestricted free agent, the same as some of the other players who were in the same position, but also came to terms on new deals with the Blackhawks on Monday – Troy Brouwer, Ben Eager, Colin Fraser and Aaron Johnson.
In a different organization or at a different time, there might have been a greater temptation for the affected players to wait out the results of the arbitrator's ruling.
What the Blackhawks have going for them right now is a singular momentum, built on their place as a rising team in the Western Conference. As a result, nobody really wants to leave - not even Martin Havlat, who left only because the team chose to pursue Marian Hossa instead. That's the advantage of having a good young team in a great city.
So what if you can earn a few dollars more by moving elsewhere? If the offer suits you and the fit is there, there is no compelling reason to dawdle. This is one time when the grass really isn’t greener on the other side of the fence.
