The Calgary Flames and Jarome Iginla remain $2-million (U.S.) apart in salary discussions.
Iginla has said he will not attend the National Hockey League team's training camp next month unless he has a new contract. Fans are grumbling, tension is building, but don't let any of that fool you. Things may be worse than they appear.
According to Flames general manager Craig Button, money isn't the only issue being debated with Iginla and his agent Don Meehan. So is the length of the contract and whether the two sides should agree to anything beyond the 2003-04 season, which is when the league's collective agreement with the players' association expires. In fact, Button said yesterday, "There has not been an agreement on any aspect of a contract [with Iginla]"
That means after months of negotiations, with training camp little more than three weeks away, the Flames and Iginla remain pathetically, perhaps hopelessly stalemated. And the frustration of that deadlock is beginning to seep into the Iginla camp.
Meehan, who is also representing restricted free-agent goaltender Jose Theodore in contract talks with the Montreal Canadiens, said he was not surprised by Iginla's admission he would skip training camp if still unsigned. For his part, Meehan said he was "optimistic by what [the Flames]are saying but I'm pessimistic when it comes to what they're doing.
"Jarome's comments reflect a growing frustration to this extent: If Jarome has said all he's said, that he loves Canada, loves playing in Calgary, that he wants to get better, that he wants the team to succeed and he wants to be a part of that success, the damage the Flames have now is allowing a player to have those feelings with nothing being done. He's said all that, but what have they done?" Meehan said. "Their lack of activity frustrates him and me."
Meehan is of the belief a two-year deal is best for Iginla and the Flames given the uncertainty that a new collective agreement can be settled without games being lost. Calgary's position is that Iginla is worth $5.625-million a season. Meehan has asked for $7.5-million and used Los Angeles Kings' centre Jason Allison ($6.5-million this season, $8-million the next) as a comparison. The Flames believe Iginla should be paid along the lines of Daniel Alfredsson, who re-signed with the Ottawa Senators for $5.25-million, and Patrik Elias, who accepted $4.75-million from the New Jersey Devils.
During the past six weeks, the Flames, including owners Harley Hotchkiss and Murray Edwards, have chatted amicably with Iginla and Meehan while resolving little. Talks will continue, but nothing is planned and no face-to-face sit-downs are imminent.
"You talk that it seems to be going down a familiar path [from impasse to training camp no-show to perhaps the organization and player agreeing to part ways] Our goal is to prevent it from going down that path," Button said.