MadDevil
8-16-05, 6:48 PM
Elias' deadline extended by Devils
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
BY RICH CHERE
Star-Ledger Staff
The Devils, who lost their best defenseman when Scott Niedermayer signed with the Mighty Ducks, are hoping to sign top forward Patrik Elias to a multiyear contract extension to avoid another crushing desertion next summer.
Elias remains the Devils' only restricted free agent yet to sign the club's qualifying offer. However, general manager Lou Lamoriello has given the left winger a one-week extension on returning his QO as the two sides negotiate a possible contract extension.
"We have been talking and will continue to talk," agent Todd Diamond said. "We're both trying. The worst scenario is Patrik will play under the qualifying offer ($4.18 million) for a year."
If he accepts the one-season qualifying offer, the team's leading scorer in each of the last five seasons would be an unrestricted free agent next summer. Under the NHL's new CBA, once a player signs a qualifying offer the team is not allowed to extend a contract, which is why the QO extension was issued.
Lamoriello said Elias, recovering from hepatitis A, will be placed on injured reserve once his contract status is settled and that will put the Devils under the $39 million payroll cap by the Oct. 1 deadline.
http://www.nj.com/devils/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1124172963182390.xml&coll=1
It would be nice if they could get a contract extension done, but I'm almost worried with some of the recent signings as to what Elias will be asking for. If Lecavalier can get $6.8 million a year, what is Elias worth? Lou probably doesn't want to give anybody a long term contract at this point, but Elias is the one player for the Devils that may be worth it, depending on what he's asking for.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
BY RICH CHERE
Star-Ledger Staff
The Devils, who lost their best defenseman when Scott Niedermayer signed with the Mighty Ducks, are hoping to sign top forward Patrik Elias to a multiyear contract extension to avoid another crushing desertion next summer.
Elias remains the Devils' only restricted free agent yet to sign the club's qualifying offer. However, general manager Lou Lamoriello has given the left winger a one-week extension on returning his QO as the two sides negotiate a possible contract extension.
"We have been talking and will continue to talk," agent Todd Diamond said. "We're both trying. The worst scenario is Patrik will play under the qualifying offer ($4.18 million) for a year."
If he accepts the one-season qualifying offer, the team's leading scorer in each of the last five seasons would be an unrestricted free agent next summer. Under the NHL's new CBA, once a player signs a qualifying offer the team is not allowed to extend a contract, which is why the QO extension was issued.
Lamoriello said Elias, recovering from hepatitis A, will be placed on injured reserve once his contract status is settled and that will put the Devils under the $39 million payroll cap by the Oct. 1 deadline.
http://www.nj.com/devils/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1124172963182390.xml&coll=1
It would be nice if they could get a contract extension done, but I'm almost worried with some of the recent signings as to what Elias will be asking for. If Lecavalier can get $6.8 million a year, what is Elias worth? Lou probably doesn't want to give anybody a long term contract at this point, but Elias is the one player for the Devils that may be worth it, depending on what he's asking for.