Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell introduces new coach Don Evenson
Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell on Tuesday introduced Dean Evason, whom he hired as the team’s next head coach.
Don Waddell’s biggest focus at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday was introducing Dean Evason as the Blue Jackets’ next head coach, bringing an end to a months-long managerial search.
More: Columbus Blue Jackets name Dean Evason as head coach: Five takeaways
Also of great importance was the update the Blue Jackets’ president of hockey operations and general manager provided on three unsigned restricted free agent forwards: Kirill Marchenko, Cole Sillinger and Kent Johnson.
Negotiations with the three are ongoing, including talks with Marchenko’s agent, Dan Millstein of Gold Star Hockey. The two sides have one week left to negotiate before an NHL arbitration hearing is scheduled for July 31 in Toronto.
“He’s going to be with the Blue Jackets,” Waddell said. “He’s filed for arbitration, but that’s the player’s choice. We haven’t found a common goal yet. If we don’t get it by next week, we’ll put it in front of a third party. … So, either way, he’ll have a deal by next week. We’d like to have a deal done by then, but if we can’t, we’ll go to arbitration and have the arbitrator work it out.”
Milstein declined to comment.
The Blue Jackets have never taken their contract to an arbitration hearing to determine the salary amount for the maximum two-year contract. If a player opts for arbitration, the team chooses the contract term for which they want to enter the hearing (one or two years), and then an arbitrator hears both sides and awards the salary.
Marchenko is seeking a long-term contract, but recently spoke to a Russian journalist about his situation, saying the Blue Jackets have not made him a “worthwhile” offer. He would rather not fly to Toronto for a hearing, but is willing to go if necessary. After choosing the arbitration route, Marchenko also lost the right to sign a contract offer sheet with another team.
Waddell, who worked with Millstein on numerous deals during his time as general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, said discussions regarding Marchenko had gone well. If no agreement is reached, Marchenko is expected to sign a contract at arbitration next week.
Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell is confident forwards Cole Sillinger and Kent Johnson will agree to contract extensions this summer.
Waddell wants to sign Schillinger to a “multi-year” contract, but Johnson is likely to sign a one-year deal due to shoulder surgery (torn labrum) and the injury that limited his playing time last season. Unlike Schillinger, who is eligible to sign an offer sheet, Johnson has not logged enough NHL games to take advantage of one. He is a 10.2 (C) free agent under the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NHL Players Association, which severely limits his negotiating power.
Johnson is represented by Pat Brisson of CAA, the highest-paid agent in hockey, while Schillinger is represented by Craig Oster of Newport Sports Management Co. Neither agent responded to The Dispatch’s requests for comment.
“We’re not going to sign Johnson to a (long-term) contract,” Waddell said. “They’re not going to sign him long-term for a low amount and we’re not going to sign him for a high amount. We want what’s best for these kids, so we’re going to sign him to a short-term deal and go from there.”
Sillinger is a different story. He’s already spent three seasons in the NHL and could force the Blue Jackets to make him an offer of the same amount or sign an offer sheet that would allow him to move for compensation for a draft pick. His relatively poor offensive production thus far makes it unlikely the Blue Jackets would be offered enough to accept a draft pick.
“His potential is still in front of us,” Waddell said. “It’s always hard to get that on a long-term deal, but I expect his deal to be at least (multiple) years and hopefully it will be worked out (soon). Again, there’s no strict timeline, but we’ll work it out.”
No change to Columbus Blue Jackets’ Patrick Laine’s NHL/NHLPA status or trade request
Waddell was asked about Patrik Laine, who is receiving treatment for undisclosed reasons within the NHL and NHLPA’s joint player assistance program.
As of Tuesday, that situation hadn’t changed, meaning nothing has changed about whether Waddell can trade the Finnish forward. It largely depends on whether an interested opponent’s GM talks to Laine. Laine can’t talk to an NHL GM or Waddell while he’s in the NHL/NHLPA program. Waddell has stayed in close contact with Laine’s agent, Andy Scott of the Octagon, but Scott has not responded to The Dispatch’s inquiries about the trade request.
Waddell said Laine still wanted a trade for a change of scenery after four disappointing and injury-plagued seasons in Columbus.
Even if Laine is fully recovered, Waddell may struggle to return. Laine appeared in just 18 games last season and has battled numerous injuries during his time with the Jackets. Video surfaced last week of Laine doing offseason conditioning work with NFL players in Florida, but he is still receiving treatment in the NHL/NHLPA program.
“We’ve had some calls from teams and we’re just waiting to see what happens,” Waddell said. “We’ve been talking to his agent almost daily, maybe every other day. We’ve had enough calls so there’s at least some interest. Obviously there are teams that are moving in different directions with the salary cap and stuff, but we’re confident we’ll be able to sign him before the season.”
Waddell also said all options are on the table, including the possibility that Laine might be forced to stay with the Blue Jackets longer to increase his trade value, and that the Jackets’ GM doesn’t feel pressured to accept a contract he doesn’t like.
“We have plenty of money within the salary cap,” Waddell said, “so if we find the right fit, there’s no reason not to do it. But I have to protect the organization, so we have to make a decision based on what the market is doing. If the market is good, we’ll be happy with that. If the market is soft, we have to make a decision on what to do.”
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