Rangers News: Dubinsky, Callahan, Boyle and Sauer to File for Arbitration

What about AA? He’s the one I’m the most worried about..

Harsh Words at Salo Arbitration

• Jim Smith
• Newsday, Friday, August 15, 1997
  Newsday (8/15/97)

Harsh Words at Salo Arbitration
By Jim Smith. STAFF WRITER

Harsh words often are exchanged in salary arbitration cases, but an NHL source said Tommy Salo’s hearing Monday in Toronto moved the Islanders’ goalie to tears.

The source described general manager Mike Milbury’s brief on Salo as “the most horrific character assassination ever seen in an arbitration for an NHL player . . . Tommy broke
down in tears before Mike.”

Arbitrator Rolf Valtin yesterday set Salo’s salary for
1997-98 at $750,000 plus incentives. That was a victory for Milbury in his first arbitration case as GM, because it was exactly what Milbury offered before Salo asked for arbitration. At the hearing, however, Milbury offered a two-way $550,000 deal with a $100,000 minor-league salary. Salo requested $1.1 million. He earned $300,000 last year.

Milbury’s hard-line stance sends a message to the club’s other restricted free agents: Travis Green, Bryan Smolinski, Scott Lachance and Ken Belanger.

Milbury, however, said it had nothing to do with club ownership reverting to John Pickett after John Spano’s July 23 arrest on federal fraud charges. “When we have leverage,” he said, “we must use it because when we don’t have leverage, it is used incredibly harshly against us.”

In June, Milbury said of Salo, “He was a good player for us down the stretch. He was pretty solid. I’d say of all the players out there, he made the biggest leap forward.”

But in his brief on Monday, Milbury:

-Described Salo, who was 20-27-9 with a 2.82 goals-against average, as “one of the worst-conditioned athletes on the Islanders” and said his conditioning led to goals in the final six minutes of 18 games.

-Predicted Salo would not play as many games this season as last (58).

-Said Salo’s “mental approach also is suspect,” leading to him allowing many early and soft goals.

-Argued first-round 1997 draft pick Roberto Luongo or “steady, promising” Eric Fichaud could emerge as the starter this year, so “there is a substantial risk Salo ultimately will be returned to Utah [of the IHL].”

-Asserted Salo’s “inconsistent, troubling performance” last season was the reason Milbury signed journeyman Wade Flaherty as insurance.

Salo refused comment on Milbury’s presentation. His agent, Rich Winter, said, “We’re very disappointed, but we’re glad it’s over. We’re going to try to work together to repair the damage done.”

Milbury said, “My brief was strong, but my verbal
testimony was not. In the end, I think the arbitrator came up with a fair number . . . Obviously, you’re not going to stand there and say everything that’s great about Tommy -
because that’s what they’re doing. We presented the flip side. But it’s important Tommy hears loud and clear how important we feel he is. He’s a good, young goaltender. I hope he establishes himself as a No.1.”

if it does go to arbatrtion isnt that only a 1 yr contract then all of them become ufa

Milbury is totally insane. Go YouTube him climbing into the stands at MSG and beating some guy with his own shoe. I can’t believe anyone let that guy run a franchise I wouldn’t let him feed my plants. I don’t own any plants

Maybe a french canadian Ranger fan?

I feel like Boyle’s negotiations might be trouble. The Rangers want to lock him up as a cost-efficient 3rd/4th liner, but Boyle’s agent is no doubt telling him he needs to capitalize on his career year.

Everyone who’s worried or pissed off that these guys have gone to arb. needs to take a collective deep breath and remain calm.

If you think about it, why wouldn’t these guys try and max out their demands. I mean we as fans have been saying all year that Cally, Dubi, Sauer, and to a lesser extent Boyle, are key cogs in our “core” NYR machine. Plus, think about how these guys play on the ice and why we respect them so much. They play in-your-face, aggressive, with-reckless-abandon hockey, so why should we expect them to pull a Mr. Hyde/Dr. Jeckyll routine at the neg. table? I mean, have any of you BB followers ever asked your employer for more money? And, seriously, how many of you may have even done this when, deep down, you may or may not have truly earned all of what was asked for vs. these guys?

I say go for it. It’s a legitimate part of the process (as opposed to when Dubi held out which is different story entirely mind you.) Kudos and more power play to these guys, esp. a rookie like Sauer, for showing their moxie on the carpeted playing surface. :)

And what’s the worst that happens? The arbiter rules in favor on NYR and they get what was originally tendered or, these primarily home-grown players we have all been debating should wear the “C” or are part of our “core” get rewarded with that precious cap space for their past performance, current and future potential.

The way I see it, no downside either way. :)