Frogren expected to be at training camp

From Mark Zwolinkski of the Toronto Star:

Fletcher will likely have Frogren in training camp under the contract the two sides signed a little over a week ago that will pay Frogren $2.1 million over two years.

The deal – which reportedly came with a $700,000 signing bonus – was rejected by the NHL July 9.

Yesterday afternoon, after 5 p.m., the players' association notified the league of its plans to grieve the league's decision. The process is expected to be lengthy – the grievance likely won't be heard until some time into next season.

Frogren will be allowed to play under terms of the current deal until the standoff is settled.

Read the entire article here.

With the Frogren hearing not expected for a while, the Leafs will have a chance to see the player they signed at training camp. However, you have to wonder if the contract issue will be distraction for the first year NHLer. Especially in media crazy Toronto.

NHL rejects Filatov contract...but not to worry

From Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch:

The NHL today rejected the contract signed by Nikita Filatov with the Blue Jackets late last week. But ...

It has nothing to do with Russian claims that Filatov is still property of his Russian club, CSKA Moscow, or that the Blue Jackets owe CSKA Moscow compensation. It has nothing to do with the Continental Hockey League.

Read the entire post here.

If that was the only problem with the contract, which by all accounts it was, then the contract should be approved tomorrow.

Is Frogren an entry-level player or not?

From Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star:

The dispute boils down transition rules between successive collective bargaining agreements, including the interpretation of the 2005 CBA's definition of a "free agent" contrasted with Frogren's status as a "defected" player under the previous CBA. "Defected status" was his official listing, resulting from the fact he had been drafted by the Calgary Flames in 1998, but never came to the NHL.

"It comes down to a question of interpretation," said a source close to the deal. "The CBA is relatively new and things haven't happened before where they've had to deal with it."This is one of those instances where they've never had a 28-year-old free agent signing his first contract. There's an interpretation issue."

Read the entire article here.

Considering Frogren was drafted by the Flames way back in 1998, I would tend to think he should not be limited to an entry level contract.

Jagr's decision to head to Russia was not easy

From Pierre Lebrun of the Canadian Press:

"It wasn't an easy decision," the star winger told The Canadian Press in a
phone interview Friday. "It was the toughest decision in my life, hockey-wise.
...

"It was a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be," he added. "No
question about it. I hate making changes."

Read the entire article here.

Jagr admits in this piece that he was asking for a three-year deal. With the new CBA holding teams accountable for +35 age signings, Jagr was not going to get that kind of term in the NHL. Nonetheless, his talents will certainly be missed by all hockey fans, as he was arguably one of the most exciting players to watch over the past twenty years.