Veilleux closing in on arbitration hearing

From Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Veilleux, a restricted free agent representing himself in negotiations, cleared waivers and remained Wild property with an arbitration hearing scheduled for Monday. Assistant GM Tom Lynn flew to Toronto on Thursday afternoon to get situated for the hearing, but teams and players often figure out a way to avoid what can be an acrimonious process.

The Wild hopes that clearing waivers displays to Veilleux that his contract demands are unreasonable.

But Veilleux maintained Thursday that he knows his "value," although he won't divulge what he's seeking.

Read the entire story here.

If I had to bet, I'd say these two sides will head to arbitration on Monday, and Veilleux will end up losing his case.

Veilleux clears waivers

From Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Wild left wing Stephane Veilleux has cleared waivers, according to two sources, despite only a $15,000 pickup fee.

Read the short entry here.

No real surprise here. Veilleux should not have fired his agent, and this has really been a result of that miscalculation.

Why the Wild placed Veilleux on waivers

From Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

"We are far apart in our evaluation and Steph really believes in a higher number," Lynn said. "So here's a way of figuring out who's right: 'If you're right, you'll be taken off waivers and paid your X dollars by another team.'

"If we're right and he goes through waivers, Steph will see nobody claimed him and it might bring the sides together and solve the problem before [Veilleux's] arbitration [hearing Monday]."

Read the entire story here.

Tom Lynn is known for his tough negotiating, which is why I didn't understand why Veilleux opted to negotiate his own contract.

Wild places Stephane Veilleux on waivers

From Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

This morning just after 11 a.m., I received a call from an NHL source that says the Wild has placed left wing Stephane Veilleux on waivers. Since, I’ve confirmed this through a secondary source (waivers are not released to the media).

12:30 pm update. I just got off the phone with assistant GM Tom Lynn and he confirmed that the Wild has placed Veilleux on waivers.

Read the entire post from Russo's Rants here.

Well, Veilleux's decision to represent himself in negotiations has sure started well...

Stephane Veilleux fires his agent

From Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Earlier this summer, Veilleux decided it made no sense to continue paying his agent, Paul Corbeil, 4 percent of his salary. So Veilleux, a restricted free agent, fired Corbeil and decided to represent himself in negotiations for a new contract.

"After every contract, it's time to not only negotiate a new deal with the team, but also the agent," Veilleux said. "I just decided it was time I didn't need my agent. It's nothing personal against him. I'm mature enough to do my own decisions. I know what's best for me and wanted to do my own thing."

Read the entire story here.

I don't think this is Veilleux's smartest move. With the complexities of the CBA and his inexperience negotiations contracts, this job is best left for somebody more capable than he is.