Peter Regin and the Looming Arbitration Battle

Restricted Free Agents are always a hassle to the NHL’s General Managers. They’re all young superstars, who are ready to burst out and bloom, but the risk is always there. What if he is another Alexander Daigle? What if he gets a “Thomas Vanek offer sheet” from another team? It’s a time of decisions, especially when you have three of them, all important to the make-up of this team.

Out of all three, without doubt the most important one is young Dane Peter Regin. The best player to come out of Denmark, Regin enjoyed a somewhat successful rookie season, and although he was very streaky during the regular season, he stepped up his game at the most important time, the playoffs. It’s like ex-Senator Martin Havlat used to do.  Always streaky and/or injured from October to March, but lit it up in the playoffs.

That’s what frightens me. Havlat, as we all know went to arbitration with then-GM John Muckler, demanded to be paid $4 million and plus because of his playoff performance, and was then forcefully traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in a horrible deal that is only survived by Patrick Wiercioch. Now, Regin isn’t that skilled yet to demand that much money, but it sets a precedent for him and his agent, who will be heading to arbitration with Bryan Murray on July 30th.

Bryan Murray is the type of guy who never gives out long-term contracts. The maximum I’ve ever seen him hand out is 3 years, so let’s say that’s the basis for a Peter Regin contract. It’s good enough time for the young Dane to set himself out as a premier top 6 forward. It also gives Bryan Murray and co. flexibility to pay more in total but less within each year. If Regin somehow falls to the dungeon and fails miserably, then he can be used as trade bait, with not many years on his contract. However, I wouldn’t like to jinx him. I already did? Boo yah!

Money is the key part. Murray gave Ryan Shannon a contract worth $625,00/year. That means Peter Regin will likely hit the million cap, but not much over it. Arbitration gives a rookie a maximum of $2 million per season, which is outrageous but not totally out of the question. That’s still something Eugne Melnyk can afford. So, how about we find some middle part in this whole thing? Give Peter a three-year contract, worth $4.2 million in total. In the first year, Regin will make $2 mil, and the next two years $1.1 mil each. It’s a win-win for all three sides, Regin and his agent, the team, and the fans.

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