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Forsberg holds big hammer in his contract talks with Predators |
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David Poile was dealing with NHL player contracts before many of you were born. He was an assistant general manager for the Atlanta Flames in the 1970s. Owner Mike Ilitch had Poile on his short list to be the Detroit Red Wings GM in 1982. He didn't get that job. But a few weeks later, the Washington Capitals hired him as GM.
Now 50 years into his NHL managerial career, Nashville Predators GM Poile has seen it all when it comes to negotiations.
But we can presume that his ongoing negotiations with Filip Forsberg has to rank among the more challenging situations he has faced over a contract.
Poile is in a bad negotiating position, actually a horrible negotiating position. Forsberg doesn't just have hammer. He's wielding Thor's hammer.
Poile has to sign Forsberg and Forsberg knows that. Forsberg became Nashville's all-time leading goal scorer (211) with a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday.
Forsberg is one of the more popular players in team history. He has indicated he wants to stay in Nashville. But he wants to paid fair market value.
We can assume that means he wants a long-term deal near the $9 million that Roman Josi is earning. He certainly should want more than Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene who haven't lived up expectation since signing a deal for $8 million per season. This season, Duchene is delivering.
Further complicating the situation is the fact that the Predators are still in a fight to make the playoffs. Qualifying for the postseason is still very important in Nashville.
Unless Poile gets Forsberg re-signed, he will end up being the villain in this contract stalemate.
Fans will be disappointed if he ends up having to trade him for draft picks and prospects. They will also be mad if he doesn't trade him and the team ends up with nothing when Forsberg leaves as a free agent this summer.
The only win here is getting Forsberg to apply his signature to a new contract.
It's not as if Poile is unsure he wants to sign Forsberg. Everyone loves the guy, including In addition to being a consistent scorer, he's a quality person.
The Predators know it's only fair to put him near Josi and more than Johansen and Duchene. The problem is the length of the contract. The Predators are more reluctant about giving out long-term deals because of their experience with Johansen and Duchene.
Other GMs have been operating as if Poile will get this deal done at the last minute. They don't believe Poile would trade Forsberg. It's curious that no deal is done yet.
But Poile has been around a long time. He probably knows exactly what he needs to do to get a deal done. He is not going to let the clock run out.
Blogger •HHOF Writer's column on the NHL • 
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