Doesn't help a team who thinks its a contender
Peter Griffin said:
Depends, what is Umberger asking for? In any case, reading that article, it seems that Umberger has quite the chip on the shoulder, feeling that everything should revolve around him. The Canucks don't need a player like that on their team(if that is how he is) and they especially don't need to overpay one. I'll be content to watch Umberger become a UFA at season's end. If he signs with a team, good for him, the Canucks will get a mid 2nd round pick in the 2005 draft as compensation from the NHL. If team's pass on him deciding to wait until the CBA is resolved(how many teams are going to sign players this offseason?), possibly resulting in a new CBA that favours the teams and not the rookie players, I'll be even happier.
Peter, fellow Nuck fan here, but I do have to disagree with you on Burke's handling of the situation.
Burke has to deal with "market" factors, in addition to his own budget for the team. It's fine that he feels that RJ should sign a similar deal that Kesler got. I have no problem with that. But, the market does come into play here. Guys like Hemsky, Sjostrom, Kobasew, Morrison, Coliacocvo, Kynezev have all signed pro contracts, so RJ's deal needs to be in that range as well. Those were the "teen" picks in the 2001 draft.
Look at the Bertuzzi signing. If he went only by Naslund as a comparable, Bert wouldn't have gotten a contract worth more than what Naslund would make. Same has to happen for Umberger. He showed really no improvement in his sophomore year, but had a great improvement in his junior year.
As for him possibly being greedy, I don't see it that way. He feels that his development warrants a contract similar to those of his peers, which in this case is the 2001 draftees from #14-19. Something around that range would be fair.
As for Asset Management, poor asset management on the part of Burke. RJ, as an asset now is that of a 2nd round pick, unless RJ signs with a team that Burke trades him to before the deadline. If a 2004 2nd rounder is so great, why did we move one for a 1 year backup goalie in Hedberg. Why not just deal Umberger for him?
RJ will get signed in the summer. The team will stick him in the AHL next season. He'll need to get the rust off from not playing this year.
I was holding out hope of signing the kid until the end of November, at which point I have up and accepted the fact that he was going to go.