What to do? What to do? That is the big question facing Senators brass as they prepare to go to salary arbitration with one of their prized young assets tomorrow. It's always widely reported that it can get very ugly in there, and that both team and player prefer to get something done beforehand, but if they can't here are some things to consider from both sides.1) Both teams want a fair deal.
2) The Sens want to pay for what he produced, Regin and his agent want to be paid on his potential.
3) While he did have a decent year last season, playing in 75 games and putting up 13 goals and 29 points, he is only a year removed from 11 games and 2 points.
4) Yes he had a nice playoffs, but that was 6 games and there were some brain cramps in there as well. 3 penalties in Game 1 for starters.
5) If it's a short deal, look for the money to be less, if it's more long term, look for an increase in the dollar amount.
6) Regin's camp most likely wants to be paid now, for potential, while the Sens want to pay him exactly what he is worth NOW! Example: Sens probably want to pay him around say a million per season, while Regin's camp probably wants 2+ million based on what he could do if he continues progressing at this pace, which is no guarantee he will by the way.
So what do I hope happens? I've watched his progress closely the past 2 season and I think that Jensen has some serious potential, but right now, it is unfufilled potential and he should be compensated accordingly. If he progresses like his camp says he will, then the big pay day will be there for you in a couple of years. Until then, take the fair deal and prove yourself.
If it goes to the arbitor, look for something like a one or two year deal at around 1-1.2 million per season, which to me, is fair. There is a chance that the Sens will try and lock him up to a longer term deal, that pays him more upfront, but could be a great deal for us in the long run. Think 2.3 million a year for 4 years or something like that. We pay more now, but might have a bargain later, and all at a price that won't break the bank.
Who knows what will happen, there's still time to get a deal done before going to court tomorrow, so for now, we will play the waiting game.
What do you guys think is a fair deal? The best deal for the Sens and young Jensen? What is a clearly talented, yet unproven player worth?
4 comments:
Pay him now, for what he is worth now and pay him later, for what he is worth then. Want a direct comparison? Patrick Eaves. He scored 20 goals in 60 games as a rookie, and has never come close to topping that again. I'm not saying that Regin and Eaves are the same players, but the same risk is there.
The Sens are shedding major cap space after this season. It should be easy enough for both parties to see this and come to conclusions.
I agree, you never know what can happen and some guy sjust dont progress more.
Sens overpayed Foligno a bit IMO and now Regin will want at least the same I'm sure.
I say pay him what he deserves now for what he's actually done and when his deal is up, if he's matured into an elite player, then you pay him the big bucks
Same as Foligno or a little higher ..
two years .. 1.2 and 1.4 ..
Sam
Five years 2.5 a year sounds fair to me.
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