OTHL -- Calgary, Chicago and Colorado have all been locked into tough negotiations over some of there players. Today the teams announced that the players and the team have agreed on terms and the players have signed new contracts.
In Calgary the team took a hard stance with up coming winger Alexander Frolov who was acquired in a trade with Florida earlier in the off-season. Frolov who had 26 goals and 29 assists with Florida and Los Angeles last season, had high demands and an agent that did not want to budge. The negotiations quickly turned sour and Calgary started shopping Frolov around the league, trying to find anyone willing to take on the unhappy russian. And according to a report from a source close to the situation, Frolov where just minutes away from being traded to St Louis Blues. However, Calgary and Frolov keept talking and finally came to an agreement today.
Chicago and Jim Vandermeer where also miles apart a couple days ago, but unlike Calgary the Hawks never tried to trade away there player. Jim Vandermeer who is one of the Hawks top defenders had 3 goals and 17 assists last season, and wanted a payrise from his $332,000 dollars. And after some tough negotiations the two sides came to terms and Jim Vandermeer signed a new contract witch will keep him in Chicago for at least 4 more years.
In Colorado's case it was a contract with center Tim Connolly that took some time to hammer out. Colorado feelt that the often injured center was overpayed, and having just scored 7 goals and 14 points in 57 games they did not want to give him a payrise. But in the end Connolly agreed to lower his demands and agreed on a 2 year contract.