The only thing wrong with the offer sheet the Hurricanes gave Red
Wings restricted free-agent center Sergei Fedorov last week was
that it ended up threatening the integrity of the game. The NHL
declared the contract invalid because the deal, which guarantees
Fedorov $38 million over six years, called for an additional $12
million lump payment should his team reach the third round of
this year's Stanley Cup playoffs. But arbitrator John Sands
ruled against the league, and the Red Wings matched the offer.
Contracts like the one Fedorov (far right) signed could
tempt teams to tank.
(David E. Klutho)
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Even with Fedorov, Carolina, which at week's end was 21-30-7 and
in last place in the Northeast Division, would have had little
hope of qualifying for the playoffs, let alone advancing past
the second round. Detroit, however, is a strong candidate to
return to the Western Conference finals.
As a result of this offer and Sands's ruling, a future player
contract could provide an organization financial incentive to
lose. Suppose an offer sheet commands a $20 million bonus should
a player's team win the essentially irrelevant regular-season
title. If a top team matched the offer and retained a player
under those circumstances, who could blame it for intentionally
avoiding a first-place finish? The scenario is grim and
realistic, especially because Mike Modano, the premier center
for the Stars, the top team in the league, is set to be a
restricted free agent after this season.
The decision to match the Hurricane's offer was a no-brainer for
the Wings and deep-pockets owner Mike Ilitch. A team can't
afford to lose a player of Fedorov's caliber, even for the
mandatory compensation of five first-round draft picks, which is
what Detroit would have gotten had it not matched. The
28-year-old Fedorov was the NHL MVP in 1993-94 and was the
league's best defensive forward in 1995-96, when he also scored
107 points. A contract that averages about $6.3 million annually
is, in fact, the going rate for a star of his magnitude. (If
Fedorov doesn't collect the $12 million bonus this spring, he
nevertheless will get it in payments of $3 million over the next
four years.)
That Fedorov has at times feuded with some of the four other
Russians on the Red Wings and isn't beloved in the Detroit
locker room shouldn't disrupt the Wings. Last year Fedorov, who
malingered through some regular-season games, led Detroit in
playoff scoring. "The players know he was a key guy last year
when we won the Cup," says Wings coach Scotty Bowman. "That is
what they care about."
Fedorov was brilliant in his 1997-98 debut, against the Panthers
last Friday. He didn't score, but he played his usual
outstanding defense. He proved he's an impact player—with the
most dangerous contract in the NHL.
Issue date: March 9, 1998
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