With yesterday's news that the Caps have re-signed winger Eric Fehr to a sparkling new two-year deal (reportedly worth $2.2 million per season), that leaves just C/RW Tomas Fleischmann as the sole unsigned Restricted Free Agent.
Fehr joins D Jeff Schultz (four-year, $11 million) and C Boyd Gordon (one-year, $800,000) as players that have re-upped with the Captials in the past week.
Unless Flash and his agent have a turn of heart and get something worked out, the sides will meet in arbitration July 28 in Toronto, accirding to a tweet from Mike Vogel this morning.
GM George McPhee was able to bring three big contributors back into the fold at reasonable price tags, and hopes to do the same with Fleischmann. The center had moments of brilliance last season, but was too inconsistant during the regular season and then all but disappeared in the playoffs -- not the way you want to enter an arbitration hearing.
Fleischmann and his agent would be better served finding a middle ground with GMGM, rather than go throught he bitterness of arbitration for the sake of a few more bucks.
Perhaps McPhee has been putting a little more attention to retaining his talent than going out and seeking new talent via free agency. But to good affect, in my opinion. Some of the money being thrown around for average players on the market thus far has been a little ridiculous, and I think McPhee and the Caps are better served being patient and prudent.
There are a few names out there left unsigned that might look good wearing a red sweater this fall. I'm willing to wait a little longer to see who, if anyone, McPhee still has an interest in.
