New information about the salary request of Nick Spaling, and the Pittsburgh Penguins offer has emerged.
Nick Spaling has asked for $2.85 million in arbitration and the Penguins are offering $1.65 million on a one-year award.
— Ken Campbell (@THNKenCampbell) July 30, 2014
Every case this summer (so far) has been settled before the hearing- except for Vladimir Sobotka ($2.725m) who previously announced his intention to play in Russia this year. Negotiations with Spaling can continue, and now that both sides are known, they can probably about split the difference. One way or another, Spaling will probably be in the $2-2.25 million range for his salary next season.
Should it get to the arbitration hearing, it will be interesting to see how things shake out. Most arbitrators are not hockey experts, in the least, so it will come down to the case that each side presents in their briefs. Evidence of advanced stats can not be used for or against, but boxcar stats (goals, assists, points) can.
Spaling set a career high in goals (13), assists (19) and points (32) last season, so he has that going for him. He can also throw out a lot of comparables for RFA level players who have received similar contracts as to what he is asking for like the Sobotka award.
The $1.65 million amount that the Penguins offered, is his qualifying offer (which is 110% of his last year salary of $1.5 million). The team is clearly trying to set the reset button on his escalating salary and will probably argue that Spaling won't have as big of a role on a stronger team that he did last season in Nashville that saw him get power play time.