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Kings & Cammalleri still far apart
http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=214609&hubname=nhl
BOND HEAD, Ont. (CP) - The Los Angeles Kings and leading scorer Mike Cammalleri appear headed for a showdown in salary arbitration next week.
''The Kings have yet to make me an offer,'' Cammalleri said Wednesday during the NHL Players' Association annual charity golf tournament. ''There hasn't been all that much communication. For me, I guess I can only take that as an indication of where I stand right now.''
Kings GM Dean Lombardi confirmed he wasn't any close to re-signing the restricted free agent.
''To be honest, we're pretty far apart,'' Lombardi told The Canadian Press from his Los Angeles office. ''But as ridiculous as it sounds, it's still early in the process.''
The arbitration hearing is scheduled for Aug. 2 in Toronto. Many deals are consummated at the very last minute, such as Ray Emery and the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.
Cammalleri, 25, led the Kings with 80 points last season thanks to a career-high 34 goals and 46 assists. He's in for a raise over the US$1.7 million he made last season.
If Cammalleri gets a large judgement in arbitration, I think the Kings might be upset. I hope they keep him since he adds to the dangerous, young team they have developing.
Do you think another team *cough*Edmonton*cough* might go out and try to sign him to an offer sheet if the Kings don't like the arbitration results? I think if they can get him signed to $3.5M/year (cheaper than Eric Staal's $4.5M/year deal) then it would be good for them.
"First rule in roadside beet sales, put the most attractive beets on top. The ones that make you pull the car over and go “wow, I need this beet right now”. Those are the money beets. -D.K. Schrute"
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