Fourteen NHL Players Elect Salary Arbitration

Fourteen restricted free agents in the NHL, including notable players Martin Necas of the Carolina Hurricanes and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of the Buffalo Sabres, have elected for salary arbitration. This process, set to occur between July 20 and August 4, provides a resolution when players and teams cannot agree on contract terms. Necas, who scored 53 points in the regular season and has been the subject of trade rumors, is seeking a new deal after his two-year, $6 million contract expired. Luukkonen, the Sabres' leading goaltender, is expected to receive a significant pay increase from his previous sub-$1 million salary. Players and teams can still come to an agreement before the arbitration hearings. The arbitration outcomes could significantly impact team salary caps and player rosters for the upcoming season.