July 5: (Restricted) Free Agency

Hockey: Now is the declaration of arbitration. That special time of the year where players who haven't been noted to have received qualifying offers are announced to be going for arbitration. This years crop is as interesting as any other; both ends of the spectrum are coming to the table, where you have some players who are very likely to be awarded significant contract increases while other players are gambling on an increase greater than the outstanding offer.

Vancouver has 3 players this year. Mason Raymond, the speedy winger, scored 25 goals last season. A 2nd/3rd line player with that level of skill can easily command $3 million. Of course, Vancouver is already closing in on their salary cap after acquiring defensemen Kieth Ballard and Dan Hamhuis, leaving only $1.4 million left. Mason Raymond's arbitration means that Vancouver is either going to ship out some salary (in the form of one of the 6 movable defensemen, notably Kevin Bieksa) or see an asset be moved out.

This is the same situation for a couple of 4th line players: Jannik Hansen and Tanner Glass. Both are tough and possess decent speed, can fight, and have shown high doses of grit, but Jannik Hansen is likely to get the bigger salary increase. Hansen, the 24-year-old Dane, had 9 goals (9-6-15) last season in 47 games with the Canucks. A great edition for the penalty kill or to fill in extra minutes between top line shifts. A shame in the Canucks do not re-sign him.

Another big name to get a raise will be Stanley Cup winner Anti Niemi of the Blackhawks. His performance throughout the playoffs was nothing short of spectacular, and with a ring and a day with the cup to come, he is likely to see his worth jump. Ironically, he might have his arbitration hearing on the same day he has the cup. Wouldn't that be a great idol at the bargaining table.

One player I'm not sure about is Oiler's Gilbert Brule. Although he has shown great skill in the WHL, Brule has not had that NHL-level development that was expected with Columbus drafted him 6th overall in the 2005 draft. Brule did put up impressive numbers (17-20-37), but finished with only playing 65 games and a -8 rating. He made $800,000 last year, and his point total says he will be going up, but streaky play, healthy scratches, and rumors of questionable work ethic make the deal difficult to predict. He's going up, just not to the $2.5 million he can ought to be worth.