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No Blades accept team's qualifying offers
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Florida Everblades coach Malcolm Cameron said none of the six players the team extended qualifying offers accepted them by Friday’s deadline.
Defensemen Brett Peterson and Steve Czech, and forwards Brad Zancanaro, Derek Damon, Preston Callander and Brad Herauf were the players made qualifying offers.
“We just maintain their rights, and we’re still in the negotiation thing,” Cameron said.
The six had until Friday to accept. Now the offer becomes void, and the team can make another offer if it chooses.
“We haven’t closed the door on anybody,” the new coach said.
Any veterans — Peterson and Herauf have played more than 260 regular-season professional games and qualify — are restricted free agents, and the Blades can match any offer from another ECHL team. If a restricted free agent is not signed to either an offer sheet or a contract by an ECHL team by Aug. 31, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent.
“Not much news to report,’’ said Peterson, the only one of the six to be reached Friday. “Just kind of waiting. I haven’t made any decisions yet. I’m kind of in a holding pattern.”
Peterson said he was leaning toward playing this upcoming season — he reiterated he was 75 percent sure he would play — but that he was weighing his options “whether it be with the Everblades or somewhere else, I don’t know yet.”
The club re-signed forward Ernie Hartlieb on Wednesday. He is the only veteran among the players the team has signed this offseason. The club can have a maximum of four veterans.
“I think it brings a little continuity with the Everblades of old,’’ Cameron said of signing Hartlieb, who will enter his fifth season with the team. “We certainly think he’s got some good hockey left in him.
“New things can be refreshing and fun. I think he’s really been invigorated by what he sees.’’
Cameron was invigorated after spending Thursday night at a meet-the-coach gathering for season-ticketholders in Estero.
“It was a lot of fun, to be able to see the level of support is really overwhelming, and to have that many people come to an event in the summertime and meet the coach,’’ he said. “I can’t wait to get to training camp.’’
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Hello.
Finnish Elite League team Ässät Pori has signed Derek Damon for one year. I've understood that he is a decent skater, plays smart, plays for the team, can pass the puck and plays well on both ends.
In some places, he's been marked as left wing, Ässät plans to play him as a center. Which position did he play back there? There's been some talk, that he should've had the opportunity to play in AHL last season, how do you see this?
He played two years over there, so if someone could tell what we are getting
Thanks.
#1 Posted by Aces on August 2, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Aces: You are getting a very good player. He will represent the team well and always gives 100%. We are sad to see him leave.
#2 Posted by Philly on August 3, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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