San Jose Sharks: Should I Stay or Should I Go? RFAs, Volume II

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Evidence that is not admissible:

• The salary and performance of a "comparable" player who signed a contract as an unrestricted free agent.
• Testimonials, video and media reports.
• The financial state of the team.
• The salary cap and the state of the team's payroll.

There is only one Sharks restricted free agent eligible for arbitration who did not play at all at the NHL level in 2008-09: defender Mike Morris. Morris is a 6'1", 180 lb. 24-year-old Princeton graduate.

He played in 43 games at Worcester, finishing with 3 G, 7 A, 88 PIM, and led the team with a plus-10 rating. He made $575,000 in 2008-09, so there is no way the Sharks will pay the amount necessary to get a compensatory pick if he is signed away (over $800,000).

That is too much of a raise for a player who was not able to make it through a full season at the minors, much less break into the NHL. However, as a former first-round pick, he has potential.

Expected tender: $575,000, and they will let him go if anyone beats it. Morris is unlikely to do better in free agency or through arbitration...Morris stays.

There is one other player who played just two games in the NHL: Riley Armstrong.

He is a 5'11", 185 lb., 24-year-old forward who played in two games in 2008-09, against Phoenix and Toronto. He had no points, one minor penalty, one shot, and was minus-one.

He finished third on Worcester in points (42) and goals (25). In his two previous seasons there, he played 137 games, scoring 34 goals and 36 assists with a plus-five rating and 199 PIM. Thus, he has been productive and reliable enough at the minor league level to at least attempt to re-sign; he made $475,000 in 2008-09.

Expected tender: $500,000; like Morris, he is unlikely to field any better offers or get anywhere in arbitration. But if he does, he will be allowed to leave for greener pastures...Armstrong stays.

The third installment next week will examine the four players who are eligible for arbitration and did have an impact at the NHL level this past season.

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