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Wednesday, September 29, 1999
Hurricanes make last ditch effort to sign captain
The latest offer by Rutherford is a shorter-term, two-year deal for the six-foot-five, 220-pound centre. Prior to Wednesday's offer, the Hurricanes had a five-year, $20-million deal on the table.
Primeau, 27, who led the team with 30 goals last season, and agents Don and Todd Reynolds are seeking $5 million a season.
While Rutherford's new offer still puts Primeau in the $4 million-a-year category, it does include incentives close to $500,000 and gives his star a chance to come back to the bargaining table in two years.
"This gives him an opportunity to have a couple of big years and put up some bigger numbers to where he could come back to us or go to an arbitrator to say I'm worth the kind of money he has been asking for," Rutherford said. "It doesn't tie his hands for as long as our five-year proposal."
Rutherford said the nine-year NHL veteran and his agents have until Friday to accept the proposal. The Hurricanes, the defending Southeast Division champions, start their season Saturday night in Boston.
"If it is not accepted by then, we just have to realize that he's not going to be with us to start the season and probably for a long, long time -- maybe even the whole year," Rutherford said. "We feel very strong about our position and we have to go forward."
Primeau, a restricted free agent, balked at the five-year deal because it would have taken him one year past when he could have filed for unrestricted free agency.
Teams can match offers given to some restricted free agents or receive draft picks as compensation, while unrestricted free agents can shop on the open market.
The latest offer by the Hurricanes also drops any fines for missing training camp.
"We could have taken that position, but we didn't," Rutherford said.
If Primeau accepts the offer, he'll be in the lineup against the Bruins, Rutherford said.
"Physically and mentally he's saying he's ready to go and I'm sure he has worked very hard, but I don't think anybody who has missed a training camp in any professional sports is ready to go," Rutherford said.
"But if he agrees to a contract, he'll be in the lineup and be the captain of our team Saturday night."
Rutherford said no one answered the telephone at the Reynolds office after he faxed the latest proposal, so it's likely Primeau's agents haven't seen it. Todd Reynolds did not return a telephone message left at his house.
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