Tomas Tatar Rejects Five-Year, $25MM Contract Offer

According to Ansar Khan of MLive, Tomas Tatar and the Detroit Red Wings remain at an impasse in contract negotiations. The restricted free agent has turned down a five-year $25MM contract offer, instead wanting more term and an average salary closer to $6MM. Tatar’s arbitration hearing is on July 20th, an option that may have to be used should the two sides not agree in the next week. A one-year decision would send him to unrestricted free agency next season, something that would likely spark trade rumors immediately as Detroit would want something of value before he left town.

Tatar has a good case after scoring 25 goals and 46 points last season, showing he’s one of the most reliable offensive options on the Red Wings. While some question his all-around game, he is unquestionably a talented player who can drive possession and produce offensively. That kind of player, especially one that is just 26-years old is a much sought-after commodity on the open market and one that would drive a steep price should GM Ken Holland not be able to work out a long-term deal.

As Khan points out in his piece, Tyler Johnson, a player who was also scheduled to have an arbitration hearing on the 20th just agreed to a seven-year $35MM deal. While the two are comparable sizes, ages and have a similar level of experience Johnson has two major things going for him. He has already set a considerably higher peak of 72 points—Tatar’s career high is 56—and plays center full time, a more valued position. He got the term Tatar is after, but had to settle for a $5MM AAV.

Interestingly, Tatar comes with a recent resume of durability playing in 245 of a possible 246 games the last three seasons. If the team is truly interested in competing in the short term, they need Tatar on the wing providing offense, but it seems as though his biggest value may be on the market should he be given just a one year deal. Watching him walk away in a year for nothing would be foolish, but dedicating that kind of money to him when you have other salary cap issues all over the roster may be impossible. The Red Wings only have about $2.3MM in cap space before putting Johan Franzen on LTIR, and still another deal to finish with Andreas Athanasiou.