Salary arbitration, in its most basic conceptual form, is designed to be a rational numbers game that is “a natural extension of the negotiation process.” When Red Wings winger Tomas Tatar filed to have his salary set for the 2017-18 NHL season, he essentially waived his right to negotiate with any other NHL team, and instead opted to have his paycheck determined by an independent third party.



Analyst Tyler Dellow has argued (rightly, in my opinion) that the best option for the Red Wings regarding Tatar is a one-year contract to see how the upcoming season unfolds for both the Red Wings and the player. The potential for a long term relationship for both parties is a function of how relatively successful each is on the ice this season. Is Detroit truly a playoff- competitive team? And what is Tatar’s real future UFA value? The answers to both questions will be much clearer in six months.



The problem with salary arbitration is that it has a tendency to...