Inside The Penalty Box 06.03.08: Wheeler A Free Agent At 21

Posted by Neil Borenstein on 06.03.2008

They drafted him in 2004 with the fifth overall pick, but the Phoenix Coyotes will never see Blake Wheeler skate on NHL ice for them. In this week’s edition of Inside The Penalty Box, Neil Borenstein examines Wheeler opting out of a deal with the Coyotes to pursue free agency at 21 years old, as well as the status of the Stanley Cup Finals following triple overtime in Game Five!

It's Not Over YetSykora 3OT Goal Sends Series Back To Pittsburgh

Photo Credit: Yahoo! Sports/Getty ImagesA Petr Skyora third overtime goal sends the Stanley Cup Finals back to Pittsburgh for Game Six.

Petr Skyora said he was going to deliver, and then he did. During the second overtime session of Game Five in Detroit, Sykora tapped on the glass and told NBC analyst Pierre McGuire that he was going to score. On a four-minute power play in the third overtime, Sykora nailed a wrist shot over Chris Osgood's left shoulder and into the back of the net to give Pittsburgh a 4-3 victory and an extension on a series still led by the Red Wings, 3-2.

I think the Penguins only delayed the inevitable by sending this series back to Pittsburgh. In no way, shape or form can I envision the Penguins taking three straight against the Red Wings, much like I couldn't see Dallas winning four straight in the last series. But I do admire the Penguins' heart and unwillingness to just throw in the towel. Losing Game Five would have been easy. Detroit seemingly thwarted Pittsburgh's comeback chance with a rebound victory in Game Four and Game Five was taking place on Detroit ice in front of Detroit fans. It took some determination to make this victory happen for the Pens.

It also took some great individual efforts. Don Cherry went a bit overboard calling Marc-Andre Fleury's performance the best he's seen in the playoffs from a netminder. But I can't deny his 58-save effort certainly ranks up there. Max Talbot, a role player, came through in the clutch, finding the puck by Osgood's skate from a Marian Hossa sweep that tied the game with only 34.3 seconds remaining in the third period. Sergei Gonchar appeared on that third overtime power play after getting injured in the third period and helped setup the game-winner. And Sykora delivered on a promise, which was pretty bold from somebody who hadn't found much luck through that point of the game.

Now, the Penguins have the opportunity to shock the world once again and even this thing up at three games apiece in front of their home crowd. I don't think it will happen, and I don't think Detroit will have a problem grabbing a win in front of the Pittsburgh fans since they did it in Game Four. But things seem to be going Pittsburgh's way as they try to go the distance. Let's see if they can continue a miracle run on Wednesday.

The 21-Year Old Unrestricted Free AgentWheeler Opts For Free Agency Over The Team That Drafted Him

Photo Credit: NHL.comBlake Wheeler was drafted fifth overall by Phoenix in 2004.

Blake Wheeler has decided that Phoenix is not the right place for him to begin his NHL career. Four years after being drafted by the Coyotes as the fifth overall selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Wheeler rejected a recent maximum contract offer by general manager Don Maloney and opted to enter the 2008 offseason as a 21-year old unrestricted free agent. Without a single second of NHL experience on his résumé, Wheeler is free to join any organization he pleases.

The reason for Wheeler's decision is not exactly known, and his agent, Matt Keator, doesn't plan on discussing it is until Wheeler is signed with a team. There are several possibilities. Maybe he didn't want to play for a team still years away from being a contender. Maybe he didn't want to play in Phoenix, perhaps preferring somewhere closer to home in Minnesota. Maybe he wanted to play for a team where he knew a roster spot would be open, as opposed to having to work against several other top, young talents for a roster spot he might not receive regardless of how good he comes out looking in training camp. Whatever the case, right or wrong, justifiable or not, Wheeler will not be playing for Phoenix next year.

The Coyotes are putting up a brave front. Maloney has voiced his surprise and displeasure with the move, but has also made it clear that this will not bring down the Coyotes' efforts for continued improvement. And that's admirable of the second-year GM. But the fact is, the Coyotes have to be stinging just a bit inside, knowing that the kid they took a risk on years ago and allowed ample time to make his way to the NHL has basically said, "Thanks, but no thanks."

In 2004, the year Alexander Ovechkin went first overall to the Washington Capitals, Wheeler was hardly expected to go in the first round, let alone within the top five picks. He just wrapped up his junior year at Breck School, where he led Minnesota in scoring with 45 goals and 55 assists, and also led his team to a state championship with a hat trick in the final game. His great play that season had a large role in the NHL's Central Scouting Service ranking him as the 17th best North American skater in the 2004 draft. He was still, however, projected as a second round selection at best.

That projection didn't prevent the Coyotes from taking their boy early. With the backing of managing partner and now head coach Wayne Gretzky, the Coyotes selected Wheeler with the fifth overall pick – a move that shocked everybody, Wheeler included.

The Coyotes weren't making the move for the 2004-05 season, however – yes, the one that didn't even happen. Instead, this was a pick for the future. They knew Wheeler wasn't going to make an immediate impact. He still had to finish out high school, which he ended up forgoing his senior year to play in the United States Hockey League. Wheeler also wanted to attend the University of Minnesota, which the Coyotes had no problem allowing him to do. They didn't want to put any pressure on him at only 17 years old. He was going to be allowed time to grow his game outside of the pros.

There was always an expectation, however, that when Wheeler decided to come to the NHL, he would do so with the Coyotes. After all, why would they invest such a high pick and so much time into a kid that they didn't have plans for? And after affording him the luxury of a bold pick, patience and a contract offer with more guaranteed money than he could receive with another team, it only seems right that Wheeler would pay the team back for their investment by actually, I don't know, showing up for it.

According to the collective bargaining agreement, Wheeler doesn't have to join the Coyotes. Instead, because of the collective bargaining agreement, which is turning into more of a joke with each passing day, Wheeler had the option to move into free agency without ever even sniffing NHL ice.

The CBA states that a team may only hold onto a player's rights for four years. If a player opts to leave college prior to his graduation, which is the case for Wheeler – who would have graduated in 2009, the team that holds his rights has 30 days to negotiate a contract from the time at which the player submits a letter of intent to turn pro. If the team and player cannot agree to a deal within that 30-day time period, the player becomes a free agent. According to the Coyotes Web site, Wheeler submitted his letter of intent on May 8.

This is probably the worst loophole in the entire CBA since the long-term injured list was "discovered" by the New Jersey Devils. All a player has to do is get drafted, go to college, leave a year before graduation, just chill for 30 days and then BAM – you're an unrestricted free agent! That just doesn't seem right to me, regardless of a player's rationale.

And again, we don't really know why Wheeler has decided to go this route. It will probably be some time before we do. I think all of the potential reasons are pretty selfish, as he should be playing for the team that drafted him because he was viewed as an integral piece for the future at the time. And he should also have to work for his spot regardless of how much other young talent is in Phoenix right now. Merely being within his rights under the CBA doesn't make his decision justifiable; it just makes it legal.

These situations should really be handled in a much different manner, as a lot of time and financial resources are allotted to scouting prospects teams hope will eventually become big pieces of their organizations. I fully understand that teams shouldn't be able to hold onto the rights of players forever, but players also shouldn't have the right to just skip out on the team that drafted them because they were allowed to attend college. Instead, the NHL should take one of two courses of action. Either allow drafted players to seek employment elsewhere at an age of no younger than 25 years old. Or, keep the system the way it is but force the team that signs the player to relinquish its first round selection (or whatever round that player was selected in during his draft year) in the next draft. Granted, the Coyotes aren't going uncompensated, as they are receiving the 35th overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. But the 35th overall pick is hardly enough to make up for a fifth overall selection four years ago. By my method, they can't do any worst than the 30th pick – or could do as good as the first.

My vote is for the former method, as I think too much power gets placed in a player's hands when he gets to decide where he plays at only 21 years old, even if money isn't a factor. But if the NHL and/or NHLPA is intent on allowing it, the team that benefits from a player's decision to snub his draft team should be forced to give up something to the team its taking such young, potential talent away from. It's kind of like restricted free agency in that sense.

Regardless of what the NHL could do, however, the Coyotes are out a player they put a lot of stock in for their future. And for a team very much on the up-and-up, and could continue on this path with solid drafting, youth conditioning and free agent movement, the loss of a kid they put a great deal of effort into over the last four years is tough to swallow. The best Maloney, Gretzky and the rest of the Phoenix organization can do is just move past this and take relief in the fact that Wheeler, whose character now comes into question, can't disrupt the team's chemistry and potential future success.

---

Send all comments, questions, suggestions and telephone numbers from the ladies to [e-mail]. Or, leave a comment at the bottom of this page.

Until next week, you have just been Inside The Penalty Box!

~ Neil Borenstein