Stephanie Smith, OP Sports Editor “Unprecedented doesn’t do it justice. Unbelievable is more like it,” says one TSN headline. There have been some crazy offers being made in the NHL lately. First, the unheard of 15-year 67.5 million dollar deal offered to Rick DiPietro by the NY Islanders, and now this. The Philadelphia Flyers have signed Vancouver Canuck forward Ryan Kesler to an offer sheet. The deal is reportedly 1.9 million dollars for one season. The Vancouver Canucks are expected to match the offer sheet. The Canucks will have seven days to decide whether to match the offer or not, however sources claim that | the offer sheet has already been matched, and Kesler will remain in Vancouver. He will earn 1.9 million dol- lars for the season, more than twice what he had been offered by the Canucks in previous negotiations. As soon as Vancouver matches, NHL rules prohibit him from being traded for one season. Before this offer, Vancouver had been in negotiations with Kesler and had made an offer of a 2-year deal that would pay out $825,000.00 the first season and $850,000.00 the second season. “The Vancouver Canucks have the option to match the offer or to take a second-round pick from the Flyers in next year’s NHL entry draft,’ Flyers GM Bob Clarke said in a statement. “Obviously, being a Group 2 free agent gives Vancouver a week to decide whether or not ‘they want to match our offer.” Since the offer has been made, Clarke has come under heavy fire from other GM’s. “I thought the DiPietro deal was the height of stupidity but this Kesler deal tops it,” stated one NHL GM. “Does Clarke actually think Vancouver isn’t going to match? Every team will match. You have to. You have to protect your assets no matter what. All | this is going to do is drive up the cost to do business. This is going to be ridiculously inflationary, even in the cap system Mariner’s Release Two ‘Coaches | Stephanie Smith, OP Sports Editor Hovering in last place, the Seattle Mariner’s have fired bench | coach Ron Hassey. Hassey had held the job for two years, and lbwas informed Tuesday that his contract would not be renewed for the 2007 season. Hassyehad decided not to catty out the remaining season after talking with Mariner’s manager Mike Hargrove and GM Bill Bavasi. “This guy is really a sharp guy and a good baseball guy,” | Bavasi said. “The role of being Mike’s bench coach might not | be the right spot for him. That’s the way we felt, Mike and I ; felt. Mike and Ron are real close and Mike talked to him the _day before yesterday and we were real comfortable in having | him stay,” stated Bavasi. Bavasi claimed that he would have been more comfortable making the announcements at the end of the season but that “this is his choice. He was more com- fortable taking his leave now.” First year administrative coach Dan Rohn was also fired on Wednesday, immediately after the Marinetr’s 10-0 loss to Toronto. Hassey’s position has yet to be filled, but Bavasi says that it will be from within the current staff. The administrative coach position will remain vacant for the rest of the season. Bilt ee eee we have. It’s crazy.” It is important to note that Clarke didn’t technically do anything wrong. There is a note in the new CBA to make offer sheets, with all the compensations clearly written out. If Vancouver refuses to keep Kesler they would receive the Flyer’s 2nd round pick in 2007. However there is no question, Rough Riders vs. Rough Riders vs. Renegades Stephanie Smith, OP Sports Editor The three groups looking to secure a CFL expansion team in time for next season have all provided the league with official letters of interest. The CFL announced that they had received the letters on Monday. The league had never disclosed how many different groups were interested in purchasing and oper- ating the defunct Ottawa franchise, but an anonymous league source has claimed that three groups had stepped forward from the beginning of the process, and all three groups remain dedicated in their desire to purchase the club. “We received all of the letters of interest at the conclusion of today’s deadline and we’re beginning to evaluate the responses. There is no deadline or time limit.” said Ted Hellard, the chairman of the CFL’s franchise committee. “When a decision has been finalised, an announcement will be made.” The three groups are rumoured to be Golden Gate Capital Corp., a financial services company out of Toronto, a group of American investors lead by former CFL player Bill Palmer, and a group headed up by Steelback Brewery owner Frank Dr. Strange Deal or How I Learned to Steal Players and Love the Backlash that while the offer is legal it is still a very bold mo The impact this simple offer has on the NHL is stantial. If the Canucks want to hold onto Kesler tt must offer him a comparable amount. “So the goin rate for a young 10-goal scorer in this league is goir $1.9 million,” an NHL GM said. “We're starting a whole new inflation spiral. It’s going to cost every t in this league. It’s bad for all us. It’s really bad busin Not surprisingly, there is a lot of backlash. Seve GM’s have stated that they cannot wait for some of talented young Flyers—Jeff Carter and Mike Richai particularly—to become free agents, so they can mz offer sheets. But one GM spoke against this idea st that, “That is precisely how we all ended up in a fin cial mess before the lockout,” the GM said. “One t trying to stick it to another team. You would have thought we had learned our lessons.” Bobby Clarke issued a statement defending his 1 tion. “I don’t give a shit if nobody likes me, I could less,” Clarke told TSN. “But they shouldn’t be getti: mad at me; I didn’t put the (offer sheet) rule in the lective bargaining agreement. If they’re mad, they should call Gary Bettman and complain to him. Ge mad at Gary Bettman. He’s in charge of the rules, 1 me. I didn’t realize there were some rules we’re not allowed to use.” Clarke claims that he was aware of the backlash this offer would cause, but that he didn’t care. “Toc bad”, he says. “I’m trying to make my team better,” Clarke said. ““There’s a rule that says we can put out offer sheets. So I did it. But when I go and use a rule tha there, everybody is all over me about it. A lot of guys in league like the rules when it suits them and they don’t lik: them when it doesn’t. Too bad for them. P’m just playing the rules that are there. To be honest, I’m surprised more teams aren’t doing it.” D’Angelo. Palmer’s group has reached an agreement with mer Ottawa Rough Riders owner Horn Chen to acquire 1 Rough Riders team name and logo if his bid is successfu The Golden Gate’s bid is thought to be the front-run as it includes Jeff Hunt, the owner of the Ottawa 67’s, w would supposedly become the new CFL team’s president CFL is looking to secure a 3.5 million dollar franchise fee the newest Ottawa team.