A bit frazzled over Frolik

Future status of pending UFA winger could become a distraction

By: Tim Campbell Posted: 3:00 AM CST Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015 Last Modified: 6:33 AM CST Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015 | Updates

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There's less than a week to go before the NHL's March 2 trading deadline and the clock is ticking on another potential distraction for the Winnipeg Jets.

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There's less than a week to go before the NHL's March 2 trading deadline and the clock is ticking on another potential distraction for the Winnipeg Jets.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/02/2015 (3856 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s less than a week to go before the NHL’s March 2 trading deadline and the clock is ticking on another potential distraction for the Winnipeg Jets.

Jets right-winger Michael Frolik will be an unrestricted free agent as of July 1, having signed a one-year deal worth $3.3 million last summer, when he was a restricted free agent.

Frolik’s agent, Allen Walsh, and Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said at the time they had made a considerable effort to get Frolik signed to a long-term deal to stay with the Jets, but time ran out on their talks. The one-year solution was meant to provide an opportunity for those long-term talks to continue.

Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg Free Press files
The future status of pending UFA winger Michael Frolik could become a distraction. — Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg Free Press files The future status of pending UFA winger Michael Frolik could become a distraction.

That new negotiating window opened Jan. 1, but nothing has been announced.

Cheveldayoff faces a number of options:

He can get Frolik’s name on a new contract quickly, solving the matter.
If he does not, he can either let the pending free-agent play on and hope to arrive at a deal later, or he can protect his assets and move Frolik prior to next Monday’s deadline.

If Cheveldayoff retains Frolik past Monday’s deadline and does not have him signed to a new contract, he risks letting the 27-year-old from the Czech Republic walk away in the summer.

Frolik, who has 12 goals and 30 points so far this season, is well aware of the situation but wasn’t saying much Monday.

“I don’t really think about that,” he said. “You just want to play. I’ve been traded twice and I know how it feels and I know you can’t do anything about it. It happens quick. I don’t really think about it. I just do my job here and make sure I’m ready for the games and don’t really think about it.

“I’m happy here. I don’t really think about it.”

Asked further about his UFA status, Frolik declined to given an opinion.

“I think it’s more a question for my agent and for Chevy,” Frolik said. “My focus is to just play the game and I don’t worry about those things. That’s business. I’m not worried about it. I’m just going to play the games.”

Contacted Monday, Walsh said simply he wouldn’t be commenting.

“Any potential communications between me and Winnipeg is confidential,” Walsh said in a note.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca