According to Rick Dudley in an interview with Chris Vivlamore, the talks with Niclas Bergfors’ camp have stalled.
“Once again, perhaps what we view the player and what they view the player may not be exactly the same,” Dudley said. “The truth is, and I’ve kept to this, we will not do a deal where if there is a situation where we placed a player on waivers tomorrow, would he be claimed? If we are going to give him more money than that, then it’s silly. That’s been true of every player we’ve signed.”
Bergfors is a restricted free agent who declined to go to arbitration, so he is a bit stuck. Other teams could offer up an offer sheet for him, but generally speaking that doesn’t happen very often. Dudley’s comment regarding waivers and claiming hearkens back to what he said concerning Clarke MacArthur, who was signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs for significantly less than what the arbitrator awarded him.
Both the Thrashers’ and Bergfors’ contract offers are undisclosed.