Blackhawks Clerical Error May Prove Costly

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Jul 6, 2009 2:20PM

The Blackhawks proved this past year that they're a team on the rise, and certain moves this off-season suggest the team is intent on building upon their success. But did another, inadvertent action, put their future in jeopardy? The 'Hawks may have bungled the tendering of qualifying offers to their restricted free agents -- clerical work that's typically a formality -- and the result might have serious ramifications for the team.

The team had until June 29 to make the offers, submitted to the players and their agents by overnight courier and faxed to the league office. But days after the deadline, at least one player's agent claimed his client -- Aaron Johnson -- had yet to receive his offer. Among those who might be affected are Kris Versteeg (pictured right), Cam Barker, Ben Eager, Colin Fraser and Troy Brouwer, and if their paperwork was not filed properly, the players' union may fight to get the players declared unrestricted free agents. Should that happen, and the players can shop their services on the open market, the Blackhawks risk losing some of their roster that they thought to be safe, or at the least have to pony up significantly more money to retain their services.

Another reason for the delay, according to Tallon, was the July 1 holiday in Canada, which prevented the mail from being delivered in as timely a manner as hoped. If Tallon's to be believed, the team may have little to worry about. But if the team did mess up, it wouldn't be the first time teams have made this mistake and it has cost them.