Defenceman Lubomir Visnovsky has filed a grievance with the NHLPA over his trade from the Anaheim Ducks to the New York Islanders during the opening round of the NHL Entry Draft in June.
Visnovsky, who was swapped for a second-round pick in the draft, claims that his no-trade clause is still valid – even though the 35-year-old waived his clause when he was traded to Anaheim from the Edmonton Oilers in 2010.
Visnovsky contends the Ducks needed his approval, in the form of a 10-team list to which he would allow a trade. That list was never asked for before the June 22 deal.
“(Isles general manager Garth Snow) has been great to him, they’ve had good conversations and Lubo likes what he’s heard about how they want to use him,” Visnovsky’s agent, Neil Sheehy, told Newsday on Monday. “But this has really nothing to do with the Islanders. For Lubo, this is about establishing what’s right and whether a team has the right to move him in the manner that they did.”
There was little secret that the New York Islanders wanted to shore up their blue line on the eve of June’s NHL Draft in Pittsburgh.
After a reported (but unconfirmed) bid to trade all of their 2013 picks for the Columbus Blue Jackets’ No. 2 overall selection in order to grab highly touted defenceman Ryan Murray was turned down, the Islanders then proceeded to draft D-men with all seven picks, in addition to trading for the veteran.
The Islanders had no comment on the Visnovsky grievance and will not be involved in the grievance. They will, however, be affected by its outcome.
Visnovsky, who will turn 36 this summer, is entering the final year of a contract that carries a US$5.6 million cap hit but will only see him paid $3 million in salary.
Two days after the trade, he spoke with Newsday beat reporter Arthur Staple about his desire to play in Long Island, despite rumours that he was considering the KHL.
“This is my first choice, to play for the Islanders,” Visnovsky said.
The veteran had just 27 points this season, one year after posting a career-best 68 points.
He played the last three seasons with the Ducks, totaling 29 goals and 79 assists in 165 games.
The 5’10”, 197-pound Slovakia native has represented his country at nine world championships.
No arbitration date has been set yet for Visnovsky, for whom the NHLPA filed the grievance on June 30.
(with files from CP)
