Penguins/NHL
Pittsburgh wants Craig Adams back and Craig Adams wants to return to Pittsburgh.
Negotiations between GM Ray Shero and agent Neil Sheehy resumed today after preliminary discussions began over the weekend.
However, neither side appears ready to budge in negotiations on a new contract and any optimism from the two sides inching closer to a deal today came to a halt.
The two sides who are on good terms, broke off talks today and no more talks are scheduled for the rest of the week or next week, a source involved in the talks told Inside Pittsburgh Sports.
Expectations are the two sides do not expect to touch base again until draft weekend when both parties will be in Minnesota.
Negotiations are said to be very “respectful” but the two sides have not been able to find common ground on a base salary yet.
Adams who made $550,000 last season is looking for a raise, believed to be in the $750,000 – $850,000 range, sources say.
The Penguins expressed hope in reaching a similar deal that resembled Adams’ previous deal of 2 years – $1.1 million.
Eventually one side is going to have to make a concession. As it was put to me, “Pittsburgh now knows what Craig Adams is looking for and Adams’ camp now knows what Pittsburgh is looking for.”
The concession in the end will likely come from Adams.
