Source: Senators defenseman Andrej Meszaros agrees to deal with another team

Andrej Meszaros has been unable to come to terms with the Senators. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)

Adam Proteau
2008-08-28 17:05:08

Hours after Ottawa GM Bryan Murray held a news conference to announce the team was at a contractual impasse with restricted free agent defenseman Andrej Meszaros, The Hockey News has learned from an NHL source that Meszaros has agreed to the terms of a multi-year offer sheet with an average salary in excess of $5 million per season.
 
The team that has agreed to terms with the 22-year-old has yet to be confirmed.

When contacted by The Hockey News, Murray denied the report.

"I’ve heard rumors that that’s happening, but there’s no confirmation of that at this point," said Murray.

Earlier in the day at the press conference, Murray explained his negotiating position:

"I think Mez is a potentially good young defenseman who had a bit of an off-year this past year, and we've asked their camp to entertain that in what we're trying to do with him," Murray said.  "I think we've made more than a fair offer and put ourselves in a position where he could come here and, with some help, we think he can be a top player.

"We need their camp to help us in that area as well. I've tried to get that message across, but to this point, we haven't gotten there."

The Ottawa Sun is reporting Meszaros was looking for a deal in the $4.5 million per year range while Ottawa had countered with an offer of $3.5 million per.

Meszaros has played three NHL seasons, suiting up in all 82 games in each campaign. He has a career 26 goals and 110 points and is a plus-24. In addition, he has played 34 NHL games, collecting two goals and seven points and a plus-1 rating.

He was drafted 23rd overall by the Senators in 2003.