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On Tuesday, the NHLPA announced the dates for the 14 arbitration hearings that have been scheduled this summer. Edmonton Oilers forward Sam Gagner is first on the list with a July 22 hearing, and it all wraps up on Aug. 2 with Trevor Lewis of the Los Angeles Kings and Zach Bogosian of the Winnipeg Jets.
Teams and players can still come to an agreement on a new contract to avoid arbitration before their scheduled date arrives. They usually try to reach an agreement before it gets to arbitration to avoid the unpleasantness and hurt feelings that can result from the hearings, but it doesn't always work out that way.
The Jets and forward Eric Tangradi were able to do that on Tuesday, agreeing to terms on a two-year contract. Even with Tangradi signed, the Jets still have four hearings scheduled with restricted free agents, more than any other team in the NHL.
The rest of the schedule:
July 22: Sam Gagner (Edmonton), Chris Stewart (St. Louis)
July 24: Bryan Little (Winnipeg)
July 25: Nick Spaling (Nashville)
July 26: Carl Gunnarsson (Toronto)
July 29: Blake Wheeler (Winnipeg)
July 30: Paul Postma (Winnipeg)
July 30: Mark Fraser (Toronto)
July 31: Mats Zuccarello (New York Rangers)
July 31: Dale Weise (Vancouver)
Aug. 1: Robert Bortuzzo (Pittsburgh)
Aug. 1: Jordan Nolan (Los Angeles)
Aug. 2: Trevor Lewis (Los Angeles)
Aug. 2: Zach Bogosian (Winnipeg)