DETROIT – Ziggy Palffy and Islander management are embroiled in another contract dispute.
Paul Kraus, Palffy’s agent, is in the process of filing a grievance with the NHL Players Association, claiming the Islanders shortchanged the sniper $46,875 on the first paycheck of his $26 million deal, The Post has learned.
At issue is the starting date of Palffy’s five-year contract. Kraus claims it should be Dec. 17 – the day Palffy agreed to terms and the Islanders announced Palffy being in the fold. Kraus says he signed an addendum dated Dec. 17.
However, when Palffy arrived on Long Island from Slovakia on Sunday, Dec. 20, he was unable to reach Kraus and signed a separate standard player contract. Unbeknownst to Palffy, that form was dated Dec. 20.
Hence, Palffy, making $15,625 a day, was paid from Dec. 20. The grievance claims Palffy is short three days of pay or $46,875.
Kraus said he called Isles president David Seldin about the matter. According to Kraus, Seldin told him the contract started after Palffy passed his physical, which took place Dec. 20. Palffy missed two games – in Anaheim and Phoenix – while he traveled from Slovakia after agreeing to terms.
Seldin, who engineered co-owner Howard Milstein’s $800 million winning bid for the Redskins, referred calls to the club’s general counsel John Sanders and GM Mike Milbury.
Sanders said the Isles have no response until they receive the grievance, which is expected to be completed in the next few days. According to an Isles’ insider, the team’s position is that a contract signed after the season opener begins when the player reports.
If the matter is not settled, the two parties go to arbitration. Palffy declined to comment.