Arbitration for Chris Campoli

CHICAGO -- Blackhawks defenseman Chris Campoli and winger Viktor Stalberg filed for salary arbitration before Tuesday's deadline. The 26-year-old Campoli made $1.4 million last season and is one of three Hawks restricted free agents, along with Stalberg and Michael Frolik, who remain unsigned. Stalberg, 25, made a base salary of $785,000 while Frolik's base was $850,000. Frolik is not eligible for arbitration and has little leverage over the Hawks.

A date for the arbitration hearings will be announced in the near future. Between now and then, the sides can continue to negotiate a contract, but if they can't agree on a deal, an independent arbiter will determine Campoli and Stalberg's salaries under a mandatory one-year deal. Campoli will turn 27 on Saturday and is set to become an unrestricted free agent after next season if not under contract. He missed being unrestricted this offseason by 10 days as his 27th birthday falls after July 1. If the sides go to a hearing, they are bound to the arbiter's decision unless the Hawks walk away from it, allowing Campoli to become an unrestricted free agent immediately. The same scenario played out last summer when the Hawks walked away from a $2.75 million decision for goalie Antti Niemi. He later signed with San Jose. Only one other Hawk, Kyle Calder in 2006, has gone to arbitration since the new collective bargaining agreement took effect before the 2005-06 season. The Hawks accepted that award but promptly traded Calder to Philadelphia. Jesse Rogers covers the Blackhawks for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN 1000.

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