NHL players (15) take clubs to salary arbitration

TORONTO -- Center Brooks Laich and defenseman Shaone Morrisonn of the Washington Capitals were among 15 players who elected to take their teams to salary arbitration, the NHL Players' Association said Saturday.

The only other club to have two players go that route were the Minnesota Wild, who are set to have hearings with forwards Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Stephane Veilleux.

Joining them were defenseman Dennis Wideman of the Boston Bruins; Carolina forward Chad LaRose; right winger Marek Svatos of the Colorado Avalanche; Florida defenseman Jay Bouwmeester; New York Islanders forward Sean Bergenheim; newly acquired center Dan Fritsche of the New York Rangers; Ottawa forward Antoine Vermette; St. Louis center Jay McClement; forward Marcel Goc of the San Jose Sharks; Detroit center Valtteri Filppula; and Nashville defenseman Ville Koistinen.

The deadline for teams to decide to take players to salary arbitration is Sunday. Hearings will be held from July 20-Aug. 4.