MacArthur a free agent after Thrashers reject contract decision

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Forward Clarke MacArthur is reportedly a free agent after the Atlanta Thrashers walked away from an arbitrator's decision on Wednesday.

According to TSN of Canada, the 25-year-old, a restricted free agent, was awarded a $2.4 million deal by an arbitrator, but Atlanta decided to walk away from the ruling -- an action that is well within an organization's rights but is a rare occurrence.

Boston was one of the first franchises to walk away from an arbitrator's decision when it did so in 1999 for then-forward Dmitri Khristich. Most recently, Nikolai Zherdev wound up on the wrong end of the New York Rangers' declining an arbitrator's decision in 2009 and the Ukraine-born winger played last season in Russia.

MacArthur split last season with Buffalo and Atlanta, coming over from the Thrashers on a trade-deadline deal March 3. He compiled 16 goals and 35 points in 81 games a season ago.

In four NHL seasons, the Alberta native has racked up 44 goals and 88 points in 208 career contests.