Updated: Pavelec agrees to terms with Thrashers
Ondrej Pavelec has agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth a total of $2.3 million with the Thrashers. Pavelec was quoted on a Website in the Czech Republic about agreeing to a new deal and his agent, Allan Walsh, confirmed the agreement this morning via Twitter.
I’m told the deal will pay Pavelec $1 million this season and $1.3 million in 2011-12.
The Thrashers will not officially announced the deal until the contract has been signed. That was not expected to happen Thursday.
“This corresponds to my performance. I’m quite happy it turned out according to my expectations,” Pavelec told the Website iDNES.cz.
That would set up the goaltending tandem of Pavelec and Chris Mason, who signed a free-agent deal with the Thrashers, for the next two seasons.
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86 comments Add your comment
Toni
July 22nd, 2010
10:26 am
Great News
Smoothie
July 22nd, 2010
10:29 am
Wow! Great value for the Thrashers if the total of the deal is $2.3 M. Thought he might try to negotiate that amt per season. Seems as though he realizes he has work to do in terms of earning a starter’s pay.
Good luck Pav! Great to have you back for 2 years with Mace.
Hockey Lover
July 22nd, 2010
10:42 am
Seems like the new GM is doing alright, making the right decisions. I wonder what he would have offered Kovy…?
Alan R.
July 22nd, 2010
10:58 am
I listened in to your interview on TEAM 1260, Chris. Pretty good stuff. Finding a “listen live” link was actually a slight challenge.
Glad my Google Fu was strong this morning.
Despite the fact it was stuff we already knew, it was still great to hear the Thrashers being discussed on Canadian radio without the term “relocation” being thrown around.
Jbsnadb
July 22nd, 2010
11:00 am
To help pack his bags?
Lee
July 22nd, 2010
11:00 am
Nice! Mason and Pavs should be great!
Matt
July 22nd, 2010
11:23 am
Any word on Bergfors? I guess MacArthur isn’t coming back…
Ondrej Pavelec Agrees to Terms with Thrashers | Starting Goalies and more! | DailyFaceoff.com
July 22nd, 2010
11:25 am
[...] to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, netminder Ondrej Pavelec has agreed to terms with the Atlanta Thrashers. Vivlamore states the [...]
For The Record
July 22nd, 2010
11:28 am
Smart move by Pavs…He just raised his level of respect a couple of notches with me.
Hockey Lover: I happen to think Dudley was behind the $101 Mill final offer to Kovy. Grossman & Kovy never budged from their max contract demands. Dudley is a savvy guy, whereas Waddell wouldn’t know savvy if he ate lunch with it. I can see Dudley being behind a “we need to fish or cut bait” with this guy kind of approach to Waddell/Ownership: “Let’s offer him more than $100 Mill and if he turns it down, we HAVE to deal him for whatever we can get.” I believe Waddell never wanted to trade Kovy because it would make him look like an utter failure in the negotiations…Which anyone would’ve looked like, even by giving in and offering a max contract.
Of course the downside was once everyone found out he turned down $101 Mill, then very few teams were even interested. The fact that we got so much for Kovy tells me Waddell wasn’t the lead on that one. Waddell never could’ve orchestrated that deal. I’m still amazed at what we got when we would’ve had nothing if he was still a Thrasher on June 30th…
kracker
July 22nd, 2010
11:55 am
Yeah…what could (would, I think) Dudley have gotten trading Kovalchuk by the middle of January? Or December?? A stronger organization would have probably traded Kovalchuk following the failed July-/Sept 09 negotiations.
stendec
July 22nd, 2010
12:04 pm
GREAT!!! More Siberian bullshet!!! Why sign this oxygen waste anyway??
World Be Free
July 22nd, 2010
12:10 pm
Dudley and Kovalchuk would not have gotten along-I can just hear that phone conversation-
Duds-”Kovy, I’ll give you a max contract, but you have to backcheck and play defense in your zone.”
Kovy-”Lou will let me do what I want.” Hang up, dial tone
tigerbtl
July 22nd, 2010
12:22 pm
Two years of Pavelec playing here is cheaper than one year of Clarke MacArthur doing the same. That is just so wrong on both sides. Great deal for the Thrashers on Pavelec.
Alan R.
July 22nd, 2010
12:42 pm
Stendec, you do know where Siberia is, right?
Pavelec isn’t from there. Nowhere close.
Back under the bridge! Go!
stendec
July 22nd, 2010
1:23 pm
Fine, Bohemian bullshet!! Now YOU get back in the barrel, it’s Thursday.
Alan R.
July 22nd, 2010
1:27 pm
What’s in the barrel? I hope it’s ale, and I hope you left enough for me.
kracker
July 22nd, 2010
1:29 pm
Beware! The bottom of the barrel is full of bullshet.
Brendan
July 22nd, 2010
1:30 pm
Nice signing on the Pavelec deal. He’ll still be restricted at its conclusion, correct? I hope this tandem of Pavelec and Mason will work out. So, what goalies are left on the market? Turco? Theodore? Who else?
MASHAPlayer7
July 22nd, 2010
1:42 pm
I will go on record – and will look incredibly smart for saying this – but the Mason/Pavelec tandem will be a top 5 NHL goaltending tandem in two years! Of course, it’s nothing more than a wild guess, and it’s assuming the Ramsay/Torch/Stothers coaching staff emphasizes some team defense. So I may look incredibly stupid, as well.
Point is, we have two very talented goaltenders with no durability issues (knock on wood) locked up for 2 years! When have you seen that in Thrasherville? Never!
MASHAPlayer7
July 22nd, 2010
1:49 pm
Brendan – I saw a tweet that said Turco was looking for a 5-6 year deal. Ugh, what? Seriously? In this goalie market? At his point in his career?
Sage of Bluesland
July 22nd, 2010
1:52 pm
More bluster to keep the sheep interested. Who’s running this circus anyway?
Hotrod
July 22nd, 2010
2:25 pm
That should give us time to see if Pavelac will become a great
consistant net minder he is capable of being. I thought his glove
really showed big improvement last year. I saw him make
a few really wicked nasty glove saves.
Lord Stanley
July 22nd, 2010
2:39 pm
Well at least we have a back-up signed. Sorry don’t have confidence in Pav that he can be consistent enough tobe a number one goalie, but I hope I am wrong
Brendan
July 22nd, 2010
2:48 pm
MASHAPlayer7, I can definitely appreciate that Turco has come to the realization that this offseason *might* be his final contract in the NHL. And, as such, he’s going to be looking for some security. But if he’s seriously after a 5-6 year deal, then his price tag has to come down, to reflect just how old and potentially unviable he may be in those latter years. Turco turns 35 on August 13th. Five years from now puts him at 40. And six years at 41. They say the KHL is an old man’s league. Evgeni Nabakov got his six-year deal, at the same age, by going there. Did I mention that the KHL “fines” its players for poor play? It’s not the good ol’ USA, or even Canada, in terms of labor practices.
To the best of my knowledge, Marty Turco has only been to the CF once in his career, and that happened in 2008. That’s not nothing, mind you. That’s an achievement. And 21 playoff wins are another. To be certain, six years of 30 or more win seasons adds to his resume. But when you factor that he played on some very fine Dallas Star teams, including some after they recently won the Cup, he bears some stigma of underachiever. At this point of his career, in this goalie market, he’s going to have to weigh job security/contract length with what his best payday might bring. He might just find that signing a 1-year deal at what the market will bear … is his best option. Certainly, Marty doesn’t want to walk away without a Stanley Cup. But what contending team still needs goaltending? Who just screamed, “San Jose!” Tampa Bay needs goaltending, too. But how much cap space do they have left, after all their moves??
For The Record
July 22nd, 2010
3:06 pm
WBF: You’re right that Lou would let Kovy do whatever he wanted – last season. He still had FA coming up July 1st, so Kovy was in a pretty strong position. Assuming they work out something “acceptable” to the league, Kovy’s gonna have to change his habits. If he truly becomes a Devil for life, then they own him. And this is where it gets interesting. Remember how Kovy & Koz were trying to tell Anderson how to do things? Anyone who signs a $100 Mill or so contract tends to think he’s on a level different than the other players. There was a lot of courting going on and Lou was saying everything he needed to get Kovy to sign…I can’t wait to see what happens after the contract is worked out and he’s expected to perform on D too, just like everyone else. I predict some hurt feelings along the way and it could get ugly from time to time…
And Pavs DOES have a lot to prove. Any NHL goalie who gets a 150ft goal scored against them clearly isn’t “there” yet.
J.B.
July 22nd, 2010
3:10 pm
I read somewhere today that Lou said the Devils aren’t going to try to restructure the deal as it complies with the current CBA.
george
July 22nd, 2010
3:27 pm
Have to believe Bergfors and Little are next up in signing
Michael
July 22nd, 2010
3:48 pm
According to TSN: The Florida Panthers traded forward Jeff Taffe to the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday in exchange for forward Marty Reasoner.
Darn. Now we are going to see a lot of Marty next year.
Brendan
July 22nd, 2010
6:55 pm
Michael, I hope for Marty Reasoner’s sake, that isn’t true. He just went from traded to the defending Stanley Cup Champions to the basement of the Southeast Division. Geez, Reasoner was better off here! I can see, now, why players lobby so hard for a no-trade clause.
sisu
July 22nd, 2010
9:10 pm
I take the wait and see in Pavs…he started well and faded quickly. It is his time to prove something. Another two year deal with the upcoming labor dispute in mind.
Reasoner is a Panther…
World Be Free
July 22nd, 2010
9:18 pm
For The Record-I agree with your post. Add to your points, that Kovy is at his best when he can freelance. The Devils’ style does not lend itself to freelancing, it is a rigid, disciplined and defensive style. And the $100M is buying Kovalchuk’s offensive numbers. Still disappointed in Lou big time.
Sheep-I guess on these blogs, sheep are defined as fans that are reasonably positive about the direction of the team (compared to the last decade).
Goats-those who come on this blog and have nothing original or refreshing to say, positive or negative. They basically regurgitate the same garbage over and over again.
Girls think sheep are cute and cuddly – goats are ugly, smell and have hair on the chin. You decide which one you want to be.
NHL Ready
July 22nd, 2010
10:05 pm
I am not a big Pav’s fan will see if he even makes the team as a back up??? Thanks Dud for finally getting a real Goalie.
Jake
July 22nd, 2010
10:46 pm
I think Alan R. and Stendec oughta do a radio show. Can’t be any worse than Buck and Kincade….
Kovyoverrated
July 22nd, 2010
11:46 pm
Look people, Duds and Waddell knew that Kovalsuck would not sign here, no matter what the offer was. He was gone, period. After 10 years of misdirection, 2 weeks in June TOTALLY changed the direction of this franchise. We are strong in goal, BETTER over 3 lines on offense, and with the overhaul of the coaching staff, hopefully we are MEANER on defense. Last year’s game vs the Avs has haunted me. Bogosian standing there watching as they took the faceoff and went right to the goal was pathetic. Hopefully, the new staff will stop that crap.
EA
July 23rd, 2010
8:45 am
I am so happy to see Pavs back. He is still young. The next two years will prove whether or not he is the real deal. He deserves a chance with a much improved team in front of him.
Alan R.
July 23rd, 2010
9:24 am
Jake – Someone would end up defenestrated. It wouldn’t be me. I daresay I could do a better job flying solo than Buck and Kinkade do together.
At least with me, you won’t hear 5-10 minutes of Thrashers news, and four hours of UGA crap.
Alan R.
July 23rd, 2010
9:31 am
Go Dawgs….woof woof
Alan R.
July 23rd, 2010
10:03 am
As should be quite obvious, the above is not me. Impersonating others is in poor taste.
Lord Stanley
July 23rd, 2010
10:38 am
Well it is uga crap. Go JACKETS!!!
Seriously, if 680 is going to carry the games they need to talk up the thrashers. They did it with the braves. Kincaid needs to go
Jeff97
July 23rd, 2010
10:55 am
We need a real sports talk radio station down here. 680 and 790 both stink.
Dawg fans must hate it when Ole Buckaroo has taken a day off. That means a lot less UGA discussion as Kincaid is not a big UGA fan. They should just give Buck his own show at 8pm and let him talk about Dawg football until he is blue in the face.
Go Jackets!
Jeff97
July 23rd, 2010
10:55 am
We need a real sports talk radio station down here. 680 and 790 both stink.
Dawg fans must hate it when Ole Buckaroo has taken a day off. That means a lot less UGA discussion as Kincaid is not a big UGA fan. They should just give Buck his own show at 8pm and let him talk about Dawg football until he is blue in the face.
Go Jackets!
Sports Radio in Atlanta
July 23rd, 2010
11:37 am
sucks.
I'm sorry Alan R., it was me
July 23rd, 2010
12:58 pm
Impersonation is a form of flattery.
Brendan
July 23rd, 2010
1:16 pm
Buck Belue does a decent job on baseball. College football, too. I cannot rightly tell you that “Buck knows hockey.” Although, he did argue, vociferously, with Kincade that “That Kubina, pal. He’ll make all the difference. You’ll see.” To which, Kincade said, “Well, no. Buck. You’re wrong. You’re just plain wrong. Kubina’s here a year, then he’s gone.”
I guess both were right!
Ilya Kovalchuk had a nice compact swing
July 23rd, 2010
1:47 pm
Suddenly, I’m getting a little excited about this team.
And the Hawks making one bonehead move after another has suddenly freed up my sports budget. See you in Thrasherville!
KLS1
July 23rd, 2010
4:54 pm
In fairness, hasn’t been a whole lot for talk radio to discuss with the Thrashers. I Remember when Chris Cotter (790 Zone) did the post game show from headline grill and nobody would even call in.
By the way has anyone seen him on Fox Business Channel…very odd
English Teacher
July 23rd, 2010
6:47 pm
Seems to me that intentionally or not, the Thrashers made FA really difficult for Kovy by offering him the contract they did. He said he wanted to stay if they could work out a deal. Atlanta offered him the Sun and the Moon, and he turned it down. While he will never admit it, he wanted out of Atlanta – most likely because he wanted to go somewhere he had a chance to win a championship. I don’t fault him for that; winners want to win. The problem now is he’s got to get more money or look like a jerk for not being straight in his dealings with Atlanta. No competitive team is going to have the money he wants without trying to do what NJ tried, and now we know that the NHL won’t let that happen. Personally, I’m glad he didn’t sign here. We need people who want to build a winner not just join one.
JR
July 23rd, 2010
10:45 pm
680 the fan needs to power up so that it can be heard outside of the perimeter.
Brendan
July 24th, 2010
12:55 am
English Teacher, it’s difficult to ignore … that when it comes time to decide WHERE to play, in unrestricted free agency, that the big name players don’t pick the Thrashers. I have no doubt that each player who didn’t chose Atlanta … had a reason, or reasons, why they didn’t. And quite possibly, not one them was the same.
Worse yet for fans of this team … is the ‘political process’ that it entails. For S-E-V-E-N long, agonizing months. A player simply CANNOT come out and say, “There’s no chance I’m reupping with this team.” And yet, each marquee player that didn’t re-sign here … played that game with us. They say, “The negotiations are ongoing.” “I prefer not to discuss the contract.” “I pay my agent to handle all aspects of my contract. I’m just trying to focus on hockey.”
And if a reporter tries to press the matter, the player is obligated to say, “The fans here are great. I love the City of Atlanta. Right now, I’m focused on trying to help us win, and reach the playoffs.” These answers work … EACH and EVERY TIME. Don’t they? Think of it this way. Imagine you meet your future mother-in-law for the first time … and she’s wearing a dress so green that it’s only missing chalk stains and pockets for billiards. And then, you’re asked to comment on it, by your betrothed. What CAN you say … other than, “It’s a wonderful dress … such a lovely shade of green.” And if someone ever asks you, “Just how do you put up with your mother-in-law?” You reply, “She’s a wonderful woman. I’ve always respected her.” And then the conversation turns. Crisis averted.
Look what happens when players get traded here. They sometimes say, “It is what it is.” Or “It’s a business. Anyone can get traded. It’s important not to take it, personally.” Ya know what that is? It’s just a euphemism. For Harlem. As in, “I wouldn’t be caught dead in.” And what do you possibly say to someone who’s just be reassigned to Harlem, NY? “Well gee, Phil. I hear Harlem can be lovely in the Spring?”
And my point to all this was? Well, in the end … it’s that players chose where they want to play when they hit UFA status. And they’re not allowed to say, while under contract to their current team, that they won’t return. They can’t say, “I’ll re-sign if they fire the Coach and hire one I like.” They can’t say, “If they fire the GM, I’ll think about staying.” They cannot say, “With this ownership running the team, there’s no chance I’ll be back. I want to win.” As fans, we don’t like to hear that. We want to hear, “Everything’s wonderful. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my career here, making Atlanta a winner.”
English Teacher
July 24th, 2010
2:52 pm
Kovy didn’t have to say it to the press, he could have said it to the GM. I’m not going to sign. Trade me.
Brendan
July 24th, 2010
9:01 pm
English Teacher, what if Kovalchuk’s “ruse” was just that he wanted to stay near his wife, and their small children, during the final year of his deal in Atlanta? In which case, he’s GOT play Waddell like fiddle. If he tells him the truth, he potentially gets traded back in July, or September, or even October. But by stringing Waddell along, he gets to stay with his family in Atlanta, until February. And, truthfully, it takes two to lie. One to do the lying, and one to believe it. Plus, who knows? Maybe Kovy actually told Don the truth, and Waddell couldn’t bear to trade him … trying to hold on to him like a ‘down on his luck’ guy tries to hold on to his girl … right to the last and final day he can. As she walks out the door, he’s still clinging to her pant-leg, crying, “Don’t Go! Please! I (we) can change!!” She packs her bags and moves in with a girlfriend, in New Jersey.
I never quite know what to think of Waddell. On one hand, maybe he is legitimately an idiot. On the other hand, he’s managed to bamboozle ownership into a paycheck for eleven straight years, going on twelve, without a playoff win. I sadly imagine contract talks that go sheepishly like this. Ownership: “Okay, Don. It’s time to discuss your contract.” After an awkward pause, where Waddell cringes and expects Donald Trump to enter the room, he hears, “Well, to tell ya the truth, we’re delighted with your performance, and are looking forward to many more years with you, working your ‘magic’ with our shoe-string budgets.” Don Waddell looks around, and without seeing Ashton Kutcher ready to spring into the room to announce he’s just been “Punk’d!,” he smiles, wryly, and says, “Well, I’m just tickled pink to be continuing to blee-, milk, hornswogg- err … guide this club through its coming years.” Don pens his signature on yet another franchise crippling contract.
Both sides walk out of the room, muttering to themselves, “SUCKERS!!!”
To me, what I CANNOT understand is this … I see quotes in the AJC about a player’s contract … in the same breath as “sitting down with Waddell.” Why is Don Waddell writing or negotiating ANYONE’s contract? He’s the team President, on paper. What the organization spouts as a rebuttal is … that Don Waddell has “experience with contracts.” What, duh? And Dudley DOESN’T? Dudley has been a GM before. He should have some idea how contract negotiations work. And market value. And if he doesn’t, what the heck business does he have being a GM?, other than Don Waddell ‘hand picked’ him as his “successor.” What other “Team President” handles contracts? Waddell’s alleged job … is budgetary oversight of the Thrashers. What the organization sells is … that Don Waddell controls the purse strings, but Dudley makes the personnel decisions. As in, “who to draft,” “who to trade away, and who to trade in,” “who to target in free agency,” “who to place on waivers and claim off waivers.” But it’s Waddell’s call how much Dudley can offer a player. I cannot buy into this notion that Dudley’s “too busy” to negotiate contracts. He’s the frekkin’ GM. That’s what the name plate on his desk says, anyway. Who ELSE should be making contracts? I’m extremely concerned that Waddell is still participating in this process. All the more reason why … he just needs a fresh start, somewhere else. He’s had his shot. And until he’s fully gone, I don’t think Dudley has ‘proper enough’ control of the team.
As for specific talk between Kovy and Waddell during negotiations, can Kovalchuk really say, “Don, (long pause,) unless you resign … and new GM is brought in … I’ll never re-up here.” He can’t. He just can’t say it. Just like, he cannot say, “With this ownership, Don. I’ll never re-sign,” if he wants to remain with his family, in Atlanta, until the trade deadline.
Brendan
July 24th, 2010
9:03 pm
Chris Vivlamore, when are we going to hear news about Bergfors RFA contract?
Sage of Bluesland
July 25th, 2010
9:01 am
…and therein, Brendan, lies the truth about who is still running the team [Waddell]…This fraud of an organization can’t even get its ’smoke-and-mirrors’ down in a consistently correct manner!
Whoever gives this group a single dollar is simply wasting it and enabling the fraud to continue. Whoever thinks ’significant’ change has been made is delusional.
Be sure to write that down, for those who like to criticize me…and then we’ll see if you’re still around here in two years…Maybe you’ll go all “Sara” on me? (It wouldn’t be the first–it won’t be the last, either…)
NHL Ready
July 25th, 2010
9:37 am
Hey any of you Bloggers out there interested to split a pair of Thrasher season tickets? It looks like we should have a good year. The price is excellent and the seats are in a great location. We can alternate choosing the games and use the tickets with family and friends. I will check blog later in the week to see if any one would like the offer.
Thanks
Pittsburgh Pirate Fan
July 25th, 2010
9:58 am
Same old Sage-speaking of two years, we could pull one of your posts from 2 years back and it would be the same. Same message, S.O.S.
World Be Free
July 25th, 2010
10:41 am
Brendan, I think most of us agreed last year that this time, that the Kovalchuk contract had to be signed by the beginning of the season. If the situation lingered, it would become a distraction to the team which is exactly what happened. Much of last winter’s swoon was can be blamed on the constant questions to Kovalchuk and his teammates concerning the captain’s pending free agency. Nothing really changed with Kovalchuk and his agent, the circus has just moved north to New Jersey. I can’t be too surprised that Waddell let it drag on but what shocked me was seeing how low Lou Lam (the sham) has sunk in order to get this guy in a long term contract with the Devils.
Like I said last year at this time-if you couldn’t get his name on a contract by the start of the season, trade him, just like Ottawa traded Heatley-get rid of distraction. But that didn’t happen; as far as a contract for Kovalchuk, it still hasn’t happened. No finalization yet, to the longest contract negotiation in NHL history. Think about it.
Both Waddell and Lou needed to be chided for participating in a process that is damaging to their teams and for that matter, the league itself.
Sage of Blueland had a nice compact swing
July 25th, 2010
11:47 am
YOU’RE GAY!!!
Brendan
July 25th, 2010
1:08 pm
WBF, you’re right. There certainly were a lot of voices who said, “He has to be signed by September. October at the latest. And if not, he’s got to be moved by Veteran’s Day, or at the very latest, Thanksgiving. I remember softening my stance, from May 2009, which was, “Either Kovy’s name is on a contract by July 14th, or he’s traded. You’ve got two weeks after July 1st to get it done, Spirit, LLC.” I thought it over and tried to see it Kovalchuk’s way. Kovy said he wanted to see how well the team came together before he re-signed. I was a sucker to fall for it. But then, a story came out that Kovalchuk was READY to re-sign later that Fall, and the franchise inexplicably walked away from contract discussions in November. And that’s pretty much where the “Koastalchuk” name was born, as I’m sure that if he weren’t “demoralized” already by then, he soon became it. I don’t know that Kovalchuk would have re-signed with Atlanta, even if the team’s record were 15 games over .500 at Thanksgiving. I think Kovalchuk sized up the ownership and thought, “I can’t stay here. This isn’t the pony to bet on.” Now, look. I don’t buy relocation non-sense. I don’t give it an ounce of credit or consideration. It’s not going to happen. So, in my view, Kovalchuk looked at the ownership, which kept a GM in place entirely too long, and fielded league-minimum budgets, and saw them as either (1) clueless or (2) indifferent about hockey operations. Winners want to win. And there it is. With no ’sugarcoating.’ I wish Kovalchuk well with his next team, be it the Devils or someone else.
Brendan
July 25th, 2010
1:12 pm
Correction, he’s not allowed to be wished well, if Los Angeles is where he gets to play. I’m not going to bless Kovy’s “rock star” lifestyle, in L.A. Even if the Calfornia State property and income taxes on Kovy’s deal would bail the Governor out of their budgetary mess, there on the “Left Coast.”
Thrashers27
July 25th, 2010
2:29 pm
ZZZZZZZZZZZZ…is it October yet?…I hate this “iceless” time of the year.
World Be Free
July 25th, 2010
4:03 pm
You know Brendan, I think we all wanted the Kovalchuk in Atlanta situation to work out long term. But we noted the troubling signs early on, like the “I want to wait and see how the team comes together” balony. A long term commitment isn’t about how the team plays in 2 mos., but we took Kovy at his word, which was our mistake. And like you, I wish Kovy the best with his next team.
But it’s clear to me that Kovy really doesn’t know what he wants or doesn’t know how to get it; this situartion is not settled yet. Waddell can’t take the blame for not getting Kovy’s signature on a contract-look what it took for Lou to get him signed? Fans all over the league are going to hate this guy.
Brendan
July 25th, 2010
5:09 pm
Now wait a minute, WBF. Waddell has to take some of the blame. Even if Waddell’s hands were tied, financially, he still went out and got Klee, Rucchin, Perrin, Jani Hurme, Uwe Krupp, White, Holik, and drafted Lehtonen, etc. Those weren’t financial decisions, per se. It falls on the GM to build a team that other players want to be a part of. Waddell didn’t do that. I submit … that even with the league minimum with which to work, for four straight years, another GM could have built a better team. At that point, it does fall on ownership to recognize the fine work that the GM has done. In other words, it’s time to “pony up” to keep the nucleus the GM assembled in tact. I don’t think Waddell did his job. He didn’t build a winner. Not only did he not build a winner, he didn’t even have a ‘concept.’ Brian Burke has a concept. Lou Lamoriello has a concept. Ken Holland has a concept. Jim Rutherford has a concept. Don Waddell takes all the slivers of soap in his house, and balls them up and mashes them into a bar of soap. Then exclaims, “Tah-dah!”
Yeah, it don’t work like that. We had NO IDEA what “Thrashers Hockey” was. As best I can describe it, it was, “Here Ilya, shoot!” That’s not a concept. There wasn’t a game plan in effect. That’s inexcuseable after more than 3 seasons. Much less ten.
WBF, what I hoped … was that Kovalchuk might sign a 2-year deal in October or November … just to see how this ownership fiasco would play out. It would still make him 29, and quite desireable out on the free agent market, down the road. I had no idea he was looking for 17 years. Of course, I doubt that’s really true. I think he just wants a team committed to winning, who can pay him at a rate that is commeasurate to his skills.
Okay, look. What do ALL Free agents wants? We’ve done this list before. (1) Committed ownership. (2) Good GM. (3) Good coach. (4) Energized market that will come out to support the team. (5) Good scouts, to keep the shelves stocked for the future. (6) Robust budgets. We’ve just described the New Jersey Devils, among other teams.
In hindsight, why would Kovalchuk entertain a 2-year deal with Atlanta? For more of the same? No, he’s out. With good behavior and ‘time served.’ One fine day, we’ll have a team that players will want to be a part of. Don Waddell told the STH’s at the Town Hall Meetings, “Who do you want to lose down the road, if we re-sign Ilya? Kane or Bogosian?” Yeah, well … we better not lose either, much less BOTH. But if history is our guide, we’ll lose both Kane and Bogosian as soon as they are eligible for unrestriced free agency.
Let’s see how our RFA class re-signs, this offseason. He did ANNNNY of them forego any of their UFA eligibility, by signing a longer contract? Or, did the RFAs just sign until their RFA years are expired? The Atlanta Thrashers are permitted to make a proactive RFA contract to Zach Bogosian right now. I suspect the organization is going to take a Missouri “Show Me” approach to Bogosian’s next deal. By that, I mean that they want Zach to prove he’s worth a longterm commitment. Well, that’s fine, so long as the ownership is willing to PAY HIM his market value. Without excuses. Being ENTIRELY COGNIZANT that they had the opportunity in July, August, September, etc., to lock him up, at BELOW his market value for the duration of the contract. And if the NHL allows these 12, 13, 15, 17 year deals for the purposes of manipulating the cap hit, then the AS, LLC had better be prepared to match RFA offersheets of this type and variety, should one arise. And if they don’t match it, I hope an STH takes ownership to task, by saying, “You asked us which player we wanted to lose … if we re-signed Kovalchuk, Kane or Bogosian.” Well, you just lost Bogosian, for RFA compensation. You said you’d prevent that, by letting Kovalchuk go.
World Be Free
July 25th, 2010
6:38 pm
You know Brendan, I knew I would regret saying that about Waddell as soon as I hit the enter button. My bad, totally, because he is responsible for most of what has happened with this team for the last 10 years. This has been stated by so many others, Zhitnik and the five year plan stuff. So I am asking for a Mulligan on my last post.
Your post is right on-free agents are looking for a first class organization, like the one Kovalchuk believes he has found in New Jersey. Jersey, Detroit, these are not garden spots to live (not ragging on either town), but they have first class organizations in each city, places players TAKE/GIVE discounts to play in. I remember when both hockey clubs were jokes in the NHL, now they are model franchises.
Your 1-6 points are vital for this team’s success and in our case, survival. For me, they key for the immediate future do not lie in another name UFA. We both have stated the need to getting the RFAs signed for 2-3 years, start the commitment (your 1 and 6). Now will that happen, who knows? Dudley has stepped up, now it’s time for the boys writing the checks to do the same. Dudley can turn this around, but it will take alot more than what’s been done so far to make Atlanta a preferred destination.
I still say we are looking at a $50M budget, better than some, less than others. Still alotta work left to do.
Jameson
July 25th, 2010
6:43 pm
Brendan- I’m pretty sure Pavs will still be a RFA at the end of this deal. He’s only 22 now.
Brendan
July 25th, 2010
7:03 pm
Jameson, me too. But I want to see if ANNNY of our current RFA’s sign for any length BEYOND their RFA years. Do we even have one (1) willing to forego at least a “portion” of their UFA years, to remain here, in Atlanta. I’d be interested to see that.
Brendan
July 25th, 2010
7:06 pm
Mulligan granted, WBF.
Jameson
July 25th, 2010
7:08 pm
I agree. I tend to believe that the most likely RFA to sign past UFA is Little.
kracker
July 26th, 2010
7:51 am
You were more right the first time, WBF. The stacked Kings couldn’t sign K’chuk, they were not willing to wreck the club cap-wise in the near future. To K’chuk, the Islanders = Atlanta. It took an utterly asinine, selfish, me-me-me deal from Lou’s Devils to get K’chuk to sign.
DW surely deserves his share of the blame but for my money the owners (+ Heatley killing Dan Snyder on Lenox Road) are the reason this franchise has been in the dumper all these years. Question: Who hired Waddell when there were better candidates available and presumably willing to GM a new franchise?
BTW, if K’chuk and Grossman think the contract is fairly structured, let them reverse the payment schedule. Yeah, sure….they’d do that. Not.
kracker
July 26th, 2010
8:06 am
Question 2: WHo kept Waddell as GM at least 5 years longer than they should have? At the least, they should have kept Hartley (they just signed him) and fired Waddell in the fall of 07.
World Be Free
July 26th, 2010
8:07 am
kracker-this thing just gets more complicated all the time.
Not Blind
July 26th, 2010
9:31 am
Here is my question: Did Lou purposefully screw Kovalpuke with a deal he was pretty sure the NHL would reject ? Does this Lou orchestrated fiasco now force Kovalpuke: A- to the KHL or B- to accept a shorter term deal or C- Far less money per year ?????
Sage of Bluesland
July 26th, 2010
9:43 am
“Same old Sage-speaking of two years, we could pull one of your posts from 2 years back and it would be the same. Same message, S.O.S.”
At least I was here 2…5…7…11 years ago (and owned tickets, witnessing the first false-advertising scam from this organization about it being the “toughest” ticket in town)…and I’ve been consistent…and been correct…thusly, consistently correct.
You’ve stood for what? Following me around like a little kid? Impressive.
Anyway, back to intelligent recourse: Of course the ownership is the problem–always has been; always will be. Don’t be fooled by the “change”–it’s nothing but mere smoke-and-mirrors (and it’s not very convincing, at that).
Actions–as well as verifiable budgets and accountable strategic plans–speak louder than words. The rest is like the clown who keeps following me around…(or the clown who keeps using my name, but does a pitiful imitation)…
Alan R.
July 26th, 2010
9:44 am
Not Blind – It doesn’t force anything quite yet. The NHLPA has until 5pm Eastern today to file their grievance. It appears they will file that grievance.
Once filed, the NHL and NHLPA must select and agree on an independent arbitrator, and that arbitrator will decide whether the contract is void. If it’s void, Kovalchuk is officially a free agent once again. If not, then he’s Jersey’s problem for the next 17 years.
World Be Free
July 26th, 2010
10:04 am
Sage-I am waiting to see how committed we are to signing RFAs for more than one year. Making a commitment beyond their UFA period will be an indication to me as to how committed this group is to the future. It’s not everything, but 3 year deals for these RFAs would be a start.
Intelligent Discourse with Sage
July 26th, 2010
10:24 am
Is that even possible?
Magic 8-Ball
July 26th, 2010
11:06 am
*shake shake shake*
“Very Doubtful”
Dwayne...(my real name)
July 26th, 2010
11:18 am
Person(s) spewing the same crap over and over is just as bad as Waddel spewing his same crap over and over.
Alan R.
July 26th, 2010
11:28 am
If there is crap being spewed, someone ought to empty the porta-potty.
Dwayne...(my real name)
July 26th, 2010
1:09 pm
empty their potty mouth.
Lord Stanley
July 26th, 2010
2:57 pm
Kracker well said. To answer your question, it was ASG for both questions. I was a hartley fan but Holik the JA blew that up Hartleys chance to turn around the franchise. If heatley was less of a DA the Thrashers would be a complete 180, and would of won some playoff games/series.
The Real Sage of Bluesland
July 26th, 2010
6:35 pm
loves slurping pole.
The Real Sage of Bluesland
July 26th, 2010
6:36 pm
and bunghole.
DWTOO
July 27th, 2010
8:21 am
Question 3 – Who put the fizzies in the fountains?
QUestion 4 – WHo delivered the medical school cadavers to the alumni luncheon?
Smoothie
July 28th, 2010
11:29 am
C’mon Viv, how ’bout a new blog? You can’t just tease us with your twittering and then leave us hangin’!
Lord Stanley
July 28th, 2010
5:30 pm
It looks like our brave leader has fallen./
Jameson
July 28th, 2010
8:50 pm
Any update on Ladd?