Ilya Kovalchuk and Thrasherville’s 5,000-pound reindeer
As Thrashervillians hustle to and fro getting their holiday shopping wrapped up…while at the same time enjoying their team’s 17-11-3 record thus far…there still is this one subject looming over our heads. It is the topic of discussion that has been with us for quite a while, mind you…stirring about in the background of our conversations as spring turned to summer and the summer gave way to fall…through Halloween, into Thanksgiving weekend…and now as we prepare for our annual winter holidays.
That subject is, of course, the ongoing contract talks between the Thrashers’ organization and their captain Ilya Kovalchuk. Now, as fall cedes to winter, Hanukah has begun and Christmas rapidly approaches…it remains with us still. And while much has already been said in the topic…the time is rapidly approaching where chatter must give way to action.
Could John Anderson soon have to deal with a Thrashers squad minus Kovalchuk? (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)
Up ‘til this time, Kovy’s contract status was much like that tiny mouse in Clement Clark Moore’s poem of 1822 who ceases it’s stirring on Christmas Eve. It was there, certainly…but not a big problem just yet.
However, the more time passes it begins to appear less like that small rodent and more like a 5,000-pound reindeer in the middle of Santa’s pack.
When a creature that size stirs about, one cannot help but take notice…and it isn’t taking Christmas off, either.
Furthermore, the longer this 5,000-pound reindeer hangs around…the more likely it becomes that it’ll bring down this promising season much in the same fashion the oversized Rudolph would drag down ol’ St. Nick’s sleigh if left attached with the rest of the team of flying reindeer.
But why is this discussion more prominent now than a few weeks back…or a few weeks from now, you ask? Well, I’m glad you asked.
See, if we go back to last September, we find this article posted by Jeff Schultz just before the season began. When asked about Kovy’s contract situation, general manager Don Waddell offered up the following response…“I don’t think we’ll be talking about this at Christmas time”.
Hmmmm… well, given that the weather has turned a bit colder… I still have trips to make to Costco, Macy’s, Walmart and Borders Book Store in the coming nine days…and that the program interrupted a few weeks back by President Obama was “A Charlie Brown Christmas”…it seems as though Christmas is indeed upon us.
And we are still “talking about this”.
Then there is this little write up fresh off the Russian presses…which basically states that Waddell and Kovalchuk’s agent, Jay Grossman, are at a bit of an impasse. According to the story…as I understand it with great assistance from our good friend and frequent contributor “Russian”… Grossman is asking for 10-years at the maximum allowable pay of $11.5 million per year. Waddell and the Thrashers, reportedly, are worried that this is more money than they want to shell out to retain Kovy’s services beyond this year.
Ilya Kovalchuk was the top draft pick in 2001 and has scored 314 goals for the Thrashers (AP photo/John Bazemore)
Now, I have long held the belief that the Thrashers have been looking to sign their Russian phenom at around the rate of about $10 million per season…a figure I come up with by adding Kovalchuk’s current salary with that of fellow countryman Slava Kozlov. I contend that the organization will opt not to re-sign Kozlov…who will be 38-years of age in May…and simply transfer that $3.667 mil or so from his ledger to Kovy’s.
If so…then the two parties are about a million per and a half per year apart.
The article also goes on to read that Don Waddell is now considering what he would seek in return for Kovalchuk, should a trade become necessary in the event this gap cannot be bridged.
However, that flies in the face of what Don Waddell indicated just last spring when discussing the matter with Chris Vivlamore who wrote…“General manager Don Waddell told the Journal-Constitution last week that, unequivocally, Kovalchuk will remain with the team as it attempts to re-sign one of the NHL’s elite players. There will be no trade deadline move — such as with Marian Hossa — if negotiations reach an impasse”.
Continuing on that thought, Waddell stated, “I think [the Thrashers and Kovalchuk] will both know where we are way before the season starts if it is going to happen…That doesn’t mean it can’t happen once the season starts. My mission is to keep Ilya Kovalchuk here, whether that happens in July or August or we have to go out and prove that we are a team that’s going to take that next step we are fine with that.”
So Thrasherville, the long and short of the situation, regardless if this rumor is based in fact or not, is… the clock still ticks. And just as Christmas will arrive whether we are ready or not, so too will the time arrive to finally get something done.
If Kovalchuk and Grossman are going to dig in and refuse to budge from their reported demand of 10-years $115 million to re-sign him, there are but three possible choice for Waddell and the Thrashers to consider.
In regards to Kovy's contract, the Thrashers should...
- Pay Kovy what is being asked to keep Kovy here (51%, 81 Votes)
- Trade Kovy if the price is too high (41%, 65 Votes)
- Keep Kovy through the season no matter what (8%, 14 Votes)
Total Voters: 160
Loading ...1.Pay Kovy the money! Whatever it is he’s asking for…cough it up and keep him here.
2. Trade him. Put together a package you think is worth parting ways with the 2001 first overall pick…the franchise player that the team has been and was supposed to be built around.
3. Do nothing. Much like the Florida Panthers did with Jay Bouwmeester last year, you keep him for the playoff run knowing he’s services now are crucial to succeeding… and then take your chances re-signing him sometime before July 1…something Florida, by the way, was unable to do with J-Bo.
Either way…this is not really the subject matter I wanted to be discussing at this point in time, to be honest. But we are doing so none-the-less…regardless of what Don Waddell told us last May.
And the 5,000-pound reindeer isn’t getting any smaller.
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134 comments Add your comment
Rightshot
December 16th, 2009
6:50 pm
I think the two big IF’s we need to keep in mind is if the report is true from the russian paper and IF kovy is seriously thinking of leaving atlanta.
If both are true, kovy’s gone and a short time later, unless something drastic happens, so does atlanta hockey
If the first is true, but not the second, he will probably end up staying here, at least for the short term.
If the second is true but the first is not, we may have to really pony up the bucks (more than the rumored $90 mil for 10 years) to get him to stay.
There is the possibility he is still evaluating the playoff chances here and this is a delaying tactic.
Hopefully, there will be a big announcement when the Canadians are in town on the 21st that Kovy has signed a new deal here.
BTW, Don still has 9 days till Christmas so technically he has that much time before his statement about not talking about this at Christmas becomes, let us say, untrue
Mr. Heat Miser
December 16th, 2009
6:55 pm
Don Waddell could talk for half an hour and not say a fecking thing.
Brendan
December 16th, 2009
7:03 pm
The maximum cap hit salary permitted is $11.36 million. And that’s only if the cap doesn’t DECREASE next season. Now, Kovy may be asking for a FRONT LOADED $11.5 million deal that pays him very handsomely in the beginning, and very modestly towards the end. Especially if it’s some 10-12 year deal.
I was thinking that a $10.1 million cap hit for 10 years sounds good. That’d make him 36 years old, while still hitting our cap pretty hard at that $10.1 million rate. By then, the team could opt not to re-sign him or trade him, if he’d waive his NTC, which he’d probably ask for. In Kovy’s shoes, I’d take the deal at $10.1, provided that there’s an “out clause” as it relates to cap hit payroll for Opening Night. I’d put in the contract that Atlanta must be within $3.0 million of WHATEVER the cap is … in any given year … or it INVALIDATES the contract. What MORE could Kovy ask for? He’d be getting $10+ million as a cap hit, FRONT LOADED at $11.5 million in actual cash for the first few years, PLUS he’d hold the ownership HOSTAGE to assemble a competitive team. If that’s the offer … and the offer is rejected … then Kovy gets traded. In that instance, Waddell and the ownership did absolutely everything they could … and still Kovy said, “nyet.” Well, if “nyet” is the answer, pack your bags, Ilya. It’s pretty CLEAR that you don’t want to stay. Not while rejecting a handsome offer, plus incentives of team payroll. It’d be one thing … if Waddell/ownership were “nickel and diming” him. If they were floating $7 to $7.5 million, with 5-years maximum term, I’d actually be siding with Kovalchuk on that. That’s insulting. And a player of his caliber cannot and should not be insulted. Especially as the Captain and FACE of the franchise. But $10.1 million, cap hit, for 10-years, and team payroll guarantees … ought to do it. If that’s not enough, then he just DOESN’T WANT to play here anymore.
And A-NOTHER thing … if I find out that, during the offseason, Kovalchuk said words to the effect of, “Do what you want, I’m not re-signing here. Trade me now. Trade me at the deadline. Or hang on to me all year. It’s all fine and good with me.” Then ownership dropped the ball. I understand WHY they chose to keep him, right to the bitter end. Ticket sales. Trading Kovy in the offseason might have been enough to cancel Season Tickets for some folks.
Of course, I don’t think we’ll ever TRULY know the truth of what is said between Ilya, Grossman, Waddell, and the ownership. It’s a huge poker game. But sooner or later, someone has to CALL, and turn over their hand. If he’s got four ACES, I want to see them.
I do understand why Ilya might want to leave. I talked about this back in 2007. It’s not worth re-hashing again. My panic date is on or about January 24, 2010. I know that hockey will survive in Atlanta without Kovalchuk. I know that wins put fannies in seats. This never changes. I also know this. You cannot replace a Kovalchuk. Or a Hossa. Or a Savard, necessarily. These salvage moves … rarely pan out. You get a bevy of essentially ‘throw away’ draft picks and longshot prospects. It’s never the same as actually having the player. Someone has to answer for that. Someone does. But it’s still possible to field a winning hockey product in Atlanta, sans Kovalchuk. The right GM can do it. It takes a “concept.” It takes, “an identity.” It takes getting the ownership and the players to “buy into it.” I’d be sad to see Ilya leave. Truly, I would. But that man … has WAITED long enough to get to decide where he WANTS to play in the NHL. And for nine years, and eight seasons, he’s put in HIS TIME. He has four playoff games to show for it. Four. Someone should answer for that. Someone should.
All that talk goes away … with the affixing of #17’s signature on a contract. That’s what ends the talk and speculation.
World Be Free
December 16th, 2009
8:20 pm
Nice post Smoothie, very nice. But we’ve come to expect it.
World Be Free
December 16th, 2009
8:23 pm
We really don’t know what Kovy is asking for in years or dollars. So I am not losing it anymore trying to predict his next move.
Typical Thrashers 1st period-zombie hockey. These are the points we need and there’s nobody in the stands!
Chris
December 16th, 2009
9:51 pm
WBF–Game’s in Florida. And now we’ve come back to tie it 3-3 in the 3rd.
Midfield
December 16th, 2009
10:04 pm
There you have it: Bogosian-Hainsey earned it as the worst defensive pair of the week. John, it’s time to put the foot down and sit one of them.
Chris Tamer
December 16th, 2009
10:14 pm
Zach Bogosian’s recent play in his own zone reminds me of another guy that wore #4 for the Thrashers.
Hainsey is doing his best to clean up the mess.
Midfield
December 16th, 2009
10:19 pm
Hainsey is not better by much. His inability to win one-on-one scrums is getting old, The guy is what – like over 6 feet tall? Give me a break. Drop the freaking mirror and go to the freaking gym once in a while, Ron.
Brendan
December 16th, 2009
10:22 pm
Well, here’s your boxscore. http://www.nhl.com/ice/boxscore.htm?id=2009020499. The Panthers get some revenge. We’ve been stealing points LATE off of Florida. This time, they gave us the “gut punch,” on a 4-point swing. Good comeback, though, by the Russians. Kovy, Antropov, and Kozlov tallied for Atlanta.
Ron Hainsey was a -3. Bryan Little, who was responsible for the defensive lapse on the 4th Flrodia goal, was a -2. Little did have an assist in this game, however. Max got back on the stat sheet. But he’s not at a point-a-game anymore. I think he’s 4-5 points under a point-a-game now.
Look how much Kubina is running away with the plus-minus leadership of this team: http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.htm?fetchKey=20102ATLAASAll&sort=plusMinus&viewName=summary. Enstrom was a +2 in the loss, tonight. Sucks to lose to a division rival, after such a great comeback. But the bigger issue is how and why this team was, once again, so flat through the first 35 minutes of this game. Why does this happen with such frequency?? JA must motivate these guys better to start rocking right from puck drop.
Carolina beat Dallas, 5-3. Phoenix went into Toronto and doubled ‘em up, 6-3. Losses like that really bother the Toronto media. They feel Phoenix doesn’t deserve a team. And yet, they roll into town from the desert and SPANK the Leafs in their own barn. With this Panther win, the Cats are within two points of Atlanta.
Chris Tamer
December 16th, 2009
10:24 pm
Did you not see Hainsey catch a Panther from behind, and then knock him off the puck to break up a scoring chance.
When is the last time you remember Bogosian putting in that kind of effort in our own end. Bogo is the guy that needs to look in the mirror. I think they gave him that A a little too early. He is not playing like a leader out there.
Smoothie
December 16th, 2009
10:26 pm
Thanks everyone for the kind words about my post / posting. Y’all are too kind.
What is the deal with Hainsey? One night he’s great at MSG, the next night he’s on the ice for what, 3 of the 4 Florida goals and the game-losing goal. Why was he not taking the body while Weiss has his back turned rather than swipe aimlessly at the weak back-hand attempt? But who knows, perhaps Bogosian is going through a rough patch right now and Hainsey is looking like the culprit when he’s just trying to cover for the young’un. I’ll have to watch the game-film and see for myself as I didn’t see it live…Christmas shopping.
Chris Tamer
December 16th, 2009
10:34 pm
It was a Bogosian turnover which led to our 2nd goal as well, leaving Hainsey back deep on a 2 on 1.
stendec
December 16th, 2009
10:40 pm
Moose was supremely spectacular in stealing two points against Ranjeks! Moose was absolutely absymal in personally giving up at least one point to Pantherettes. I would have sworn that was Kari Lehnonen allowing a game-losing goal in the final two minutes. Not this night. Completely nauseating. Thrashers, who could not accumulate more than three goals if other team skated off ice at start of third period, uncharacteristically tried to bail Moose out. No-score offense of Coach John Petrino actually deadlocked score at 3-3 in third period after three marshmallow tallies put Yardbirds in 3-0 hole. Moose would have none of it. Would have done Sori Letemin proud. Damn it. Just damn it! ++STENDEC++
Thrashy Thrashy
December 16th, 2009
10:55 pm
Let’s be honest. Bogosian is 19. As much as I want to see everyone play to stendec-ian levels, I can’t expect a 19-year-old kid to do so. He’s going to have bumps in the road while he learns the NHL game.
Of course, stendec will rip the head coach with the NHL’s seventh-highest scoring offense without batting an eyelash (and call him John “Petrino”, an extremely confusing reference to a dictatorial head coach who literally quit on his team before his first season in the NFL ended), so what is this staggering buffoon’s opinion good for?
Thrashy Thrashy
December 16th, 2009
10:57 pm
Nice bold work by me. In fact, I’m not sure how it ended up like that. Interesting.
LAC
December 16th, 2009
11:11 pm
Bogosian pretty much cost us tonight, Hate those Florida announcers, They are TERRIBLE and they canned Potvin for this linsey clown…
Had a good chance for a point, but we BLEW it !
Watch us get creamed by Dallas… Who lost to Carolina… Gee Whiz
Mooseberg
December 16th, 2009
11:40 pm
SO Stendec is there a point in time when you actually support a player for the thrashers for more then a game or two?
ben
December 17th, 2009
12:56 am
bad game. maybe we should try pavs out
12345
December 17th, 2009
2:19 am
Two thing that are absolutes in life in Atlanta, Sun comes up in the East and Don Waddell is the biggest liar in Atlanta History !
Sara
December 17th, 2009
6:44 am
And this is why some of you are acting like total fools, as usual. Bashing Kovy when you don’t even know the real story – only what someone in Russia felt like making up that day.
From Dave Pagnotta at The Fourth Period:
” On Wednesday, a report from Russian daily sports newspaper Sovetsky Sport claimed negotiations had stalled after Kovalchuk’s party demanded a 10-year contract worth $11.5 million per season. The paper then went on to suggest that Waddell is now considering his trade options, with Vancouver and Los Angeles supposedly knocking on his door.
After receiving a boat load of emails about this, I decided to do some digging. One source denied the report and told me the Thrashers haven’t even begun to consider trading Kovalchuk, while another very well-placed source simply scoffed at the entire article.”
Which followed an earlier paragraph stating: “Having spoken to Kovalchuk and his agent, Jay Grossman, several times over the last few seasons, it’s become very clear to me that Kovalchuk genuinely wants to stay in Atlanta. I’ll be the first to admit how surprise I was to hear that, but after continuously being told the same thing, it finally sunk in.”
Kovy has spent years giving everything he could for this team. He’s shown so much respect for a team and fan base that large portions of the hockey world don’t even think should exist. He’s stepped up as Captain in an amazing way. This guy has been taking the entire team out to dinners on his own dime to help the team bond – you think 29 other Captains are out there doing that? He pushes himself back into the line-up from injury because he can’t stand to not be out there helping his teammates win.
And yet some people want to throw him under the bus based on his reaction to one goal and a report that should have been obviously questionable to anyone who looked at it. Pathetic.
Here’s the link to the rest of Pagnotta’s story: http://www.thefourthperiod.com/columnists/pagnotta091217.html
Smoothie
December 17th, 2009
8:30 am
Sara, if u think I’m basing my comments solely on some stupid hearsay article from a Russian tabloiad, u are sorely mistaken, and a bit insulting. But perhaps u are directing this post at Bob. And u are deluding yourself if u don’t think we are approaching do or die time with respect to this contract. If Kovy is the loyal, dedicated captain u say he is, then he wouldve signed by now for less than $10 M.
rightshot
December 17th, 2009
8:43 am
In regards to my 6:50 post of yesterday, after reading what Sara had to say and the story on her link, I realized I had forgotten another possibility. If both are untrue, Kovy will most likely stay here. He may, as I stated above, still be evaluating the team and situation. At this point, I don’t think we will hear about his resiging until after the Olyimpic break.
A2B
December 17th, 2009
9:08 am
I think you guys don’t realize how much goes into a pro contract. I have two friends that play in professional sports, and even a moderately complicated contract (Kovy’s is going to be complicated as heck) can take well month to produce, get approved by the governing office of the league, and then signed by both parties. Keep in mind, that this is probably going on longer than though because the cap for next year was supposed to be released at the GM meetings and it wasn’t since the economy is in flux… which might alter where negotations are heading. If the cap is going to fall, Ilya might be saying I need lower money to make sure they have some money to spend on other players.
Beyond this, specific wants and clauses that are added into the contract means the NHL has to reaprove every contract offer the Thrashers give Kovy. So if we start thinking about the time frame that negotations started (wispers of when Kovy told grossman to start getting it done was around the 15 game mark) around Nov 15 (close to 15-18 games in) then its about time the negotiations should be at the point where a legit signing could occur.
Now I could be wrong about how the NHL approves contracts, but its a tricky process in the other sports. If its mid January and still nothing has moved, then its time for concern because that means that they have gone through several numbers, versions of the contracts and one side is not satisfied with the offers at all.
Bob
December 17th, 2009
9:23 am
Sara, wake up and smell the problem. The Fourth Period? lol.
It’s obvious that there’s a problem with Kovy’s contract, I don’t need a Russian newspaper, The Fourth Period (snicker) or Sara to tell me what I see with my own eyes. Ovechkins contract got done early. Crosby’s contract got done early. Malkins contract got done early.
Kovy’s isn’t done and should have been done long ago, that’s all any rational person needs to know to see that there is a problem. If Kovy was so dedicated to be here, he would’ve signed before the season started, or early this season, or yesterday . . .
Toby
December 17th, 2009
9:36 am
Soviet news vs. The Fourth Period
That’s like Eklund vs. NHL Sources Say
Both are crap.
Spud Webb
December 17th, 2009
9:39 am
ahahahaha, Tamer, I love it. I miss that guy.
Some interesting posts for sure. Well we do it again, come out flat and make a giant comeback, but can’t close the deal this time. Disappointing, needed those 2 points.
As for Kovy, those who say “if we don’t sign him Hockey will be gone in Atlanta”. I have to disagree, if we have Kovy now and not drawing at the gates, what makes you think signing him will keep the team here?? Makes zero sense. He doesn’t draw here, winning does. So if you REALLY look at it, if Kovy is traded, we have a better chance of keeping the team here. Less money paid out, that keeps money in our greedy owners pockets and thus allows them to operate.
Also, I see the spin coming already from DW and ownership…”he didnt wanna sign here”, “we tried, brought people in that he wanted”. And that will piss me off, because if dandy don (and ownership)had run this thing correctly over that past 10 years we wouldn’t be anywhere NEAR this situation and probably have something to show for 10 years of crap. Anyhows, back to work!!!!!!!!!
five_hole
December 17th, 2009
9:40 am
The way they played in the 1st & most of the 2nd, they deserved to lose this game (except for the usual suspects; Moose, Kane, Kubina, etc).
Why are we paying Hainsey more than Kubina? Contracts should be structured such that when you blow an assignment (which leads directly to a goal) you have to forfeit some salary back to the team.
All I can do is look forward to tonight’s game.
Smoothie
December 17th, 2009
9:50 am
A2B, you make good points, but c’mon, it takes less than a day on July 1 for some of these guys to get contracts and approval from the league. Now I’m sure a lot of the legalese is in place prior to July 1, but how complicated can these be if guys are getting new deals in the first 3-4 days of free-agency in July?
All Waddell needs to do is point to OV’s contract and say, “we’ll give you slightly less than your boy for 5-10 years…you name the term.” How hard is that? He’s not better than Ovechkin and not even Jay Grossman can win that argument. And don’t give me that bull about Atlanta having to overpay because we are a weak hockey market. The Verizon Center was a veritable tomb for a 5 years or so after they dismantled their good team from the late 90’s. Actually, if you think about it, there are a lot of parallels between the two situations. However, OV has better overall numbers and 3 more playoff wins before his extension in 2008.
$90 million for 10 seasons…take the deal Kovy or tell us you’re going to free-agency. Pee or get off the pot.
Brian G.
December 17th, 2009
9:51 am
Hey Rawhide, on your Hockeybuzz post you spelled Brian Little “Brain”. That is one of my HUGEST pet peeves when people do that (I get it all the time!). Just wanted to give you a heads up! I don’t have a hockeybuzz account, so I figured I would give you a heads up on here! Good read as usual!
Rawhide
December 17th, 2009
10:01 am
Brian G. – Thanks for the let-know…and yeah, I can see why that would get under your skin.
GaVaHokie
December 17th, 2009
10:06 am
If I’m Kovy, I’m waiting until January 1st to see if Atlanta makes extensions with Afinogenov and Kubina… I wouldn’t want the rug pulled out from under me… I’d want to know the organization is going to stay serious.
They could sign Kovalchuk and then allow Max, Kubina and Armstrong to walk next summer.
J.B.
December 17th, 2009
10:07 am
wow, i’m surprised about y’alls commentary on The Fourth Period. I’ve always found that site to be pretty fair and balanced as far as reporting goes and their accuracy is definitey better than Eklunds.
Smoothie
December 17th, 2009
10:07 am
Spud, indeed those two points were critical. Especially vs a divisional opponent who is lurking just outside (now just inside) the playoff line.
Folks, December has been fairly wretched and whatever is ailing this team (contract doubt especially if it means a clearer focus for Kovy) needs to be fixed fast. Check out these numbers for comparison’s sake:
Thru November 30th:
14 wins & 31 points
7 games over .500 (well, sort of)
Pts earned % of 64.6
Goals For Avg of 3.46
Goals Allowed of 2.75
Shooting % of 12.03
PP Conversion ~25%
21 PPG in 24 games
Now, contrast with Dec thus far:
3 wins out of 8, all in OT / SO
Now 5 games over .500
Pts earned % of 37.50
Goals For Avg of 2.00
Goals Allowed of 3.25
Shooting % of 7.21
PP Conversion of 12.9%
4 PPG in 8 games
J.B.
December 17th, 2009
10:12 am
hokie – how can they deal with anyone else before they know how much they’ll be spending on kovy?
(not trying to be coy; i just don’t understand all the intricacies of the cap and rules and crap like that…)
Alan R.
December 17th, 2009
10:16 am
J.B., why are you surprised at their commentary about The Fourth Period? So long as the Russian media puts forth rumors that coincide with the view some people here have, media on this side of the globe is to be questioned with extra scrutiny.
A2B
December 17th, 2009
10:21 am
Smoothie- Point taken, most of the time if you look at those contracts, they aren’t super complicated… They have term, amount, and a no trade clause (if the player asks… usually the agent says it in advance), thats it. A new contract is way different than an extension legally. I have no idea why, but it is (I think its so the two parties can’t strike an unfair deal like pay Kovy $1 mil on the books and $10 off fron another investor somewhere). Also, the teams have done their due dilligence a month before to get the contract base cleared by the league office so if a change to term or amount is done it still fits within what was approved already (thats how you see teams get deals done 15 minutes into the window).
Smoothie
December 17th, 2009
10:26 am
Sorry, PP% was 23.9% or 21 out of 88 after 11/30. Had to do some checking, but I know were Top 5 in the league at that point. We’ve slipped to ninth and we now give up the 2nd most shots against per game at 34.3.
Spud Webb
December 17th, 2009
10:26 am
JB is correct, no chance of signing Kubina without the kovy situation resolved. A lot hinges on this signing. If Kovy does sing, i’ll be SHOCKED if we have Kubina back next year. He will get 5 mill a season from someone, we would have something like 3.5 a year to offer if the chips fall as they should. No way he takes less money than Hainsey.
mr. mike
December 17th, 2009
10:28 am
Downtown ATL; I read/reviewed Bucci’s article also. Unfortunately; I 100% believe Kovalchuk is NOT re-signing here; all that “he is fond of Waddell”; “he wants to win here” nonsense aside. He’s a pro jock; he’ll go to where money/endorsement/fame are most likely & that’s not here in Blueland.
Having said that; I’d say “No” to trading Kovy for Rask.Wheeler & a #1. Rask is a back-up goaltender now; we have 3 of those already(Moose, Pavs & Lehtonen, until proven otherwise).
A potential deal for Wheeler/Sturm/#1 is much more palatable. I also don’t see any long term benefit to dealing with the Ranjerks if we’re only getting Callahan or Dubinsky or both in return; those guys aren’t close to Kovy’s level. Bottom line: we can’t trust Waddell not to just outright lose Kovy as a UFA; which will happen if we don’t make a trade soon.
J.B.
December 17th, 2009
10:28 am
Alan – I wasn’t reading that much into it regarding this situation specifically to tell you the truth. Generally, I was just surprised folks think TFP isn’t a credible source for information because I’ve always thought it was a decent site for accurate information, especially when compared to hockeybuzz.
Alan R.
December 17th, 2009
10:50 am
Unfortunately, comparing anything to its lowest common denominator will make that one thing appear better. Even the Russian media is more accurate when taking that comparison…
Alan R.
December 17th, 2009
11:07 am
In completely unrelated news, on Monday in Sweden, a ref saved the life of a Swedish hockey player after he fell lifeless to the ice. (with video)
Smoothie
December 17th, 2009
11:17 am
We gotta get the shots down (last night notwithstanding) or else we will give up another 1,715 shots the rest of the way at this rate.
Over the course of a season and as our Save % normalizes back closer to 91% (9% allowed), we will end up giving up close to 155 more goals or an average of 3.10 goals / game over the last 50 games.
Unless we breathe some life into the PP and correct some poor defensive commitment from certain forwards, we will be hard-pressed to keep scoring at a pace of 3.2-3.4 goals / game and make the playoffs.
NASCAR Dave
December 17th, 2009
11:38 am
“What is the deal with Hainsey? One night he’s great at MSG, the next night he’s on the ice for what, 3 of the 4 Florida goals and the game-losing goal. Why was he not taking the body while Weiss has his back turned rather than swipe aimlessly at the weak back-hand attempt?”
Because he’s SOFT… Time to trade him, I’ve had enough of him… Remember how everyone was talking about him being a Puck Moving OFFENSIVE Defenseman??? I don’t see it… Another TERRIBLE pickup by WADDELL…
NASCAR Dave
December 17th, 2009
11:41 am
RE: KOVY
No matter what happens, I think WE AS FANS will win out…
If KOVY doesn’t get Re-signed, WADDELL gets FIRED…
If you want to keep him, you’ll HAVE to pay him what he wants… This type of player doesn’t come around that often… You have to do whatever it takes to keep him here, NO MATTER THE PRICE…
I think WADDELL knows this… And I think he knows he WILL HAVE TO PAY WHAT KOVY WANTS, or he LOSES HIS JOB… It’s really that simple…
If we Trade KOVY, what about trading him to LA Kings for KOPITAR/DOUGHT/1st ROUNDER???
NASCAR Dave
December 17th, 2009
11:46 am
“If I’m Kovy, I’m waiting until January 1st to see if Atlanta makes extensions with Afinogenov and Kubina… I wouldn’t want the rug pulled out from under me… I’d want to know the organization is going to stay serious”
GAVA – No one else is gonna re-sign here until the KOVY thing is taken care of… If he goes, they have no reason to stay around… They’ll want to go to a proven winner like KOVY does…
Spud Webb
December 17th, 2009
12:16 pm
Nascar, why would LA make that trade? Have you seen their record this year?
World Be Free
December 17th, 2009
12:26 pm
The Fourth Period has a tendency to report “news” that we already know. I think TFP and Eklund like to play with everyone’s heads. I am putting aside the Kovy talk for now.
On another subject, it is amazing to see how bad Philly is this year. I watched them against Pittsburgh the other night; the Pens just toyed with them.
It’s always the coach that gets it when the team stinks, but this is clearly a team with a horrible makeup. Paul Holmgren needs to get sacked for overspending and bringing in the wrong players. Alotta fighters and no finishers. Any coach that wants to communicate to this bunch must be fluent in concrete.
At about $7M/year, it is clear that Danny Briere is no longer the finisher or playmaker he once was. The Flyers give us 4 number ones for Pronger, who seems to be a shadow of his former self.
I don’t want to rain on Philly’s parade; we know they might be able to turn it around. But this is a team that is lacking in leadership. Their identity is toughness, at a time when the league gets softer every season especially with these new refs coming on board.
Anyone agree or am I wrong here?
World Be Free
December 17th, 2009
12:31 pm
I can’t resist on the Kovy thing-
Which does he want, the $10M or the Stanley Cup?
Any team investing $10M in one player, any player is not going to have the $$$ to build a Cup-winning team.
So do we believe with the Vodka-drinkers are saying about $10M/year for 10 years or is it closer to a competitive, longer term, cap-friendly salary that will allow the Thrashers or any other team the ability to build a cup contender? That’s as simple as I can put it.
Anyone going tonight?