Kovalchuk drama taking place outside of Thrasherville…thankfully
Monday July 19. U-Day +18 of this summer’s UFA signing season. Many big name free agents have inked contracts with new teams, some have made their way to Russia and a few more are still waiting for the right team to offer up the right terms.
The biggest name on that “still yet to be signed list” is of course one Mr. Ilya Kovalchuk.
Once the face of the Thrashers franchise, Ilya Kovalchuk now faces the prospect of listening to offers that would pay less than what he could have made in Atlanta (AP photo)
Over the course of the past two and a half weeks, many rumors and rumor of rumors have had Kovy going such places as Long Island, back to New Jersey or even returning home to mother Russia. But Los Angeles still seems to be the chic pick by most as to where he’ll eventually land. As such, ever since July 1 we’ve been treated to tweet after tweet from [insert name of ‘tweeter’ here] telling us that they are 92.8% sure Kovalchuk is almost definitely going to sign with LA…maybe even as soon as tomorrow morning.
But tomorrow morning comes and all we are greeted with is more tweeters tweeting they are sure that this is the day.
So how must it feel to be a Kings fan the days… sitting on the edge of their seat, ear to the radio, face to the computer screen, nose to the twitter account…as they await the almost certain coming news that Kovy is heading to SoCal? Well, here’s something that may helpto depict how this drama is playing out in the L.A. twitterverse, (thanks to my good friend “Russian”).
And now that we’re deep into week number three of this saga, some pundits are beginning to opine as to how the Russian winger has misread the market as well as suggested how he could have/should have handled the situation from the get-go. (Note here how Steven Ovadia has used another former Thrasher, Marian Hossa, to illustrate his point).
I would also like to remind you that stringing out contract talks isn’t exactly a new thing for Ilya Kovalchuk and his agent. You’ll no doubt remember that we here in Thrasherville were treated to our own version of “As the Kovalchuk Turns” back in the summer of 2005. That year he waited so long to sign a deal that we were minus his services for the first three games of the season.
If he were so inclined, would you care to see Ilya Kovalchuk signed by the Thrashers?
- Yes! I'd sign him at any price! (6%, 13 Votes)
- Sure, but not at $9-$10 mil per season (47%, 96 Votes)
- No! Not at any price! (47%, 95 Votes)
Total Voters: 204
Loading ...So if there is to be a repeat of that holdout drama, then Kovy-Watch ’10 as only just begun.
About the only thing that seems to be certain regarding Ilya’s summer adventure this time is that he’s not going to get the same coin as the Thrashers offered up to him last winter. $10 million for 3 to 7 years or somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 mil for 12 years is now seems surely out of the question for Kovy.
So just where will Kovalchuk eventual wind up…and when will he wind up there? shrugs…I dunno. But all I can say is that I’m glad happy thrilledecstatic that Thrasherville is not the site of this particular saga.
In fact, I’m sorta looking forward this coming season in which the Thrashers aren’t having to deal with such distractions. You know, distractions such as whether or not superstars like Marian Hossa or Ilya Kovalchuk will re-sign…or if Kari Lehtonen’s back/groin/[insert issue here] will keep him out of the lineup for an extended period of time.
Quite frankly…Thrasherville can do without the drama.
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258 comments Add your comment
Tom
July 19th, 2010
3:23 pm
Let me ask this question:
Can these contracts be renegotiated at a later time or are they locked in stone?
If Kovy decides at age 37 that he does not want to play for 1.5 million a year (guess) will the GM of the Devils be able to pay him an extra 4 million a year to keep him or and what would that do to the cap hit and the contract.
I think it is a smart move to be able to play within the rules to get these deals, but there is a cost for us all as fans. I like Brendan’s idea that the team that plays this way has to take the back end risk and even if there is a retirement the team is liable for the cap hit.
I would give the team the option to move up the cap hit once the player left the league so they would be able to rebuild quickly, but the team should have that as a liability on their books.
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
3:26 pm
dchesnokov Kovalchuk $102m over 17 years. $10m per year for the first 8 years. $7.5 for the next 2, from what I heard.
Call the authorities, Lou Lam was just accosted and robbed blind.
TableHockey
July 19th, 2010
3:28 pm
Since Chesnokov seems to have the inside scoop I’ll go ahead and pass this along. These are the details on the Kovy deal according to him:
Kovalchuk $102m over 17 years. $10m per year for the first 8 years. $7.5 for the next 2
Brendan
July 19th, 2010
3:29 pm
If Scott Burnside said Kovy’s lifetime NHL earnings will be $150 million, then I seem to recall Waddell saying, during the negotiation process, that Kovy had already made $47 million playing for the Thrashers, with his bonuses. That would make this deal $103 million, if Burnside and Waddell are accurate and truthful.
TableHockey
July 19th, 2010
3:29 pm
Joe Friday – if indeed this is accurate and the deal is front loaded then I do believe NJ will regret this deal before it is even half way through.
Jack
July 19th, 2010
3:29 pm
Sorry Devil fans for the next 17 years you will not be winning the cup, and may not get out of the 2nd round. Hope the no trade clause is lenient if you are a devils fan. Kchoke way to ruin a “class A organization”
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
3:31 pm
If that is in fact what Kovy is getting in the deal with NJ, then I don’t see how LA was ever a serious candidate if their best offer was 12 years, $85 M. Grossman used LA to drive the price up because Lou Lam was too scared to lose Kovy for nothing after giving up 3 assets at the trade deadline. Wow, I cannot believe Lou got played like this by JG.
Tom
July 19th, 2010
3:33 pm
So let me get this straight, 95 million of the 103 million will be paid out in the first 10 years. That leaves 7-8 million over the next 7? Wow. That will get Ilya out of bed to play…
Imagine if all goes right and Ilya is near a scoring record at the end of the 10th year, Will he come back for 1/7th the money to get it?
The Joker
July 19th, 2010
3:37 pm
Nicole wanted to be on Housewifes of New Jersey more than she wanted to shop on Rodeo Drive.
Kovy with a red kilt, red kilt, red kilt, Kovy with a red kilt on…
Badger Bob
July 19th, 2010
3:39 pm
Lecavalier’s deal paid him until he was 40, tailing off at age 37. Hossa’s deal pays him until he’s 43, tailing off at age 39. Kovy’s deal apparently goes one year further, until he’s 44. I think Lou figures if the league can approve Hossa’s contract to age 43, then why not age 44.
Also, buy outs only save you marginal amounts of cap hit – they aren’t a magic wand. NJ will be on the hook for most of that money and that cap hit.
Sharon
July 19th, 2010
3:40 pm
Oh man, I don’t like this Kovy contract at all, but I’m glad it’s not Atlanta’s problem.
GaVaHokie
July 19th, 2010
3:40 pm
I would say Pittsburgh has the Atlantic Division locked up for the next 10 years or so.
R. Stroz
July 19th, 2010
3:41 pm
Did anyone else notice MOST of Grossman’s UFA clients: Kovy, Moose, and Volchenkov were all signed by the Devils.
Brendan
July 19th, 2010
3:42 pm
Well, $102 million would also sound about right. But let me toss this out there. If the NY Islanders were offering $100 million for 10 years, then Kovalchuk is playing for $2 million over the last 7 years of his deal with the Devils. If you look at Atlanta’s offer of $101 million over 12 years, then Kovy is playing five more years to collect only $1.0 million more. That’s like giving the Devils five FREE years of service.
Wow. I don’t know what to say. We knew Kovy would get paid. I think he could have cost himself some money down the road. If he could have received $7.0 million per annum, every year, for 17 years, then he would have made $119 million. Then again, is there really a GM willing to pay Ilya Kovalchuk $7 million-a-year at age 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, and 44? Well, this is where the word “inflation” comes into play. The league minimum contract in 2027, 17 years from now, might be $2.0 to $2.5 million. So, maybe $7.0 million for a 41 or 42 year old Kovalchuk might not be so very far fetched. Mark Recchi is still playing, at 42, or so. Chelios hasn’t announced a retirement yet, at age 48/49. Gordie Howe played into his 50’s, I believe. Inflation seriously scares me, down the road. Five years into Kovy’s deal, a cap hit of $6 million might look like an abject “steal,” even if Kovy’s actually being paid $8 million, or $10 million, because it was front-loaded. It’s about cap management. Again, I can’t blame Lou for seeing the situation for what it is, and bending but not breaking the rules. I think the burden of obligation is on the NHL to step in and say, “These kinds of cap aberration deals won’t be allowed to continue.” Or, the team is still on the hook for $6 million cap hit, for 4 more years, if Kovalchuk retires at 40 years of age, in 2023. Kovy’s cap hit will still count in 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027, if the NHL wants to introduce some sense of “fairness.”
But, even that still reeks. It’s like what we do in politics today. “We’ll introduce a bond issue, to defer it to the next generation to pay.” Then that generation issues a bond for the next generation to pay, with an abject lack of concern that of how Generation # 3 will handle that burden heaped upon them. D’oh!
The Joker
July 19th, 2010
3:46 pm
Did New Jersey just become a Mickey Mouse organization again?
Badger Bob
July 19th, 2010
3:47 pm
Okay, here’s what I think Lou has in mind. Get Kovy for 10 years and a manageble $6M/year cap hit – that’s a good deal, no matter what you think of Kovy. You then have a player with a $6M/year cap hit but a $1M/year salary. Who wants that kind of player? Um, any of the dozen or so teams that don’t use their cap space. Imagine what he can get trading Kovy to, say, Florida. The owners jump at it – star player past his prime but capable of bringing in fans. So then Lou (or the next NJ GM) gets some young prospects. WBF – you warned me not to be quite so quick in beating up Lou.
The Joker
July 19th, 2010
3:47 pm
Lou, did Grossman send you a vasoline jar with that deal?
Hockey Biltong
July 19th, 2010
3:53 pm
I am buying the Thrashers.
I will not broadcast on AM.
You will here Kamal and Co. on FM.
All televised games will be in HD and some will be 3D HD.
I will let ASG tell you the rest at 5pm.
That is all.
The Joker
July 19th, 2010
3:53 pm
P.T. Barnum is laughing.
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
3:56 pm
Badger – very true, but that’s assuming Lou is alive to see it. Obviously he was shrewd enough to manipulate the system and protect their interests beyond the first 10 years of this deal — unlike Milbury did with DiPietro and Yashin. However, if Kovy doesn’t live up to expectations, Lou may wind up being excoriated by the Devils’ faithful who expect another Cup before Marty retires.
Tom
July 19th, 2010
3:59 pm
Another dumb question inspired by Brendan:
If the league minimum is 2 million a year and Kovalchuk’s contract is for 1 million a year, does he automatically get bumped to the higher level or does he play for below the league minimum?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Brendan
July 19th, 2010
4:03 pm
Kovy could get pressured to dropping the NTC, if he got one, in those later years. But I bet he lobbied hard to get one. Otherwise, as Badger Bob says, Kovy will just be dealt to a Phoenix, Florida, or even a Buffalo, that has the cap space, and is more than willing to pay Kovy his $1 million for that season, or seasons. It blows for Kovalchuk, as he’ll always be the subject of trade rumors to the bottom third of the NHL, in his latter years. That’s why, I think, Jay Grossman had been lobbying for “equal pay per season” at the onset of negotiations. It would ensure that Kovalchuk was untradeable in his waning years. Nobody would take him at a cap hit and payout of $7-8 million, at age 41. Hypothetically.
Really, I must comment on something else. I don’t think, for one second, that Lou saw # 17 as a “must justify the payout” of Cormier, Bergfors, and Oduya to Atlanta. Sweet Lou probably considered that as “over and done.” Which is was. He cannot undo that trade deadline deal. His Devils could certainly survive without Kovalchuk. No, I see this deal as Lou just plain, flat-out, wanting Kovalchuk. Think about it for a second. Other than perhaps Iginla or Ovechkin, who has scored more goals than Ilya in the NHL, since 2001? And Kovy’s prime years are still ahead of him. I think Lou was soooo smitten with the idea, just the ‘concept’ alone, of being the GM who landed a player like this, in his free agency, BEFORE he even hit his PRIME. And right now, I don’t think Lou has any buyer’s remorse. I think … he thinks … he’s just cemented his legacy as the greatest, or one of the greatest ALL-TIME General Managers in the NHL. Let’s face it. This Kovalchuk contract was a big, big opportunity for the GM who got him. Lou wanted it more than any other GM. Well, he got it. Sometimes, we do have to be careful what we wish for. Sometimes, we just might get it. I hope someone teaches him defense. Kovy is not a ‘natural hit’ in New Jersey. And if Kovy becomes a ‘coach-killer’ like Jagr was, then the Devils whole method of strategy will change into something resembling what the Atlanta Thrashers had, which is “Kovy, do WHATEVER you JOLLY WELL WANT.” And that won’t work. But Lou ought to know that. Lou may also know that his position, as GM, is secured until he doesn’t want it anymore. If so, then maybe Kovy won’t have the influence that sayyyy, a Jagr did, in terms of payroll/salary issues. It’s easier to fire the Coach or GM, than it is to trade or waive the whole team. If you follow. Kovy just did garner a good bit of influence, however, even if Lou Lamoriello is the GM.
Joe Friday
July 19th, 2010
4:25 pm
“Get Kovy for 10 years and a manageble $6M/year cap hit – that’s a good deal, no matter what you think of Kovy. You then have a player with a $6M/year cap hit but a $1M/year salary. Who wants that kind of player? Um, any of the dozen or so teams that don’t use their cap space. Imagine what he can get trading Kovy to, say, Florida. The owners jump at it – star player past his prime but capable of bringing in fans. So then Lou (or the next NJ GM) gets some young prospects. WBF – you warned me not to be quite so quick in beating up Lou.
B.I.N.G.O. This deal is brilliant by Sweet Lou, and by Grossman. And you know what, if Kovy’s NTC goes away when the pay goes down to $1m per year or whatever (he had to get a NTC or a limited one at least), then he just retires and he’s already banked the vast majority of his payday.
Face it guys, I know most all wanted to see Kovy get stuffed into a second rate organization for less than what we offered him, but it’s been a foregone conclusion from the get go that he was going to get paid. He’s the biggest free agent to ever hit the market in his prime, of course he was going to get paid.
“I see this deal as Lou just plain, flat-out, wanting Kovalchuk.”
Bingo again. Sweet Lou is probably the sharpest and wiliest negotiator in the business. He didn’t get hood winked, he didn’t screw over his club, he actually pulled off a brilliant deal here. Lombardi’s comments today sound like he is very disappointed in not getting him, I bet he feels like he got worked by Sweet Lou with that deal, not by Grossman.
Love him or hate him (and I won’t miss him), Ilya got his payday and Sweet Lou pulled off a great deal. Win win for all and I think it’s a win for us as well, we got some decent assets here and move on from the Kovy era.
Ok, what are we gonna talk about now? I guess Kincade is on in 36 minutes to tell us about the Thrashers’ new owners, eh?
World Be Free
July 19th, 2010
4:31 pm
Joe, I guess Lou is sick of seeing Chicago and Detroit get away with making these kind of deals and having the league office do nothing about it.
Joe Friday
July 19th, 2010
4:36 pm
“So while may have been incorrect about how much this guy was going to make, I am glad that my team had nothing to do with this deal.”
WBF, I know it’s bugging you but do not sweat it, who cares about right wrong on our predictions, but step back and think about it. Lou made a great deal. Wadudley had us tied up in $10m per year cap hit (the 7 year $10m per offer) or a $8.5m per year cap hit. Both deals hamstring a franchise, especially a cap challenged one like us.
But look at what Lou did. He added a 40-50G per year guy for a $6m per year cap hit! Not a crippling $8 to $10m per year hit, but a very affordable $6m per year cap hit. You can fill out the rest of Kovy’s line with what’s left over from Donnie Brilliance’s (all rights reserved to one of youse guys) offers.
This deal is beautiful, so sweet that only Lou could pull it off.
Joe Friday
July 19th, 2010
4:37 pm
“Joe, I guess Lou is sick of seeing Chicago and Detroit get away with making these kind of deals and having the league office do nothing about it.”
Yep. They call him Sweet Lou for a reason . . .
Tom
July 19th, 2010
4:46 pm
Joe Friday, you just made an amazing assessment of the deal:
“You then have a player with a $6M/year cap hit but a $1M/year salary. Who wants that kind of player? Um, any of the dozen or so teams that don’t use their cap space. Imagine what he can get trading Kovy to, say, Florida. The owners jump at it – star player past his prime but capable of bringing in fans.”
It does put it in a whole new light.
The Joker
July 19th, 2010
4:53 pm
Did Lou promise Kovy his own exit?
schroeder
July 19th, 2010
4:54 pm
Hey Bill I can’t get 680 the fan in Macon,whatever this big news is please post it so us outside of 5 miles of ATL could know of what kind of BS is being spewed from that AM station.
Joe Friday
July 19th, 2010
4:55 pm
Tom, I just copied what Badger Bob said above, it’s really a brilliant move on Sweet Lou’s part assuming that the NTC (there has to be one) goes away after Ilya hits a certain age
Tom
July 19th, 2010
4:56 pm
Schroeder Try this link http://player.dickeymedia.net/DickeyPlayer.aspx?WCNN-AM to stream the station.
Red Light
July 19th, 2010
4:59 pm
Joe Friday! Right as rain. His cap hit is $400k less than his hit here in Atlanta, and by spreading it over 17 years, ironic use of the sweater number, don’t you think, Lou looks pretty darn smart. Kovy gets the big check he’s been wanting, $9.5 million per year for the first 10 seasons is the average and oh BTW, four Grossman clients are now in NJ: Volchenkov, Salmela, Hedberg and Kovy.
Maybe Dickey broadcasting is making an investment in the Thrashers in exchange for their broadcast rights?
WM
July 19th, 2010
5:03 pm
So basically all the build up to say 680 is still going to carry the Thrashers for “multiple years.” Wow they will simulcast on 97.5 or whatever 99x is on now.
Tom
July 19th, 2010
5:03 pm
Thrashers are staying on low power 680 The Fan . That sucks. And they are adding the Hawks.
MB
July 19th, 2010
5:05 pm
Wow…what a snoozer of a “major” announcement.
What’s next…”remember to drink your Ovaltine?”
Tom
July 19th, 2010
5:05 pm
The simulcast is good news. Driving home from the games is never fun when the signal dies during the post game show near the airport.
R. Stroz
July 19th, 2010
5:07 pm
Will Bettman intervene or continue to look the other way?
Tom
July 19th, 2010
5:09 pm
Rawhide – So the big announcement by the Thrashers and WCNN is that the status quo is remaining the same.
Big surprise there.
Now spend another 8 million this year to really deliver a winning team. That is all we ask.
Red Light
July 19th, 2010
5:09 pm
Exactly Tom. Doesn’t address the small coverage radius after dark for OTP folks.
Badger Bob
July 19th, 2010
5:10 pm
Did they pay you off, Rawhide? Our posters thought it would be a programming anouncement earlier, but you reiterated “major” announcement. FM coverage on 97.9 is a welcome improvement, but this is more of a “Hmm, that’s nice” than a “Wow”.
Alan R.
July 19th, 2010
5:10 pm
I guess Lou is sick of seeing Chicago and Detroit get away with making these kind of deals and having the league office do nothing about it.
Chicago’s deal with Hossa is until Hossa is age 42. A stretch, but not too unreasonable.
New Jersey’s deal with Kovalchuk is until Kovalchuk is age 44. That’s over the edge, as far as I’m concerned, and don’t be surprised if the NHL does look into this.
Tom
July 19th, 2010
5:12 pm
“Nobody can brown nose better than me” – Kincaid on 680 The Fan to Rutherford.
Fitting testimony after pimping a big announcement to our noble leader Rawhide.
World Be Free
July 19th, 2010
5:16 pm
Joe Friday-not bugging me at all-I am not paid to make these predictions.
Red Light
July 19th, 2010
5:17 pm
BB: No Thrashers coverage on 99X, just the Hawks.
Badger Bob
July 19th, 2010
5:20 pm
Alan, I think here is where Lou is very smart. NHL approved the Hossa deal that expires a few months after his 42nd birthday. Kovy’s deal expires while he’s still 43 (a few days before his 44th birthday), so Lou can claim Kovy will only be one year older than Hossa. Without a rule in place, how can NHL draw a line like that? Don’t get me wrong – I think they need to draw a line, but Lou is gambling they won’t. At worst, Lou drops 1 yr and $1M off the contract and still gets Kovy for only $6.3M cap hit.
Christy
July 19th, 2010
5:20 pm
I may be misreading, but no simulcast.
Hawks on 97.9 only and Thrashers on 680 only.
just same “radio family”
schroeder
July 19th, 2010
5:23 pm
Boy… that was underwhelming,ok now let’s get going and give Stempniak’s agent a call!! We need a scorer and I hope that nobody thinks that Gagne going to Tampon Bay is the end of the world. He scored 13 goals last year for cryin’ out loud. Ok Dudley,#17 is out of play,time to go back to work, CHOP-CHOP!! Stempniak or Poni,even Max,let’s get going!!!!!
Badger Bob
July 19th, 2010
5:28 pm
Let me amend my 5:10 post: “Hmm, that’s NOTHING!” I feel a Sage lecture is bound to show up here soon about our pathetic media coverage, and I won’t be chastizing him for it.
Cornbread
July 19th, 2010
5:30 pm
Is the “major” announcement the coaches show?
schroeder
July 19th, 2010
5:33 pm
Sorry,should not have had that cup of coffee this late in the day!