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
Sports Climax
July 19th, 2010
7:33 am
Dudley would look like a genius if he were able to coax Kovy and Grossman to sign here for way less than the first offer (whatever amount the Kings are offering). Then the Thrashers would have Kovy, the 3 Devils obtained in the trade for Kovy, the 4 Blackhawks just obtained . . . get the picture . . . . Playoffs! PLAYOFFS!! Yes Blueland, that would spell playoffs.
The Rock
July 19th, 2010
7:33 am
I say Amen.Can you smell what the birds are cooking?
chipper
July 19th, 2010
7:40 am
Honestly, I would love to see us try and get back Kovy. I think with him we could contend for the Eastern Conference title. Without him, I still see us as a mid-seed in the East at least. I love what our team looks like right now.
Russian
July 19th, 2010
7:56 am
I read some news from Russian newspaper couple weeks ago, that Kovy told to his agent DO NOT contact with Atlanta at all. This is a reason I know for 100% he is not coming here. I am OK with that.
Kovy and his agent made a big mistake right. Market is not ready to take $10 million player. It is a bad market now. He will stay in LA (I very happy about it). We will see him 1-2 times per season. He choose LA for one more thing, because his wife wants to start sing again. Who is going to listen her in LA? Russian population in LA is big, but not everyone walks to Concert. I just want to see deal done with Kovy and forget about him. He stopped the Free agency market. UFA players are still available.
Did anybody hear about our RFA? I know we have 3 hearings at court. What about other ones?
World Be Free
July 19th, 2010
7:58 am
Last year’s courtship dance between Kovalchuk and the Thrashers was one of the longest, most drawn out affairs in hockey history, maybe sports history. It started before the end of the 2008-2009 season and carried on until February of 2010. I said last summer that the situation would become a distraction to the team, which it did. After a good start, the Thrash faded away out of the playoff race, only to return near to the race near the end of the season after we finally dispatched Kovy out of town. If we signed Kovalchuk to a 3 year deal, I guarantee the 3rd season would be marred in another “does he or doesn’t he sign” debacle. Great talent, but not worth the disruptions.
This long, drawn out contract negotiation with Los Angeles just shows how self-centered Kovy is as a player and a person. Kovy gave a lot to Atlanta and tried most of the time he was in an Atlanta uniform, but not all the time. A player making his kind of money should be a team leader with no holes in his game. Kovy is a winger who can’t kill penalties with regularity, nor can he win faceoffs. At his money, he should make all the players around him better and he doesn’t. His mediocrity in New Jersey spoke volumes of his value on a “team”.
Give me team players and a coach that knows how to coach them, like what we have today. Just look at how far the Montreal Canadians went last year without a superstar on their roster AND with a veteran NHL coach who knows how to get the max out of his players. Speaking of “Max”, get the guy signed to a 2 year deal.
kracker
July 19th, 2010
8:05 am
To illustrate your point about the tweeting tweeters, RH, heeeeeeeeere’s Eklund:
Eklund My key source in this situation believes it’s 80-20 Kovalchuk agrees to sign with the Kings by noon tomorrow west coast time
–about 9 hours ago via Osfoora HD
He might actually be right this time…or maybe not.
Hal
July 19th, 2010
8:05 am
Well, the problem is we are a far worse team without him. If he will come back, sign him. Drama and all.
kracker
July 19th, 2010
8:15 am
Good segue, WBF, max to Max. Sign him yes. Maybe after the curtain falls on Kovalchuk Opera (complete w/ male diva), after the fat lady sings in LA, perhaps Dudley will make another move.
hip czech
July 19th, 2010
8:19 am
I think the negotiations with LA is all about Kovalchuk saving face. That’s why he is so adamant about the $10 million per number.
If he can get $10 million per just for the first few years of a contract then he can say “See, it’s not all about the money…I signed for the same money Atlanta was offering”. He can then have a clean conscience when asked about Atlanta.
It’s not so much about wanting to be the top paid player or some rivalry with Ovechkin to be the top paid player, it’s about not looking foolish for turning down the $10 mil per offer that Atlanta gave him. So if he can sign a contract that has a couple seasons at 10 mil, he saves face (sort of).
That’s the hold up…the Kings need to work out a deal that is heavily front loaded, but also leaves them room to sign Doughty and others in the next few years.
Russian
July 19th, 2010
8:33 am
**to Hal**
Atlanta will not be bad team with out Kovy. Yes, we do not SUPER STAR anymore, but Dudley and Company build a WORKIN HORSE team. Everyone will play 110%. I hope that they will do.
kracker
July 19th, 2010
8:40 am
Yes, hip czech, Kovalchuk wants/needs to save face. And so does Jay Grossman.
Badger Bob
July 19th, 2010
8:49 am
Russian, thanks for the Kings Kovy watch video – great stuff, and makes me so glad to be away from his drama. Something that caught my attention – they lumped Frolov in with numerous washed up players (Demitra, Schneider, Chelios, Kariya). Not that those two guys are necessarily great hockey minds, but they are clearly Kings fans, so that screams “Stay clear of Frolov”.
Not Blind
July 19th, 2010
8:49 am
Kovalpuke would hold back the New Thrashers. Honestly, if you look at his +/-, his post season numbers and other stats [ hits ??? ] he’s really only worth about $5m per year.
World Be Free
July 19th, 2010
8:53 am
We are short a marginal superstar; you can’t use the name Iyla Kovalchuk and “team” in the same sentence. If he was concerned about this implications of his contract to the Kings, he would be designing a deal that would allow the Kings to retain their core players. This is how you win championships.
So many people have stated that Kovy and Grossman misjudged the current landscape; problem is they were never conscious of the landscape. This is about getting Kovy the best “deal” in a league that is contemplating a salary cap reduction at a time when the economy shows no signs of improving. This brings us to the old saying, there’s no “I” in team. That’s a big no thank you Kovy.
Nobody can deny Kovalchuk’s talent, but who needs a single player that puts himself so far ahead of the interests of his team? NHL fans everywhere have had enough of this situation and let’s face it, Kovy is no Brett Favre.
glovesave29
July 19th, 2010
9:16 am
My fear is this “wait and see until training camp” mentality with the Thrash. I want to be AHEAD of the other teams, not read and react. Too many quality players are still out there. I’d like two of them, but will settle for just one….c’mon Dud’s – Stempniak, Afinogenov, Frolov, Ponikarovsky….even Morrison. Please do something!
Sherry Taylor
July 19th, 2010
9:20 am
I for one will not be sorry to see Kovalchuk go wherever he goes, just as long as it isn’t back to Atlanta. I agree that we, the fans, have been through enough tantrum drama with him. His problem, and his agent, is they’ve mistakenly believed his press. He isn’t nearly as great as his press says. He is a one dimensional player who tends toward tantrums. If we have to have a player who throws tantrums let him be one who can play offense and defense. I also agree that it would be nice to re-sign Max, I think he’s another who’s fallen victim to his press. The only players I’ve been sorry to see go in the last couple of years are Moose and Kubina.
kracker
July 19th, 2010
9:29 am
I do think a Kovalchuk deal will spur some player signings and trades. Dudley, like any GM, has some moves he might make if he gets a deal he favors. Once – if – Kovalchuk is in place in LA, let us see what Dudley does.
I agree with Glovesave that waiting to see if Cormier, et al. are ready to dance and then finding out that they need more lessons or seeing that they can’t keep from steping on toes is a risky plan. At that point anyone you get as a FA will probably be of little help. Finding another Max on a tryout basis in camp isn’t likely to be repeated.
I hope Duds has made a satisfactory offer to one or more of the desirable forwards and they are simply awating the Kovalchuk signingbefore making their decision.
World Be Free
July 19th, 2010
9:51 am
I voted not to have Kovalchuk back at any price. Just so there’s no misunderstanding of how I feel about this person, this player after all that has gone on. It’s like NFL teams that want to have Mike Vick on their roster becuase he’s so talented. You can’t forget everyhting else when you are making a commitment to a player and trying to build a winner. Time to move forward folks.
RS
July 19th, 2010
9:57 am
Grossman and Kovalchuk have always been a nightmare to deal with. It IS kind of nice that it doesn’t involve the Thrashers any more, and this coming from a big Kovalchuk fan.
The Joker
July 19th, 2010
9:58 am
What do you call a confused Russian hockey player?
A Jay Grossman client!
Flames
July 19th, 2010
9:59 am
Patients my friends, patients. Russian-Thanks for the information on Kovy. He will sign with the Kings soon enough. That will start the signing process for all UFA. The teams is trying to sign the RFA now. I also agree with Russian about Duds putting together a Work Horse team. Duds will get another player or two by UFA/Trade.
The Joker
July 19th, 2010
10:00 am
What do you call a Jay Grossman client?
Misguided.
The Joker
July 19th, 2010
10:03 am
How can you tell when Jay Grossman is lying?
He’s making twitter posts.
J.B.
July 19th, 2010
10:08 am
I hope Flames continues his record of posting good inside information about the team. As good as we look, i definitely think we need another player or two to boost scoring potential.
Monkey
July 19th, 2010
10:35 am
I’ll take 2-3 working class guys VS having one overpaid, selfish Russian.
Sorry Kovy, the love has faded.
Putting On The Foil
July 19th, 2010
10:36 am
The only way Kovy can save face is by firing Grossman, accepting less money, and saying Grossman was behind the greed. WBF- As far as the correlation between Kovy and Vick. I have to disagree with Vick being so talented. Running around like a chicken with your head cut off toting a loaf of bread is not what I consider talented. But I get your drift.
Jeff97
July 19th, 2010
10:39 am
Looks like Kovy is holding up almost everyone. Do you think he tries to pull a Lebron James and announce his decision? In his case it should be called “The Indecision”…
I heard Patrick Sharp is available…could the Thrashers make it 5 former ‘Hawks for next year?
What would you give up for Sharp? a first rounder next year? A seconder round pk and throw in Todd White? (please throw him into any trade)
Jack
July 19th, 2010
10:41 am
I would be very happy if Kchoke is at least 3,000 miles away.If I remember corrctly after we traded Mr. Antidefense, we started playing much better. Maybe because we had players that would play some sort of defense versus trying to skate crazy 8s in the offensive zone. Yes, our power play suffered, but I thing we are much better off without Kchoke. Besides how many playoff games has played in and actually won( I think just 1 out of 9). In my view devils would of gone farther in playoffs without him.
So Dudley sign those RA and maybe another UFA.
R. Stroz
July 19th, 2010
10:41 am
Someone should ask the merchandising manager at Dick’s Sporting Goods where Kovy is going to sign.
They seem to have an inside tract.
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
10:47 am
Flames – I hear ya man. Things will start to happen eventually. I think GMs are using the waiting game to gain more leverage at this point. You know, see who becomes the most desperate and willing to come down in price. But I still don’t really understand how the Kovy drama is dictating what else happens in the marketplace. His situation is unique and by all accounts, affects only 2 teams in the market. One of which is already facing huge cap issues (NJ) should they ink the Russian primadonna. I personally think Afinogenov’s situation last summer is affecting the market more than Kovalchuk. GMs see that as an example of how you can get great value by waiting till later in the summer when prices go down. Throw in the fact that the market is a bit oversaturated for mediocre talent, and voila! You’ve got a buyer’s market…not a good time to be a free-agent forward or overaged goalie!
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
10:49 am
Jack – LOL at Crazy 8’s!! Perhaps Kovy’s new number in LA should be 88.
Badger Bob
July 19th, 2010
10:56 am
Jeff97, if the price for Buff was 1st or 2nd rounder and good prospect (Morin), then Sharp’s price is higher, which makes it too hihg in my book. There are other teams with pending cap issues (Phil, Bos, NJ perhaps) and UFAs that will still shake up the landscape, and Duds is wise to wait for those opportunities.
NHL UFA Pool
July 19th, 2010
11:06 am
We are on vacation this week. Please try back later.
Thrasher_Ed
July 19th, 2010
11:09 am
Ok, so who can give me a good post Prospect Campo report. How did Cormier and the draft picks look. Can Klingberg help us this year?
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
11:13 am
From Jay Grossman: Ilya Kovalchuk will make his decision today (for sure, this time!).
Cue the band and the press corps!!
Strict Father
July 19th, 2010
11:20 am
How many times do I have to tell you children??? No GM is going to offer any “scorer” anything until Mr. Kovalchuk signs. One more peep out of any one of you guys will feel the back of my hand!! Understood?
The Joker
July 19th, 2010
11:25 am
Will Kovy or Grossman be the Court Jester for the Kings?
Will Kovy bankrupt the kingdom?
Will Kovy be wearing his kilt when he signs?
Tom Lysiak
July 19th, 2010
11:25 am
I am continually amazed at the people who want Kovy to come back here. Have you not paid attention to the clearance sale the Blackhawks have been forced into, mainly because of two huge contracts (Campbell and Hossa)? Have you not seen the teams running AWAY from Kovy and his ridiculous contract demands? Have you not seen that teams are staring the cap head-on and trying to find that right combination of players/contracts? It does not work well if you are hamstrung by one or more massive contracts that tie up a huge percentage of your budget. Every team could use 40-50 more goals. Most just can’t afford them from one player any more, unless you could balance it out with a few $40,000 per year skaters (can’t happen). The GM’s are now figuring out the “cap era” and that’s why supposedly only two teams are interested in Kovy.
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
11:27 am
Thrasher_Ed – While Klingberg definitely shows potential and will very likely be a NHL’er very soon, I doubt it will happen this season. He’s still a bit raw and another year of seasoning in SWE will help. Cormier is a hockey player’s hockey player. Does everything well, but nothing outstanding. I saw both the Sat and Tues scrimmages and he was equally impressive in both. On Tues he made a couple of slick feeds from near or behind the net but his linemates were either not ready for it or fanned on the point blank chance. Patrice knows how to play the game and I could see him making the team out of camp. As for Burmie, the potential for him to be a star is obvious. But until he bulks up — hate to sound like Capt Obvious here — he won’t be as effective as he’ll need to be. I think one more year of playing in the “O” along with intense strength training plus a more regimented eating plan and he’ll be our 2nd line C on Opening Night come October 10, 2011.
First to get called up from CHI (if not Cormier): Postma. His offensive talents are remarkable and his puck-moving skills are outstanding. He still needs quite a bit of work on his defensive game, but should get a look as an emergency short-term call-up.
Sleepers: Danick Paquette (could be the next Eric Boulton as his sandpaper quotient is high and his skill is catching up to his motor), John Albert (good speed, strong on the puck and great vision / passing), Jordan Samuels (needs at least 2 years more college but his instincts are very good; also very under-rated with the puck as he shields it well and hard to knock off of it), Bubnick (possesses very good speed and his aggresiveness is as good as any), Chiarot (kid is developing well ahead of schedule and shows a real nose for getting to the net on the rush as well as the ability to finish).
sisu
July 19th, 2010
11:43 am
Kovy is gone and that is okay by me. I liked him when he was here…
As to the team and other FA it seems everyone is focusing on the next agreement between the NHL and NHLPA. Due to this there are more 1 and 2 year deals than ever. Also, remember, there are teams that over the cap and will need to discard quality players yet…
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
11:49 am
The Devils official website (at least that’s what it looks like on twitter) is reporting that Kovy is going back to the Devils. Hmmm…
Dmitri Chesnokov re-tweeted it but no one has confirmed. I remain skeptical until something becomes official.
If he returns to NJ, I’ll be stunned! Unless it’s a short-term deal.
Hockey Biltong
July 19th, 2010
11:51 am
I saw camp on Tuesday and saw a lot in Bubnick and Chiarot.Postma looked good as did the kid who is opting to go back to OSU, Melichori[sp].
Not Melancholy play at all.
Strcit Father said it best. Wait till the signing[of IK],then pick some ripe fruit from Boston,Chi,etc….
Alan R.
July 19th, 2010
11:55 am
Well, Kovalchuk is staying in Newark. Depending on the terms, this may open up a new salary cap problem team.
The offseason just got interesting again.
World Be Free
July 19th, 2010
11:55 am
Putting on the Foil-Vick’s flashy play gives the perception of talent. QBs need to stay in the pocket and through the ball.
The Joker
July 19th, 2010
11:55 am
Who’s the real devil, Kovy or Grossman?
rob
July 19th, 2010
11:56 am
Thanks for that insight on the projects. I hadn’t seen much about it but that puts it into perspective a little better.
R. Stroz
July 19th, 2010
12:00 pm
Sweet Lou better get ready for some offer sheets next season.
World Be Free
July 19th, 2010
12:03 pm
Sharp will cost too much-I think the Black Hawks have lost their sense of humor when it comes to selling off talent. They will want alot for Sharp and they should get it. If I were the Hawks I would focus more on getting rid of Campbell, give a team a draft pick with him to rid themselves of Soupie’s contract and ask for nothing in return. Pay someone to take him. Getting rid of Campbell’s salary means more to Chicago right now than getting anything back. Sounds crazy, but think about it. They are sunk if they lose Sharp too.
Sign Max and/or maybe secure some veteran depth on defense. Morrisson is still out there but he may cost too much. Maybe opt for a more for a depth guy like Jay McKee.
Tale of Woe
July 19th, 2010
12:10 pm
Going back to the Devils….Ha – NJ is a great place to live…
World Be Free
July 19th, 2010
12:10 pm
Smoothie-Eklund is saying the same thing about Kovy to NJ.
Adam
July 19th, 2010
12:14 pm
The Joker – Will Kovy be wearing his kilt when he signs?
ROFLMAO
Do you know why Scotsmen wear kilts?
Sheep can hear a zipper at 100 yards.
Sage should like the sheep reference…
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
12:17 pm
I believe Eklund was 15 mins late to the party…as always.
Puck Agency (Grossman) made the press release at 11:55 am I believe.
You’re right about the Hawks needing to keep Sharp. IMO, he’s as important as Hossa and the core group for that team. Like you said, if they could sell Campbell to somebody for cap relief, that is the best way for them to go. But still, who wants that albatross wrapped around their neck for 6 more years?
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
12:18 pm
I guess Rodeo Drive still can’t hold a candle to the shopping in NYC!
Rawhide
July 19th, 2010
12:18 pm
So…now we’re back to “Kovy to NJ” again, huh? Ohhhh-Kayyyyy….
Jack – If you look at it based solely on team record, the Thrashers were 24-23-8 when Kovalchuk was traded last February and then finished 11-11-5. Considering the six games he missed last fall with a broken foot, the Thrashers were 14-14-5 without Kovy in the line up and 21-20-8 without him.
That being said, I would have to agree with you that I thought the team played better after the trade…but that may just be perception.
Thrasher_Ed – I was at prospect camp for the first two days. Here is what I wrote about it.
There are many who frequent this site who were there over the weekend and Tuesday. I’m sure they’ll be happy to share as well.
GaVaHokie
July 19th, 2010
12:19 pm
I thought Kovalchuk wanted to win a Cup.
The Joker
July 19th, 2010
12:20 pm
Will someone please do a youtube video of Kovy’s signing with ABBA’s Dancing Queen as the background music.
World Be Free
July 19th, 2010
12:22 pm
Stroz, Lou’s calculator must be broke. He just spent what little cap he had on 2 defenseman, one of which (Tallinder) he overpaid.
Badger Bob
July 19th, 2010
12:22 pm
Duds, get on the phone with sweet Lou! He needs cap space and has clearly lost his mind.
Badger Bob
July 19th, 2010
12:28 pm
WBF, add in the Arnott deal, tying up $4.5M, and Lou’s moves are beyond comprehension. He has maneuvered into a position of weakness in order to makes some other moves. Nice!
Russian
July 19th, 2010
12:28 pm
Wow. Interesting move. What’ NJ have to do with Salary Cup???
Anyway I am not very happy deal with NJ, because we are going to see him 4 times. Damn!:-(
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
12:29 pm
Kovy’s Mom is saying that the deal is for 17 years. If that’s how he got his $100 mill, that is truly sad. The NHL owners will do another lockout on account of this deal if that is true. Great, thanks Kovy. Way to ruin not only hopes and dreams of fans in Atlanta, but while you’re at it, why not set the game back another couple years. Hell, another lockout could spell disaster for many franchises.
Alan R.
July 19th, 2010
12:29 pm
$60m/7yr is the rumored deal. ~$8.57m/yr.
I’m sorry. If the figures above are true, I smell a trade coming. NJD now has to find a way under the cap ceiling, and they need to shed about $5mil in salary.
rob
July 19th, 2010
12:31 pm
We now return you to your regulary scheduled summer signings….already in progress….we apologize for the inconvenience this caused to the league and the fans as a certain player decided he was bigger than life. It is fitting he is named a Devil…..and NOT a King.
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
12:31 pm
Russian — yes! The Devils will have just won the Salary Cup! The most prized trophy of all! The infamous Salary Cup! The Devils better win their Stanley Cup this year or the next before Marty heads off to the retired goalies guild.
Mikey
July 19th, 2010
12:35 pm
Wow, Kovy re-signs with NJ? Amazing what helping a team win one whole playoff game can do for a guy isn’t it?
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
12:37 pm
I for one would love it if Duds picked up the phone today and swindled Lucious Lou to get Jamie Langenbrunner. There’s your 2nd line C folks. Playing between Pevs and Kane would be pretty lethal in my opinion. Talk about your relentless, hard-checking, cycle-the-other-team-into-submission 2nd line! Not to mention some serious skill in potting the puck. Make it happen Duds!
World Be Free
July 19th, 2010
12:38 pm
Badger-didn’t Lou just see what happened to the Black Hawks?
Alan R.-Devs have no choice, they have to trade and do it quick. But who do they have that you would really want? This isn’t like the Hawks who had a number of young players that teams wanted.
All these teams looking to deal with cap-stressed teams is going to keep Max’s price affordable. Maybe that is what Dudley expected all along.
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
12:40 pm
I’m sorry, Langenbrunner is a RW. Well, Kane-Pevs-Lang sounds good to me! In fact, that’s even better as Jamie is so good in the corners. Pevs is better playing high and has the speed to be a very effective back-checker as he’s proven when not having to cover for the mistakes of Afinogenov, Kozlov and / or White.
Cornbread
July 19th, 2010
12:41 pm
Finally. Good Riddance!
Rawhide
July 19th, 2010
12:42 pm
The Smooth Spark – Moving the Pevs dispenser from the pivot to wing? shaking head…uh-uh.
Put JL between Kaner and Buff, slide Peverley to third line between Ladd and Slater then slide Cormier between Eager and Thorburn.
Or…put JLJL on first line, sliding Antropov to wing with Bergie on the other side. Slide Pevs between Kane and Buff and then Slater between Little and Ladd.
Either way…bringing in Jamie would slide White to the press box.
nodding head…uh-huh.
Alan R.
July 19th, 2010
12:47 pm
WBF – The Devils won’t be able to afford one Mr. Zach Parise next summer. Just throwing that out there.
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
12:48 pm
Bill – I corrected myself. But Pevs played well on the LW with Reasoner and Kane earlier in the year last season. Albeit briefly. But having Kane and Pevs on the same line gives you options as Kane is capable of winning the occasional F/O from time to time.
But you’re right, getting a quality player like JL for only $2.8 M would be right in the Thrashers wheel-house. Problem is they will try to move Rolston at all-costs. Just don’t know who will take his huge salary at his age. Good luck with that Lou Lam.
Rawhide
July 19th, 2010
12:52 pm
Smooooothie – Points taken, noted and logged. And I agree, that type of centerman at that price would be a great fit here…if Dudley could talk Lou into such a deal.
Question is…who/what would we be moving that way in return?
TableHockey
July 19th, 2010
12:56 pm
What the heck? Chesnokov is reporting it’s a 17 year deal at 100M plus. He’s usually right with the Russian news but surely Lou didn’t do that to his team.
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
12:58 pm
That’s just it, they’d have to take prospects and perhaps a depth player cuz they won’t be able to afford anything else. Give them Cormier back for Langenbrunner!
Nah, j/k. Albert & Carozzi for Langenbrunner. Done! Jersey is hurtin’ for goalie prospects and we’ve got a few of those.
Badger Bob
July 19th, 2010
12:59 pm
Langenbrunner has a no trade clause, so that may be a non-starter, and I wouldn’t give up anything too promising for potentially a 1 year rental. His contract may be a bit of a bargain, but you’ve got to compare his worth vs. a UFA, which you aren’t giving up anything for.
You’ve got several cap-strapped teams and several decent UFA forwards. Perhaps we should wait to see how desperate teams and/or players get.
GaVaHokie
July 19th, 2010
1:00 pm
I think they’ll trade Zajac and Zubrus.
Don’t think there is any chance they trade Parise with RFA status. But, would like to see Dudley float Peverley and a 1st Round pick out there, just to see.
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
1:00 pm
Actually, Kovy’s mom broke the news and Chesnokov is just repeating it.
Kovy’s mom is also getting a spot on The View replacing Barb Walters.
World Be Free
July 19th, 2010
1:02 pm
Alan R-makes you wonder why Lou didn’t get a deal done with Parise first before signing Kovalchuk. I am really just going on what Kovy did (or didn’t do) with the Devils after the trade. I went to the game in Atlanta where he had such a limited role compared to Kovy’s role with the Thrashers.
Like Peter Marshall used to say on the Hollywood Squares-
“maybe this will all work out”.
Russian
July 19th, 2010
1:02 pm
JL is UFA after this season. Will he stay in Atlanta for long term? He is 34 years old. Do not push very quckly. Dudley wants to build a team for long run, not only make PO in this year.
Alan R.
July 19th, 2010
1:05 pm
Well, WBF, I think he didn’t extend Parise this summer because (a.) He was hoping on getting Kovalchuk for “whatever it takes” to get him, and (b.) He hopes tohave him sign a “hometown discount” next summer.
Karma: The Devils don’t make the playoffs again.
TableHockey
July 19th, 2010
1:08 pm
John Kincade posted this on Twitter at 8:23am this morning:
“TUNE IN MONDAY….DURING THE 5 PM HOUR THERE WILL BE A HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT!!! 680 THE FAN / http://WWW.680THEFAN.COM”
Just before 1pm Ben (the Thrashers web guy) posts this on Twitter:
“Thrashers and Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon will be on 680 The Fan today at roughly 5 pm.”
What the heck is going on? Could this be the prospective investors/buyers that we’ve been hearing about?
Russian
July 19th, 2010
1:08 pm
**to Alan R.**
No They did Play-Offs and they will be in Play-Offs. Question is How far thay can go?
World Be Free
July 19th, 2010
1:09 pm
Take Max-why help Philly or NJ, by giving them cap relief?
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
1:09 pm
Russian – I hear ya, but it’s all about trading the right prospects. If Klingberg, Cormier, Burmie, Pasquale, Postma and Melchiori pan out, there’s your team of the future (2011 or 2012):
Bergfors – Antropov – Byfuglien
Kane – Burmistrov – Klingberg
Pettersson – Cormier – Ladd
Paquette – Slater – Machacek
Bogosian & Kulda
Hainsey & Enstrom
Valabik & Postma
Pavelec & Pasquale
Strict Father
July 19th, 2010
1:10 pm
If the Mr. Kovalchuk signing is a done deal. Please move forward with possible signings in the Thrasher camp and possible line combinations.
Dwayne
July 19th, 2010
1:13 pm
Kovy’s Mom probably speaks clearer than Bwabwa Waters.
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
1:14 pm
WBF – I agree. I’d rather take Max than help Lou or Philly at this point. BTW, your 8:53 am post earlier this morning on the Kovy situation was spot-on. Stellar work my friend!
For what it’s worth, prolly nothing, Eklund says LAK has interest in Patrick Sharp. If Lombardi were to pull that off, they’d be a force to be reckoned with in the West for sure.
GaVaHokie
July 19th, 2010
1:14 pm
Tablehockey… whatever it is, hopefully it falls in line with “Good News on Monday, Bad News on Friday”.
Rawhide
July 19th, 2010
1:18 pm
TableHockey – Looking at John Kincade’s twitter of about thre hours ago, it looks more like an announcement regarding programming.
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
1:20 pm
Helene Elliot of the LA Times has some fall-out from L.A.:
Initial reports said the terms of Kovalchuk’s deal were 17 years at $100 million, though that couldn’t be immediately confirmed. Tim Leiweke, the Kings’ governor and chief executive of their parent company, AEG, said via email that Kovalchuk, “had two very good choices. NJ offered more money. Simple as that.
“We threw everything at him we had while leaving the cap space necessary to sign our kids. He is a great player and I am disappointed he didn’t come to LA. It was not for lack of effort or cash.”
Already LA management is trying to spin this into Kovy being greedy and taking the money regardless of what the Kings are building…a winner.
TableHockey
July 19th, 2010
1:24 pm
Rawhide – I hadn’t seen that tweet – landscape changes definitely sounds like something regarding programming.
World Be Free
July 19th, 2010
1:28 pm
Looks like L/A’s management is looking to manage their cap and Lou is throwing caution to the wind. Lou Lam normally knows what he is doing. Maybe he has already gauged the market for certain players, who he can move and how much relief it will give him on the cap.
I don’t want to diss Lou too much here.
Brendan
July 19th, 2010
1:33 pm
Posts are really picking up now, with the Kovy signing. If we even wanted Zubrus or Rolston, the Devils would hand them to us. We shouldn’t do that. However, the 24-year old Center, Travis Zajack, would be TRAPPED HERE for 3-years at $3.5, $4.5, and $4.8 million. That’s a cap hit of $4.266 million. That’s where I’d look. We need Centers. Here’s a link to the Devils Cap situation. http://www.nhlnumbers.com/overview.php?team=NJD&season=0910
What kind of draft pick compensation do you want to give the Devils for Travis Zajack? Or some combination of Zajack and Zubrus? The Devils might ask us to take Zubrus, too. He’ll cost $3.4 million, and would likewise be TRAPPED HERE for the next 3-years at that price. Zubrus is 31, and the contract pays him until the age of 34.
Remember, Dudley’s M.O. is to trade NHL talent here, rather than to pluck it from free agency. Would you want Zajack and Zubrus for 3 years??? I’d bet we can get them to take Todd White in the return. That saves the Devils money. It does.
What do we call the Atlanta team if it’s got 4 Blackhawks (Sopel, Eager, Ladd, and Byfuglien) and 4-5 Devils (Cormier, Oduya, Bergfors, Zubrus??, Zajack??) I guess we’d call them the Devilhawks. Hmmn, the Atlanta Devil Hawks? Naw, that’ll offend the overly religious. They’d invent YET ANOTHER reason why the team doesn’t succeed. Maybe, the Atlanta Jersey Hawks?
Tom
July 19th, 2010
1:36 pm
Or Lou realized that he had to keep Ilya or face a brutal backlash from the fans after giving up so much for him. One thing Lou does is see into the future pretty well.
Now that Ilya is a teammate and not a prospect, look to see Lou come down hard on him about his playing style and attitude. The romance is over and results are going to be expected.
It also brings to mind that we should not expect to see the cap come down no matter the economic environment the league faces. Too many top teams are now at max cap and to lower it by 5 million would throw the whole league into chaos. While a lower cap would benefit the 2nd tier teams, the top tier would be hurt.
The league would rather apply triage to the bottom tier and watch owners lose millions than allow the top teams to have to be broken apart.
Brendan
July 19th, 2010
1:41 pm
Oh yes, and by the way, “HA-HAW! Kovy didn’t get L.A.!! God bless the Los Angeles Kings. I am telling you, RIGHT FREKKIN’ NOW … the Kings will be one of my two “adopted” Western Conference Teams this year. Just for this move, alone! Kovy didn’t get L.A.!! Woo-hoo!!! I don’t care what anyone says, he wanted L.A. He did. And he didn’t get what he wanted. The Devils aren’t a bad choice, however. They do have several recent Cups, and always seem to be in the hunt.
I’m actually glad that Kovy is in the Eastern Conference. I shall enjoy his visits to Philips Arena. Truthfully, I do … sincerely … wish him well. He didn’t want to be here. And I don’t blame him. But I’m just happy that, for ONCE, a UFA didn’t get the place he wanted when he hit UFA status. And we don’t even know if the Devils handed him the $10 million. I suspect they didn’t. And if they didn’t, they were smart. If true, Kovy didn’t get the money or his 1st choice. Interesting, no?
Rawhide
July 19th, 2010
1:43 pm
TableHockey – Still…it is interesting that Gearon will be on 680 The Fan at “roughly” the same time.
I guess we’ll just have to tune in.
Alan R.
July 19th, 2010
1:43 pm
Russian – I’m certain they will. That’s not what Karma is, though.
Brendan
July 19th, 2010
1:44 pm
Karma is rationed out by the Cosmos. No one can own it.
Travis Zajac
July 19th, 2010
1:44 pm
Please, with all due respect, spell my name correctly. I’m better than everyone on your lousy team including Antropov. And Kovy will shoot the puck when I damn well feel like passing it to him.
Badger Bob
July 19th, 2010
1:45 pm
Hossa’s best years – Atlanta (92 pt/season here; 70 pt/season elsewhere)
Savard’s best years – Atlanta (87 pt/season here; 69 pt/season elsewhere)
Kovy’s best years – Atlanta (85 pt/season here; TBD elsewhere).
No doubt that Kovy’s best years statistically are now behind him. The only way this deal looks good is a Cup at the Rock. Does Kovy really move them closer to that?
Brendan
July 19th, 2010
1:46 pm
And no one can “offer” good Karma. Karma is what it is. And allegedly, it is fair and just.
Badger Bob
July 19th, 2010
1:47 pm
Darn, I intended to make comment 101 be “101 million reasons why I’m happy Kovy’s not here”. You were all spared that lengthy rant…
Karma
July 19th, 2010
1:50 pm
Actually Brendan, I’m just a bitch!
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
1:51 pm
Badger – are you using averages?
No doubt Kovy will never reach 98 points again playing for the Devils.
But then again, I could be wrong.
Brendan
July 19th, 2010
1:52 pm
Zajac, my apologies. I think several teams will now be asking for him. But, then again, I didn’t catch the length of Kovy’s contract. What if it’s only a 1-year deal? The Devils may not be moving guys with 3 years left on their contracts. If Kovy’s deal was 7-years, then some of those players with 3-years left on their contracts will come back into play.
Brendan
July 19th, 2010
1:53 pm
But only a Beeotch to those who’ve had it coming …. Paging Mr. Levenson.
Alan R.
July 19th, 2010
1:54 pm
Brendan – I’m sure Lou Lam wishes he could, though, but Mr. Karma won’t fit under the salary cap!
Brendan
July 19th, 2010
1:54 pm
Badger Bob, the offense was always higher in Atlanta than elsewhere … because Atlanta was not committed to playing sound defense. So naturally, Hossa, Savard, Kovalchuk … would hit their numbers playing pedal to the medal offense.
Brendan
July 19th, 2010
1:55 pm
Alan R. is correct. Karma cannot be contained!
Badger Bob
July 19th, 2010
1:57 pm
Smoothie, I’m using pt/game average times 82 games.
I offer the Hossa and Savard comprisons for two reasons. One, people (mostly in Canada) love to say “what would [insert former Thrashers star] do with real talent around him”. Answer: score less. Two, those players have had to fit into team molds that have decreased their output. No doubt NJ has a mold, and Kovy floating at center ice desn’t fit it. I’d put money on Kovy never reaching 98 points again. I’d be tempted to put money on him not reaching 45 goals again.
Tom
July 19th, 2010
1:57 pm
I do not like this – Gagne to Tampa is being reported by NHLSourcesSay on Twitter.
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
1:58 pm
Now there’s a rumor about Gagne going to Tampa. Man they just love having French Quebecers lace ‘em up in the sleezy Bay of Teezy, eh?
Alan R.
July 19th, 2010
1:59 pm
Tom – Eklund has a higher accuracy rate than NHLSourcesSay. Take that as you will.
Tom
July 19th, 2010
2:01 pm
Ouch, thanks for the heads up Alan R.
Still, Gagne is one of the players in the league that has always impressed me with his offensive play. I would hate that he would be in the division.
Brendan
July 19th, 2010
2:02 pm
Tom, first Tampa Bay gets Kubina, now they’re getting Simon Gagne? All I can say is, “I hope Mike Smith and Dan Ellis have the worst years of their careers.” The bolts have St. Louis, Lecavalier, Stamkos, and Viktor Hedman and Meszaros on D. Yikes.
hip czech
July 19th, 2010
2:02 pm
Travis Zajac, we would love to have you here. Bring Zach Parise with you.
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
2:03 pm
Not so fast Brendan, Hossa was a +18 the year he scored 100 points for the Thrash. We were good enough to advance deep into the Eastern Conf playoffs that year, but we choked. If Lehtonen plays like he played in March down the stretch versus the head-case he became, then who knows? And speaking of karma, is that how we explain the crazy puck carom against the Rangers in game 2 that swung the momentum in the wrong direction. By Sean Avery no less! Levenson probably thinks Karma has already scorned him as a mistress.
Rawhide
July 19th, 2010
2:05 pm
Folks…you will want to tune into 680 am The Fan at 5:00 today.
Just sayin’….
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
2:05 pm
hip czech – wouldn’t that be nice? But shouldn’t you be pulling hard for Patrik Elias to come here over Zajac? He’s Czech, n’est ce-pas?
Good think Zach Parise’s last name isn’t Zajac…yikes! Hi, my name is Zach Zajac, and I like stuffing pucks into the crease! Call me!
J.B.
July 19th, 2010
2:10 pm
I KNEW THAT 500 ANNOUNCEMENT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE THRASH!!!
Zoomo
July 19th, 2010
2:10 pm
Mike Smith reportedly going from Tampa in the Gagne deal.
Rawhide, doin the radio tease for Kincade?
hip czech
July 19th, 2010
2:10 pm
I would have no problem if Elias landed here. Clarkson would be OK too, but I think he just signed didn”t he. Devils only have 19 players under contract and Kovalchuk’s cap hit is probably going to put them close to 4 million over the limit.
I’ll go on record as saying the Kings win the cup before NJ does. Kings are a lot closer, and now they are not shackled by an albatross salary.
TableHockey
July 19th, 2010
2:13 pm
Actually Brendan – the rumors out there right now have Smith going as part of the trade. Guess they think Ellis is there man between the pipes…
WM
July 19th, 2010
2:14 pm
Big news this afternoon? 10 to 1 we’ve all been punk’d and Kovy will again be a Thrasher. Seriously though, anyone have an update on the contract talks with Opie?
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
2:14 pm
Watch (or listen) and see that 680 the Fan is simply announcing a two-year deal to broadcast Thrashers games. Why only 2 years? Because Gearon will sell the hockey team to Balsillie and Hamilton during the 2012-2013 lockout. Alas, Karma the Bitch resides here in A-town!
Zoomo
July 19th, 2010
2:16 pm
Geez… Burnside just tweeted that Kovy’s deal is 17 years @ 150 mil. !! yikes…if ture…in 2 years when they figure out that he can’t play D, that’s going to be some mess
Tom
July 19th, 2010
2:17 pm
Brandon, my point exactly. Tampa has finishers all through their line up. Gagne has some skills if he can stay healthy.
We are looking at a Tampa team that can score, a Washington team that can score (and they will have a chip on their shoulder too), Atlanta will be more defensively focused than in the past with but unless we get a sniper will struggle for goals, and Carolina and Florida who are rebuilding (or wallowing).
I see the Southeast with Washington having a big lead again and Tampa and Atlanta fighting it out for second. It will be bloody that is for sure.
Joe Friday
July 19th, 2010
2:18 pm
WBF, ready to admit you were wrong about Kovy?
For everyone that was dissing Grossman, you might want to re-think it. He got 100 cents on the dollar for his client, with a first class organ-I-zation. Just because it took longer than a day or two doesn’t mean Grossman screwed up, it actually means he did a heck of a job maximizing what he client received. He got him $100m.
As I’ve long said Sweet Lou is the 2nd best GM in the league, but I think the NHL is going to look hard at this contract. Spreading it out over 17 years is highly suspicious, if not outright ludicrous. NJ is going to pay him till he’s 44 and there’s no way he’s playing at 44, they just fit a superstar under the cap, and that’s playing with the intent of the cap. But if Sweet Lou manipulated it and found a loophole that he used to NJ’s advantage, then more power to him, and shame on the other GMs for not being bright enough to figure it out.
At the end of the day, I hope everyone learns not to listen to each twitter day in and day out, they were all wrong, except Larry Brooks who called 17 year $100m a while ago. Every single one of the rest of them were wrong (just like they are every trade deadline).
WM
July 19th, 2010
2:21 pm
The Smooth Spark-
That is of course if RIMM is still around in 2-3 years…
Joe Friday
July 19th, 2010
2:22 pm
“Burnside just tweeted that Kovy’s deal is 17 years @ 150 mil. !! yikes…if ture…in 2 years when they figure out that he can’t play D, that’s going to be some mess”
No way that is true, Sweet Lou is wiley, not senile
Joe Friday
July 19th, 2010
2:23 pm
Trixie!
Jeff97
July 19th, 2010
2:24 pm
17 years 150 Million!?!???!?!? NJ better hope the cap does not go down 10 million next season. I cant wait to see how it is structured and how it potentially handicaps NJ.
Why would you give that much to a one dimensional player? Kovy can only score. he does not play D, he does not hit anymore and sure as hell is not a leader.
Tom
July 19th, 2010
2:24 pm
Zoomo – Looks like Burnside is backing off that number “sorry. not quite that much. kovalchuk will have made in excess of 150 million by the time this deal is done including his time in atlanta.”
Zoomo
July 19th, 2010
2:28 pm
yes…Burnside recanted
Joe Friday
July 19th, 2010
2:28 pm
“sorry. not quite that much. kovalchuk will have made in excess of 150 million by the time this deal is done including his time in atlanta.”
Yep, there you go. But this brings up an interesting point. Is Kovy now the highest paid player in the history of the NHL? Doesn’t matter if he blows his knee out this year, those contracts are guaranteed . . .
ben
July 19th, 2010
2:34 pm
That number isn’t real. LAWDY, it would have to be a crazy man what did that! Nine and a front-loaded 90 is my guess. I wish our LeBron well. I now have a second-favorite team. God! I hope we get new investors.
TableHockey
July 19th, 2010
2:37 pm
Dunno Joe Friday – if it’s 17yr @ 100M they are going to regret that deal before it is even halfway over.
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
2:37 pm
Ovechkin got his $124 M 2 seasons before Kovy. Even if Kovy gets $100 M, Ovy is still richer having earned $11 M on his ELC, assuming that Ovechkin earned the majority of his bonuses. Kovy has earned $35.4 M so far, per Cap Geek, so it will be close I suppose.
Adam
July 19th, 2010
2:40 pm
If it’s the 100m/17yr deal that puts NJ 1.7m over the cap any other deal puts them even more over the cap. Lou still needs a body or 2 on the roster as well.
This puts 4 teams over the cap, 5 if you include Boston, with 2 of them in the Atlantic.
If the RFA’s sign the way we think they will it would put us right around 47.5 to 48.5 million, that’s with Cormier & Postma making the team.
If Dudley could pull off the Zajac for White a prospect & a pick that be one sweet deal.
Antro/Zajac/Bergy
Kane/Pevs/Little
Ladd/Cormier/Buff
Egar/Boults/Thorbs/Slats
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
2:43 pm
Report out of Philly: Done deal: defenseman Matt Walker and a 4th round pick come back for Simon Gagne.
Crikey! That’s all it took to get Gags for one year!! Sheesh.
glovesave29
July 19th, 2010
2:44 pm
Smoothie – no way Balsille EVER gets an NHL team. Not after what he tried to pull in Phoenix and get it through the back door instead of the established channels. Could the Thrash be moved…maybe – but I think the league wants to keep a market as large as Atlanta. They want to see what would happen if we are given a decent team to root for. If the Thrashers become competitive and go into the playoffs for a few years and there is no bump in attendance…then I can see the NHL lowering their guard and allowing other cities to come poaching.
Devils have 3 – 40 goal scorers. I think with MacLean coaching now and removing the defensive system instituted by Lemaire, Kovy can reach 100 points. The 2011-2012 season could be interesting if in fact the cap is lowered to $48M as it is being rumored…
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
2:49 pm
gs29 – I wasn’t being serious. While I certainly think the possibility exists that the team will get sold, I realize Basillie will be last on the list of preferred buyers. We should be fine at least until 2015 I think unless the “no-move” clause is 20 years and not 15.
Joe Friday
July 19th, 2010
2:49 pm
“if it’s 17yr @ 100M they are going to regret that deal before it is even halfway over.”
Why? You’re putting a 27 yr. old guy on your roster today for an under $6m per year cap hit (if the league lets this contract stand pat). That’s a huge win now for them for the first 6 years or so of the contract, a good deal for them for the middle 6 years of the contract (think time value of money and inflation), and a bad deal for them for the last 5 years, but the first 12 years of win far outweigh the final 5 years. What’s the clause in the cap about what happens if the guy retires? For example, Brindamour just retired with money left on his contract, does that hit Carolina’s cap next year or since Brindamour retired, do they not get the cap hit?
That’s where I smell a rat with this deal. If Grossman did a handshake deal with Sweet Lou where Kovy agrees to retire at 39 or something or when he stats go below x number and saves the cap hit when Kovy hits his early 40s, then that’s slimy, but again, if Sweet Lou figured out a way to do this, more power to him.
If Grossman also negotiated a NTC and got Kovy $100m, then he earned every penny of his commission and more over the past 18 days . . .
The Smooth Spark
July 19th, 2010
3:11 pm
JF – it’s not good for them if the deal is heavily front-loaded when it comes to time value of money. Good for Kovy & Grossman. However, should Kovy producde to the tune of 85 – 100 points for the first 6 years, then it’s probably worth the extra money up front.
Assuming the back-end is one of those declining balance deals like Hossa, then years 12 thru 17 are throw-aways. But they are paying a much higher price NOW than later so essentially they’ll still be paying $8.333 M or so in the first 12 years or so.
A cap hit of $5.88 is pretty good in terms of cap management, but the owner is taking a bigger hit in the first 5 years to make a deal like this work under the cap. Not to mention the bonuses he’ll likely get during a lockout if another one comes to fruition in 2012.
Flames
July 19th, 2010
3:12 pm
Lets see what happens now. UFA signings and trades are going to start. GM’s will be working their butts off now. I heard that Gagne is going to Tampa in a trade.
Brendan
July 19th, 2010
3:13 pm
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=327880, last updated at 2:29 PM, at TSN.ca, reports the deal is at least $100 million over 17 years. That pays Kovalchuk until he’s 44. I think the league should investigate whether an ‘early retirement’ was discussed. If it’s $125 million over 17-years, then the cap hit is $7.35 million, roughly. It’s it’s $110 million, the cap hit is $6.47 million. If it’s just $103 million, then the cap hit is $6.05 million. I figured Lou would find a way to cheat the system. If the cap hit on Kovy is only $5.something or $6.something million, then he’s landed a top tiered play, as Chicago did with Hossa, for a fraction of what it ought to cost him, due to cap hits being “averaged out.” That practice should be halted by the league. Period, the end. Watch, the NY Islanders will offer John Tavares a 22-year deal, to get his cap hit down to something manageable. That’s insane. Something should be done to combat this. The players aren’t going to complain, because their contracts are essentially front-loaded, and the money’s guaranteed, unless they retire early. If Kovy held out for an “equal payment” for all 17 years, then that makes him very hard to trade, as he reaches 38, 39, 40, 41 and so forth years of age. Contracts like this need to be investigated. Or disallowed, period. Or, at least very least, if Kovy does retire early, at say 37, or 38, then the Devils must continue to get punished by cap hit for the contract they made, wayyyy back in 2010. The averaging out of a contract pressupposes that the contract will be played out. But if the deal is $110 million over only 14 actually played years, then the cap hit should be $7.8571, etc.
Okay, one last thought. I can forgive Kovy’s “indecision” when SEVENTEEN YEARS are involved. I wouldn’t want to hastily make a 17-year commitment to one location, and I don’t paid a fraction of what Kovy does. So, people should temper their anger and frustration accordingly. This decision couldn’t have been an easy one for Kovalchuk. Let me end on this. Franchises ebb and flow. Kovy cannot expect the Devils to be in the playoffs for the next 17 seasons. And once Brodeur hangs it up, it’s up to Lou to find suitable replacement. And if he can’t, or if the franchise is sold to new ownership, Kovy could find himself right back in another Octocluster mess in the swamps of Jersey. Who can see 17 years into the future??? Okay, Nostradamus could. I’ll grant ya that. But not Kovy. Not Jay Grossman. Not Lou Lamoriello. Not even the Devils’ ownership. Kovy has just made a substantive commitment. Let’s see if he honors it, and if he requests a trade, at some point. And, really, what has Kovalchuk demonstrably shown to the Devils? He iced one playoff game with an empty-netter. Wow.
World Be Free
July 19th, 2010
3:19 pm
Joe Friday-still blown away by this deal.
In my mind, I was looking for a sane deal, one that paid Kovy very well but also allowed his team enough $$$ to keep the team competitive. Most of the deals being thrown around the past few weeks have been in line with what I was saying Kovy would get. Now this one comes along; who can blame Kovalchuk for taking it.
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.
Smoothie- I am a huge Matt Walker fan. The kid is tough as nails, I think this is a good deal for both teams. Philly gets a young d-man that fits their mold, TB gets a talented winger with 1 year left on his deal.
Flames
July 19th, 2010
3:22 pm
Smoothie-Already reported that. Sorry!
Badger Bob
July 19th, 2010
3:22 pm
JF – Capgeek shows Brindamour as a $3.6M cap hit for Carolina next year. They did “buy out” his contract with his retirement, and that certainly saved them some coin, but that doesn’t avoid cap hit.
There may be buy out scenarios that Lou has in mind, but no matter what there’s some cap hit for many years.
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!
Jason
July 19th, 2010
5:34 pm
200th
Badger Bob
July 19th, 2010
5:45 pm
Seriously, Stroz announcement of where he’s sitting next season was bigger that this.
Red Light
July 19th, 2010
5:45 pm
Now that that’s over, maybe we can all take a 30-day hiatus and refrain from discussing Ilya Kovalchuk for awhile. I think it has all been said time and time again.
Bill: Take the last word and lets move on!
schroeder
July 19th, 2010
5:51 pm
Thank you RED LIGHT, Ilya plays for NJ, lets get back to THRASHER news I am up to here with all the machinations of Lou and all that is NEW JERSEY. TIME TO MOVE ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rawhide
July 19th, 2010
5:54 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”.
Badger Bob – Paid off, no…but that would be nice. I have one kid in college and the other is a senior in HS. That, plus with taxes set to go higher come January 1, I could use the extra payolla.
However, I don’t think I reiterated “major announcement” my friend. My 2:05 post simply indicated I thought people would want to tune in to hear for themselves. That plus I had indicated that Kincade’s tweet indicated it was a programming announcement at 1:18.
As for the “major announcement” itself…well, it certainly is for 680. They now will be the flagship station for 3 of the 4 pro sports teams in Atlanta. Oh, and I do like the fact that they will be adding a coach Ramsay show too.
But I did text Kincade today and told him they should also add a Rawhide’s Roundup after the game too
Now that that’s over, maybe we can all take a 30-day hiatus and refrain from discussing Ilya Kovalchuk for awhile. I think it has all been said time and time again….Bill: Take the last word and lets move on!
Red Light – Thank you…and I agree. However, since my wife and youngest tax exemption just arrived home from several days down at the lake house, I’m going to take them out to dinner now. You guys can hash this out some more…then I’ll see about posting a new “ilya-Free” blog later.
Yes…time to move on.
R. Stroz
July 19th, 2010
5:56 pm
Section 222 is more entertaining than Kincade and Belue.
Brendan
July 19th, 2010
5:56 pm
Joe Friday, I think Lou pulled one off, that’s for sure. Unless the NHL steps in to say, “Sorry, Devils, but just so you know … if Kovy retires after 13 years, with 4 years left on the 17-year deal, your cap will still count the Kovalchuk contract to the tune of $6 million, even after he’s gone.” That would be fair. That would make GM’s “re-think” the concept of a 17-year contract. They’d have to deal with ramifications of the contract they made, whether the player is there … or not. That’s fair. It truly is. “You made a contract; now honor it.” As in, “Buyer beware.” If this guy retires early, you don’t get out of this deal. You suffer the cap hit whether he plays or not. At least this way, the markets that couldn’t bid on Kovalchuk, like a Carolina, or an Edmonton, or a Buffalo … can … 17 years later, watch that “rich market” suffer the consequences. Of course, that will be of little consolation to them, if Carolina, Edmonton and Buffalo don’t have any titles during those 17 years, while the Devils add 3-4 more.
For Kovalchuk, he’d better deliver, after all this. Lou lent him his ‘good name.’ Lou stuck his neck out pretty far to pull this one off. If the Devils don’t win some Cups, I doubt Lou will be satisfied that the Devils at least soldout all 41 home games and all playoff games. That’s not enough. New Jersey has to bring home the hardware. And they’re already “overdue,” by the STANDARDS of great GM’s. Lou’s last cup appearance and win was 2003, six seasons ago. Time to deliver.
I say … we go HARD after Zajac, and get some talent up the middle. What do we really have? Antropov. Not a Tier I guy, and he usually played on the wing. Bryan Little. Not a Tier I guy, and he’s being misutilized as a winger, instead of his natural center position. Rich Peverley. Awesome waiver claim, but still not a Tier I guy. Jim Slater. Well, he’s a 4th liner. Todd White. That’s just a seat in the pressbox. Chris Thorburn. Again, nothing to write home about. Cormier? First, he’s got to make it to the NHL. I still say we’re not strong enough up the middle. We need at least two quality centers. Let’s get Zajac. And try not to let them talk us into either Zubrus or Rolston to make it happen.
Badger Bob
July 19th, 2010
5:58 pm
I shouldn’t have dissed you, Rawhide. I’m just pissed at media coverage for the Thrashers in general and this is just anouther example. This may have been big for the Hawks or 680, but it is a very minimal for the Thrashers (and surely a let down for any Thrashers folks listening in). Whatever. We got RFAs to focus on now.
Brendan
July 19th, 2010
6:00 pm
I meant that Antropov, prior to becoming a Thrasher, spent time on the wing. He was converted to being a center here, in Atlanta.
Rawhide
July 19th, 2010
6:01 pm
Badger Bob – I took it as no slight my friend. We be cool
Now…off to dinner. You guys mind the store while I’m away!
Brendan
July 19th, 2010
6:06 pm
By the time I get home, I’ve lost the 680TheFan signal. And by then, my only chance to hear the radio broadcast is by calling in to the TacoMac “postgame show.” (Which I do!)
I didn’t let myself think that the announcement was that we’d be getting new ownership of the Thrashers. Though, how hilarious would that be? At least, potentially, Kovalchuk wanted to stay in Atlanta with committed ownership for winning the Cup. And the day he signed elsewhere, we got that very ownership installed. That would have been laden with irony.
I have to admit, Kovy looks good in a Devils uniform. I wonder if, in their desperation to win a Cup, that NJ will go out and recruit Satan’s help. Uhh, Miroslav Satan. It’s gotta happen eventually. Why not, now?
World Be Free
July 19th, 2010
6:18 pm
Does this mean Lou Lam has a 17 year plan?
Lemurs
July 19th, 2010
6:50 pm
One thing to keep in mind is that the CBA is about to expire, and there will be a new one in place. No one knows what that CBA will look like, what kind of caps it will put in place, and what kind of grandfather and exemption rules it might include. They could change the pro-rate calculations, they could shift percentage around, they could grandfather in contracts past a certain rate, they could introduce something like a “Franchise Player” concept. You just don’t know. So while for the next couple of seasons this contract matters, after that point the new CBA will matter more. THAT will decide if it is a good contract or not…and guess who helps negotiate the CBA? The same GMs who have been handing out these contracts…
Brendan
July 19th, 2010
6:58 pm
I think the current CBA got extended by one year, to 2012. So, we’re safe from work stoppages until then, I suppose.
Jack
July 19th, 2010
7:36 pm
I am thinking now that the Kchoke signing is done, we will have big news signinga FA or a trade somewhere in the next 7 days.
Fan from Carolina
July 19th, 2010
7:39 pm
I predict Kovy will thrive in NJ.
Note to Lightning: Nice pickup and a great top two lines BUT who is going to play defense? Every game is going to be 7-6. Looking forward to some wild Thrashers/Lightning games.
Jethro
July 19th, 2010
7:56 pm
That thare Kovalchump feller reelly pulled up his skirt, sum peepel call it uh kilt, and showed thems Los Angeles folks that tha moon ain’t shinin on them.
I always thunk that guy wuz sum kinda lazy devil wurshiper anyway. Anyone that wont lookya straight in tha eye, well ya cant trust um.
Beesides anyone hirin a guy named grossman as uh repreescentative just aint wright in the head.
I bethcha them yankees aint gonna bee likin his figure skatin ways and they use sum nasty words that Kovalchump aint accustumed too down heere.
Oh well, ya made yur bed so now yur sleppin with the devil Kovalchump. I always wundered what wuld happen if ya crossed Minnie Mouse with uh devil.
Im uh guessin we’re abouta find out.
R. Stroztradamus
July 19th, 2010
8:22 pm
I predict Kovy will re-sign with the Devils in July of 2010.
Brendan – Are you impressed?
Alan R.
July 19th, 2010
8:28 pm
Geez. Lou Lam can’t honestly expect this contract to get NHL approval, can he??
Star Trib source on Kovalchuk contract: Goes 6, 6, 5 years of 11.5, 10.5, 8.5, 6.5, 3.5, then 750, 550, 550, 550, 550, 550. AAV: 6 mill – Russostrib
World Be Free
July 19th, 2010
8:31 pm
Brendan, I think/hope has a plan laid out to get under the cap without having to move one of his core players. This is not the youngest team in the league, that’s for sure.
And you are right on-Kovalchuk better deliver! I wonder how Lou is going to get Parise under the cap next year. Problem with this deal is that Parise’s agent will want something big too. Will Elias be a player moved? He can help a team today!
219 posts-I thought this wasn’t a hockey town?
Jack
July 19th, 2010
9:13 pm
Any word from Mr. V . I know he has been carrying Braves stuff, but have not seen anything from him for awhile. Hopefully he is on an island enjoying himself.
Joe Friday
July 19th, 2010
10:48 pm
Wow, $11.5m per year, that’s highest ever, right? And Lou built in a one year window in 8 Years ti
e to be able to trade him? Brilliant deal for all. Wow
R. Stroz
July 19th, 2010
11:16 pm
Does Bettman “turtle up” again and let Lou make a mockery of the CBA?
Lemurs
July 20th, 2010
2:26 am
R. Stroz: Not sure what you mean by that…the contract is either legal or it is not. It might not be in the spirit of the CBA, but the spirit doesn’t matter, only the negotiated contract. Bettman just can’t come out and say: “Listen I know it’s in the rules, but I am going to veto it because that’s not what I meant!” That’s what kids do on the playground. In the world of multibillion dollar business, if you try that stunt you get taken to court, and you lose. What I do think this will acomplish is a tightening of the rules of contracts for the next CBA.
Remember folks 17 years in the scope of the NHL means there will probably be at least 2, maybe 3 more CBAs negotiated DURING THIS CONTRACT. The chances of this thing hurting NJ 8-10 years from now is unlikely given the trends of contracts over the last 10 years, recession, lockout, and all.
World Be Free
July 20th, 2010
5:51 am
J/F, it’s all brilliant if he delivers. It’s still a huge contract; we see with Vinny in TB that he a player is judged by their accomplishments relative to the size of their contract. Nobody sits around with their calculator and figures our the player’s cap hit, they want to know if he can produce. Injuries do not matter to fans, the player gets paid full value to matter what. So he better produce for the life of the contract.
Can’t believe Philly got Matt Walker. Flyers fans will love him by the end of the training camp.
VAThrasher
July 20th, 2010
6:31 am
Can’t believe no one’s mentioned this: “Atlanta had put out a four- or five-year deal with an average of $7.5 or $8 million. There’s no way we can fold in that AAV, but they can, because it’s only Bogosian and Kane there.” http://lakingsinsider.com/2010/07/19…quotes-part-i/
Looks like we were in the mix after all, which is a good thing as it shows that ownership was still willing to pony up some significant coin. My bet is part of that $7.5 – 8 now goes to Poni or Afinogenov.
R. Stroz
July 20th, 2010
7:32 am
Lemurs – According to Ben Wright, on page 115 of the NHL CBA, there is a clause that lets the league strike down attempts to circumvent the spirit of the rules.
Now, I haven’t read the NHL CBA myself, so I’m taking Ben Wright’s word for it. I imagine Mr. Wright had someone show him where to find it, such as Larry Simmons.
Also, according to capgeek.com, here is the bearkdown of Kovy’s contract:
http://capgeek.com/players/display.php?id=339
Joe Friday
July 20th, 2010
8:27 am
“According to Ben Wright, on page 115 of the NHL CBA, there is a clause that lets the league strike down attempts to circumvent the spirit of the rules.”
Stroz, apparently Luongo’s contract is structured similarly as is Hossa’s and several others. And Hossa’s contract pays him until he’s 43 yrs old, so Kovy going to 44 isn’t out of the accepted norm. Precedence here means the league can’t do anything about Kovy’s contract, it’s done. Now in the next CBA, I fully expect that they’ll fix this loophole, but Luongo, Hoss, Kovy et all are horses out of that barn, won’t be able to change them. What a brilliant move by Grossman and by Sweet Lou, just pure genius.
And he’s getting $11.5m per year for 5 straight years? Highest paid NHL player by far, he hit the jackpot with free agency, but then again, that was a given seeing how he was the biggest profile free agent to ever hit at such a young age.
“Looks like we were in the mix after all”
I’m sure there were many teams in the mix. It wasn’t just the Kings and the Devils, they were just the last two teams left standing as the bidding kept going up. There was a lot of demand for him, which is why the price went this high, but again, that was a given in that he was the only prize this offseason and the highest profile guy to ever hit UFA.
Let’s hope Wadudley move on quickly and pick up Frolov for us, I might be happy with Stempeniak also.
World Be Free
July 20th, 2010
9:11 am
Frolov or Stepniak would be great pickups; but I believe it will take 3 year deals at $4M / year to get either of them, so that makes them unlikely candidates. Still say it is Max or nothing. We still have RFAs to sign before they go to the ugly process of arbitration.
The salary wallet has opened ever so slightly.
kracker
July 20th, 2010
9:11 am
My 2 cents: Kovalchuk, Lamoriello, Grossman. Thy names are forever synonomous with slease for serving to further wreck the salary structure of an already fractured professional sports league. Not to mention totally giving the middle finger to the rest of the league and any sense of fair play.
Lamoriello should be GMing in DC, he is as without scruples as any politician.
Yeah, I voted today so I’m not of a mind to look the other way at unconscionable behavior.
Badger Bob
July 20th, 2010
9:12 am
VAT – good pick up (this link worked better for me, scrolling down to “Quotes, Part 1″: http://lakingsinsider.com/author/admin/).
Grossman said NJD, NYI, LAK and SKA St. Petersburg “talked with Kovalchuk”. Dean Lombardi says there was an Atlanta offer on the table. We can’t believe Grossman; not sure if we can believe Lombardi. I am encouraged that there may be that much coin on the table here ($55 – 57M salary). Probably too good to be true.
Alan R.
July 20th, 2010
9:24 am
Any word from Mr. V
For what it’s worth, he posted this on Twitter this morning:
“A desperate plea: Need 4,000 followers (work eval). Are there more Thrashers and NHL fans out there with thirst for news? #Thrashers #NHL”
So if you got a moment, sign up for Twitter, find the name ajcthrashers, and follow him. Typically, things hit Twitter before they hit the blog page anyway. It’s just a much quicker medium for small tidbits of info to come down.
TableHockey
July 20th, 2010
9:28 am
Echoing Alan’s message – if you are on Twitter please follow Chris @ajcthrashers. He posts a lot of good stuff and it will help him with his annual review with the AJC.
If you guys haven’t seen Kovalchuks unofficial official numbers here they are:
2010-11: $6 million
2011-12: $6 million
2012-13: $11.5 million
2013-14: $11.5 million
2014-15: $11.5 million
2015-16: $11.5 million
2016-17: $11.5 million
2017-18: $10.5 million
2018-19: $8.5 million
2019-20: $6.5 million
2020-21: $3.5 Million
2021-22: $750,000
2022-23: $550,000
2023-24: $550,000
2024-25: $550,000
2025-26: $550,000
2026-27: $550,000
Alan R.
July 20th, 2010
9:32 am
TH – There’s no F’in way Kovalchuk plays after the 2020-2021 season, if this contract were to stand. The final six years of his deal puts his average salary at $583k/yr. I honestly can’t see the league allowing this contract to stand. Then again, stranger things have happened (4-4 OT, “The trapezoid,” etc).
GaVaHokie
July 20th, 2010
9:35 am
It would be really funny if this deal gets rejected and this goes on for another month.
kracker
July 20th, 2010
9:41 am
I saw that and of course I am already a follower. So C Viv’s job evaluation at the AJC is dependent on how many followers he has on twitter?? We are getting to be a People Magazine country more each day. ..sigh…
Alan R.
July 20th, 2010
10:04 am
kraker – I think the AJC is more looking at the exposure of the writers, and the topics those writers cover. I could be wrong, of course, but I would be really saddened if the AJC is putting a priority on how many followers one of their writers has on Twitter.
Darren
July 20th, 2010
10:10 am
Rawhide, NBC Sports wrote an article about your blog:
http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2010/07/atlanta-thrashers-fans-gladly-pass-on-kovalchuk-drama.php
Adam
July 20th, 2010
10:21 am
The way I see it this is really an 11yr. 98.5 million contract with 6 fluff years tacked on. The cap hit should really be 8.955m.
J/F The one thing that sets this contract apart from the others is the term. Hoss’s is 12 & DiPietro’s is 15. Does the League feel that 17 is just to far? I guess we’ll see, but somehow I think not…
If it goes through who wants to lay odds that there will be a 20yr deal before the CBA expires?
The Smooth Spark
July 20th, 2010
10:50 am
Do y’all really think we were involved at all with Kovy in the form of a 5 year offer worth $40 M? I don’t know why Lombardi would say that unless he is citing a 3rd, less-publicized offer / option we offered Kovy last winter? Knowing we have 5 RFA’s due big raises and likely spending $11-12 M on them, why would we use another $8 M on Kovy when we didn’t even spend more than $52 M last season. Seems dubious, but who knows? Perhaps we floated that offer just in case Kovy was having misgivings about NJ and second thoughts about returning to the ATL.
Doing our due diligence I suppose. Would be nice to think we’d be willing to commit at least half that money to Frolov or Stempniak.
The Smooth Spark
July 20th, 2010
10:55 am
News from C-Viv: says on twitter that arbitrator likely to award MacArthur more than $2 M per and the Thrashers will likely walk away thus making him a UFA.
Good luck with that $2 M price-tag Clarke. And cut your hair!!
TableHockey
July 20th, 2010
11:00 am
Buh-Bye Clarkie – the Thrashers are apparently done with their over payments.
Jack
July 20th, 2010
11:06 am
I wonder who if any will be the suitors for King Arthurs court.
kracker
July 20th, 2010
11:12 am
“…arbitrator likely to award MacArthur more than $2 M per…”
Whoop whoop whoop — arbitrator on crack alert!
kracker
July 20th, 2010
11:15 am
Yep, TableHockey. That makes a roster spot available. For a FA, a vet in a trade or for a young ‘un?
World Be Free
July 20th, 2010
11:41 am
Take MacArthur’s money and use it for Max!
Dwayne
July 20th, 2010
11:47 am
Rawhide, congrates on NBC sports recognizing a real writer.
Ilya and Simon are gone. When does Atl. make a move?
Did that crazy Joe Johnson signing do the Thrashers in?
Octotards in full “Slingblade” mode.
Sage:Yall always seem to be deep in thought. Tell me, what are you thinking right now?
Octotard: I was thinkin’, I’m gonna take me some of these taters home with me.
Sage: How about before that?
Octotard: Well, let me think… I was thinkin’ I could use me another couple cans’o that potted meat if ya got any extree
Joe Friday
July 20th, 2010
12:01 pm
Good, did not like MacArthur’s game at all, but that does mean we pissed away two draft picks for nuthin
Dandylions
July 20th, 2010
12:14 pm
Rawhide hits the big time with NBC. (Not really sure why he employed the “strike-through” gimmick there, but to each his own, I guess.) We get the gimmick Rawhide – others are not so sharp.
World Be Free
July 20th, 2010
1:06 pm
J/F- I thought Clarke would have been better. We have to remember that as much as we give Dudley credit, we have to believe that Duds is the guy who went out and got MacArthur. Nobody’s perfect, I guess.
Rawhide
July 20th, 2010
1:16 pm
Darren – Thank you for leting me know about NBC Sports linking the piece. I’m honored.
Dwayne & Dandylions – Thank you for you kind words about it too.
Red Light
July 20th, 2010
1:42 pm
May I play Devil’s advocate here? C-Mac has a two-game point streak going heading into the 2010 season, and you want to give up on that because he’ll make more than $2 million? Such shortsightedness!
DWTOO
July 20th, 2010
1:45 pm
R/L – Your comment just drips with sarcasm. We’re talking about 1.5 mil for Max and this guy is looking for 2.0 mil. Forget it – he’s fortunate to be in the NHL period – 750,000 at most.
R. Stroz
July 20th, 2010
1:52 pm
MacArthur reminded me of a younger Todd White.
The arbitrator must be into toilet paper.
Waste of 3rd and 4th round draft picks though.
Rawhide
July 20th, 2010
1:59 pm
Jumpin-Jeezus-ona-Pogo-Stick!!! 250+ comments in just a day and a half. And in the dead of summer too.
I was gonna wait ’til tomorrow to post a new blog, but you’ve forced my hand.
Tom
July 20th, 2010
2:01 pm
Stroz
So My guess is that Todd White is Charmin Basic, the original.
So what does that make McArthur? Charmin Ultra Strong, Ultra Soft, Sensitive, or a Freshmate?
alex
July 20th, 2010
2:03 pm
what next on nhl contract list? i heard one team thinking to offer soon be ufa 99 years long with last 88 pay one ruble for year. by the way khl already reserved right for kovy for next 10 yaers after current contract is expiring. good investments bravo.
Brendan
July 20th, 2010
5:54 pm
Well, Lou pulled it off. He had ownership’s blessing, clearly. I think this contract is dishonest, in terms of the “spirit” of the rules. But hey, it’s not illegal. So, landing a pure sniper before his even hits his PRIME years for a measely cap of $6 million is truly amazing. I still say, however, that if Kovalchuk retires early, the Devils cap hit should still remain $6 million all the way until 2027. That’s only fair. This is a legal, binding contract. And if it’s permitted, it must be honored. Fully. And completely. If Kovy retires in 2021, God Speed, but the Devils cap should still have to reflect the contract they made. They knew that Kovy could retire early. They not only KNEW it, but probably DISCUSSED it. This is where I think the league should step in. If to do nothing more than remind the club of their obligations, through 2027.