MacArthur may not return
First of all…I’ll apologize upfront for the title of today’s blog. But given C-Viv’s recent report, I figured there was only a limited amount of time left to dispose of all of the Gen. MacArthur quips…as well as other referrences to his name… that I could.
Clarke MacArthur, seen here against Antero Niittymaki, scored 3 goals and 6 assists and was a -2 with the Thrashers last spring (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
According to Vivlamore’s post, C-Mac’s arbitration hearing is set for tomorrow. And if a decision is rendered to award the 25-year old forward $2 million-plus for the upcoming season, the Thrashers will likely allow him to walk. This would then turn the RFA into a UFA, freeing him to seek another NHL team to fork over that type of money for his services.
Now, that sum might sound like a pretty heft amount to keep a third or fourth-line winger around, but put yourself in Clarke’s skates for a moment. I mean, shouldn’t your 16 goals, 19 assists and -16 rating be worth at least $2 million if Todd White’s 7 goals, 19 assist and -11 showing is still worth $2.4 mil to keep around?
Well…?
Regardless, I’d have to say if I were in Rick Dudley’s position I would balk at that price too. Especially if I could take that lettuce and toss it at someone like Maxim Afinogenov in attempt to get him to re-sign here. After all, 24 goals and 27 assists is a lot better return for $2 million clams.
At least it’s an adequate reward for the offensive production he provided for just $800,000.
Given all that, it’s more than justified for Dudley and Co. to leave the offer on the arbitration table and let MacArthur park himself on another team’s roster if he’s able…or just fade away.
sigh…OK, I think I’m done here.
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58 comments Add your comment
Trixie (Rawhide's Secretary)
July 20th, 2010
10:29 pm
Mr. kracker – Give me time, sir, and I’ll free you post…there, done.
Flames
July 20th, 2010
10:35 pm
I can’t wait for the season to start. R Stroz-You are the man! I love that Grossman has to figure another way to make this work.
kracker
July 20th, 2010
10:41 pm
Thank you, Rawhide. I guess everyone gets their turn for lost posts. Sorry to be grumpy tonight, I’m trying to get 100% off the nicotine. It wasn’t a very good post anyhow, just me laughing at Grossman and Lou.
Rawhide
July 20th, 2010
11:09 pm
Yup…looks like it was a bad night for Kovalchuk and vuvuzelas.
Red Light
July 20th, 2010
11:13 pm
Darren: Not according to this Website: http://redwingscentral.com/camps/2010-11/schedule-tournament.php
Minnesota, Carolina, Columbus, N.Y. Rangers, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Dallas and Detroit
R. Stroz
July 20th, 2010
11:21 pm
In fairness to Joe Bob Friday, I thought the Luongo and Pronger contracts had pushed the boundries too far, the Hossa contract should have been voided as the terms clearly were “not in the spirit” of the CBA.
As a result of the Hossa contract being allowed, Nasty Lou and scumball Grossman pushed the boundries even further, to the point of absurdity, so action had to be taken.
I’m glad to see Bettman “grew a pair” and put a stop to the insanity.
I guess the Devil was in the details.
kracker
July 20th, 2010
11:36 pm
Ugh! This isn’t over by a long shot, probably. We will have lawyers for the NHL and NHLPA filing griveances and counter-filings, arbatration, lots of statements from the various parties to try to “try the proceedings in the press,” on and on….
It will be like a grisly slow-motion automobile crash – you’re sickened but you can’t look away.
Brendan
July 21st, 2010
12:39 am
Here’s a short solution. Just pay Kovalchuk his $6.0 million every year, for 17 years. Who can argue with that? And if Kovalchuk retires early, he sacrifices $24 million between the age of 41 to 44. $30 million, if he annuls the final 5 years.
I’ll tell you why Kovalchuk and his agent won’t agree to that. Pride. It’s exactly the same $102 million, it’s just that a $6.0 million-a-year contract doesn’t “wow” anyone. It’s not more than Crosby or Ovechkin. Or Lecavalier or Iginla. Or Drury, Briere, Gomez, or Vanek. It’s not some $10 million salary or cap hit. It lacks “oomph.” But if Ilya would agree to it, the NHL would probably agree to it, too. Let’s face some concepts here. If Ilya wants to play in NJ, then that’s his choice. And if he’d agree to $6 million-a-year, from now on, his Devils could afford to do a lot of things. And at the end of the day, if he honors his contract by playing all 17 seasons, the money will be the same. Which leads me to this: “Ilya Kovalchuk never needed dime # 1 of this contract.” This is about ego, while landing on a contender.