NHL.com wrote:"Our goal from the start of this negotiating process was to sign Ilya Kovalchuk to a long-term contract," Waddell said. "During the process, Kovy affirmed his desire to be a Thrasher for life. We've spent several months exploring scenarios with Kovy and his agent to reach a mutually beneficial agreement, and offered many lucrative packages in an attempt to meet his financial objectives. Unfortunately, we've reached an impasse and at this point he has declined all of our proposals and we can't reasonably go any higher."
Waddell said the club offered Kovalchuk a 12-year, $101 million deal, but it was rejected. Waddell said it would have been the highest contract ever signed by an impending free agent in NHL history.
Waddell also said a $70 million, seven-year deal was rejected. Waddell said that deal would have made Kovalchuk's average annual salary $10 million per season $500,000 more than any player in the League.
I just am not seeing the connect between Kovalchuk saying "I want to be a Thrasher for life" and rejecting a deal paying him $10 mill a season. Realistically, nobody is going to pay him much more than that. What the heck does this guy want?
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WaukeeBlues wrote:I just am not seeing the connect between Kovalchuk saying "I want to be a Thrasher for life" and rejecting a deal paying him $10 mill a season. Realistically, nobody is going to pay him much more than that. What the heck does this guy want?
All lip service.
He's sick of losing so much.
Atlanta (well those of them that actually care) will be burning when he signs with his next team.
I think it is pretty clear this isn't about money. He just doesn't want to play for the Thrashers.
If some other market is willing to offer him around the same money, why would he pass up the chance to pick his destination if he feels that the Thrashers are not the place for him? Really think about the history of that franchise and its past ability to be competitive.
That organization is also going through a lot of internal turmoil right now. I don’t want to sound nasty, but it is a loser of an organization and its long term outlook doesn’t look any better. The very fact it is a hockey franchise in the deep South puts it in mediocre footing financially.
With all that said, perhaps money could be a small part of it. I think he will make his NHL salary anywhere, but a bigger hockey market might bring in bigger/more endorsements and thus more non-NHL salary dollars. Those are things that agent will keep in mind and point out to their client.
SIU LAW wrote:I think it is pretty clear this isn't about money. He just doesn't want to play for the Thrashers.
If some other market is willing to offer him around the same money, why would he pass up the chance to pick his destination if he feels that the Thrashers are not the place for him? Really think about the history of that franchise and its past ability to be competitive.
That organization is also going through a lot of internal turmoil right now. I don’t want to sound nasty, but it is a loser of an organization and its long term outlook doesn’t look any better. The very fact it is a hockey franchise in the deep South puts it in mediocre footing financially.
With all that said, perhaps money could be a small part of it. I think he will make his NHL salary anywhere, but a bigger hockey market might bring in bigger/more endorsements and thus more non-NHL salary dollars. Those are things that agent will keep in mind and point out to their client.
Bingo.
Bottom line is...he doesn't want to play in Atlanta. I don't think it mattered what they offered him.
SIU LAW wrote:I think it is pretty clear this isn't about money. He just doesn't want to play for the Thrashers.
If some other market is willing to offer him around the same money, why would he pass up the chance to pick his destination if he feels that the Thrashers are not the place for him? Really think about the history of that franchise and its past ability to be competitive.
That organization is also going through a lot of internal turmoil right now. I don’t want to sound nasty, but it is a loser of an organization and its long term outlook doesn’t look any better. The very fact it is a hockey franchise in the deep South puts it in mediocre footing financially.
With all that said, perhaps money could be a small part of it. I think he will make his NHL salary anywhere, but a bigger hockey market might bring in bigger/more endorsements and thus more non-NHL salary dollars. Those are things that agent will keep in mind and point out to their client.
<closes eyes, clenches fists> not detroit not detroit not detroit not detroit not detroit