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Subject: kovalchuk?
Posted by: smiles
- [468432422] Tue, Oct 04, 2005, 03:07
Anyone have the word on kovalchuk's status to signing this season? |
| 1 | smiles
ID: 403452612
Thu, Oct 06, 2005, 17:09
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anyone?
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| 2 | J
Leader
ID: 049346417
Thu, Oct 06, 2005, 17:11
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http://www.ajc.com/thrashers/content/sports/thrashers/1005/06thrashnote.html
• Kovalchuk update: Ilya Kovalchuk arrived in New York on Wednesday evening and met his six-day-old daughter. Waddell said he spoke to Kovalchuk's agent Jay Grossman on Tuesday night but that "nothing has changed" and said that it was just part of "ongoing discussions." The Thrashers will fly to Washington today after practicing here for Friday's game against the Capitals. With Washington only about a four-hour drive from New York, Waddell would not rule out the possibility of meeting with Kovalchuk but would not commit to going either.
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| 3 | J
Leader
ID: 049346417
Thu, Oct 06, 2005, 17:13
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From another article from the ajc earlier this week...
Ilya Kovalchuk will arrive in the United States on Wednesday to spend time with his girlfriend and new daughter, Carolina (pronounced Kar-o-lee-na), in New York, his agent Jay Grossman said. If he is not signed by the Thrashers, Kovalchuk will likely leave Sunday to rejoin his Russian Super League club. His team's next game after he returns is on Wednesday, Oct. 12, and if Kovalchuk plays that night, he would be lost for the season. Grossman and Thrashers GM Don Waddell each confirmed that the parties have not spoken since Friday.
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| 4 | J
Leader
ID: 049346417
Fri, Oct 07, 2005, 09:01
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and today:
Kovalchuk may fly away
Unsigned Thrashers star could leave for Russia on Sunday
By JOHN MANASSO
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/07/05
WASHINGTON — Unsigned Thrashers All-Star left wing Ilya Kovalchuk made clear his intention on Thursday to play a full season in Russia, possibly as soon as Sunday.
Speaking to an AJC reporter, Kovalchuk talked about his contract situation. It was his first interview about the contract discussion in North America.
"It's my intention to go back to Russia on Sunday," he said through an interpreter via phone from New York. "I haven't heard from [Thrashers'] management. I don't know [what is going to happen]. If they call right now and offer something then maybe [a contract can be completed]. But otherwise I'm going back to Russia."
Time is running out, but Thrashers general manager Don Waddell seems optimistic.
"I'm confident that we're going to continue to negotiate and get a deal done," he said. Waddell said the parties would talk again in the next 24 hours.
The parties remain about $6.5 million apart over a five-year contract, with the team offering about $5.5 million a season while Kovalchuk remains closer to $7 million. Neither side has exchanged proposals since before the preseason began Sept. 11.
The team's deadline to sign Kovalchuk is Wednesday morning at the latest. With the eight-hour time change and 10-hour flight, Kovalchuk could arrive in Russia on Monday.
No games are scheduled in the Russian Super League until Wednesday. If he plays on Wednesday — probably by 10 or 11 a.m. Eastern time — the Thrashers could not risk signing him after that.
Through a rule known informally as the "re-entry" rule, a player who plays in Europe after the NHL season starts must clear waivers to return to his NHL team. Any of 29 teams could claim Kovalchuk, a virtual certainty, meaning the Thrashers would lose him.
Asked if he thought a contract might still be able to be completed on Monday or Tuesday, Kovalchuk said, "I'm not even thinking about it. It's my intention to go back and play there. I'm having fun playing there."
Waddell, while not responding directly to Kovalchuk, said the deadline is not something he can control.
"I remain the same," Waddell said. "Our goal is to still try to get a deal done."
Of a possible deadline, Waddell said, "If they chose to move that up, that's their [prerogative]."
But what if Kovalchuk plays in Russia on Wednesday?
"That's his deadline," Waddell said. "He's lived up to it."
Playing with team Khimik Voskresensk, Kovalchuk is leading the Super League in goals with eight in 11 games. He also has five assists, ranking him second in points.
Kovalchuk said he might switch by December to play for Omsk, which is owned by one of Russia's wealthiest men, Roman Abramovich. But he said his preference is to play for the Thrashers.
"I love Atlanta, I love the fans, I love the emotion," he said. "It would be much more preferable to play in the NHL because, of course, it's a better level of competition — however, under certain conditions. I honestly think that my agent [Jay Grossman] was fair and reasonable and flexible and that his demands have not been met."
Kovalchuk did not rule out playing for the Thrashers in the future if he is not signed for this season. He said it is up to Waddell.
"It all depends on the general manager," he said. "I was very excited to watch the [Thrashers' season opener] game. I got on the plane in time to watch the game. I like the style of the new NHL."
Asked why he thought the Thrashers would not meet his demands, he said, "That question would be better addressed to Atlanta's management."
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| 5 | Ira
ID: 568281417
Fri, Oct 07, 2005, 18:48
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NEW YORK (SI.com) -- All-Star left winger Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta's leading scorer in 2003-04, is expected to reach a contract agreement with the Thrashers before the end of this weekend, SI.com has learned.
Kovalchuk, a restricted free agent, has been threatening to spend this season playing in the Super League in his native Russia. On Thursday, he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he would be leaving for Russia on Sunday.
But negotiations between the young star and the Thrashers have accelerated and now Kovalchuk will return to Atlanta, although there is no word on when he'll make his season debut. The Thrashers host Washington on Saturday, then have three days off before hosting Montreal next Wednesday.
The two sides have been discussing a multi-year deal, with Kovalchuk seeking close to $7 million per year while the Thrashers offered approximately $5.5 million annually.
The Thrashers want to avoid seeing Kovalchuk suit up for a Russian team, since NHL rules stipulate that any player who plays in Europe after the start of the NHL season must clear waivers in order to return to his original team.
Kovalchuk tied Columbus' Rick Nash for the NHL lead with 41 goals in the last season before the lockout. He also had 46 assists, finishing 32 points ahead of Atlanta's second-highest scorer.
Kovalchuk's girlfriend delivered a girl this past weekend, Thrashers GM Don Waddell noted in a wire story earlier this week, and the player was in Atlanta to spend time with his newborn child. That gave the Thrashers an opportunity to meet with the player.
The Thrashers, who have never made the playoffs, took advantage of league's new salary cap to bring in plenty of help for Kovalchuk up front. Bobby Holik and Peter Bondra were signed as free agents, and Marian Hossa was acquired from Ottawa in a deal for Dany Heatley.
The team also expects to be much better defensively with newcomers Jaroslav Modry, Niclas Havelid, Tomas Kloucek and former first-round pick Braydon Coburn.
Waddell said the Thrashers are willing to give Kovalchuk a slightly better deal than the one Nash got from the Blue Jackets: five years at $27 million.
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| 6 | smiles
ID: 403452612
Sat, Oct 08, 2005, 20:35
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whew!! he signed :) would i look like an idiot selecting him #8th overall in a 11 team snake style draft (roto league)
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| 7 | J
Leader
ID: 049346417
Sun, Oct 09, 2005, 02:38
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Thrashers had 7 goals scored on Friday night, 8 goals Saturday night. Maybe we dont need Kovy :)
Or maybe Washington is THAT bad???
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| 8 | Great One
ID: 48842511
Sun, Oct 09, 2005, 11:36
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In a league where a guy gave up on Kovalchuk on Thursday and dropped him... I saw that and used my top priority and scooped him right up and figured I'd take the chance on him signing or not.
I got him.
Now the commish is claiming due to the circumstances, he wants to award Kovalchuk back to the guy that dropped him in order to not crush his entire season.
This is a fairly relaxed work league where nobody is really a hockey expert, but i think this situation is irrelevant to it being hockey and more applicable to general fantasy sports "unwritten rules." (And this guy plays other sports regularly).
My feeling is that - he dropped him, its open season. It's his own damn fault for not reading up on his top guy when reports were out last week that he was in the US and could potentially work out a deal (as seen above).
If I don't get response (since I know there is less traffic in this forum)I will post in a football thread or something to get some thoughts and opinions.
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| 9 | Mike D
Leader
ID: 041831612
Sun, Oct 09, 2005, 11:49
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I agree
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| 10 | R9
Leader
ID: 02624472
Sun, Oct 09, 2005, 13:08
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I say tough luck. If they insist that he gets Kovalchuk back though, you should get some kind of compensation back from him. (Including your 1st waiver priority back.)
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| 11 | Great One
ID: 48842511
Sun, Oct 09, 2005, 20:09
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If he were to be awarded back - that would set a an unfair precedent i.e. I drop Javon Walker after his ACL tear and is presumed out for the season... he miraculously heals up and comes back. According to that ruling - I would be the only one who could pick him back up. It's like even though he is a free agent, I am the only one who owns him. That is illogical.
What if he instead traded away Kovalchuk for some average player assuming he was out for year... would we then reverse that trade too because its now a bad trade and sucks for that guy? No, its his own damn fault. He gave up on him IMO.
And your damn right they better set back my waiver priority if they are gonna make that horrendous ruling.
I hope to hear a few more thoughts, thanks for those who have chimed in thus far.
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| 12 | J
Leader
ID: 049346417
Sun, Oct 09, 2005, 20:19
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I agree with you, but This is a fairly relaxed work league.
So, its really up to you.
Are you looking to dominate everyone or have some good friendly competition?
What does the guy who dropped Kovalchuk have to say for himself?
Would this decision affect any relationships at work or is it really just for fun?
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| 13 | bookie
ID: 33415148
Sun, Oct 09, 2005, 21:50
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Relaxed league or not, he dropped the guy.. although, one more question.. was it a live draft? If he had control of all of his picks, then he voluntary drafted him too.... If it's a list, sometimes you get stuck with guys that might not ordinarily draft and then maybe just maybe, I'd say let it slide...
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| 14 | slosh23
ID: 54857316
Sun, Oct 16, 2005, 00:39
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Bumped to find Bookie...
If you are still checking in, drop me a line.
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| 15 | R9
Leader
ID: 02624472
Sun, Oct 16, 2005, 01:30
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Pretty sure he's out of town for a bit slosh.
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