sixer

+1

How Crazy & Stupid is this!!!! Toronto Star Jun 20, 2008 06:46 AM Rick Westhead Sports business columnist Several teams in Russia's revamped pro hockey league want to repatriate NHL all-star Evgeni Malkin by offering him a contract that would make him hockey's highest-paid player – by a wide margin. In a move that would surely send a shock through the NHL, whose executives are gathered today in Ottawa for the amateur player draft, the Russian teams are poised to offer the Russian-born Pittsburgh Penguins forward a multi-year contract worth at least $12.5 million (all figures U.S.) tax free per season, said a source familiar with the matter. The offer would be equivalent to at least a $15 million per year in the NHL, where players have to pay state (or provincial) and federal taxes. By contrast, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is the top-paid player in the NHL at just under $9.6 million a season. "Hey, we can afford to pay more than the NHL right now," a high-ranking executive with the Russian league told the Star this morning. "Our economy is commodities-based so we're not going through the same problems that you have in America." The executive said a $12.5 million offer to Malkin "is not crazy" but conceded, "it's on the edge of crazy." Malkin is one of the NHL's top young stars. This season, his second in the NHL, he scored 47 goals and added 59 assists in 82 games with the Penguins and was the runner-up to Ovechkin for the most valuable player trophy. The power forward was also an all-star and was paid a base salary of $984,200, a year after winning the NHL's rookie of the year award. Malkin also has an endorsement contract with Canadian hockey company Bauer, which is negotiating a possible sponsorship agreement with the new Russian league, a source said. If Malkin decided to return to Russia it would be a move reminiscent of Bobby Hull's defection from the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks in 1972 to the World Hockey Association's Winnipeg Jets. The Jets agreed to pay Hull $1 million over 10 years. The new Russian league, known as the Continental Hockey League, has turned to the likes of former NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow to develop a strategy for competing against the NHL. It's a rivalry that seems certain to turn nasty. The Russian league executive confirmed teams have already started to offer contracts to some players who are already under contract to an NHL club. And while the Russian league will use a salary cap to control player expenses, the salary of a player who quits an NHL contract to play in Russia won't count against their cap. A Russian league official brushed off suggestions that the NHL would legally contest such contract offers. "What happened with Malkin when he came to the NHL?" the official said. After the Penguins drafted Malkin in 2004, he remained in Russia, where his club team argued he had an existing contract. After Malkin left for North America, his team unsuccessfully filed an antitrust lawsuit against the NHL, arguing he had an existing contract in Russia. The new Russian league is scheduled to start its season Sept. 2. http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/446583 & http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=241220&amp...s=secStory_main

Waaaaaay overpaid, what are the Caps thinking????

We would be unstoppable with Sundin and an overall Healthy squad. Unstoppable, Sundin is a force!

Too much money in my opinion, but I'm sure he'll be great for Tampa. Pittsburgh will miss him. Crazy money upfront, watch him have a career ending injury after his 2nd year with Tampa! http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242037&amp...s=topStory_main Ryan Malone has agreed to a seven year, $31.5 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Malone, who would have drawn considerable interest from around the NHL as an unrestricted free agent, will earn between $7 and $8 million in each of the first two years of the deal. Tampa Bay traded a third-round draft pick in 2009 to the Penguins in exchange for the exclusive negotiating rights to forwards Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts on Saturday. On Sunday, the two sides got the deal done. Adding some intrigue to the story, last week the Lightning hired former Penguins' player Greg Malone as their head pro scout. Greg Malone is the father of Ryan.

I honestly think Sundin will NOT sign with the Habs or Toronto. I think we're the best bet after that. Can't wait to find out!

No one in the league is afraid of Downey, we need a real enforcer. ps. Tucker is not an enforcer either, and his days are done.

Excellent choice, we need another future goaltending prospect and Mgmt looks for a player who has the right mindset and knows what's it going to take to succeed at an NHL level. This guy was pumped to be picked by the Wings, sounds like he has a good head on his shoulders, (unlike some, aka Waived Emery), and these are things that are crucial to Wings organization. They took past swedish prospects shopping and said you need to eat this and this, are you ready for that? And lastly, aside from giving up Matthias for dumb azz Bertuzzi, our guys haven't made any other mistakes.

Wow, he must have really hated ferguson jr. to not get traded and then sign with the Habs

I still believe that if those 2 intereference penalties in game OT would not have been called, as they weren't penalties, our sustained momentum would have won us the game.

#1 Coach in the NHL

Thanks, I'll call them later tomorrow.

Ya, I noticed that one. I'm actually looking for the newer ones they were selling at the Joe, it's larger then that one. They were $25 at the Joe. I can't find them anywhere. On a side note, when visiting downtown Detroit we were very disappointed with the lack of Wings merchandise for sale. Hockeytown cafe had hardly anything, sportsmania in greektown had hardly anything, all Tigers stuff, very disappointed with shopping in downtown Detroit.

Does anyone know where I can get my daughter one of the stuffed toy Octopuses online? They ran out at the Joe when I was there for game 5. I can't find them anywhere!!!! Thanks!

The Officiating was HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!! So inconsistent and to give the Wings so many calls at crucial moments in a Cup Final was BS!!!!! HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!! The League better get it's act together!!!!

THANKS GUYS!!!

Unless Babs talks to Lilja and he says he's not 100% rested, Chelios will not be playing.

What a Loser

Wow, hope you get tickets, have an awesome time!!!

WE WANT THE CUP!!! WE WANT THE CUP!!!

Although it's never too late, I do think it's too late from the perspective we would have won game 5 if not swept this series if he had done so immediately after Therrien whined and complained. Therrien changed the officials who started targeting Wings for interference, etc all throughout the past several games. No one can disagree with that. Problem now is, do the boys change up the game plan given they received a couple penalties last night which should NOT have been Penalties. For instance, 2 intereference penalties in O/T.

Hey guys, coming in for Game 5 and not sure what to expect in terms of chaos and partying if we're able to win game 5. Is all the chaos concentrated typically outside JLA, Hockeytown on Woodward, Greektown, etc? This question is for those who were out and about during our last couple cup wins.