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Greatness=PavelDatsyuk

NHL Rejects Kovalchuk's Contract

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Guest DatsyukianDeke13

What people need to keep in mind is that Kovalchuk is one of the few pure goal scorers in this league. If you want to compare other goal scorers to Ovechkin, Kovy would be the only one who be comparable. After the lockout, the least amount of goals he has scored in a given year was 41. He has 50 goals twice. Now you also have to remember that he played on freakin Atlanta lol. I don't think it is out of line for him to demand the kind of money he is. Next to Ovechkin, he is the best and most consistent goal scorer in the league.

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The realistic part of his contract was about 95 mil. for 10 yrs. 9.5 per year. That is comparable with the other top players. And seeing that he is the only superstar UFA available this year, it is realistic to for him to expect to get OV/Crosby type money. He is as good or has a chance of being just as good as them, given a decent team to play for.

Why should Kovalchuk expect Crosby or Ovechkin money? He's a good player, but not on their level.

Also, Crosby only gets $8.7M for 5 years, quite a bit different than $9.5M for 10 years. It is comparable to Ovechkin though, who's getting $9.6 million for 13 years.

Stats wise though, Kovy doesn't compare.

Crosby and Ovechkin both have 4 - 100pt seasons out of 5 career years. The seasons they missed, Ovechkin had 92 pts and Crosby missed like 30 games, he was on pace for well over 100 and to lead the league. Kovy has never had a 100pt season.

Career ppg stats:

Crosby - 1.364 ~ 112pts over 82 games

Ovechkin - 1.336 ~ 110pts over 82 games

Kovalchuk - 1.034 ~ 85pts over 82 games

I agree with whoever asked why this guy thinks he's worth so much. Even if you think he's one of the best goal scorers, pure sniper, well, compare him to Crosby, a guy that most think doesn't score that much......their gpg stats are not that different.

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It's not really a valid comparison to compare UFAs and RFAs. Crosby never touched unrestricted free agency (and likely never will), and nor did Ovechkin. Had either one of them been UFAs, they likely would have been offered contracts for the league maximum from multiple teams. Also, they both signed a couple of years ago and contracts have been on the rise.

One could make the argument that Kovalchuk is the best player to reach unrestricted free agency in the modern era, and certainly post-lockout. When was the last time a player of Kovalchuk's talents, having just turned 27 years old, hit the open market, available to the highest bidder? I can't remember such an occasion.

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One could make the argument that Kovalchuk is the best player to reach unrestricted free agency in the modern era, and certainly post-lockout. When was the last time a player of Kovalchuk's talents, having just turned 27 years old, hit the open market, available to the highest bidder? I can't remember such an occasion.

Hossa was a little bit older, and generally a little less productive, but I'd say they're in the same neighborhood.

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Why should Kovalchuk expect Crosby or Ovechkin money? He's a good player, but not on their level.

Also, Crosby only gets $8.7M for 5 years, quite a bit different than $9.5M for 10 years. It is comparable to Ovechkin though, who's getting $9.6 million for 13 years.

Stats wise though, Kovy doesn't compare.

Crosby and Ovechkin both have 4 - 100pt seasons out of 5 career years. The seasons they missed, Ovechkin had 92 pts and Crosby missed like 30 games, he was on pace for well over 100 and to lead the league. Kovy has never had a 100pt season.

Career ppg stats:

Crosby - 1.364 ~ 112pts over 82 games

Ovechkin - 1.336 ~ 110pts over 82 games

Kovalchuk - 1.034 ~ 85pts over 82 games

I agree with whoever asked why this guy thinks he's worth so much. Even if you think he's one of the best goal scorers, pure sniper, well, compare him to Crosby, a guy that most think doesn't score that much......their gpg stats are not that different.

The crux of my argument wasn't that Kovalchuk is as good as Crosby, but that he is the ONLY UFA this year that is close to that top level. Therefore, in a competitive bidding process, he can expect to be overpaid for. How quick are we to forget the contracts of Vanek, Gomez, Briere, Finger, etc. All got more rich than their performance warranted, because there was relatively few top quality players turning UFA the same year as they. Supply and Demand, my friend, Supply and Demand. :)

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The problem is the players salaries are rising faster than the salary cap. Teams are being forced to come up with ideas like this to get around it. If these mega deals get rejected and things stay the way they are, you're eventually going to have a situation where every team in the league has just two stars and a bunch of AHLers or a team of mediocre players.

It is not like there is a huge market for hockey players out there. Where would all the expensive stars go?

The only reason salaries are rising is because NHL team owners are rising them.

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EDIT: If that was to happen even for past contracts then Zetterberg's cap hit will rise ~$1.6M and Franzen's ~$1.2M basically Hudler or Cleary

Edited by dragonballgtz

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^ If they pull that s*** that's just stupid. At least make it so after the 5 years it's then an average of the next 5 years, or something.

The average isn't the problem, it's that contracts are being made to end past when players are actually thinking of playing. Seriously, where is Bettman's phone number.

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Before looking a bit into contract specifications I thought the NHL would've accepted it. But after a closer peek that move is obvious. But there'll be a new deal out soon but one with a much higher cap hit.

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Guest Crymson

Hossa was a little bit older, and generally a little less productive, but I'd say they're in the same neighborhood.

Hossa's contract was right on the border of acceptable/unacceptable. The NHL got quite a bit of criticism for not contesting it. Kovalchuk's contract pushed into new territory; the league couldn't let it stand.

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^ If they pull that s*** that's just stupid. At least make it so after the 5 years it's then an average of the next 5 years, or something.

That's actually a pretty good solution. Though I'm glad we got ours in before they do it. But 17 years was to the point of absurd.

The average isn't the problem, it's that contracts are being made to end past when players are actually thinking of playing. Seriously, where is Bettman's phone number.

1-800-BiteMe. Bettman's an imbecile who doesn't care. He's not going to get a clue just because someone points out something obvious to him. He's the worst commissioner of any sport I've ever seen.

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The average isn't the problem, it's that contracts are being made to end past when players are actually thinking of playing. Seriously, where is Bettman's phone number.

Agreed. No one would even blink if, say, a 29 year-old player got a six-year contract that went like $3M, $3M, $1.5M, $1.5M, $750K, $750K. Try and sign a 37 year old player to a contract like that and the tune would change, because of where the contract ends.

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Agreed. No one would even blink if, say, a 29 year-old player got a six-year contract that went like $3M, $3M, $1.5M, $1.5M, $750K, $750K. Try and sign a 37 year old player to a contract like that and the tune would change, because of where the contract ends.

Exactly, or even take Kovy's exact contract and have a 20 year old sign it. It might be incredibly dumb and might be criticized as such but most likely would not be rejected by the NHL because the player would only be 37 when it was over.

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The crux of my argument wasn't that Kovalchuk is as good as Crosby, but that he is the ONLY UFA this year that is close to that top level. Therefore, in a competitive bidding process, he can expect to be overpaid for. How quick are we to forget the contracts of Vanek, Gomez, Briere, Finger, etc. All got more rich than their performance warranted, because there was relatively few top quality players turning UFA the same year as they. Supply and Demand, my friend, Supply and Demand. :)

Well actually Fletcher thought Finger was Derek Morris so he offered him a much too large contract

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Guest mjtm77

What people need to keep in mind is that Kovalchuk is one of the few pure goal scorers in this league. If you want to compare other goal scorers to Ovechkin, Kovy would be the only one who be comparable. After the lockout, the least amount of goals he has scored in a given year was 41. He has 50 goals twice. Now you also have to remember that he played on freakin Atlanta lol. I don't think it is out of line for him to demand the kind of money he is. Next to Ovechkin, he is the best and most consistent goal scorer in the league.

Stamkos, Gaborik

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From Sportsnet :

All indications are the NHL Players' Association will file a grievance by Monday at 5 p.m. over the league rejecting the 17-year, $102-million contract signed by Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils.

A source told sportsnet.ca that the only way a grievance would not be filed was if the Devils and Kovalchuk restructure the deal. However, the source also said that even if the two parties do re-work the contract, the NHLPA may still elect to file a grievance to prevent the league from taking similar action on future deals.

...

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Stamkos, Gaborik

Stamkos had 1 good year and is playing on a rookie contract. Gaborik has a rep as "fragile" (avg 64 games/season) and still makes 7.5 mil./yr. Neither is a good comparison, salary-wise.

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Cry me a damn river.

From TSN :

Another chapter has been added to the Ilya Kovalchuk saga as the NHL Players' Association has filed a grievance on behalf of the Russian superstar who had his controversial 17-year, $102 million contract with the New Jersey Devils rejected by the league.

The Players' Association announced their intentions in a statement on Monday.

"The NHLPA has filed a grievance disputing the NHL's rejection of the Standard Player Contract between the New Jersey Devils and Ilya Kovalchuk. Under the terms of the CBA, the NHLPA and Mr. Kovalchuk are entitled to an expedited resolution of this matter. The NHLPA will have no further comment until this matter has been resolved by an Arbitrator."

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly issued a statement on the grievance on behalf of the league.

"We have received formal notice that the NHLPA is grieving the League's rejection of Ilya Kovalchuk's contract with the New Jersey Devils. Although there is no defined timetable at this point, we intend to work with the Players' Association to ensure an expeditious resolution of this dispute. The League looks forward to the opportunity to establish its position before the arbitrator. We will have no further public comment pending completion of the process."

...

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The crux of my argument wasn't that Kovalchuk is as good as Crosby, but that he is the ONLY UFA this year that is close to that top level. Therefore, in a competitive bidding process, he can expect to be overpaid for. How quick are we to forget the contracts of Vanek, Gomez, Briere, Finger, etc. All got more rich than their performance warranted, because there was relatively few top quality players turning UFA the same year as they. Supply and Demand, my friend, Supply and Demand. :)

Vanek's contract was driven up my Kevin Lowe's offer sheet though. I don't who forgets those contracts you mentioned though. I don't. I remember people wondering if Datsyuk was getting too much at 6.7 a year when he signed right before the playoffs and then a few months later two 2nd line centers in Drury and Gomez signed for more money than that.

And while it is supply and demand on this market, and over a shorter term deal I would have no problem with Kovalchuck getting 7-8mil a year. But the length and when the deal ends in terms of his age is stupid. The way I explained it to a Devils fan as to why I thought in now way was he worth it was that over the next 11 years, if Hossa and Zetterberg play out their deals Kovy would make about $44mil more than Hossa and around $34mil more than Zetterberg. Just because he might be one of the best pure goal scorers in the league doesn't mean he's worth THAT MUCH more than those two guys who have both shown to be able to score 40 goals.

Here is an interesting read from The Hockey News:

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/34607-THNcom-Blog-Kovalchuk-contract-could-be-restructured-by-arbitrator.html

That potential reform of the deal would suck for Kovy but when you blatantly circumvent the cap like that, more than any other deal has, you ask for it. And he said it was about the team and he wanted to be NJ? I mean he also said he would play till he's 44 so why should he care right?

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