ToddNHLTALK Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 The Atlanta Thrashers and Forward Ilya Kovalchuk are still discussing a long term contract, these talks are coming along nicely nothing to serious yet but there is progress. http://twitter.com/ToddNHLTALK2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telly_39_s_1 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 I'd be really surprised if he stays in Atlanta. You'd think he would finally want to play for a contender after so long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket-1 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Antropov is gonna be pissed if Kovalchuk was to leave lol, he said it was the only reason why he signed there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NHL-Expert Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Antropov is gonna be pissed if Kovalchuk was to leave lol, he said it was the only reason why he signed there. a reporter - Nik why did you signed in Atlanta ? Antropov - Because of Kovalchuk and Kovalchuk only, because let's face it, beside Kovalchuk ATLANTA SUCKS yeah yeah that make alot of sense.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtl_-Habs4Life-_mtlc Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 a reporter - Nik why did you signed in Atlanta ? Antropov - Because of Kovalchuk and Kovalchuk only, because let's face it, beside Kovalchuk ATLANTA SUCKS yeah yeah that make alot of sense.... Well, it's true. Why else would anyone want to sign in Atlanta? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteenIsThaFuture Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 While the issue of impending UFA's bolting could be a problem, sometimes the big name players will be loyal,such as Kovalchuck: "I like everything here," Kovalchuk said. "It's a great city, my family loves it here. I feel very comfortable in the locker room and with management, trainers, everybody. I don't have any problems. If we're going to play well, I want to stay here. I want to win the Cup and bring it here because I was drafted by this team." It's a different situation, he explains, than that of former teammate Hossa, who made headlines when he passed on huge money to join the Detroit Red Wings for one season so he can try to win the Stanley Cup. Before trading him to Pittsburgh, the Thrashers tried desperately to sign Hossa but the forward was determined to test the free-agent market. After being drafted by Ottawa, shipped to Atlanta and shipped to Pittsburgh, Hossa finally had a chance to control his destiny. Kovalchuk understands why his former teammate did what he did. He's just not ready to do the same. He has no envy that Hossa escaped Atlanta and is in Hockeytown, where he's playing for the odds-on favorite to win it all. For one thing, he knows there's no guarantee in hockey. "You never know who is going to win the Stanley Cup. I'm never going to pick the one team before the season starts. (Detroit) has a good team, but the NHL is a different world. You can't predict who is going to win and who is going to lose," Kovalchuk said. "I think it's more fun when you go through everything and finally you get on top of the mountain. That's tough to do; it's not easy." Ilya wants to stay and he wants to win (and of course he wants to at least get paid near market value, whether he says it or not) in Atlanta, however that is not very likely to happen. They have the blocks there, Kane, Little, Bogosian and the recent acquisitions such as Kubina and Antropov (which Ilya had a huge hand in) are steps in the right direction, but until Atlanta's ownership starts to pony up money (currently sitting at a 44.322 cap hit, 27th in the NHL) but until the owners start to increase the team budget Waddell can spend as efficiently as he wants, but it will be a real challenge to prove to Ilya that Atlanta is a contender. http://hockproject.blogspot.com/2009/08/cb...free-agent.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruuvimeisseli Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Well, it's true. Why else would anyone want to sign in Atlanta? 3 reasons imo he signed with atlanta. *Kovalchuk *less pressure *more/lots of money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket-1 Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 a reporter - Nik why did you signed in Atlanta ? Antropov - Because of Kovalchuk and Kovalchuk only, because let's face it, beside Kovalchuk ATLANTA SUCKS yeah yeah that make alot of sense.... They are good buddies too. If you remember the day that Antropov signed they said on tsn he's going to play there with his buddy Kovalchuk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauro-Biello Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 "I like everything here," Kovalchuk said. "It's a great city, my family loves it here. Everytime I hear that coming from him, I lol. If Antropov and Kubina can't turn things around and miraculously boost up attendance, the team is done for the next few years, until the prospects get better. 9 million is alot for this team for both these players, they really should have tried to bargain to get them at a lower price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imisssaku Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 Hotlanta is a sleeper for sure. Kovalchuk, Kozlov, Antropov, Little, White, Peverley, Armstrong, Reasoner are some decent forwards, with Kubina/Enstrom/Hainsey/Bogosian on defense, and maybe, just MAYBE Lehtonen will turn into that #1 goalie he was supposed to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backlundfan Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 I agree that Atlanta is a sleeper team this year. It probably comes down to how well Lehtonen plays. Sadly, I do think Kovalachuk re-signs in Atlanta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteenIsThaFuture Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 Thrashers general manager Don Waddell described the ongoing contract negotiations with star Ilya Kovalchuk as “constructive” and said Monday that he is optimistic that a new deal would be completed. Waddell said the two sides have exchanged contract proposals. “We’ve had several face-to-face meetings,” Waddell said. “We’ve had some very, very long discussions.” Kovalchuk, the franchise’s all-time leader in goals, points and games played, is entering the final year of his contract. The earliest the team could begin negotiating a new contract in the offseason was July 1. Waddell has said previously he wanted to get a deal done before the start of the season. The Thrashers report to training camp on Sept. 12 and the regular season opens Oct. 3. “I feel very confident that at some point — I don’t know when that point will be — but at some point, we will get a contract done,” Waddell said. “I’m OK at this point because of the conversations we are having. If the conversations were broken off or argumentative, I would have a lot more concern.” Kovalchuk told the Thrashers that he wanted to see the team headed in the right direction before committing to a new contract. The team has made several offseason moves, including trading for defenseman Pavel Kubina and signing free-agent forward Nik Antropov. “I was with Kovy at a [Hawks] game,” co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. said. “I was asking him, ‘What to you think about our team and what do you think we need?’ I’ve never seen him be so optimistic. I think he felt like we made some moves around the trade deadline and the players just clicked. “He said to me, ‘Look, we’d like to get a big guy that could help us on power play, like an [Nik] Antropov.’ Well, ironically, we got him.” Antropov played with Kovalchuk in Russia during the NHL lockout in 2004-05. “It’s nice that he talked about me like that,” Antropov said. Waddell said his preference would be to work out a long-term deal with Kovalchuk, but did not offer details of the contract proposals. According to the NHL collective bargaining agreement, Kovalchuk’s maximum yearly salary can be 20 percent of the NHL salary cap. The cap for next season is $56.8 million, making the ceiling on Kovalchuk’s yearly salary $11.36 million. “He is eager for the season to commence,” said Jay Grossman, Kovalachuk’s agent. “He said he has had the best offseason workout program that he’s ever had. He’s the captain and he wants to lead.” -------------------------- http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-thrasher...huk-122778.html Sounds like Kovalchuck has backed off his we must win this year and is just making sure the team has a long term solution. He probably stays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NvidiaN Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 I'm glad to see the guy has some character and is willing to show some class/loyalty by sticking it out with a team which has gone nowhere, as long as they're committed to winning. +1 respect in my book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montreal-Gnomes Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 Kovalchuk will be an ufa next year and he stated that he wants to be sure that the Atlanta Thrashers are Stanley cup contenders before he inks a long term contract with them. It's in Kovalchuk's interest to test the free agent market next summer. Bob Gainey should make some overtures towards Kovalchuk now of his intentions to win the cup with him. If Gainey made the Montreal Canadiens team an attractive team to play for maybe Kovalchuk would sign with the Habs. Markov apparently asked Gainey to try to get Afinagonov - they are supposedly friends . I think adding Afinagonov would be an improvement on offense. We can move Laraque,Hamrlik,Chipchura,O'Byrne,Sergie Kostitsyn, and Metropolit for some picks or in the best case scenario trade them along with someone off the third or fourth line for an upgrade (like a no.2 defensemen or a power forward.) This will free up 12-13Million cap space. If the Habs do reasonably well this season we'll be in a more atttractive position to offer Kovalchuk a 10 year/$100 million contract on a stanley cup contending team where he can excel . Next year's 2010-2011 roster: Kovalchuk(LW)(10M),Gomez( C)(7.3M),Gionta(RW)(5M) A.Kostitsyn(LW)(3,25M),Camalleri( C)(6M),Afinogenov(RW)(1.5M/3 years) Pacioretty(LW),Plekenek( C),(2.7M),D'Agostini(RW)(.5M) Moen(LW)(1.5M),Lapierre( C)(.6),Latendresse(RW)(.8M) spare:Greg Stewart,Ben Maxwell Defenseman: Andrei Markov(5.7M), Jaroslav Spacek(3.8M) Paul Mara(1.6M),Yannick Weber Hal Gill(2.2M),Gorges(1M) P.K. Subban Goalie: Carey Price(2.2M) Halak(.77M) Total:~57M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket-1 Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 Kovalchuk will be an ufa next year and he stated that he wants to be sure that the Atlanta Thrashers are Stanley cup contenders before he inks a long term contract with them. It's in Kovalchuk's interest to test the free agent market next summer. Bob Gainey should make some overtures towards Kovalchuk now of his intentions to win the cup with him. If Gainey made the Montreal Canadiens team an attractive team to play for maybe Kovalchuk would sign with the Habs. Markov apparently asked Gainey to try to get Afinagonov - they are supposedly friends . I think adding Afinagonov would be an improvement on offense. We can move Laraque,Hamrlik,Chipchura,O'Byrne,Sergie Kostitsyn, and Metropolit for some picks or in the best case scenario trade them along with someone off the third or fourth line for an upgrade (like a no.2 defensemen or a power forward.) This will free up 12-13Million cap space. If the Habs do reasonably well this season we'll be in a more atttractive position to offer Kovalchuk a 10 year/$100 million contract on a stanley cup contending team where he can excel . Next year's 2010-2011 roster: Kovalchuk(LW)(10M),Gomez( C)(7.3M),Gionta(RW)(5M) A.Kostitsyn(LW)(3,25M),Camalleri( C)(6M),Afinogenov(RW)(1.5M/3 years) Pacioretty(LW),Plekenek( C),(2.7M),D'Agostini(RW)(.5M) Moen(LW)(1.5M),Lapierre( C)(.6),Latendresse(RW)(.8M) spare:Greg Stewart,Ben Maxwell Defenseman: Andrei Markov(5.7M), Jaroslav Spacek(3.8M) Paul Mara(1.6M),Yannick Weber Hal Gill(2.2M),Gorges(1M) P.K. Subban Goalie: Carey Price(2.2M) Halak(.77M) Total:~57M You seem to forget that the cap is going down next year... Every single american city will attract smallers crowd due to the recession this year, so theres no way the cap is going up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpecialboyMikey Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 Well, theres signs of the recession being over................it might stay roughly the same, after all it DID go up this season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashikhabib Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 I will be surprised if Kovalchuk re-signs in Atlanta because Atlanta sucks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpecialboyMikey Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 Imagine detroit signing that fella, that would be incredible especially if lidstrom retires soon with hs salary off the books Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashikhabib Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 Imagine detroit signing that fella, that would be incredible especially if lidstrom retires soon with hs salary off the books I hope Montreal signs Kovalchuk Kovalchuk will be an ufa next year and he stated that he wants to be sure that the Atlanta Thrashers are Stanley cup contenders before he inks a long term contract with them. It's in Kovalchuk's interest to test the free agent market next summer. Bob Gainey should make some overtures towards Kovalchuk now of his intentions to win the cup with him. If Gainey made the Montreal Canadiens team an attractive team to play for maybe Kovalchuk would sign with the Habs. Markov apparently asked Gainey to try to get Afinagonov - they are supposedly friends . I think adding Afinagonov would be an improvement on offense. We can move Laraque,Hamrlik,Chipchura,O'Byrne,Sergie Kostitsyn, and Metropolit for some picks or in the best case scenario trade them along with someone off the third or fourth line for an upgrade (like a no.2 defensemen or a power forward.) This will free up 12-13Million cap space. If the Habs do reasonably well this season we'll be in a more atttractive position to offer Kovalchuk a 10 year/$100 million contract on a stanley cup contending team where he can excel . Next year's 2010-2011 roster: Kovalchuk(LW)(10M),Gomez( C)(7.3M),Gionta(RW)(5M) A.Kostitsyn(LW)(3,25M),Camalleri( C)(6M),Afinogenov(RW)(1.5M/3 years) Pacioretty(LW),Plekenek( C),(2.7M),D'Agostini(RW)(.5M) Moen(LW)(1.5M),Lapierre( C)(.6),Latendresse(RW)(.8M) spare:Greg Stewart,Ben Maxwell Defenseman: Andrei Markov(5.7M), Jaroslav Spacek(3.8M) Paul Mara(1.6M),Yannick Weber Hal Gill(2.2M),Gorges(1M) P.K. Subban Goalie: Carey Price(2.2M) Halak(.77M) Total:~57M Gomez is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay overpaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSD Posted August 28, 2009 Report Share Posted August 28, 2009 Hotlanta is a sleeper for sure. Kovalchuk, Kozlov, Antropov, Little, White, Peverley, Armstrong, Reasoner are some decent forwards, with Kubina/Enstrom/Hainsey/Bogosian on defense, and maybe, just MAYBE Lehtonen will turn into that #1 goalie he was supposed to. the team is really only a decent goalie away from making the playoffs...the team really seemed to click near the end of the season they went 9-4-0 in march... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A-K-46 Posted August 28, 2009 Report Share Posted August 28, 2009 Imagine detroit signing that fella, that would be incredible especially if lidstrom retires soon with hs salary off the books i thinks thats what will happen imo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashikhabib Posted August 28, 2009 Report Share Posted August 28, 2009 I want Montreal to sign Kovalchuk for 5 or 6 years at $7-8 million/season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HabsFan2713 Posted August 28, 2009 Report Share Posted August 28, 2009 I would love to see Kovalchuk get outta Atlanta and on a contending team. Without question this guy could be the peice for any cup run. Although he has only made the post season once in his career and his 3rd place thrashers were swept out first round, i think this guy could be a very dangerous player in the playoffs when surrounded by a cup contending team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koreysecord1992 Posted August 29, 2009 Report Share Posted August 29, 2009 I shudder to think how he'd play alongside someone the likes of Thornton or Crosby for an extended period of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imisssaku Posted August 29, 2009 Report Share Posted August 29, 2009 Montreal has to resign a bunch of key players next year, we won't be signig Kovalchuk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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