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Still tabulating yesterday's survey (awesome job!) but I just had a very interesting conversation just now with a source regarding Ilya Kovalchuk who as we all know is entering his final year of his contract next season and soon will be able to write his own ticket to a max salary on any team in the NHL.
Before I get into the crux of it all, what an incredible performance last night by Kari Lehtonen was Epic. National TV. At Home. Versus Ovechkin.
The Thrashers have won 6 straight games....and if you hadn't watched last night, you might not know that. And they are doing it without Kovalchuk. Props to the lead singer from the Vintage, Prog-Rock Band turned head coach John Anderson (alright that Jon has no "h"). I am very happy for Waddell and Anderson. Both have been maligned a bit here.
The book on Anderson and what kept him from getting a job in the NHL was that he had an unfair advantage having a much bigger AHL budget when he coached the wolves. I never bought that theory. Sure they can buy a few extra journeyman for a little more, but seriously that team's success post lockout was tied to several of these current Thrashers.
Back to Kovalchuk's future...
The Thrash can't extend him until next season. That's how the CBA works. 12 months from now could be the worst possible time for the Thrashers to be talking 9 million a year for anyone. The ghost in the hallway that everyone talks about in the hockey world is the Salary Cap not next year, but the following year. THE SPOOKY 2010-11 SALARY CAP. ("Kids it's hideous! Look away! Look away!)
I don't want to ruin another blog that I have been working on, but I have a theory here....The 2010-11 Salary Cap is essentially the NHL's version of Y2K. It is being used right now for evil, when in actuality we don't know what's going to happen. Could it plummet and leave the big spenders in a bind? Yes. However, that is just so speculative at this point and so dependent on how long the economy takes to get on it's feet. There are people that believe we are five years from coming out of what should be called "A Depression" and there are others that say this is 6-9 months from being in a much better economy if not at least knowing that the worst is behind us in that timeframe. NHL teams are in a "worst case scenario" mode right now, which is definitely the responsible way to be.
However, take the Red Wings. There is no place where the economy is worst off than Detroit and the surrounding areas. Ken Holland was just on XM and said that their attendance is actually UP from last year. That just shocked me and it begs the question. Where do people make their sacrifices when trying to balance their own budgets? Not in their hockey spending in Detroit. That is an interesting tell.
And there are others out there that are saying it may not be so terrible for the NHL two years from now. Every time things look bleak for the NHL the cap continues to go up. Also, look to the NHL to take the lead from MLB when it comes to handling the huge difference in revenues between the Leaf, Rangers, and Flyers and the Preds, Thrashers, and the Coyotes. There are solutions being worked on in backrooms. I will get to them in a blog later in the week.
So getting back to Kovalchuk.
Fact or Fiction?
1. At times he has been called a malcontent this year.
False. Kovalchuk has a fantastic attitude and the respect of his teammates
2. He is a selfish player on the ice.
True. But honestly, more of that comes from the basic need to be. He is a competitor. Flat out. He has been made an example of by John Anderson for this a few times and been demoted to fourth line duty
3. He wants out of Atlanta
False. At least there is nothing to make us believe this to be the case. He is a lifetime Thrasher to this point and isn't running away. To me this is a sign that he has an emotional tie to this area and the team.
4. Atlanta wants to trade him
False. Waddell is the first to say he will hang up the phone when asked about him. Now, does he have to say that? Yes. Is there a difference between direct talks with teams and feelers and contingency planning? of course. There have been rumors out there (some in my blog, some elsewhere) that documented the groundworks of what the Thrashers could do if they find themselves with no other options.
Now of course every team would love a shot at him, but teams that could get him and have shown signs of interest include: Pittsburgh, NY Rangers, NY Islanders, Toronto, LA, Dallas, Chicago, Edmonton and Montreal.
My source put it this way, "The reality may be more akin to what happened in Edmonton, where team had to trade off talent like Gretzky, Messier, Coffey and more. The fact is certain teams may not be able to support a Superstar. That's when it will rest on Ilya's shoulders."
Whatever the Thrashers do...I beg of you.....
NEVER WEAR THOSE THIRD JERSEY'S ON NATIONAL TV AGAIN! sorry. just. can't. take. it.
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I am putting together a blog of who are the best hockey people that you follow on twitter.r. It can be a team, blogger, website, or even just super fan that is entertaining. Please email me at eklund(at)hockeybuzz(dot)com and put twitter in the subject with your favorites.
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