Well Done NHL
As we enter week four of the Free Agency Drama with Ilya Kovalchuk, we’re all growing a bit tired. Frankly at this point, who cares? I’m glad the NHL rejected the contract, but now I want them to figure out the next step, take it and move on. I’m already excited for October. Hell, give me September and its plethora of pre-season games and I’ll be just fine. Anyway, in the meantime here are today’s “Hot or Not” lists!
Hot:
Steve Yzerman – The man that led the Detroit Red Wings to three Stanley Cups has made a smooth transition into management, and after several years in Detroit learning from some of the best of the best he now has a job in Tampa Bay as the General Manager. That’s nice, but not enough to land him on the “Hot” list (it’s very exclusive you know). It’s been his masterful dealing that got him hear. Aquiring Gagne from Philadelphia for basically nothing (4th round pick and depth defenseman?) was a stroke of genius, and an indication that things may be different sooner rather than later in Tampa Bay.
NHL – People across the internet have criticized the NHL for crazy, sometimes schizophrenic decisions regarding contracts. Many experts (and non-experts, myself included), believed that there was no way the NHL would grow a backbone and reject the Kovalchuk deal, even with its slap in the face final years of the deal. Bravo to the NHL and their willingness to dump a deal that was so clearly cap circumvention.
Atlanta Thrashers – Anyone who watched the World Cup this summer is well aware of those godforsaken vuvuzelas. The constant buzzing noise that drove everyone from fans, to broadcasters, to players completely nuts are poised to make the jump across the ocean and into the North American sports scene. Well the Thrashers have put their foot down. Only a few days ago, the Thrashers officially banned the terrible noisemaker from games. A “hot” decision to be sure.
Not:
New Jersey Devils – So earlier this week I asked if you thought that the Devil “won” with their signing of Kovalchuk with an only $6 million cap hit. For the most part the answer seems to be yes. They won. Then of course the NHL got involved and slapped that contract down. It was an impressive show for the NHL (hence their position on the “Hot” list), but it was a big blow for the Devils. Smart money has the Devils still ending up with Kovalchuk, but probably for not as nice a cap hit. They’re big losers today.
Ilya Kovalchuk – Hard to say he’s a real-world loser, since the “poor guy” will still almost certainly end the summer with a $100 million contract (or very close). Still, for the time being he has been effectively called out for an ludicrous contract, and some of his comments regarding the process have made him look less than entirely sympathetic.
Los Angeles Kings – The Kings missed out on Kovalchuk (though I suppose that could change), and while most people believed that if Kovalchuk signed elsewhere the Kings would be on the lookout for a talented forward to augment their forward corps. The primary target? Simon Gagne. Unfortunately, the Kings also missed out on Gagne, as he was shipped to the Lightening for a song. The Kings will have to turn their attention elsewhere if they want to avoid a near permanent place on this list.