Atlanta Thrashers General Manager Don Waddell was a guest on Rogers Sportsnet's HockeyCentral at Noon with Nick Kypreos on Sportsnet and the Fan Radio Network.Waddell obviously wants to keep Kovy around by the time his contract is up at the end of next season. He says all the right things...
For now...
This is all of us holding our collective breath for the next year as Kovy plays out the string in Atlanta and the franchise then moves to another city altogether.
You can listen to the interview with Kipper and Sportsnet's Daren Milliard by clicking in the black...
((HT: Fan590.com))
UPDATE: Bruce Garrioch from the Sun Newspapers north of the border is reporting the possibility of a Kovalchuk-Marian Gaborik blockbuster swap with the Minnesota Wild.
The principles would be Gaborik and Kim Johnsson for Kovalchuk and Colby Armstrong.
The issues: Gaborik's injury history and his desire to be locked in for a long-term deal.
The numbers: Gaborik makes US$6.5-million and US$7.5-million for the next two seasons. He then becomes an unrestricted free agent. Johnsson will make US$4.8-million, US$5.2-million, and US$5.3-million the next three seasons. He becomes a UFA after the 2009-2010 season.
Kovalchuk will make US$7.5-million this year and next.
Armstrong is the bargain for the whole deal- US$1.2-million this season, and then he becomes a restricted free agent.
The decision: Does Don Waddell trade his signature franchise player and alienate the remainder of a dwindling fan base knowing he won't be able to re-sign Kovalchuk for major dollars after the end of next season...? And does Waddell take a flyer on Gaborik with his injury history next season and try to re-sign him knowing Gaborik may not want to stay after his southern experience...?
The other decision: How quickly can Wild GM Doug Risebrough get Waddell to pull the trigger...? Risebrough gets a sniper and an up and coming forward in the deal. Waddell gets a wonky, moody ((at times)) star-quality player and a solid defenseman.
Kovalchuk will make US$7.5-million this year and next.
Armstrong is the bargain for the whole deal- US$1.2-million this season, and then he becomes a restricted free agent.
The decision: Does Don Waddell trade his signature franchise player and alienate the remainder of a dwindling fan base knowing he won't be able to re-sign Kovalchuk for major dollars after the end of next season...? And does Waddell take a flyer on Gaborik with his injury history next season and try to re-sign him knowing Gaborik may not want to stay after his southern experience...?
The other decision: How quickly can Wild GM Doug Risebrough get Waddell to pull the trigger...? Risebrough gets a sniper and an up and coming forward in the deal. Waddell gets a wonky, moody ((at times)) star-quality player and a solid defenseman.
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