Kovalchuk Close to Signing

[les_glorieux]

Restricted free agent Ilya Kovalchuk are closing in on a new contract, as the two sides have an agreement in principle on a five-year deal worth between $32 million US and $33 million, a source told The Canadian Press.

Thrashers' general manager Don Waddell visited Kovalchuk and his agent Jay Grossman in New York Friday and closed the gap considerably on what was a $1.4 million a year spread for a new five-year contract. The Thrashers were offering $5.6 million a year and Kovalchuk was seeking $7 million.

"There are still some hurdles," Grossman said early Friday night, "but we're going in the right direction. We'll know more (on Saturday). But the deal is not yet done."

Sources say the extra time was required to deal with salary cap ramifications and make sure the deal, as structured, would meet with NHL approval. In addition to spending time with Grossman and Kovalchuk, Waddell also visited NHL headquarters as part of the effort to make sure a new Kovalchuk deal would fly with the league.

"I'm more confident right now. We're working on it," Waddell told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Friday afternoon.

Asked if he thought a deal would be completed by the weekend, he said, "I hope so. We're working to do it. We both realized that we're running out of time."

Kovalchuk, a restricted free agent, has threatened to play the season in his native Russia if he doesn't reach an agreement with the Thrashers.

The Thrashers were shut out 2-0 by Florida in their season opener. They were playing Friday night at Washington before returning to Atlanta for their home opener Saturday.

In the last season before the lockout, Kovalchuk tied Columbus' Rick Nash for the NHL lead with 41 goals and totalled 87 points - 32 ahead of Atlanta's second-highest scorer. After the long layoff, Waddell bulked up the front line by trading for Marian Hossa and signing Bobby Holik and Peter Bondra.

Kovalchuk was in New York visiting his girlfriend and their new child, a baby girl delivered last week. He had planned to return to Russia on Sunday.

Kovalchuk would be lost for the season if he plays for a team in Russian Super League, which opens its season next week. The only way he could rejoin the Thrashers would be to clear waivers - an impossibility for a player of his calibre.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=139023&hubname=

EDIT: Misleading title

[Edited on 10-8-05 by Fanpuck33]

[shortcat1]

That's a lot of coin but the guy's certainly got the talent to earn it. I hope, for his sake that he doesn't become complacent because of it. It would be a loss for the game.

[BTH]

He hasn't been signed yet. He's just getting closer. Misleading title.

[Tony_]

Don Wadell should have just offered him the big bucks a while back. He knew this was going to happen.

[BTH]

Originally posted by Bulis_the_Habbie

He hasn't been signed yet. He's just getting closer. Misleading title.

I see you fixed that up. If we ended up making that trade for him than he'd be in Russia now.

[shortcat1]

Originally posted by Bulis_the_Habbie

Originally posted by Bulis_the_Habbie

He hasn't been signed yet. He's just getting closer. Misleading title.

I see you fixed that up. If we ended up making that trade for him than he'd be in Russia now.

Like I said, another Yashin kind of attitude. We don't need that.

[BTH]

I don't see how they can afford him alongside Hossa who counts 6M against the cap and Holikat about 4.5M.

Bondra at the league minimum was great. He still has goal-potential in him and he's at a bargain price. Someone they needed at a price they can afford.