Rock Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 Feb. 16, 2005. 01:00 AM http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...ol=970081593064 Return not that easy More than 150 NHLers still remain unsigned Many European players would likely stay abroad PAUL HUNTER SPORTS REPORTER Even if the NHL and its players hammer out a last-minute deal to save a portion of the season, it won't be as easy as throwing open the arena doors and watching the players file back in. More than 150 NHLers who played in the league last year do not have contracts. Some of those players, such as Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk, will remain in Europe either for contractual or family reasons. Others who might wish to sign with their former teams won't fit on the roster within the restrictions of the new economic order. Other complications include the fact that some clubs don't even have enough players under contract to hold a meaningful scrimmage on the first day of training camp. Boston, for example, has 11 players signed. Washington has 14, the Rangers 15 and Pittsburgh 16. And there are questions about whether players who haven't been working out will be able to get themselves in game shape in a short camp if there is an NHL season. "There are so many logistical problems with visas and getting players over, getting players under contract and players who haven't skated really," said one prominent player agent. "A lot of players haven't been particularly optimistic the last month or two and haven't been skating. There are a lot of issues to work through. I'm not saying it couldn't be done, but there are a huge number of obstacles. "It's all precluded on a deal being consummated and I'm not sure that will happen, but if it is the obstacles are there. How these matters get resolved are difficult to envision. That will be the task at hand." Other agents weren't as foreboding, though many were doubtful a deal will get done today, but they recognized there are a lot of lingering questions if a season is saved. "What are teams going to do if they're already at the cap? Might you make a decision not to sign a young player because you're not sure you want him back (using up cap space)?" wondered agent Ritch Winter. "What will teams do when they find the levels of condition in certain athletes aren't where they expected then to be? There's an awful lot of issues and unique circumstances." One of Winter's unsigned clients is 30-year-old defenceman Roman Hamrlik. He likely will go from being a restricted to an unrestricted free agent under the new CBA and Winter acknowledges he would be a perfect fit in Toronto. However, the Leafs have already committed to more than $46 million (all figures U.S.) in salaries, a number in excess of the $42.5 million cap proposed by the league yesterday and wouldn't have the money to spend. And Winter doesn't even know if Hamrlik will be free to leave the Islanders, his previous club, anyway. "I guess we're all going to become capologists. We have strategy A and strategy B when it comes to Roman Hamrlik," said Winter. "And what about the rule changes that we understand are coming? That will effect the dynamics as to whether you want a Roman Hamrlik or a Ken Klee. There are so many dynamics that will go into decisions. It will be fascinating to watch how teams allocate their money." An unsigned player such as 24-year-old Alexei Ponikarovsky of the Leafs developed into a solid contributer in Toronto but, again, there may not be cap room for him to come back. His agent, Rick Curran, conceded he didn't know what that would mean for his client. Other agents suggested yesterday, that a player such as Ponikarovsky might end up in a dispersal draft or, perhaps, there might be a provision within a new CBA for a team to buy out other players to make room. Kovalchuk, the Thrashers' star winger, has opted to stay with his Russian team for the entire season. So has Aleksey Morozov, who played for Pittsburgh last season. Their agent, Jay Grossman, said the players negotiated larger contracts overseas by making that commitment while others got less for insisting on an escape clauses. Kovalchuk did have the opportunity to leave up until Jan.1 but he is earning about $3 million for Kazan and it is believed the contract was weighted heavily to the back end of the season to encourage him to stay. So could he return for the NHL playoffs, if there is a season and the Thrashers made it, after the Russia league has finished its post-season in April? "It would depend on the rules," said Grossman. "Not to be negative, but in the past if you didn't come back and get on a roster by the trade deadline, you were ineligible for the playoffs. Questions like that are pretty much up in the air right now." Agent Anton Thun thinks even without contractual obligations, some Europeans will think hard before leaving their homeland to return to the NHL if there is a season. "My guess is a lot of the Europeans have made the decision, this being February, not to come back for two months," he said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyFan42 Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 This is why there won't be a season. Even if they get the CBA done today, the lead time required before you can resume business is much more than they can set aside at this point. It may be better to cancel the season to give both sides time to hammer out the entire document and to give teams enough time to get their affairs in order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 That's possible, Rowdy, but again, no one knows how season ticket holders will react if a full season is canceled. That's a huge gamble to take based on 'getting their affairs in order'.. who knows what their affairs will be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devilsadvoc8 Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 Boo hoo. If the players signed for a contract in europe live by it. The NA teams can use the minors and those that aren't committed to other contracts. Part of the price for jumping ship. I couldn't care less about this problem. With a 30 game season, I think this cup will have a big honking * next to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devilsadvoc8 Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 My post may be (even more?) irrelevent since it is 11am and no word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swede Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 Boo hoo. If the players signed for a contract in europe live by it. The NA teams can use the minors and those that aren't committed to other contracts. Part of the price for jumping ship. I couldn't care less about this problem. With a 30 game season, I think this cup will have a big honking * next to it. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> ya... the rats fans would just love that wouldn't they... t Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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