Waddell:Kovalchuck turned down 12-year, $101M contract

B.S. to pay any sport person that amount of money. This only leads to the rich affording to see games live.

WTF???
Is this pure arrogance, stupidity, or am I missing something essential? WHY would you turn down a 101 million dollar contract???

Because if you signed it, you'd suck up a majority of the salary cap and end up being the only star player on the team making your chances of ever winning a Stanley Cup piss poor.

Sometimes it isn't just about the money. My guess is that he'll sign for less with a team that stands a good chance of winning the Cup.

Either way, the offer he recieved is chump change to other athletes, like ARod.

Because if you signed it, you'd suck up a majority of the salary cap and end up being the only star player on the team making your chances of ever winning a Stanley Cup piss poor.

Sometimes it isn't just about the money. My guess is that he'll sign for less with a team that stands a good chance of winning the Cup.

Either way, the offer he recieved is chump change to other athletes, like ARod.
Did you read the story?

Yes and what part didn't you get?

the part where you say:
Because that is exactly why they are not offering him (who wants to be the best paid player ever) more.

if he signed that contract, his future will be compromised.
12 years! What club would buy that if he wants to be traded ?

He's an over inflated douchebag, no one is worth this much.
The Stanley cup doesn't matter to the majority of Russian players, there are exceptions but for the most part they all just want their payday.

We'll he's now officially a rent a player. He's in New Jersey so we'll see if they want to spend the money to sign him next year.

My guess would be that if they win the Cup they may get him at a discount, if not he'll become another Marion Hossa, travelling from team to team trying to get a bigger paycheck everytime.

Cause playing hockey it Atlanta sucks. It's a crappy team with a crap fan base.

Ilya wants to play for a team that has a chance to win and get into the playoff. With Atlanta, he may get the money but the organization is terrible.

I'd say he signs for less with a much better organization at the end of this season.

Well, he has been there for ages, or so I read in the story, and he wants to stay. Guess not tho

I think when he started to notice the organization going through rough times, he knew he wanted to leave. It's hard playing hockey in a city like Atlanta where hockey is a pimple on the ass of sports in that City.

I have a feeling he wasn't going to accept any offer from Atlanta but he should have just said "I won't re-sign, please trade me".

I think when he started to notice the organization going through rough times, he knew he wanted to leave. It's hard playing hockey in a city like Atlanta where hockey is a pimple on the ass of sports in that City.

I have a feeling he wasn't going to accept any offer from Atlanta but he should have just said "I won't re-sign, please trade me".


Had he said that it would have devalued his worth to other teams, and they knowing he wanted to be traded, would have been in the drivers seat, leaving Atlanta with no bargining power.

If you recall, Lindros turned down a 55 million 5 year contract with Philly.
Besides, the big K just wants out of Atlanta. He has loads of talent but only 1 playoff experience in 8 seasons. Can you blame him for wanting out? And considering Atlanta has dick-all for a hockey fan base, it's no surprise that the money isn't there to attract other talent so the big K can play with a chance to win a Cup.
Look at Cujo, he went to Detroit even though Toronto offered him more money because he thought he had a better chance at the Cup with Detroit.
Believe it or not, for some players it's not about money, but about being on a competitive team.