Thread: Hradek-Lombardi's intense questioning turned off Kovalchuk

Originally Posted by gretzky99

DL said they were never really close - and clearly, they weren't. DL offered $80M, Kovy got $100M. that's not close at all.

It wasn't just that, it was the way the contract was structured as well. Lombardi offered a contract and salary that was based upon realistic projections regarding age and performance. NJ just loaded upp with $11-12M seasons and followed it up with a bunch of minimum salary years. Obviously that got rejected but even the revised contract follow virtually the same guideline.

Originally Posted by Wolvie

I assumed that any truth to this probably had to do with why he'd want to play in LA, specifically - a standard Lombardi concern.

That's just not very practical and exactly what I'm trying to portray. You do your homework and then decide whether you want the guy or not based on what you know. Kovalchuk is a premier forward in his prime, you're supposed to sell the team to him not ask him to justify why should you sign him, to me that's a bit insulting, especially If the player in question has no history of being a problem, you're just shooting yourself in the foot with this kind of thing. That's what I mean when I say ultra conservative, not the money.

Or to make this short, I don't fully agree with Lombardi's beach theory. Compiling enough information about the guy to make an educated guess whether he is gonna come here for the right or wrong reasons before the actual negotiation starts can't be THAT hard.

"I'm not looking for the best players Craig, I'm looking for the right ones."

Originally Posted by nki

Kovalchuk is a premier forward in his prime, you're supposed to sell the team to him not ask him to justify why should you sign him

Actually, if you're concerned about building a winning philosophy, that's exactly how you would approach it. He ain't god. He's another elite player looking for a record breaking dollar amount, and guess what, he found some jerk to pay his ransom.

Originally Posted by nki

No, conservative is questioning a guy who's been in the league for almost a decade about his intentions. It's not like Kovalchuk is some new kid with character issues, the book is out on him.

if that was the case, companies would never have to interview anyone.

that being said, have you ever hired an "elite" level person before?

Originally Posted by gretzky99

Kovalchuk is going to spin it that it wasn't about the money but it clearly was.

Yeah, and that genius Hradek will report it as fact... Honestly I don't understand why that guy is "so highly regarded" among hockey circles.

Lombardi never wanted him in the first place. Everything he has said and done as a GM in Los Angeles tells you that he never had any intention of signing Kovlachuk unless he came here on Lombardi's terms and at Lombardi's money.

And even on the offhand chance that Kovalchuk would take a fair offer, because lets face it, how many prime-time UFA's have ever taken reasonable offers on a new team, Lombardi turned on the ol' charm to make LA seem like a good place to come and be a cog instead of a wheel.

Do you honestly think Dean Lombardi would try to woo the biggest free agent in NHL history with a $5.33 cap hit AND let him know that he would be playing second fiddle to the young core if he really wanted him?

This would have been the easiest signing ever if Dean wanted Ilya in LA.

every time you heard Deano mention Kovalchuk or "the guy from New Jersey" before July 1st, whether in jest or not, should have set off the window dressing alarms...

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that is all.