Why I'm Right and You're Wrong

With everybody chiming in on the Kovalchuk contract rejection saga, I felt compelled to crawl out of my cave and share a few thoughts.

First
I don't see how this drama can be framed in the light of "big market team vs small market team". Atlanta offered the same dollars to Kovalchuk and he passed. If the small market team was willing to pony up, doesn't that immediately quash the "small-market" complaints?

Second
Elite players will always get paid and often it will be at the expense of lower-tier talent. Is that the fault of the elite players? Only as much as they contribute to the supply-demand aspect of the market. So ask yourself this: Is it an elite player's fault that he's elite?

Third
Think the Devils ownership is upset at Lucky Lou for basically saying he felt dirty about the contract? Or did Lou know something we didn't at the time he said it?

Fourth
Quit blaming the league for rejecting the contract after the Devils held a presser. They were within their rights to deny it when they did and they had no part in scheduling the Devils conference. There's plenty to blame the league for so save your energy for the legit ones.

Fifth
I'm more than happy for teams to find a way to keep their squads together. But maybe teams need to think more Mike Richards and less Marian Hossa.

Sixth
I like Ilya Kovalchuk. He's got his faults but there's just something about him I'm drawn to. Maybe it was the finger point to Crosby which I personally found hilarious. Even after he single-handedly sunk Team Canada in the World Championships, I couldn't hate him. But now that I've heard his name so damn much, I'm starting to get sick of him.

Final
Why are we all getting worked up about exactly how a millionaire will have his contract structured to get his millions? I enjoy the discussions but don't look at it as tragedy, look at it as farce. It's more enjoyable that way.


*And the reason for the headline is a joke and the person who inspired it will know who they are.

Free Agent Frenzy - and My Dog - Await

We're less than 12 hours away from hockey Christmas and I can't help but be underwhelmed in anticipation. This year, it really feels like all that truly matters as far as splashes is where Ilya Kovalchuk will wind up.

Sure, Marty Turco and Evgeni Nabokov are out there and that's interesting, but they lack the panache of a name like Kovalchuk. I mean, is anybody really concerned about where Olli Jokinen might sign?

Our affable Adrian Dater has reported that the Avalanche will 100% not pursue Ilya as they continue to focus on building from within. And I'm ok with that.

At the same time, I agree with Jibs that the team is sorely lacking on the left wing. Peter Mueller looked great in the short time we spent with him and I've got a mad man crush on T.J. Galiardi, but that's not a left wing lineup that strikes fear into people.

Of course, you could look at the stats and determine that while Ilya scores a lot of goals, it all balances out in the end. Besides, the guy has only won one playoff game in his career so he must be pretty terrible.

But think of the wonders that a name like Kovalchuk could do for marketing this young squad. Or at least marketing potential. Whether the crew could pull it off or not is a whole different story. But you always pay for potential, right?

I'm happy to continue to let this squad build from within if that's what the organization chooses to do. And if by some stroke of magic it turns out that Kovalchuk joins the Avs, I'll be happy with that too.

Really, I've made this a win-win for myself and those are rare so you have to savor in them.

Tomorrow, when the frenzy opens, I will be headed down the ol' #7 and #4 and #13 highways as I weave my way back to my home town of Ponteix. See, I work for an amazing company and we've been given not only tomorrow - Canada Day - off but they tossed in Friday as well as a bonus.

And I figured what better time than a 4-day weekend to head back and visit my dog. I mean family. Family.

So while the first deals start to trickle in, I'll be cruising on the open roads. I should be arriving right around 3:00 ET which I presume is around the time Kovy signs. But of course, I'll have to play with the dog for a while first.

Hockey may be entertaining, but nothing beats man's best friend.