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Post by cigarviper on Dec 19, 2005 22:59:10 GMT -5
Malakhov retires today and suddenly Lou's cap problems retire today as well. Just in time for Elias to reappear. McGillis has been recalled and because he didn't report, he doesn't have to clear re-entry waivers. That guy's got horseshoes up his ass. I don't know how Lou does it but, why would Vlad walk away from a huge money like that? I'm sure it ain't cause he feels bad for Lou. Something just doesn't make sense here. Has Lou found a loophole in the CBA?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2005 23:26:51 GMT -5
Are you suggesting that this was a forced retirement decision?
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Post by cigarviper on Dec 19, 2005 23:42:42 GMT -5
Are you suggesting that this was a forced retirement decision? I realize when it smells fishy, it could be caviar, but how many times does that happen? |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Dec 20, 2005 0:21:46 GMT -5
If Malakhov is given a PR job at $5M to retire from his playing job, I'm sure it doesn't count against the cap, but it should!
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Post by cigarviper on Dec 20, 2005 17:22:43 GMT -5
hmmm, getting a little more pungent...
What Lamoriello calls retirement, agent calls 'leave'
By E.J. Hradek
ESPN The Magazine
Devils president and GM Lou Lamoriello tried to reload the New Jersey Devis quickly, signing stopgap vets Dan McGillis and Vladimir Malakhov.
But neither man (nor fellow free-agent acquisition Richard Matvichuk) has been particularly good in the "new" NHL, and all three have taken turns in the club's doghouse.
In fact, the club placed McGillis (and his $2.2 million salary) on waivers late last week. Once he cleared, they were planning to send him down to the minors to create cap space for the soon-to-be returning Patrik Elias, who has missed the first part of the season due to illness.
Earlier in the season, they made a similar money-saving move with tough-guy winger Krzysztof Oliwa ($835,000). But an unforeseen circumstance may change McGillis' minor-league fate.
On Monday, during a question-and-answer session with reporters, Lamoriello said Malakhov had decided to retire. According to Lamoriello, the lanky Russian defender had made his decision on the flight back to New Jersey after Saturday's 4-1 loss in Carolina. If that's the case, it would be a gift from the salary-cap gods. Malakhov's $3.6 million annual salary -- he signed a two-year contract with the club in August -- would come off the books. That would enable the Devils to keep McGillis on the big-league roster. Lamoriello said he was planning to sign veteran Tommy Albelin to fill the spot. However, Malakhov's agent, Paul Theofanous, claims (through a spokesman) that Malakhov has not retired. Instead, Theofanous says, Malakhov requested a personal leave of absence.
When contacted with the contradictory statement, a Devils spokesman said it's the club's position that Malakhov had indeed retired. Lamoriello could not immediately be reached for further comment.
This situation is ... to be continued.
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Post by cigarviper on Dec 20, 2005 17:30:00 GMT -5
Glade anyone?
Malakhov situation unsettled
By TOM GULITTI
STAFF WRITER
WEST ORANGE - Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello will be busy enough after temporarily taking on the coaching duties after Larry Robinson resigned Monday. Now he might also have to deal with a controversy with defenseman Vladimir Malakhov.
Although Lamoriello said Monday that Malakhov informed him Saturday night that he was going to retire, the 37-year-old defenseman's agent said otherwise.
"He's definitely not retired," said John Kotler, the assistant for Malakhov's agent, Paul Theofanous. "He has requested a leave of absence to deal with some internal, personal and medical issues.''
Lamoriello said he was unaware of any medical issues that were bothering Malkahov and that he rejected Theofanous' request for a leave of absence.
"Vladimir told me he was going to retire and then his representative asked that he be allowed to have some time off to go home," Lamoriello said. "I told him it was not in the best interest of the club for him to do that."
Lamoriello considers Malakhov to no longer be on his team, but Theofanous will no doubt try to get the Devils to pay at least part of the remainder of his contract. With 50 games remaining, Malakhov has approximately $2.2 million left on his $3.6 million annual salary for this season and another $3.6 million coming next season.
Still, it appears the Devils have a good case to clear Malakhov's salary from their cap.
"If Malakhov leaves the Devils' team without permission, he is subject to suspension without pay and the possible termination of his contract," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in an e-mail. "If Malakhov is no longer performing services for the Devils, and they are not paying him - either because he has been suspended or his contract is terminated - the balance of this year's salary will come off the Devils' cap."
WELCOME BACK: Malakhov's departure opened the door for defenseman Dan McGillis and Tommy Albelin to return to the Devils. McGillis cleared waivers Saturday and was to be assigned to Albany, but Lamoriello called him at 1 a.m. Sunday to tell him to remain in New Jersey.
Albelin, 40, was expected to sign with the team before Monday's midnight holiday roster freeze went into effect. He has been practicing with the team all season, but was not under contract.
WELCOME BACK II: Left wing Patrik Elias, who has been working his way back from hepatitis A, practiced with the team Monday for the first time this season. He compared it to his first day of training camp and hopes to be ready to play in a game within two or three weeks.
"I would love to say two to three weeks," he said. "That's how long training camp lasts."
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Post by jkr on Dec 20, 2005 21:10:17 GMT -5
I'm with you cigarviper.
There are just too many co-incidences. Who knows. Maybe Malakhov and Lou cooked up the whole thing.
Wasn't there a mid-season retirement in Philly several years ago? Jeff Hackett left in mid season after the Flyers acquired another goalie.
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Post by cigarviper on Dec 20, 2005 23:04:56 GMT -5
From all accounts, it seems Lou is forcing a retirement. Malakhov and his agent are denying he retired and Lou is stating Malakhov gave him a verbal confirmation on the plane on the way home from their last game. Seems to me these things have to be on paper to be valid and legally recognized. Lou's gone ahead and signed another player already (Albelin) and welcomed McGillis back into the fold. In the meantime, Malakhov is no longer on the team website and apparently no longer drawing a paycheque from the team. On some boards Devil fans are rejoicing at the news along with Robinson's withdrawal as head coach.
Lou looks fiendishly maniacal.
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Post by MC Habber on Dec 20, 2005 23:34:05 GMT -5
According to Bob Mackenzie, because Malakhov is over 35, his salary for the rest of his contract after this year will still count against the Devils' cap. So they save some cap room for this season only.
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Post by cigarviper on Dec 21, 2005 10:13:51 GMT -5
This is shaping up to be better than the Michael Jackson trial.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
BY RICH CHERE AND COLIN STEPHENSON
Star-Ledger Staff
NEW YORK -- In an apparent attempt to prevent Vladimir Malakhov from walking away from almost $2.25 million this season and another $3.6 million next season, agent Paul Theofanous has told Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello that the defenseman wants a leave of absence and is not intending to retire.
Lamoriello isn't buying it.
"(Malakhov) never requested a leave of absence," Lamoriello said. "His agent requested that and I said no. If there is anything different, I'm not aware if it. He's not here and we have done what you do in that situation. He has been suspended and he is off the roster."
Lamoriello, who was told by Malakhov that he wanted to retire after the Devils returned from Raleigh, N.C., Saturday night, said the paperwork has yet to be signed to make the retirement official.
"Before you retire you have to get the paperwork signed," Lamoriello said. "If that player doesn't show up, you officially have to do something to get him off the roster. He's a suspended player."
Theofanous did not return calls to comment for this report.
Rick Dudley, scouting for the Chicago Blackhawks, had people talking when he walked in to see Lamoriello before the game. But...
"Just wishing the coach good luck," Dudley insisted.
Defenseman Tommy Albelin finally signed a contract Monday afternoon for the NHL minimum salary. Asked if Lamoriello told him to stick around since training camp, Albelin said: "Well, he didn't tell me to go home. He told me to just keep doing what I was doing and be patient."
Tough guy Cam Janssen was recalled from Albany (AHL) while forwards Barry Tallackson and Aleksander Suglobov were assigned to the minor-league club. ... Defenseman Dan McGillis, who cleared waivers and was about to be sent to Albany when Malakhov walked out, was back in the lineup and changed his number from No. 6 to Malakhov's No. 2. ...
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Post by cigarviper on Dec 21, 2005 10:22:15 GMT -5
So Lou is saying that if he didn't retire, and he doesn't have any paperwork to support that, the fact that he's not at the rink indicates he walked out on the team and so, even better for Lou, the contract is now terminated as he's suspended indefinitely. No contract, no cap space used.
I can hear Gainey now...."Just think of it Radek, fishing in the Bahamas in November, sleeping in everyday. No more pressure. You look a little tired. Bikini clad beach babes bringing you margaritas on the golf course at Del Boca Vista. You can make that dream a reality."
...or just take the battery out of his car.
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Dec 21, 2005 12:15:55 GMT -5
So Lou is saying that if he didn't retire, and he doesn't have any paperwork to support that, the fact that he's not at the rink indicates he walked out on the team and so, even better for Lou, the contract is now terminated as he's suspended indefinitely. No contract, no cap space used. I can hear Gainey now...."Just think of it Radek, fishing in the Bahamas in November, sleeping in everyday. No more pressure. You look a little tired. Bikini clad beach babes bringing you margaritas on the golf course at Del Boca Vista. You can make that dream a reality." ...or just take the battery out of his car. What happened to having the paperwork and faxing it in to the NHL office before the deadline? |
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Post by Doc Holliday on Dec 21, 2005 13:18:22 GMT -5
Lou: Vlad, I don't want you on my team anymore but because of your salary nobody wants to trade for you and nobody is going to pick you up when I'll waive you. How about I send you riding a bus in an AHL gulag for the next 2 years or... You take an unjustified leave of absence; I can then terminate your contract and you're then free to sign somewhere else?
...I can't believe that all those lawyers didn't put any possibility of terminating a contract if both parties mutually agree to.
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Dec 28, 2005 17:28:49 GMT -5
So Lou is saying that if he didn't retire, and he doesn't have any paperwork to support that, the fact that he's not at the rink indicates he walked out on the team and so, even better for Lou, the contract is now terminated as he's suspended indefinitely. No contract, no cap space used. I can hear Gainey now...."Just think of it Radek, fishing in the Bahamas in November, sleeping in everyday. No more pressure. You look a little tired. Bikini clad beach babes bringing you margaritas on the golf course at Del Boca Vista. You can make that dream a reality." ...or just take the battery out of his car. I heard that Radek was trying to fish, but kept missing his cast into the ocean. He will try again, this time from a smaller boat.  |
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