Is Artyukhin deal getting close?

Back from vacation for a two-week spurt before heading to New York for 10 days to see family, so there should be a bit more blog activity here the next little while.

So, let's talk Evgeny Artyukhin.

As we read recently http://www.tampabay.com/sports/hockey/lightning/article511023.ece, the Lightning (well, prospective owner Oren Koules, anyway) wants the Big Russian as part of a crash line that will include center Chris Gratton and Nick Tarnasky. The problem is Artyukhin's agent Mark Gandler has been consistent asking for $1-million a season for whatever length the contract might be, an amount Lightning GM Jay Feaster has declined to meet the past two seasons. Consequently, Artyukhin, 6 feet 5 and at least 254 pounds, has played in Russia.

Gandler, who had proposed a two-year deal he said was to prove his client was serious about joining Tampa Bay, also has said he is getting pressure from Russian teams trying to put next season's rosters together and would love to keep Artyukhin in his homeland. So if Artyukhin is to be signed by the Lightning, we might hear something sooner rather than later. The scuttlebutt is the sides are still talking. The question is, can they bridge the gap and the dug-in heels that developed during two years of failed negotiations?

Doing so would give Tampa Bay the potential of a formidable physical presence, from one line at least. You missed that last season, didn't you? Too many nights the game was played, as coach John Tortorella said, like a ballet. The league did not make it any easier with such an inconsistent standard from its referees on penalty calls. But didn't you love the hard-hitting, fight-filled game with the Canucks? A game the Lightning won, by the way.

Constructing the line also is a plan, one that Koules likes. Since he seems as if he and former NHLer Len Barrie will be running the team by the June 20-21 draft in Ottawa, it is a plan I would guess we will see take shape.      

Comments

[Chris]

Would love to see the line and Roy was making about as much for 6 minutes on a good night so guess its not that undo-able. Just can't get past the two years away and probably not developing too many good habits in the interim. If they do sign caveman can pretty well put the final nail in Roy's coffin, if its not already in. As long as he comes in and listens to Torts he'll probably do okay in the long term.
Lets just get the sale done, or not, just need stability next year.

[Don in St. Pete]

I would love to see the Russian Freight Train back in Tampa. He can intimidate the whole other team. I hope they can make this work. I still hope they'll sign Craig McDonald and Matthieu Darche as insurance.

[Nan]

Welcome back from vacation, Damian. The blogging has gotten stale. I am all for Arty coming back as long as he makes much less than 1 million a year.

I sincerely hope that OK Hockey gets the team soon, real soon! This could be interesting with Koules and Barrie running the show starting with the draft. Hope it happens!

[Wade]

Bringing "Arty" back would be the first cornerstone to bringing the "Trash and Bash" back in the forum, something us fans has missed so much

[Goalman]

The Tukin would look good in a Lightning uniform, but a millionaire he shouldn't be. Get real Gandler. If Arty likes Black bread and Borscht that much he wouldn't be looking to come here.
Besides he might be a nice piece in the puzzle,but the last time I looked, he hadn't scored 10 goals. We need more than "the Tukin Train"to get us on the right track (sorry about that Pun)

[DSB]

1 million a year for Artyukhin? I don't think so! His agent is blowing smoke about signing him before the Russian teams scoop him up. If they wanted him that bad he would not be back looking here. I guess they wanted Chris Simon more since they already scooped him up. Give him league minimum, with incentives, until he proves he can play without hurting the team by spending half the game in the box. I'm not sure he can play with a Torts team anyway... considering his desire to transfer the team logo to opposition players using his helmet.

[Voice of the Turtle]

The Lightning is already a team with a wealth of role players who do not seem to be able to produce goals. Last time I checked, it went like this...the team that scores the most goals wins.

Maybe Arty's mighty checks will take some fans out of their seats, but winning hockey games is the ultimate challenge. With Prospal and Richards now out of the mix, the last thing that the Bolts need to worry about is the availability of Russian freight trains, unless they are prepared to pin all their hopes on an eighteen year old draftee who has great potential but never played a game in the NHL.

As usual, the cart is being placed squarely before the horse if Artyukhin is the main story coming out of the Tampa Bay executive strategy room.

Perhaps I am being unfair, but this whole business with Evgeny and his moronic agent, Mark Gandler, has grown tiresome over the last two years.

[Not The Marlboro Man]

When it comes to checking lines...size does matter. The bigger the better, plus it gives us someone who can stack up against the likes of Zdeno Chara in those tough Boston matches. As I recall, R2 had a pretty fair shot as well. I really don't think a Mil is too much to ask for when getting a substantially good sized winger.

[harvey]

I don't read this Arty thing as being any kind of big news. It's kinda simple really. The Bolts hold his rights thru this season. After this season he becomes unrestricted. If he doesn't come off 1 mil per year, and the Bolts don't want to pay it, he gets moved before the draft.

We have heard Gandler say he's anxious and he's already threatening to send Arty back to Siberia. Regardless of the fact he's much better suited for the North American game. My guess he's given JF a deadline to sign him or move him. Last summer it was easy. They had his rights thru this upcomming season so JF could hold his ground on salary. If Arty was to play here, he'd play for what was offered or he could go play in a Russian league where he's ill suited.

Now it's different. It's last call. There is no transfer agreement with Russia and if Arty goes back to play there, the Bolts lose him forever. Who would trade for his rights knowing they can't sign him before he's unrestricted? You know Gandler will shop him all over the league and sell the big dummy to the highest bidder and the Bolts will have gotten nothing in return.

The only reason we are hearing this now is because of the time frame Gandler has likely set. The Bolts have 3 options. Sign him, trade his rights, or sit on their hands and get nothing for him. Regardless what any of us think about this guy, I'd bet my life that he'd generate some serious interest with more than just a few teams in this league. If the Bolts don't sign him, for whatever reason, it's off to the highest bidder. It only makes sense.

Koules will be the one that makes the call but the timing is crucial. I expect a signing or trade very soon. I'd be very disappointed with option 3.

[harvey]

Well said NTMM. He does indeed bring some things to the table that I believe would be welcome here. However, I think a mil might be a bit much. At the same time I strongly disagree with the minimum wage contract that has been mentioned here. I'd have no problem giving the guy somewhere around 800 to 850 per on a 2 year deal.

Guess we'll see what happens. Should be resolved soon.

[olin]

...this team team needs Arty for his toughness, sign him- give him his 1mil per and see what happen's. Sign Andre as well.

[keith]

I remember similar blogs when Roy returned. Andre was hailed on these pages as "the answer" Arty aint the answer either. Sure he'll add some physical presence. He'll make fans happy as he checks another sheet of glass, but I dont see him as a part of the puzzle. Other than his size and enthusiasm for hitting, he doesn't bring much else to the rink. Look at the finalists, and their bangers. Laraque, Kronwall these guys can actually play a little hockey too.
Sign him then use him as bait for other players, or let him prove himself at a minimum.
All that being said, still love the fight with Gratts and the old "helmet trick"!!!!

[matt]

If the Bolts hold his rights until the 09-10 season, then they have all the leverage. Screw his agent, if Arty wanted to play in Russia he would NOT be talking to the Bolts. Does his agent think Feaster is that stupid?(no comments on that from Bolt fans) I say hold out until his price comes down, if not, what exactly did the Bolts lose? The guy hasn't played for the them in how many years?

[Another Joe]

I wouldnt mind him back but he is not worth 1 million per year at this point. Offer him @ 700k and if he doesnt take it he can go back to Russia.

[wahls]

I think Arty will help the team, he obviously isn't the only answer though. He brings a very physical game and he wasn't too bad at playing hockey either (he mostly spent time in the penalty box because the refs thought every time he looked at or hit someone, he was clearly roughing them, head hunting, boarding, etc, not because he just couldn't follow the rules). I think if OK opens their pocket and lets Jay spend closer to the cap then 1 mil a season would be no problem. If it is closer to the salary floor, then 1 mil would probably be too much, but I am sure they could come up with something reasonable (league minimum is too little). Everyone knows that they loved watching him smack the other guy in the head with that helmet (it didn't have a Lightning logo on it, sorry DSB, it was actually the player he was hitting's helmet), and it would be refreshing to see someone actually hit something.

[Patricia]

I'm sorry but Arty is not worth the million bucks hes asking for. First, I think he needs to fire his agent. Then maybe play hockey for the actually hockey part of it. He will bring strength to the team, but not many goals. I would say, pass on him again!!

[Casper]

Already commented on this, about a year ago.

Some club with bona fide coaches can teach this dunce Artyukhin something about the freaking game.

He will absatively not get that instruction here.

Send him in a package deal to Gretzky, Anaheim, or the Sharks to 'protect' their wusses, and bring us Boynton, or an AHL prize of theirs, or picks. Do the same for anyone else represented by the idiot Gandler. Keep those rodents out of the Forum!

There, now I refuse to repeat myself next year, dag nabbit!

[ajax]

The ever loveable Atry was let go by a Russian club late last year. This new thing called the "internet" allows you to do a little research.
So the zillion dollar question is, if he is let go by a Russian club, and I am just about 110% sure he wasn't making a million per year in Russia why, WHYWHYWHY, would this even be entertained. Minimum wage two way contract is it. Guys that are drifters in Russia aren't players in the NHL.
Same ole trap gang, fall in love with a player that can only make our shabby roster. There are actual NHL free agents out their that could help if we just had some employees who new a player when they see a player. Obviously we don't have many of those in our front office. Sign Arty? When is the circus going to leave town??? Potential is always a double edged word. He's got potential sure, he just doesn't have "it"

[ajax]

P.S. Remember 2 years ago we signed the league scoring champ from the Swedish elite league. What a find!!! What a diamond in the ruff(dog) His name was Andreas Karlsson. In two years he lit up the lamp 5 times. Jaybird, Stop going for headlines and start finding hockey players

[harvey]

Come on ajax. Take a deep breath brother. This ain't that big of a deal. It's nothing more than exploring the option of signing a 3rd or 4th liner that could add some physical play to the lineup. That's all! It's a simple matter of - Does he provide something that could help this team? And if so, at what price? If it doesn't work, for whatever reason, it's time to trade his rights to a team who thinks he's worth what he's asking for and then get something in return.

That's hardly a circus act. It would be more of a management mistake to ignore his agents calls and end up losing an asset that either could fit into this team or bring something in return. Thru negotiation JF knows what he wants and can shop him accordingly.

I don't see Arty going back to Russia. He either plays here or is traded to another team who would be willing to pay him what he wants. I don't think JF would have a hard time moving him. I believe there are more than a few teams who would love to have a 6-5 255lb fast skating animal to create some havoc.

[boltflasher]

The NHL is a much rougher, tougher style of play league than the Russian leagues. Arty would be a better fit here than over there in my humble opinion...

[wahls]

boltflasher, I agree with you and I think that is the reason Arty wants to come back. His style of play doesn't work very well in the Russian leagues. That is why he has so many penalty minutes over there; whenever he looked at someone the wrong way, he was thrown into the box.

I'm sure there are lots of teams that would love him if, for whatever reason, we can't sign him. For those who forgot, Arty was not only big and physical, but he was fast. That kid has some wheels. Not to mention he was one of the very last cuts from Team Russia for the World Championships just recently; he was cut after the Caps were out of the playoffs and the likes of Feds, Ovechkin, and Semin were added to the team.

Its not like Jay is looking to sign Arty to play on the first line with Vinny. Every team needs its role players, and if Arty can come over and play 10 or so minutes a night, smash people through the glass and score a hand full of goals then I say bring him back. I'm sure the refs will give him penalties when he doesn't deserve it, but that is nothing new for us, and really we should be used to it by now.

[ajax]

a million dollars r u guys kwazy????

[wahls]

Hey now, I didn't say a million dollars. I just said he has his place. If OK opens the pockets and lets Jay spend close to the cap, then yeah, 1 million is no big deal. If it is closer to the floor, then 1 mil is probably too much, but I am pretty sure they can find a meeting ground. Minimum wage is too little though I think. If that is all Jay is willing to offer, they might as well start searching for trading partners now because no way Arty agrees with that one, and really I think he is worth more than that. It all comes down to how much Koules is willing to spend, and until his forced gag order is gone, we will have no idea what his budget is.

I think its all been said. Arty is not worth 1 million. If he scores 15 goals, we should think about it. Gandler is a pig. Let's face it,the more Arty signs for, the more Gandler's percentage is worth. Just throwing in a blast from the past. When the Broad Street Bullies were scaring the s**t out of the league, the main bully was Dave Shultz. Goon or not, he scored 20 goals when the Flyers won the cup. Do you think Arty is going to do that?

[harvey]

ajax, who said he's signing for a million? That number was what he was asking for last year and seems to be asking for now. It's a number they (Gandler) wants but that doesn't mean he gets it from Tampa or, goes back to the arctic circle.

Maybe they sign him or maybe they don't. Everyone could argue forever on his worth to us or another team. We could argue forever on what salary he ultimately gets. Actually argue is not the correct word. Let's say we could disagree. That's what us armchair people do. That's the fun of it.

All I'm saying is it makes perfect sense to visit the situation and let it play out. Let's see what happens before we crucify management. If they swept Arty under the rug I'd be the first to challenge managements ability.

As of now nothing has happened. Let's chill and see what happens. The draft is coming up. Some teams might love the opportunity to sign the animal. Who knows what they might offer.

Let it play out my friend. We'll talk about it later.

[bob]

you all are idiots if you dont like the deal dont go to the games i for 1 will go to my lower level seats he will be great for the team was richards worth it is boyle worth it should dave have been let go and feds and habby bye bye torts and feaster

[GP]

I like what Harvey said. "Let's chill and see what happens." I did not live in Tampa when Arty played here but I am excited to see him play. Anyone that big that can skate can be a difference maker. AND he is a whole lot better choice to see on the 4th line than Ward, Stewart, Lessard, Macdonald ... etc. We have complained all year about the lack of depth this team has .... well, hopefully Arty's signing is the beginning of that depth we so desperately need.

Now let's see them pry Aleksey Morozov out of Russia and back to the NHL. Then we could have our 1st or 2nd line winger without giving up anything but money.