Is Miikka Kiprusoff Holding the Calgary Flames Hostage, and What Effect Will It Have Around The League?
According to Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet, and Yahoo.com’s Puck Daddy Blog, goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff has told the Calgary Flames that if they trade him, he might not report to his new team.
(Obviously Kypreos meant “citing” not “sighting”)
(As an aside, the irony of Kyper reporting on Kipper is not lost on me!)
Kiprusoff does not have a no trade or no movement clause in his contract.
Mar 24, 2013; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff (34) makes a save against St. Louis Blues during the third period at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
First, Jake Gardiner‘s agent goes public with his #freejakegardiner tweet and now this. Although he didn’t go public with the statement, if it is true, Kiprusoff is holding the Flames hostage from potentially rebuilding from the ground up and potentially losing one of their biggest chips they could put in play to expedite that rebuild.
Jay Feaster already seemed to be in over his head this season, and Kipper’s brash statement ties one hand behind his GM’s back.
For what its worth, I don’t like the move at all. Kiprusoff does not have a no-trade clause, and like it or not, he gets paid millions of dollars to fulfill his contract, and if that means being traded then so be it. The Flames are in desperate need of an overhaul, and Kiprusoff could be a big factor in getting some quality players, prospects and/or draft picks into the system to stock it up.
Mats Sundin was maligned for refusing his no trade clause and accept a deal to speed up the Leafs’ rebuild a few years ago, but that was his righte as he did have a NTC in his contract.
Kiprusoff, just like Ben Hankinson (Gardiner’s agent), is about to set a precedent that is dangerous for players and teams around the league. If players who don’t have a NTC negotiated into their contract start asserting their will against teams by withholding services, this will turn into a nightmare for the league. I understand why Kiprusoff is doing what he is doing, but I don’t agree with his tactics whatsoever.