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February 5th, 2004
11:28 pm - Umberger
Torey while you are hunting down the Clarret story, perhaps you could get us an R.J. Umberger update as well. As you should know by now R.J. has chossen to sit out the year instead of signing the Canucks contract. The story here began last year when R.J. was encouraged to find an agent by the GM Brian Burke. He did so, effectvly ending a very good college carrer. He percieves that the Canucks low balled him by offering a 700K signing bonus and 700K and some change per year. He might be right as the Canucks did pay Matt Kessler, a teammate of R.J.'s whos was selcted 15 spots behind him, a 100,000 more in base and bonus. If he is not signed or traded he will be a UFA come June.
My take here is that both sides are hurting themselves. The Nucks obviously lose a first round draft pick for nothing. 6-2, 220, good hands and a shot cannot be found just anywhere. Burke has dug himself in though saying "the kid can play XBOX till June, there is no way anything is happening before that." Burke is known for his jewishness and being a tough nut to crack.
R.J. is very responsible here though. The Nucks offered him Kessler's exact contract and his response was, (actual quote here)"I am not taking KESSLER money." One of the alltime stupid things to say to the Canadian press. He is not doing himself any favors by sitting on his ass. And don't think he might not get frozen out here. The hockey world is a fraternity as Teddy Nolan found out. Anger the wrong people and it does not matter how good you are.
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Comments:
| From: (Anonymous) |
Date: February 6th, 2004 - 04:09 pm |
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Umberger
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Mr. Penn Hills, although you have the inside scoop on the happenings at the Ohio State, let me handle this one. I play with a kid whose father does business with Mr. Umberger and they shoot the shit all the time about this. Umberger was never happy he was drafted by the Canucks in the first place. Sure he was the #16 pick in the first round, but Vancouver was far away, and ideally (for some unknown reason) he would have liked to have ended up with, of all teams, the Penguins. He's not even at Ohio State this year, not enrolled. He has worked out primarily at the U.S. National Team Headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan and is doing extensive off-ice training as well as power skating in Minnesota, so it's not like he's just sitting on his ass.
To address the issue though, I think both sides have to take the blame here, not just Umberger. If you're the Canucks, it's your first round draft pick. Truth is, Vancouver's GM is a toolbag. Everyone in the league knows it. And to be honest, the Canucks offered him $125,000 less than Kessler in the bonus with about the same base salary. That would have made RJ the second lowest paid first rounder from that 2001 draft. He was the #16 pick! Unacceptable. On the other hand, RJ...you're from 'lum b'ro. Take the money, work your ass off, ask for a better contract or for a trade. First round draft picks in the NHL get every chance in the world to screw up and right the ship, that's a fact. Bottom line, shit's gonna buff out here. He's going to become an unrestricted free agent, test the waters this summer, at the very least be invited to a dozen NHL camps, and eventually sign with a team that suits him better and needs him more than the 'nucks. (I play with three canadians from Richmond (Vancouver) BC, and find myself loathing our neighbors to the north more each day) The NHL is going to lock out next season anyway, hopefully creating a cap to even things out, and Umberger is going to play in the AHL. A less demanding game, a great place for him to shake the rust of not playing games.
And to set the record straight, Umberger never said "I am not taking Kessler money." He said "They offered me Kessler money." You have this website a week and already taking quotes out of context. I just wanted to set the record straight before Beard started bashing the kid further. My brother has attended RJ's youth hockey camp for two years, and when Umberger turns it on for these kids, he's unbelievable. I haven't seen pure acceleration like this for a while, his hands are incredible, and his shot is pin-point. I know that we're talking an NHL player and all of them can do it, but I'm getting off at watching him do it without competition. Wait for this one, he'll be a gem.
Kinger
| From: (Anonymous) |
Date: February 8th, 2004 - 08:05 am |
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????
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who gives a shit. no punk kid from plum or anywhere else in the burgh is gonna pan out in the nhl. beard u said you were going to give us attendence numbers. what happened to that? i want tv numbers too since thats all that counts anyway
Goff
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