Chicago rookie wants to be highest paid player on team

[Shell]

good lord.. doesn't take long for the greed to hit some!

Ruutu counterproposal called 'excessive'
TSN.ca Staff
7/24/2003

The Chicago Blackhawks and draft pick Tuomo Ruutu remain far apart in contract talks.

Blackhawks general manager Mike Smith rejected the latest contract counterproposal from Ruutu, a first round pick in 2001, calling it "excessive". Smith says the proposal would see Ruutu earn between $5-million and $7-million a season.

"I interpret they want Ruutu to be the highest-paid player on our team," Smith tells the Chicago Tribune.

Alex Zhamnov, currently the highest paid player on the Blackhawks, earned $4-million last season.

The current entry-level salary of an NHL rookie is capped at $1.13-million, but that does not include individual signing bonuses, which is at the heart of the stalemate.

The Blackhawks had offered Ruutu the potential to make $3-million in bonuses, but Smith says that offer is now off the table.

One of the bonus proposals put forth by Ruutu's agent would have seen the rookie earn $2.5-million if he was among the top nine forwards on the Blackhawks in terms of ice time in the third and final year of the contract.

[Stormbringer]

Definitely a future Ranjerk already in the making... :roll:

[talkingcanes]

He hasn't played a game in the NHL and he wants $5-7 million a year :roll: He certainly has no self esteem problems. Bet it will endear him to his teammates if he ends up on the team.

[Jeff O Rocks]

I don't understand all the greed........isn't that what the whole "lock out" issue is dealing with????????????? :roll:

If I could do what I loved and made even $500,000 a year for doing it, I would never complain.........

and yes talking, I am sure his greed will make him a "favorite" with fans and his teammates!! :mad:

[crazy4canes]

Oh good grief. :roll: This kid's agent must be a special kind of stupid.

[Shell]

:roll: best player in the world??my my

Ruutu to consider European options
TSN.ca Staff
7/25/2003

Finnish rookie Tuomo Ruutu says he's ready to consider other offers outside of the NHL following a lack of progress in contract talks with the Chicago Blackhawks.

"I don't think the Hawks have any intention of signing him," Zito tells Chicago Sun Times, adding he's received significant interest from several Russian teams.

It's possible the 20-year-old could also remain in Finland, where he would be able to fulfill his military obligations.

"We gave it our best effort," Zito said after the Blackhawks rejected his latest proposal. "We agreed to come up with something different. And they threw it back in our face."

"We're talking about the best player in the world. We want market value. Every other guy gets it. What would they think if someone walked up to the window at a Hawks game where the tickets are $75 and said, 'I want to pay $30.'"

If Ruutu does agree to terms with a European club, the Blackhawks would still have an opportunity to sign him to an NHL contract. However, Zito says Ruutu would not consider playing for Chicago this season if he signs with another team.

[Guyute]

kid needs another agent before his career is ruined before it even gets started.

[Stormbringer]

kid needs another agent before his career is ruined before it even gets started.

Not to mention another mindset regarding his worth... :roll:

[Guyute]

I'm sure it's LARGELY coming from his agent... who is telling the media that this kid is the best player in the world. :roll:

[Jeff O Rocks]

I'm sure it's LARGELY coming from his agent... who is telling the media that this kid is the best player in the world. :roll:

I thought that title belonged to Money Bags Federov!! :D ;) sorry...couldn't resist.. :p

[folgersnyourcup]

Sheesh, this is absurd. If he does end up playing in the NHL I can only imagine the "best player in the world huh?" cracks from other players, particularly on his own team! I concur with all the his agent needs to be fired remarks.... His agents' stance just baffles me.

[ontheboards]

What an ass! never thought I'd see someone who could make Tanabe's self-importance look good... but yep-- it's the agent...

[drwFischerFan2]

I'm sure it's LARGELY coming from his agent... who is telling the media that this kid is the best player in the world. :roll:

I thought that title belonged to Money Bags Federov!! :D ;) sorry...couldn't resist.. :p

LOL! When I first heard about this I thought maybe Ruutu and Fedorov had the same agent. At least Feds had already played for quite some time in the NHL, but this kid hasn't even played yet.

[tommy]

5-7 mil, for a kid who hasn't played a game. So should we pay Ronnie 40 or 50 mil per year, then?

btw, any relation to Jarko Ruutu? (NHLer who I'm not sure is still in the league)

[Stormbringer]

btw, any relation to Jarko Ruutu? (NHLer who I'm not sure is still in the league)

Why, yes he is!

http://www.ristopakarinen.com/english/ruutu.htm

"Ruutu - Chicago’s first-round pick (9th overall) in 2001 and Vancouver Canucks’ Jarkko Ruutu’s kid brother..."

[ontheboards]

Oh STORMBRINGER! you never cease to amaze me with the information/sites you are able to find...where do you dig up this stuff? the rocks you must look under...keep up the good work!

[nccanes]

I enjoy reading the hockey-related stuff everyone digs up too.

Just in case you don't use google OnTheBoards, if you put this in for a search:

"Tuomo Ruutu" "Jarkko Ruutu"

The quote SB posted is the very first hit. :D

[Stormbringer]

I enjoy reading the hockey-related stuff everyone digs up too.

Just in case you don't use google OnTheBoards, if you put this in for a search:

"Tuomo Ruutu" "Jarkko Ruutu"

The quote SB posted is the very first hit. :D

Actually, all I typed in was "Tuomo Ruutu"...but it generated the same results none-the-less. :D

And thanks OTB, tis my pleasure and honor to serve all Caniacs here and elsewhere. :)

[Lady J]

I don't understand all the greed........isn't that what the whole "lock out" issue is dealing with????????????? :roll:

If I could do what I loved and made even $500,000 a year for doing it, I would never complain.........



amen sister. http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/_950/wink.gif

[nccanes]

Here's Kara Yorio's take on the deal. Check out this the Snickers ad on his website that she mentions in the article. Kinda fun, but in an odd way.

Blackhawks in a standoff with Ruutu
By Kara Yorio - SportingNews.com

It's a miracle contracts get signed in the NHL at all these days.

Take the situation of Blackhawks prospect Tuomo Ruutu, whose contract negotiations deteriorated into an Internet he said/he said between Blackhawks GM Mike Smith and Ruutu's Chicago-based agent, Bill Zito.

It's a mess, and it looks like North American hockey fans will be the losers. Ruutu is seeking another European contract, likely remaining in his native Finland and fulfilling his obligatory military commitment. By all accounts, Ruutu is the total package -- a player with skill, a competitive edge and even a charismatic personality (check out his Snickers commercial at www.tuomoruutu.com). He is someone the league needs but won't get for 2003-04.

It's not easy to choose sides here. Zito's side of the argument makes sense. Talk to Smith, and he makes sense, too.

The issue is the rookie-model contract, which is the locked-in, rookie salary-cap base salary that includes bonus incentives for individual achievements. Zito says the model is based on the first contract of Bruins center Joe Thornton. In the model, if a player qualifies for two of his six bonuses (for example, scoring 20 goals and getting 20 assists), the bonuses for all six automatically kick in. Smith says he has never signed a player to the model contract and never will.

"I'm absolutely, totally opposed to it," Smith says. "It rewards players for things they don't accomplish."

That sounds reasonable.

But, Zito counters, Ruutu is the only player of the top 10 taken in 2001 who didn't get the model contract. Ruutu, who was taken ninth overall, just wants the fair market contract the rest of the top 10 picks that year received, Zito says.

Sounds reasonable, too.

But often, reason is the last element to enter player negotiations. Communication is lost, and so is opportunity for the player.

Zito says he was asked to create a contract proposal that was not the model. He did so, using a variation on the model's bonus structure. Those bonuses also rolled over -- if Ruutu didn't qualify for them in his first season but did in the second, he would receive the bonuses from both years. Furthermore, and Zito admits this part of the deal is flawed, in his third season, if all the bonuses rolled over, Ruutu could have made as much as $7 million.

Smith, on the Blackhawks' website, denounced the proposal as excessive. Zito says Smith never called to work from the proposal, which he would have done. But upon hearing Smith went to the Internet with the dispute, Zito went to a Blackhawks fans website to tell his side of the story.

If this sounds a little sophomoric, that's because it is. Unfortunately, the people hurt are Ruutu and the Blackhawks' fans. Smith is philosophically opposed to individual bonuses ("What do we get for our salary?" he asks) but understands and accepts that for Ruutu, bonuses would have to be part of the package. But the model won't be accepted, Smith says. Ruutu won't sign without the variation on the model, Zito says.

Who will blink? Nobody, which leaves Ruutu in Finland and the Blackhawks with a hole after trading center Andrei Nikolishin to make room for Ruutu.

As long as Smith is the Blackhawks' general manager and Zito insists on the altered model, Ruutu will play in Europe. It's a disappointing story. Log on for the next update.

[Mellanby_equals_grit]

PUUUUULEASE!!

The kid was just drafted.. He hasn't played a single game in the NHL.. Maybe if we were talking Gretzky or Lemieux part 2.. But we're not.. Why the hell does this kid think he's so special to set some stupid precedent? Noone in the world is gonna give him that much...

Give him a 450K one-year two-way deal like every other unproven prospect... :roll:

[Shell]

While I agree, and have rolled my eyes at everything out of this kids agents mouth, I didn't realize he was "the only player of the top 10 taken in 2001 who didn't get the model contract.". Though I agree with Smith that a model contract is ridiculous. *shrug* all boils down to a loss for both sides.

Blackhawks in a standoff with Ruutu
August 5, 2003
Kara Yorio

It's a miracle contracts get signed in the NHL at all these days.

Take the situation of Blackhawks prospect Tuomo Ruutu, whose contract negotiations deteriorated into an Internet he said/he said between Blackhawks GM Mike Smith and Ruutu's Chicago-based agent, Bill Zito.

It's a mess, and it looks like North American hockey fans will be the losers. Ruutu is seeking another European contract, likely remaining in his native Finland and fulfilling his obligatory military commitment. By all accounts, Ruutu is the total package -- a player with skill, a competitive edge and even a charismatic personality (check out his Snickers commercial at www.tuomoruutu.com). He is someone the league needs but won't get for 2003-04.

It's not easy to choose sides here. Zito's side of the argument makes sense. Talk to Smith, and he makes sense, too.

The issue is the rookie-model contract, which is the locked-in, rookie salary-cap base salary that includes bonus incentives for individual achievements. Zito says the model is based on the first contract of Bruins center Joe Thornton. In the model, if a player qualifies for two of his six bonuses (for example, scoring 20 goals and getting 20 assists), the bonuses for all six automatically kick in. Smith says he has never signed a player to the model contract and never will.

"I'm absolutely, totally opposed to it," Smith says. "It rewards players for things they don't accomplish."

That sounds reasonable.

But, Zito counters, Ruutu is the only player of the top 10 taken in 2001 who didn't get the model contract. Ruutu, who was taken ninth overall, just wants the fair market contract the rest of the top 10 picks that year received, Zito says.

Sounds reasonable, too.

But often, reason is the last element to enter player negotiations. Communication is lost, and so is opportunity for the player.

Zito says he was asked to create a contract proposal that was not the model. He did so, using a variation on the model's bonus structure. Those bonuses also rolled over -- if Ruutu didn't qualify for them in his first season but did in the second, he would receive the bonuses from both years. Furthermore, and Zito admits this part of the deal is flawed, in his third season, if all the bonuses rolled over, Ruutu could have made as much as $7 million.

Smith, on the Blackhawks' website, denounced the proposal as excessive. Zito says Smith never called to work from the proposal, which he would have done. But upon hearing Smith went to the Internet with the dispute, Zito went to a Blackhawks fans website to tell his side of the story.

If this sounds a little sophomoric, that's because it is. Unfortunately, the people hurt are Ruutu and the Blackhawks' fans. Smith is philosophically opposed to individual bonuses ("What do we get for our salary?" he asks) but understands and accepts that for Ruutu, bonuses would have to be part of the package. But the model won't be accepted, Smith says. Ruutu won't sign without the variation on the model, Zito says.

Who will blink? Nobody, which leaves Ruutu in Finland and the Blackhawks with a hole after trading center Andrei Nikolishin to make room for Ruutu.

As long as Smith is the Blackhawks' general manager and Zito insists on the altered model, Ruutu will play in Europe. It's a disappointing story. Log on for the next update.

[Jeff O Rocks]

For that kind of money as a rookie, he ought to be able to play hockey AND sell food!! :roll:

[moonstomper]

its done


Blackhawks come to terms with Ruutu

TSN.ca Staff

8/28/2003

The Chicago Blackhawks have come to terms with forward Tuomo Ruutu.

Terms of the deal were not announced but under rookies in the NHL can earn a maximum $1.1-million under a three year entry-level contract. However, the issue of individual performance bonuses had become the major stumbling block in negotiations.

Chicago tabled an offer earlier this month which would have seen Ruutu earn as much as $3-million in bonuses while the player's agent, Bill Zito, countered with an offer that Smith said would have made Ruutu the highest paid player on the team.

"It took a while to come to an agreement with Tuomo," said general manager Mike Smith. "Working together, both sides found a way we both could live with. We're optimistic he is going to have a long and successful career as a Blackhawk."

Ruutu suffered a torn ligament in his knee back in January but has been skating for the past month. He says he's looking forward to realizing his dream of playing in the National Hockey League this fall when training camp opens September 11.

"I never give up and this is something I want to bring to the team," said Ruutu. "I think that describes my game the best. I really love the physical part of the game and that's why I really am looking forward to play in North America."

Ruutu was Chicago's first pick, ninth overall in the 2001 entry draft. He's described as a smart playmaker with good hands and a good shot, and scouts have compared his style to that of Colorado's Peter Forsberg and former Edmonton player Esa Tikkanen.

Smith said earlier this summer that Ruutu would likely be the only rookie to make the team's opening night lineup this fall. He's likely to be Chicago's third line center behind Alex Zhamnov and Tyler Arnason

[moonstomper]

I dunno how many of you are watching this kid play but man...he is something. Ive seen him lay out half a dozen people in two games, hes centering Daze and Sully on the 1st line...no points yet but theyll come

[Shell]

hey, thanks stompy.. way to find a thread that fits! :D

To be honest, I haven't watched a Chicago game yet.. he's looking good? If you had to compare him to a player, who would it be?

[moonstomper]

well its kinda early to compare, but he plays with the intensity of Roenick throwing his body around every shift, hes exciting to watch...has very good hands too, but Im not gonna compare them to Kovalevs just yet though :)