Crosby negotiating with Swiss club

[Madferret]

Crosby negotiating with Swiss club
Canadian Press

Hockey phenom Sidney Crosby is in contract talks with Swiss club Lugano, The Canadian Press has learned.

With the NHL set to unveil a new collective bargaining agreement with tough new limits on entry-level contracts, a source said Wednesday that Crosby has been offered a three-year deal that could be worth as much as $10 million US including a multimillion-dollar signing bonus by the Swiss club.

Crosby's agent Pat Brisson of IMG admitted negotiations were taking place. But he would not confirm any financial details. "I can't deny that we've been in serious talks with Lugano," Brisson said Wednesday from Los Angeles. "It's a serious offer. We're keeping in mind that Sidney's goal is to play in the National Hockey League but we have to listen. "Not knowing what the entry-level restrictions will be in the upcoming CBA, we need to cover our bases," Brisson added.

The next collective bargaining agreement is believed to cap entry-level salaries to a maximum of $850,000 a season over three years, the same amount it was 10 years ago. Hard-to-reach bonuses could be worth as much as $3 million but they won't be gimmes like the previous deal.

Should Crosby sign the deal before even being drafted by an NHL team, Brisson said there would be some kind of out clause that would allow him to return to North America if he chose to. "We would want some sort of mechanism which would allow him to come back if he wanted, but it could come at a price" Brisson said.

Other clubs in Europe, notably in Russia, were also believed to have interest but Lugano is the only team in talks with Brisson and Crosby at this point. Brisson would not comment asked when and if Crosby would sign with the Swiss club.

Goalie David Aebischer of the Colorado Avalanche, forwards Jason Blake of the New York Islanders, Martin Gelinas of the Calgary Flames, Alex Tanguay of the Avalanche and defenceman Kimmo Timonen of the Nashville Predators all played for Lugano last season during the NHL lockout.

Either way, the money continues to pour in for the talented youngster. Gatorade became the second major company this year to hitch its wagon to the rising star by signing the native of Cole Harbour, N.S., to a three-year endorsement deal that was announced by the company Tuesday.

Crosby, 17, signed with Reebok in March in what was reported to be a $2.5-million US, five-year endorsement deal for equipment and apparel. While the Gatorade deal is not believed to be as lucrative per year as the Reebok contract, it is still reportedly the richest deal a hockey player has signed with the sports drink company.

Crosby, a Canadian Hockey League MVP the past two seasons while playing for the Rimouski Oceanic, is considered far and away the No. 1 prospect for the 2005 NHL draft. The draft will likely be held in early August.

That would absolutely crush Bettman and a HUGE selling point of the NHL next year. Sid is going to be a HUGE factor in re-pitching the 'new' NHL to fans in the US, and somewhat Canada.
Might be the extra push needed for the new CBA to get resolved ASAP. Well played Brisson, well played indeed.

[nhldave]

A minor blip in the grand scheme of things. So Crosby plays in Europe for a season or two he'll still likely end up in the NHL.

More to the point Crosby is, like the players in the NHLPA as we have just seen, out for the most possible money and if a club like Lugano is foolish enough to give it to him then he'd be crazy not to take it.

Overall European hockey does not have the financial wherewithal to compete for players with the NHL even with the reduced salary structure coming our way. If Crosby goes to Europe he'll be the exception, not the rule.

And of course the whole thing could just be BS pitched by his agent trying to get Crosby more money from an NHL team. An agent obviously still living in the old days.

[grim]

It would be too funny if Sid went to Switzerland for more money than would be possibly available to him in the NHL. Yet Sandis Ozolinsh made US$5,500,000 in 2004.

[bluemeanie]

Switzerland? Where the hell's that? And how does this fit into Crosby's live long dream of becoming a Le.....

[Mel]

I hope Crosby makes a splash in the NHL worthy of the hype surrounding him. I, along with most citizens in the land of bowling and poker, have never gotten to see him play live. Only a few highlight reels here and there.

I hope that he not only stays right here and goes to the NHL, but generates excitement throughout the arenas and the media, and helps put the league back on it's feet.

[Max Power]

Me too

All those million dollar advertisement contracts must be based on playing in the NHL wouldn't they?

[nhldave]

Me too

All those million dollar advertisement contracts must be based on playing in the NHL wouldn't they?

That's an excellent point. I'm sure Gatorade and co wouldn't be too interested in giving a guy millions to go play disappearing hockey somewhere in Europe.

[grim]

That's an excellent point. I'm sure Gatorade and co wouldn't be too interested in giving a guy millions to go play disappearing hockey somewhere in Europe.

A bird in the hand... I'd take the certain US$10 million... he could turn out to be Alex Daigle. If he's a bust in Europe, the ad contracts won't be waiting for him up when he returns. If he signs for an NHL club now and he's a bust... the ad contracts will dry up fast. I say if he is offered all that money to play in Europe he'd be a fool to tur it down. He can play in the NHL in 3 years.

[Max Power]

I guess that all depends what the advertisement contract stipulates. He could still make the same amount and play in the NHL even if he?s a bust

[Mel]

NHL FIRST CHOICE: CROSBY
CHARLOTTETOWN -- Sidney Crosby says he wants to play in the National Hockey League if there's a season in the fall. While his agent, Pat Brisson of the International Management Group, is in talks with the Swiss club Lugano, the 17-year-old from Cole Harbour, N.S., said yesterday that playing in Europe is only an option if the NHL's labour situation isn't cleared up.

A new collective labour agreement is close to being announced. "Obviously, I'm going to consider other places, but if there's an NHL [season], that's where I want be," Crosby said in an interview with CBC News. "Right now, I want to make sure that I have somewhere to go if there is no NHL season, but we're thinking best-case scenario that there's going to be one, so that's what I'm worried about."

Brisson said this week that any deal with Lugano would most likely contain a clause to release Crosby back to the NHL. CP

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050709/CROSBY09/TPSports/Hockey

I seemed kind of far-fetched to me that a Canadian kid would choose Europe over the NHL, regardless of money. I'm glad they cleared up this rumor. If a CBA is struck in time then Crosby will go the NHL route.

[PDO]

Crosby won't sign in Europe, don't worry.

2 words:

Gatorade
RBK

He does that, and he's got some people very angry with him.

[Newfie John]

Crosby won't sign in Europe, don't worry.

2 words:

Gatorade
RBK

He does that, and he's got some people very angry with him.

The NHL is obviously his first choice, but isn't it possible that Gatorade and RBK also have markets in Switzerland?

[nhldave]

The NHL is obviously his first choice, but isn't it possible that Gatorade and RBK also have markets in Switzerland?

Yes they have huge markets in Europe but Crosby is not a local hero there and hockey is far from the number one sport in most of Europe. Much bigger bang for their buck here.

[Mel]

The NHL is the biggest and baddest hockey stage in the world. That's why the best players from Europe come here to play. If the new financial landscape causes a few of them to stay in Europe, then screw em... that's not the type of player we want in the NHL is it? One that's only in it for the money?

The only reason his agent is talking to teams abroad is for a plan B should the NHL talks collapse. This is basically a non-issue.

[Max Power]

As expected he wants to play in the NHL

Crosby already excited about NHL draft


Canadian Press



7/11/2005 11:36:51 AM

TORONTO (CP) - Sidney Crosby is starting to feel excited about the NHL entry draft as the NHL and NHL Players' Association creep towards a new collective bargaining agreement.

The 17-year-old forward from Cole Harbour, N.S., is a virtual lock to be the No. 1 selection in the draft, which is expected to be held in late July or early August if a deal gets done soon.

"Now when they're getting so close, it's hard not to get excited for it," Crosby said Monday at the Hockey Hall of Fame, where the Canadian junior men's hockey team was feted for their gold medal win in January.

"From what I hear, it's probably going to be this week that a deal is going to be done. When that happens, we'll know a lot more what's going to happen with the draft."

Reports are that the draft lottery will give every team a chance to pick first overall, but some teams' chances will be weighted.





Under the NHL's previous collective bargaining agreement, one of the bottom five teams in the league, via a lottery, would have the chance to win the first overall selection.

"It's good. It's a special situation I think in my case," Crosby said. "A lot of guys don't get that opportunity to go to any team. Usually they have a little bit of an idea with where they are ranked.

"With me, there's a little bit of an excitement factor, a surprise factor, not knowing exactly where I'm going to end up. It'll be fun to see how the lottery works out."

The 2005 NHL draft had been scheduled for June 25-26 in Ottawa, but was cancelled in March.

The NHL draft has become an over-the-top, two-day showcase in which each of the first-round picks are brought up on stage - with a huge draft board behind them - to don the jersey of the team that drafted him, and pose with team owners and managers for a photo op.

Because of the proximity of GMs on the draft floor, there is also a lot of wheeling and dealing going on while teenagers names are called.

The 2005 draft may be a more scaled down version. Crosby doesn't know if he'll have the chance to sit in an arena crowded with fellow draft hopefuls, hear his name called and walk up on stage to meet his new team.

"I'd like to do that, but it's going to be a lot harder than in other years where it's been a bit more of a normal situation," Crosby said.

Crosby, five foot 10 and 193 pounds, has won the Canadian Hockey League's MVP award the past two seasons while playing for the Rimouski Oceanic.

The Swiss club Lugano is interested in signing Crosby to a deal worth a reported $10 million over three years.

That's more than Crosby would make in the NHL. The cap on rookie salaries is expected to be reduced in the new CBA.

But Crosby said Monday he would play in the NHL for less money.

"Oh yeah. The NHL is where I want to be," he said. "It's where I've dreamed of playing. It's the best league in the world."

Crosby said he wants to have a backup plan, in case NHL talks collapse.

"It's one of those things where I can't be panicking in August if something doesn't work out," he said. "I have to be sure I've got somewhere to go."

Crosby has signed endorsement deals with Gatorade and Reebok in the past few months. He said those companies have not pressured him to play for a particular team or in a particular country.

"That hasn't been in the discussions at all," he said.

[Madferret]

Can't wait to see him in a Sens jersey...

[Mel]

Can't wait to see him in a Sens jersey...

I predict he will be drafted first overall by the Colorado Avalanche and promptly refuse to play for them demanding a trade.

Then while the draft is still taking place The Avs will simultaneously trade Crosby to both the Flyers and the Rangers in block buster deals.

some days later, an arbitrator will inexplicably award Crosby to the Flyers even though the Rangers were first to have a deal signed on paper!

Crosby will have some good years, including a trip to the finals, and an MVP season. Soon Bobby Clarke will grow tired of him and, ironically, he will wind up playing for the Rangers after all, as a shadow of his former self.

Hey, it happens. :conspire: