artoo…? Where are you…?
As was stated by Ken in comments, Evgeny Artyukhin signed a 1 year deal with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Russian Elite league.
It can be looked at as a leverage move by Artoo but you have to wonder if the Lightning will still persue him with their head so close to the cap? Why do it when Mitch Fritz is avalible? Of course, I’d love to see Artoo back in the lineup for 2006-07 but we retain his rights for next year. If he can’t be signed cheap this year, he’d likely be back for the following season (with the likes of Nikita Alexeev and Ruslan Fedotenko heading out of town).
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August 6th, 2006 at 2:20 pm
Darn it I hope we don’t lose Artoo b/c he’s fun to watch and my kid is gonna have a fit. But if he would get more playing time–and perhaps those goal scorer’s hands–in Russia, it would be worth waiting a year. I am still bummed over losing Modin.
August 6th, 2006 at 6:50 pm
Well, according to the Trib, Feaster’s highly PO’d at Artoo for this little stunt.
I suspect the kid needs a new agent.
August 6th, 2006 at 8:07 pm
Feaster’s more pissed at Arty going outside the salary structure of the Lightning with his demands. He wanted more than what Ryan Craig is making and Craig will only be making 495K.
Jay is VERY intent on preserving the salary structure of the Lightning and with the Cap tight now for the Bolts - they can’t afford to overpay someone and make players “Beneath” him in the salary structure feel cheated by the team.
August 6th, 2006 at 9:35 pm
Good point, John.
August 13th, 2006 at 10:40 pm
Should have paid Arty the money,I like Craig but Arty is much more talented never really got a chance to show what he could do.There are alot of people upset about this.And Fritz is not Arty no way.
Look for alot #76 jerseys still in the stands.He could be a star in this league with playing time.
August 13th, 2006 at 10:52 pm
Disagree hank. Mostly because paying Artoo’s ransom demands would upset the Lightning salary structure.
Arty’s no Craig and Craig is no Arty — that’s the truth, but Artoo is not worth more than Craig. Craig is not worth more than Arty… Arty demanded a million dollars when we only had 750K to spend, all while Craig was signed for 495k? Sorry, but you don’t upset your up-and-coming prospects by signing someone for twice what he’s worth. It’d create hard feelings for the Lightning prospects (who’d expect paydays sooner from the Bolts) and screw up the roster.