Vpete wrote:Sundin had that right due to contract NTC- Kipper does not. All that talk about class in Calgary really has no meaning when St. Mikka doesn't get his way.Hockey Widow wrote:Kipper will get the Sundin treatment now from the Calgary faithful. What I found most surprising was when some of the commentators said they expected he might actually retire after this season since he will only earn 1.5 next year if he plays. Although I think he comes back if for no other reason than to have a shot at what will be his last Olympics, should he make the team.
I supported Sundin in his stance and I support Kipper in his. Tough sell but the reality of business.
Just glad Luongo hasn't taken that stance.
Of course he has the right to refuse to report and retire any damn day he pleases. Just like a team has the right to sit a player in the press box and not dress them or ask them to sit at home all season so as not to get hurt so they can be bought out. Or a team decides for medical reasons a player should not be on the ice even if the player disagrees. A team is under no obligation to play a player it has under contract yet when a player says I won't report, for family reasons I want to stay, suddenly he is in breach of his contract. Nonsense.
It's a business. Kipper cannot veto a trade. He knows that. But he has the right to stop playing hockey any day of the week. To imply otherwise is foolish. Some may not like it, but it is an option open to any player to simply say I won't play. He isn't the first player to do this and won't be the last. He could have waited until he was traded. And then decided that hey I think I will retire now. Is he in breach then? No, he simply decided to retire. But he had the balls to tell the Flames up front, I won't report, I will retire. Flames fans don't care if he retires. They would have been thrilled had he been traded for some decent return and then refused to report and retire. They then would have defended his right to do so and laughed at the team that got stuck with him, saying its all business. They would have called him loyal, and a true Flame. They are simply pissed because he did it first and unless a perspective team can persuade him to move he won't be traded.
He isn't asking for the right to pick and choose a destination. He is simply saying, I'm done. I will finish out my contract in Calgary and then I'm done.If Calgary wishes to trade him then he is done sooner. If he is using this to manipulate where he goes then I cry foul. If he says I won't report unless I like the team you want me to go to then, ya, he is being a manipulative prick. But thats not what I get from this. I get he is done and wants to be done in Calgary.
