Ryan Kesler's agent refutes Kesler's statement of taking a hometown discount
by Sean Zandberg on Mar 23, 2009 3:43 PM PDT
in Free Agency
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PrintFrom TSN:
In an interview with Vancouver radio station CKNW, Kesler's agent, Kurt Overheardt, stated that his client had been mis-quoted and that the 24-year old Kesler would be seeking fair market value when he becomes a restricted free agent following next season.
"I think that was completely taken out of context," Overheardt said of a quote that was attributed to Kesler following the signing of Canucks' forward Alex Burrows earlier in the month.
"Ryan's a young guy and he's worked very hard to be where he is right now," stated Overheardt. "He's got a lot more potential, he's got a lot more to fulfill and a lot more responsibilities, so don't expect anything less from me than market value."
Well of course the agent is going to say that. There's less money in it for him if Kesler signed for less.
I'm not sure what part of what Kesler said should or could be taken out of context. Fucking agents.
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Ah, if SBNation would add mobile posting already, I could keep up with these things.
by Linix129 on Mar 23, 2009 8:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Sean’s right, agents have to do that. No one negotiates by basically saying “lowball me and we’ll sign”.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
Wrong station?
TSN may have the wrong station on this, unless Overhardt (yes, they spelled his name wrong) has been making the rounds; that sounds suspiciously like what he said on Pratt and Taylor this afternoon, which is of course on the TEAM, not CKNW. A couple of other interesting things came out in that one. The context he offered was that in the wake of the Burrows deal, Kesler was going to be more willing to say something along those lines, which seems pretty weak. Also, the original story was by Ben Kuzma of the Province; Pratt and Taylor had him on right afterwards and he was (justifiably) ticked off that Overhardt seemed to go after his credibility. You’re right that Overhardt had to say something, but going after a reporter who seems to have gotten the quote right isn’t right in my books; Kesler said something that probably wasn’t the best business move, and he and his agent should have to live with the consequences rather than slagging reporters over it.
Queen's Journal Sports Editor.
Personal sports blog at www.sportingmadness.blogspot.com.
Contributing writer at Out of Left Field: www.neatesager.blogspot.com.
by Andrew Bucholtz on Mar 23, 2009 7:30 PM PDT reply actions
Kesler said something that probably wasn’t the best business move, and he and his agent should have to live with the consequences rather than slagging reporters over it.
Well that’s a good point. It remind me of the Sundin saga, unfortunately. The same things happened there over and over again.
What do you think Paul Kariya’s agent said when the tiny one took a massive pay cut to play with Selanne in Colorado?
Larger problem
The Kariya/Selanne situation is a great example of the larger problem here. The interests of agents and players are not always aligned; most agents work on a commission basis to my knowledge, so they should be inclined to maximize dollars for the player and thus improve their own take. However, while dollars are important to players (and to some more than others), other factors come into it as well such as the desireability of the city, the talent of the team, the team’s system, linemates, relationships with the coach/GM, length of the contract offered and team chemistry. To some extent, agents have to take those factors into account as well (or else they’ll annoy their clients and perhaps get dropped for a new agent), but the kicker is that none of those factors tend to actually provide any benefit to the agent (other than a happy client). Thus, players and agents are always going to have somewhat different perspectives on these kind of negotations.
The other problem to consider is how a player’s decision affects other players, something discussed at length on the TEAM today. NHLPA head Paul Kelly’s coming to town shortly, and you can bet he isn’t likely to be happy about the Burrows/Kesler situation (and many of his constituents probably aren’t either). The problem there is if Burrows and Kesler take undervalued deals, that weakens other players’ bargaining positions. It hurts those on the Canucks (who else will also be asked to take a pay cut for the team? Will they be labeled as selfish/not interested in winning if they don’t?) and it hurts those around the league who put up similar stats to Burrows and Kesler. The issue here is that many of the reasons for Burrows or Kesler to take a lower contract and stay in Vancouver (great city, reasonably strong team, etc) can be counted as intangibles, even if they aren’t really. For example, most people would probably agree that Vancouver is a better city to live in than perhaps Atlanta (cherry-picking an example), but that doesn’t mean that a Thrashers player is likely to be able to use that logic in contract talks. Thus, those talks tend to focus on tangibles (the limited conventional stats tracked by the NHL) and comparables (players who put up similar conventional stats). Even if there are good reasons for Kesler to take a pay cut in Vancouver, that hurts similar players in the union who may be offered a similar contract without the intangible benefits that made it work for Kesler.
Queen's Journal Sports Editor.
Personal sports blog at www.sportingmadness.blogspot.com.
Contributing writer at Out of Left Field: www.neatesager.blogspot.com.
by Andrew Bucholtz on Mar 23, 2009 11:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, got to be fair to the union brothers, right? I say piss on them. Let Kesler be the knight in shining armour, or going by what you’re saying, the union cull. The greedy players be damned.
The cap system is tricky, and many players are also over-inflating their values and teams are handcuffing themselves by taking them in. There shouldn’t have to be this mass exodus and entrance of players on teams every summer, especially when team chemistry comes into play. You can’t always buy that chemistry. Kesler and Burrows love the guys they are playing with and are making a statement that they want to keep playing with this group. If that’s morally wrong to other players (on different teams) in the union then I say piss on the players union. A little morality doesn’t hurt once in a while.
Having said that, you mentioned..
It hurts those on the Canucks (who else will also be asked to take a pay cut for the team? Will they be labeled as selfish/not interested in winning if they don’t?
That’s a disturbingly good point. It may or may not be an issue, I don’t know. I wonder if the guys talk about that over drinks. I guess time will tell. We know Ohlund isn’t biting on it. The Sedins might.
by Sean Zandberg on Mar 23, 2009 11:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Yup. But Brian Burke is clearing cap space for them already ! (I’m kidding)
by Sean Zandberg on Mar 24, 2009 8:37 AM PDT up reply actions
Very good insight :D
So there is no way to count in the intangibles??? As in, players should be allowed to play where they want to play, regardless of the size of the paycheque. I can tell you, I love living in Vancouver way more than in San Jose!!!
We are all Canucks.
by Chinese Canuck on Mar 24, 2009 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Let’s all remember that Kesler is the one who bit on the huge Philadelphia offer two contracts ago. It seems now that he’s fallen in love with Burrows, he’s had a change of heart.
On the topic of the interests of an agent, it’s very true that they do not always line up with the interests of the players they represent. That’s why there are ethics guidelines and the availability of malpractice lawsuits with punitive damages to make certain that agents have incentive to keep in line. The rules, in general, are very simple. An agent is required to give the player he represents the best advice (as he sees it) on all issues pertaining to the representation. If the player disagrees with the agent’s advice, or any of the agent’s strategies, the agent is required to accept the player’s perspective and negotiate based on that. Or, of course, the agent may resign.
by Beantown Canuck on Mar 24, 2009 3:27 PM PDT reply actions
Haha, I’m a law student . That’s why I’m in Beantown. Although this week I’m in Vancouver. SPRING BREAK!!!
by Beantown Canuck on Mar 24, 2009 5:11 PM PDT up reply actions
so then you know the technicalities involved here then
by Sean Zandberg on Mar 24, 2009 9:59 PM PDT up reply actions
The problem is that the agents are using the media as a means to ‘put pressure’ on the management and to try to market their players.
That may have worked before the cap. In the cap era it makes you look like a moron who forgot to read the CBA. Keslers’ statement probably did more to garner management and public goodwill than the agent’s statements. Contract negotiations should not be in the public eye and the agents should shut up.
@RSM: It’s not just the agents. As Ben Kuzma related today on The Province’s White Towel blog, the NHLPA got involved. Paul Kelly said
“We talked to Ryan and he regrets some of the comments he made.” Sounds like the union isn’t thrilled with Kesler’s comments either.
Queen's Journal Sports Editor.
Personal sports blog at www.sportingmadness.blogspot.com.
Contributing writer at Out of Left Field: www.neatesager.blogspot.com.
by Andrew Bucholtz on Mar 24, 2009 10:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh christ. Of course they weren’t. Fuckers.
by Sean Zandberg on Mar 24, 2009 10:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, heard the same on the 1040 after the game. I didn’t get all of it as I had to go run some errands in the middle of the interview, but what Kuzma said was that a) Kesler’s agent had it wrong b) this was verified by Kelly who of course was unhappy with this because it undermines the union position and said that Kesler bladibla regretted the comments.
I understand the union position unity gives them bargaining power, and intangibles are impossible to measure on a general basis. On the other hand: For Kesler and Burrows I think they may very well be acting in their own best interest with their statements. It is really a matter of what value they place on the intangibles of playing in Vancouver with the teammates they have now.
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