Bye Bye Clayton

Thunder star Travis Clayton says he needs a "fresh start" and that his days in Wichita are likely over.

Clayton, who has played 11 years with the Thunder and is the team's career leading scorer, said the team allowed him to become a free agent by failing to offer him a contract by the Central Hockey League deadline of Aug. 1.

He plans to exercise free agency and look for another team. He said he will stay in the CHL.

"I'm definitely going to explore my options," he said from his hometown of Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan. "I think I need a fresh start."

Check Kansas.com tonight for more, and see Wednesday's Eagle for a full story.

http://www.kansas.com/sports/updates/story/507572.html


Vet spot open....

more smoke and mirrors from the front office. How fuckin pathetic....

Duda offered a contract before Clayton.... Come on Joel... nice early doings as GM. The media puts out he has SIGNED with the team yet now its said he was NEVER EVEN OFFERED A CONTRACT? WTF??
and you expect people to support this kinda bogus crap???

Clayton, Duda will return for ThunderPosted on July 30, 2008
BY KOLLEN LONG, The Wichita Eagle-

One of the most-intriguing questions of the offseason for the Wichita Thunder has been answered: Travis Clayton and Jason Duda, cornerstones of the hockey franchise for years, will be back next season, new coach Brent Bilodeau said Tuesday.

Duda will play his 13th year in Wichita; Clayton his 12th.

In the past, the return of the team's most-recognizable players has virtually been a given. But after the long-time linemates suffered through disappointing seasons in 2007-08, their futures in Wichita seemed uncertain for the first time.

Duda, limited by injury, played in 42 games and scored 31 points, including a career-low 12 goals. Clayton played in 62 games, scoring a career-low 50 points.

Read the rest of the story

Im guessing they are releasing this news so that they can continue to keep the new signings from the public. "Maybe this will hold them off for awhile". But who knows, i guess we will see in tomorrows paper.

Haha GT that article came out July 30rth saying he was signed. They didnt sign him by the august 1 deadline? What total bullshit by the office...Hey stone check pm's

gametime wrote:

Clayton, Duda will return for ThunderPosted on July 30, 2008 BY KOLLEN LONG, The Wichita Eagle- One of the most-intriguing questions of the offseason for the Wichita Thunder has been answered: Travis Clayton and Jason Duda, cornerstones of the hockey franchise for years, will be back next season, new coach Brent Bilodeau said Tuesday. Duda will play his 13th year in Wichita; Clayton his 12th. In the past, the return of the team's most-recognizable players has virtually been a given. But after the long-time linemates suffered through disappointing seasons in 2007-08, their futures in Wichita seemed uncertain for the first time. Duda, limited by injury, played in 42 games and scored 31 points, including a career-low 12 goals. Clayton played in 62 games, scoring a career-low 50 points. Read the rest of the story

Not to get Kentucky lawyer on you, but where in this article, written by Kollen Long, based on a conversation with Bilodeau, does it say they've been offered a contract? All it says is that they'll be back, not that they've signed or been offered a contract.

Here's the article in its entirety:
http://www.kansas.com/sports/hockey/thunder/story/478436.html

I'm sure there will be more in the paper tomorrow, but someone on the other board commented in a thread over the weekend that Duda said on KAKE that everything's done except the ink, implying that negotiations have taken place, but no contract has been done yet.

The team can do nothing right, regardless of what it is. The team is a collection of idiots for bringing anyone back from last year, our vets need to go or at least earn a spot, now they're morons for not offering a contract.

I'm waiting for the headline in the paper:
"Thunder discovers cure for Lung Cancer, fan base angry Bone Cancer cure not included"

Here's a novel idea, lets wait for all of the facts and hear from both sides before stringing anyone up.

Al?

RLR

Quote:

Here's a novel idea, lets wait for all of the facts and hear from both sides before stringing anyone up.

Is that an option on The GlassRattler.

Y'all will get to see Blaznek this year ... in a Bugs sweater.
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/SPORTS/80826043/1001

I spotted this in Rajan's blog, which has some comments you will appreciate.
http://blogs.caller.com/rajan/archives/2008/08/blazing-out-of-2.html

speedrissr wrote:

gametime wrote: Clayton, Duda will return for ThunderPosted on July 30, 2008 BY KOLLEN LONG, The Wichita Eagle- One of the most-intriguing questions of the offseason for the Wichita Thunder has been answered: Travis Clayton and Jason Duda, cornerstones of the hockey franchise for years, will be back next season, new coach Brent Bilodeau said Tuesday. Duda will play his 13th year in Wichita; Clayton his 12th. In the past, the return of the team's most-recognizable players has virtually been a given. But after the long-time linemates suffered through disappointing seasons in 2007-08, their futures in Wichita seemed uncertain for the first time. Duda, limited by injury, played in 42 games and scored 31 points, including a career-low 12 goals. Clayton played in 62 games, scoring a career-low 50 points. Read the rest of the story Not to get Kentucky lawyer on you, but where in this article, written by Kollen Long, based on a conversation with Bilodeau, does it say they've been offered a contract? All it says is that they'll be back, not that they've signed or been offered a contract. Here's the article in its entirety: http://www.kansas.com/sports/hockey/thunder/story/478436.html I'm sure there will be more in the paper tomorrow, but someone on the other board commented in a thread over the weekend that Duda said on KAKE that everything's done except the ink, implying that negotiations have taken place, but no contract has been done yet. The team can do nothing right, regardless of what it is. The team is a collection of idiots for bringing anyone back from last year, our vets need to go or at least earn a spot, now they're morons for not offering a contract. I'm waiting for the headline in the paper: "Thunder discovers cure for Lung Cancer, fan base angry Bone Cancer cure not included" Here's a novel idea, lets wait for all of the facts and hear from both sides before stringing anyone up. Al? RLR

yeah yeah speed..... your right not word for word, but for once take it for what it is.... .this is some BS from the front office.

I said earlier that I was stil on the fence on these two, well good luck to Clayton.

I now hope Duda goes into retirement, I don't think he can be near as effective without Clayton.

This is a good opportunity to start fresh with 4 new vets with no "we are the long time vets" you can't mess with us attitudes.

I am kind of looking forward to the start of the season, for once.

I have to side with Joel on this one, A guy works out a contract with you, you both "orally" agree and all that is left is like the article said is the "ink" and then one side changes his mind. How is that the other halfs fault.

Is the plan to wait until all the other teams have filled all their vet slots, then you can cherry-pick from the ones who couldn't get jobs?

TeamRoper wrote:

I said earlier that I was stil on the fence on these two, well good luck to Clayton. I now hope Duda goes into retirement, I don't think he can be near as effective without Clayton. This is a good opportunity to start fresh with 4 new vets with no "we are the long time vets" you can't mess with us attitudes. I am kind of looking forward to the start of the season, for once. I have to side with Joel on this one, A guy works out a contract with you, you both "orally" agree and all that is left is like the article said is the "ink" and then one side changes his mind. How is that the other halfs fault.

It sounds like Clayton found a loophole. My guess is he is using that to try and get a better deal with Wichita. Wonder if their deal was less than the qualifing offer to retain rights, and that is why no contract was officially offered before Aug 1.

TeamRoper wrote:

I said earlier that I was stil on the fence on these two, well good luck to Clayton. I now hope Duda goes into retirement, I don't think he can be near as effective without Clayton. This is a good opportunity to start fresh with 4 new vets with no "we are the long time vets" you can't mess with us attitudes. I am kind of looking forward to the start of the season, for once. I have to side with Joel on this one, A guy works out a contract with you, you both "orally" agree and all that is left is like the article said is the "ink" and then one side changes his mind. How is that the other halfs fault.

i concur on the looking forward to the start of a fresh season as well as duda should obviously retire if clayton does not return.

however.... being in the business world.... if the "ink" is what makes it OFFICIAL you GET THE INK. I use contracts everyday and NONE of them are any good unless they are signed. Office should have crossed their T's and dotted their I's and then we wouldnt be reading about this.

I am assuming this is they way it has been doen between the two for several years. They sign the "ink" when they come back to the states.

To me it sounds like he is saying they don't want him so he can go else where, they are saying they had an "Oral" agreement and want him back.

Everything that has been said or printed has pointed to the last one, Clayton to me just wants out.

Kake News is reporting that he was offered a contract but just did not want to come back to wichita.

http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/27508619.html

Thanks dead bolt, I love being right all the time....lol

i wish clayts nothing but the best. Friends with his wife and him. Got the privilege of sitting down and talking to him a couple of times this summer at a couple wingnuts games. Love to see him go somewhere where he will have a shot at a tittle.....even the lemmings' and burgerflippers know it will not happen here anytime soon.

wish clayton the best as well....

i think both thunder mgmt & the media are to blame.

The media printed what the Coach or mgmt said about the deal with duda & clayton, maybe the team shouldnt have said anything until it was "for sure" as then it wouldnt have been printed and then we end up with something like this.

He's married...I bet he gets plenty of tittle already....

Thunder may lose Clayton

Team's career scoring leader recently learns of his free agency and says he wants a "fresh start."

BY KOLLEN LONG
The Wichita Eagle

Quiet, unassuming and professional, Thunder star Travis Clayton has never been one to make news off the ice.

That changed late Tuesday afternoon when Clayton stunned the organization by saying that he planned to exercise his newly discovered free-agent status.

Clayton, who has played 11 seasons with the Thunder and is the team's career scoring leader, left the door open -- but only slightly -- for a return to Wichita. However, he said several times during an interview from his home in Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan, that he is ready for a "fresh start."

http://www.kansas.com/sports/hockey/thunder/story/508143.html

Thanks Clayts, I appreciated and enjoyed watching you play for the Thunder. Best of luck.