Contract talks between the Montreal Canadiens and 21-year-old center Alex Galchenyuk have hit a stand still while Galchenyuk looks for a new agent, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.
Talks between Alex Galchenyuk and the Canadiens are on hold. Galchenyuk is looking for a new agent to negotiate his contract.
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) June 22, 2015
Galchenyuk reportedly fired agent Ian Pulver and will wait to continue negotiations until he has hired a new agent. Galchenyuk has released Pulver and Hall of Famer Igor Larionov, who work together. They’ve represented him since his time with the OHL’s Sarnia Sting.
“Ian and I were trying to help him to become a good hockey player but, more importantly, to be a good human being,” Larionov said. “I would speak to him every day; I think I spent more time talking to him than talking to my wife.”
Larionov continued:
“I tried to make him understand that he has to be patient,” Larionov said. “I had to wait when I was a young player; every great player has a time when he’s going to be on the bench, but you have to learn that’s part of the game.”
Larionov may be referring to Galchenyuk’s frustration after being dropped to the fourth line during the playoffs. He’s certainly due a raise, but may be cornered a bit since he is a restricted free agent with no arbitration rights.
Galchenyuk is coming off a three-year entry level deal worth with a $925,000 AAV.
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