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Dooley · 06-29-2014, 02:24 PM

So here we are.

The first 6, other than Edmonton, really weren't difficult. Each team pretty much had an easy reason for me to say no. It was obviously tough leaving the Blizzard, but I kind of had a gut feeling that from the beginning this would be my move.

Now we are onto the second cut of teams. I will be eliminating three more right now, which leaves my last three destinations.

Why I will not be signing with the Panthers

LA is an interesting case. At first glance with no research, LA was appealing because I really like Wasty as a GM and I'm pretty close with Tucci. There was actually a trade that didn't happen that could have sent me there a couple of weeks ago, but a pretty big thing came up in my personal life which killed my abilities to sign off on anything. When I examined the LA roster, I saw a chance for me to return home with a decent group of active guys, but I also did not see myself as a core piece. Wasty told me of the contrary, but I really didn't see myself as a corner stone piece either now or going forward. I think I would've enjoyed myself there. Seems like quite a few awesome people and pieces. But I'd like the perfect fit of a quality locker room and my role in the lineup and Los Angeles was not that for me. it always seemed to me there that their third line has too many pieces that could jump me and force me back into a depth role with little to no TPE drop off. So I think Wasty and Tucci for both approaching me, but I will not be a Panther next season.

Why I will not be signing with the

Shark came at me early and often and to be honest gave me a better pitch than I expected from Hamilton. I think my Steelhawks "history" was well documented, but that was all put to rest when I returned there at the end of Dooley's career. The locker room there was pretty awesome. Nothing bad to say about it. The problem I saw in Hamilton was that there are so many TPE Monsters that I really did not see myself cracking their Top 6 as a key player, only in a role position. Shark, however, came at me with a solution and an offer that contained more money than any other team had offered and a perk that no other team had offered, which made me really think about saying yes right then and there. But when I analyzed it, I decided that I was not quite ready to step into the role that I was offered and that I wanted to simply focus on my player, rather than any management obligations. I'd very much love to return to management at some point, but for now, I want to ease back into activity as a player. So thank you to Shark, for really making me think. Had I been willing to consider a GM role, Hamilton would have made the Top 3. But I'm not looking for that right now and the best I have is a thank you to Shark.

Why I will not be signing with the Riot

When I first decided to test free agency, the Riot were not on my radar. I had no idea who played on the team other than the GM's, I had no idea if they were good or not. But I come back and they win the cup. That opens some eyes. Winning cups really isn't that important to me at this point, but it is still something that is appealing to me. Chris and G.O.B may have been the most aggressive pair of GM's at recruiting me. More than one person asked me why I would consider signing with a team that had Chris as GM. Any problems I had were in the past. The Riot struck me as a fun place to be with a core that was there for the long run. Why the Riot place here rather than the Top 3 is simply that I either see more older friends on my final three teams or a better fit for me both on the ice and in the LR. Guys like Duddy, Duey and Merica seem awesome. No, they are awesome. But it'd be more of a risk for me going there than somewhere else. Seattle seems like a sweet place to play and I can definitely envision myself ending up there in a couple seasons. But for now, I must eliminate them. Thanks to Chris and GOB for a very energetic pitch. On another day, this may have worked out.

So that leaves Dragons

and

remaining on my list. I have spoken quite a bit with representatives from all three teams. So from now through this evening I look forward to continuing to negotiate with the GM's and possibly talking with some team members too, which I have done some already. Make sure you get your official offers in so we can finalize everything before then!

#SignKrivo

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