Responding to Muckler's ultimatum, Walsh released the following statement from Havlat on Thursday morning:
"On Tuesday at my request, my agents arranged a face-to-face meeting with the Ottawa Senators management in the hope of completing a contract so that I might join my teammates for the start of the season," the statement read. "It was made clear to me by the Senators' management during this meeting, based on their offer and other comments, they are not prepared to pay me anywhere near what other players with similar statistics are being paid around the league.
"I made a significant move to get a contract completed before opening night. In fact, the offer I submitted to the Senators would make me the fifth-highest paid forward and the ninth-highest paid player on the team. I was given an ultimatum to sign a contract far below the league's average salary which I cannot accept. I am not trying to establish a new market.
"I simply want to receive what I believe I am worth within the current market place as established by Philadelphia's Simon Gagne and Tampa Bay's Brad Richards. I am terribly disappointed by the position of the Senators and their negotiating tactics. I am returning to the Czech Republic."
