Kovalchuk to the Islanders?????

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$8.6M is way too much for Kovalchuk. $7.5 would have been that absolute max anyone should have given him.
 
$8.6M is too much for pretty much anybody. But putting my idealism to the side for a moment, Kovalchuk is a guaranteed 40 goal scorer... and that's playing with the Thrashers. Put him on a better team, like the Devils, and we may see more 50 goal seasons and finally some 100+ point seasons from Kovalchuk. Of course, the Devils tend to be a defensive minded team. But that shouldn't stop Kovalchuk.
 
FrankToronto said:
$8.6M is too much for pretty much anybody. But putting my idealism to the side for a moment, Kovalchuk is a guaranteed 40 goal scorer... and that's playing with the Thrashers. Put him on a better team, like the Devils, and we may see more 50 goal seasons and finally some 100+ point seasons from Kovalchuk. Of course, the Devils tend to be a defensive minded team. But that shouldn't stop Kovalchuk.
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I agree with the $8.6 sentiment Frank... I guess i agree with the guaranteed 40 goal bit too, though you have to wonder if other players production will drop with Kovalchuk in the fold. Will there be enough puck available for Parise to hit 40 goals if you add Kovy?

I also don't think this Devils team is the trapping defensive force it used to be, nor does it seem they want it to be anymore with signings like this.

It'll be interesting to see what Kovy does with a full year in New Jersey...

Cory
 
FrankToronto said:
$8.6M is too much for pretty much anybody. But putting my idealism to the side for a moment, Kovalchuk is a guaranteed 40 goal scorer... and that's playing with the Thrashers. Put him on a better team, like the Devils, and we may see more 50 goal seasons and finally some 100+ point seasons from Kovalchuk. Of course, the Devils tend to be a defensive minded team. But that shouldn't stop Kovalchuk.
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NJ is the perfect fit...a defensive minded team for an offensive minded player...he doesn't have to do squat on defense and will be free to do as much scoring as he wants. Brodeur is Brodeur, their defense speaks for itself (even thought they ain't what they used to be) and this might be a good addition that will help Jersey get back to the Finals. Kovalchuk and Parise will make each other better.

This is the ultimate fit for Kovalchuk. LA made no sense and the Islanders would have been a gong show.
 
Every sports station everywhere is telling me to be very, very happy right now.

IF this is true, that makes Arnott, Tallinder, Volchenkov, Hedberg and retention of Kovalchuk within one week. PLUS you lose Pandolfo to buyout and retain Clarkson as well...

That ALSO means that a couple/few of the guys who have been knocked out in the first round 3 years in a row are on their way out.

Lamoriello has (or appears to have) addressed the following needs:

- Quality backup who can handle what will hopefully be a reduced workload for Marty - cap him at 65 games!!! Yann Danis couldn't cut it last year.

- Arnott fills a HUUUGE hole at second line center and if he is healthy for 70+ games some heat should come off of the other players, who can stay at their natural positions... Elias isn't even a good center in NHL 10.

- Defensemen who will keep the puck away from the net, and opposing players away from the goalie. Volchenkov hits like a truck and if he can block shots half as well as he did with Ottawa, he'll gobble up a handful of those long shots each game - which means less potential second and third rebounds. Tallinder is a 22 minute a game guy who is also going to do very well with the Swedish contingent of young prospects who will undoubtedly make the big club (Josefson, Tedenby, Urbom...)

- Retained the services of one of the best offensive players in the league. Not much to say other than that. People have been saying he will be overpaid etc., but this guy scores with the best of them and became an instant favorite when he wore his heart on his sleeve in his very first game with the Devils.

Will be interesting to see how Lou gets back under the cap... any Rolston fans out there? Hmm???? come on, Burkie!!! He'll score 50 in blue & white!!!
 
Ok, this is my first post on here after my much deserved vacation, and first in a while. But I have to speak up now:

All those people saying this is a great fit and will do wonders for NJ, what was the Devils record AFTER the trade last year? And what happened in the playoffs?

What is Kovalchuks playoff record, 1-8 I believe? I know its not all his fault, but what has his production been in those games, and one step further, whats been his Linemates production in those games.

He is a great scoring talent, but incredibly deficient in every other aspect of the game. Dont say he can score and not worry about defense. Last time I checked, it was easier to defend when all 5 guys on the ice could do it, not just 4, and thats what made the devils a "great defensive team", all 5 guys bought in and executed the game plan.

And committing 8.6 mil of your cap for 7 years......I love it as a Flyers fan, LOVE IT. There is a reason guys like Zetterberg, Datysuk (SP?), and dare I say Crosby (CRINGING AS I SAY THIS) score AND win, because they make their teammates better. There is a reason guys like Gaborik and Kovalchuk score and DONT win.
 
Triple B said:
NJ is the perfect fit...a defensive minded team for an offensive minded player...he doesn't have to do squat on defense and will be free to do as much scoring as he wants. Brodeur is Brodeur, their defense speaks for itself (even thought they ain't what they used to be) and this might be a good addition that will help Jersey get back to the Finals. Kovalchuk and Parise will make each other better.

This is the ultimate fit for Kovalchuk. LA made no sense and the Islanders would have been a gong show.
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I thought La was a great place for Kovalchuk. la is a decent team and his 40 goals he would have brought would have been huge. He would have been the missing piece to the puzzle. Oh well
 
GrimUSMC said:
Ok, this is my first post on here after my much deserved vacation, and first in a while. But I have to speak up now:

All those people saying this is a great fit and will do wonders for NJ, what was the Devils record AFTER the trade last year? And what happened in the playoffs?

What is Kovalchuks playoff record, 1-8 I believe? I know its not all his fault, but what has his production been in those games, and one step further, whats been his Linemates production in those games.

He is a great scoring talent, but incredibly deficient in every other aspect of the game. Dont say he can score and not worry about defense. Last time I checked, it was easier to defend when all 5 guys on the ice could do it, not just 4, and thats what made the devils a "great defensive team", all 5 guys bought in and executed the game plan.

And committing 8.6 mil of your cap for 7 years......I love it as a Flyers fan, LOVE IT. There is a reason guys like Zetterberg, Datysuk (SP?), and dare I say Crosby (CRINGING AS I SAY THIS) score AND win, because they make their teammates better. There is a reason guys like Gaborik and Kovalchuk score and DONT win.
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The Devils fell apart last year before Kovalchuk came over, it has nothing to do with him. And calling him a choker is hilarious considering he hasn't even gotten a chance to prove himself considering that he has played his entire career on bad Thrashers teams.
 
Elias Devil said:
The Devils fell apart last year before Kovalchuk came over, it has nothing to do with him. And calling him a choker is hilarious considering he hasn't even gotten a chance to prove himself considering that he has played his entire career on bad Thrashers teams.
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The thrashers team that made the playoffs was not a terrible team. And neither was last years Devils team. If they were falling apart before Kovalchuk arrived, then there are even bigger problems which he showed he cant help fix. I just cant see how you justify that much money for 40 goals and nothing else.
 
i am glad that Kovy did not sign with the Kings. adding that kind of salary to a team with core players coming due for new contracts would have been a bad thing.

it makes sense for NJ in the short-term as they only have a couple of years left with Brodeur. but in 3-4 years they will not like that contract.
 
Overpaid by a couple million, if this becomes true.

But the Devils had a chance to sign a big talent without giving anything up. You always pay out the arse for FA's, because if you dont, they wont sign. Kovy played hardball and demanded big cash, and he will certainly get that. He and his agent are doing cartwheels at that offer (unless the KHL offers him something like 15mil per)...
 
GrimUSMC said:
The thrashers team that made the playoffs was not a terrible team. And neither was last years Devils team. If they were falling apart before Kovalchuk arrived, then there are even bigger problems which he showed he cant help fix. I just cant see how you justify that much money for 40 goals and nothing else.
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He doesn't need to fix them, Lemaire resigned. He was the problem. I personally don't want him for the rumored price but only because the Devils will have cap problems if he signs. Other than that he's worth it.
 
looks like the kings are back in the Kovalchuk circus. Just read it on NHL.com
 
just read they are out again. kovalchuk made a proposal and DL said nyet. до свидания, Ilya, have fun in the KHL as that's the only place you are getting your precious $10M/year.
 
I hope no one offers him anywhere near $10 million. He's playing a stupid game right now and using the media as his puppet. I can't stand it when primadonnas do this. I hope he ends up in the KHL. It's where he belongs
 
Is it Kovalchuk pulling the strings, or his agent? They are not necessarily one and the same - maybe Kovy will pull an Ovy and fire his agent and negotiate his own deal.

Cory
 
i kinda don't care what happens to him anymore. i think the theme of free agency this year is to try and get more for less and not necessarily spend the most to get the best (of what's available).
 
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