Thread: Kovalchuk is a NJ Devil. Now, get over it already.

Originally Posted by gretzky99

maybe i have this wrong so someone let me know if i do as i've heard conflicting things...

the hawks need to dump salary before next year with the signings of toews, kane and keith.

versteeg, barker and sharp all make $3M/season or more and have another year on their deals.

if the 'hawks trade those three for kovy they will have sufficient room under the cap for Kovy this year as they will have traded $9M+ in salary away

ATL gets three guys that can play and they have each of them for another year at decent salaries and actually have just as good of a chance at making the playoffs then they had with Kovy.

Chicago might need to make another move for a center but they take a run at the cup this year because they are in cap hell starting next year. maybe they get another player back in the deal with ATL?

this makes sense...no?

and btw, we are totally out of the running for kovy this year if what Bob is reporting is true.

and this thread is now at 100 pages - wow

I have a feeling this thread will hit 200 before he is traded.

Originally Posted by gescom

McKenzie is on NHLN's Power Play right now and just reiterated that Waddell isn't interested in a futures type of return from Los Angeles and mentioned players like Hickey and Teubert specifically.

again, i don't doubt Bob's words, but i'll reiterate that i think that is the poorest angle Don Waddell could possibly take - Kovalchuk being a rental or not, in order to build a team properly with ANY intent on future success.

they can't be thinking about gate returns over the next two years... they really have to start looking at franchise solvency 3,4,5 years down the road.

If you are DL would you make this trade for Kovy (after the Olympics)?
Jack Johnson
Alexander Frolov
Oscar Moller
1st round pick

Jack may not stay past UFA but he'd be there a few years. Frolov is probably gone in the summer but he helps you make the playoffs, Moller has upside and NHL experience.

If I am Waddell I am asking for Simmonds instead of Moller and DL is saying hell no.

Originally Posted by Dominic Lavoie

and Chicago loses three important players for a return that disappears. Kovy doesn't lead the team to a Cup, wants to play where he is the Star, and bolts to another City.

so rather than getting prospects or picks for these players they have nothing.

would you do it? really? Chicago has better options than this and good chemistry. they'll kick the tires and if the team nosedives then MAYBE they make a deal like this, but otherwise I say no dice

i agree Kovy would not say with Chicago. i'm just saying that they are likely to lose those guys anyway so why not take a shot at a cup this year? they are already at $66M for next year which is way over. they aren't going to be able to move campbell so they have almost $22M committed to five d-men next year. at least one of those guys (barker) and maybe two (sopel) will need to go.

i'm not sure they will trade all three for kovy (barker, versteeg and sharp) but maybe they trade two plus a couple of picks. maybe barker and versteeg as kovy fills versteeg's spot on the wing. they will take a hit by losing barker but they have hendry that can play.

there is no way they get better return for this year than kovy and it works perfectly for them as they get him for a run this year and then his salary is gone and they can bring up some young players next year.

chicago doesn't have a choice - they need to do what the sharks did this year and go cheap and young for their bottom 6 and last d-pair. they can't afford to do anything else.

no matter what they do the 'hawks will lose 2-3 roster players before next year and have to replace them with cheap alternatives. why not make your run this year while you have the flexibility to get a guy like Kovy? and if you are kovy go showcase what you can do in a playoff run and prove you are worth $9M+.

Originally Posted by Bojanglz

Either way Chi has to dump some salary and even if they offer 2 of the 3 (versteeg, barker and sharp) would be way better of a deal then what the Kings could offer roster wise. Plus Chi likely will win a cup this year or soon so I will put money down if Chi gets him, then he will re-sign with them.

Just reading more of the updates and what Atl wants, I don't see LA in the race at all. Our gold mine is pretty much prospects and picks right now, not roster players. I really have a feeling Chi will find a way to land him and keep him along with keeping a strong team.

WoW just amazing how Chi can rebuild like this and if they get him have 2 superstars on their team along with up and coming ones like Toews.

there is no way Chicago could re-sign Kovy unless they are able to move 3-4 players plus Campbell and I don't see that happening. no one is stupid enough to take Campbell's contract.

Originally Posted by Bojanglz

Either way Chi has to dump some salary and even if they offer 2 of the 3 (versteeg, barker and sharp) would be way better of a deal then what the Kings could offer roster wise. Plus Chi likely will win a cup this year or soon so I will put money down if Chi gets him, then he will re-sign with them.

Just reading more of the updates and what Atl wants, I don't see LA in the race at all. Our gold mine is pretty much prospects and picks right now, not roster players. I really have a feeling Chi will find a way to land him and keep him along with keeping a strong team.

WoW just amazing how Chi can rebuild like this and if they get him have 2 superstars on their team along with up and coming ones like Toews.

just because they need to "dump salary" doesn't mean they are going to just throw very productive and valuable assets away for a rental. they don't have to do anything until the end of the next offseason. First of all they don't need to dump all those players - second of all they can get valuable assets instead and still keep this group together to see if they can win the Cup. They are a contender - even a favorite now. Losing that many good players could screw everything up.

Originally Posted by Dominic Lavoie

If you are DL would you make this trade for Kovy (after the Olympics)?
Jack Johnson
Alexander Frolov
Oscar Moller
1st round pick

with all the discussion about whether or not acquiring Kovalchuk is the right decision aside, as a hockey trade... yes i would.

and Waddell might, but he shouldn't. i wouldn't if i were Atlanta's GM... even if that title was "soon to be ex-GM" like Don Waddell's.

Originally Posted by Dominic Lavoie

If I am Waddell I am asking for Simmonds instead of Moller and DL is saying hell no.

Heck, if I'm Waddell, I'm asking for Simmonds over Frolov or Johnson in that deal...and DL is still saying hell no.

Originally Posted by Dominic Lavoie

just because they need to "dump salary" doesn't mean they are going to just throw very productive and valuable assets away for a rental. they don't have to do anything until the end of the next offseason. First of all they don't need to dump all those players - second of all they can get valuable assets instead and still keep this group together to see if they can win the Cup. They are a contender - even a favorite now. Losing that many good players could screw everything up.

how else are they going to cut $10-$15M in salary before next season? they can't acquire any salary in return. i guess they can try and trade these guys for picks and prospects but is that really a better return than Kovy as a rental? how good are the 'hawks going to be w/o the $10-$15M in players that they will lose next year/ isn't now their best opportunity?

the campbell contract is a nightmare and until they can buy him out (next CBA) they are going to be in a world of hurt cap-wise.

Originally Posted by gescom

McKenzie is on NHLN's Power Play right now and just reiterated that Waddell isn't interested in a futures type of return from Los Angeles and mentioned players like Hickey and Teubert specifically.

again, i don't doubt Bob's words, but i'll reiterate that i think that is the poorest angle Don Waddell could possibly take - Kovalchuk being a rental or not, in order to build a team properly with ANY intent on future success.

they can't be thinking about gate returns over the next two years... they really have to start looking at franchise solvency 3,4,5 years down the road.

I agree with you, but I still feel that Waddell needs to land a young top 6 forward somewhere in the deal. If Moller, Purcell and Frolov are the best they can offer, I'm still looking toward Boston and Wheeler, one of their 1sts and try as all hell to pry Hamill or Colbourne.