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

Originally Posted by gretzky99

totally agree - DL should back away if Waddell is looking for current NHL talent. i would back off totally and if/when Waddell gets screwed by Chicago try and swoop in last minute and steal Kovy.

btw, speaking of chicago - i wonder if DL can send Frolov that direction and try to acquire a guy like Barker. they need to move some salary and Frolov might be a better fit for them than Kovy in a lot of ways.

Frolov to Chicago is a FAR better option than Kovalchuk in the long run.

I think Waddell may be far less interested in the future of the franchise at this point than he is his own - this would explain the need for players who will help now.

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.

Too add to this, they are already having major problems at the gate with Kovi on the team. I watched a bit of their game yesterday, I went to a hockey game in Tulsa once that had more fans there.

Also; what possible players that are/would be available are going to replace a guy like Kovi. Any team looking to get him is not going to be giving up a player with his star power.

I can see Waddell wanting roster players but not they type that are "marketable" because I don't think they are there to be had.

Originally Posted by gretzky99

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.

let me break it down for you:
1. We don't know yet what the Cap will be.
2. We don't know if the players will exercise their option on the 5%
3. We don't know if Chicago will have any players retire, and if they signed their contracts when they were 35 or older
4. They can trade players for draft picks, which don't have salaries associated with them.
5. They can waive players of lesser value, burying them in the minors so they don't have to lose a key player.

are you getting the drift? trading key players for a one shot deal on a superstar is not the only option - in fact it is not even the best option.

Originally Posted by gretzky99

totally agree - DL should back away if Waddell is looking for current NHL talent. i would back off totally and if/when Waddell gets screwed by Chicago try and swoop in last minute and steal Kovy.

btw, speaking of chicago - i wonder if DL can send Frolov that direction and try to acquire a guy like Barker. they need to move some salary and Frolov might be a better fit for them than Kovy in a lot of ways.

Barker would be a good insurance move if you are going to ship out Johnson as part of a larger trade.

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

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.

Re-signing Kovalchuk aside, who plays defense for the rest of the year? I can guess what the thought of Randy Jones getting 20 minutes a night will do to most people around here.

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.

Why do you and others think Kovy won't want to stay in Chi? Do you guys talk to him personally? Yes he could walk but he can also sign. It's amazing how many psychics we have here who know for a fact if Chi gets him that he won't re-sign with them.

As for Chi dumping salary in good players, see the other posts from people about how much they need to shave off and those 3 are their best choice at freeing up the salary they need as it has all been said on many other hockey blogs, boards, etc.

Originally Posted by Dominic Lavoie

let me break it down for you:
1. We don't know yet what the Cap will be.
2. We don't know if the players will exercise their option on the 5%
3. We don't know if Chicago will have any players retire, and if they signed their contracts when they were 35 or older
4. They can trade players for draft picks, which don't have salaries associated with them.
5. They can waive players of lesser value, burying them in the minors so they don't have to lose a key player.

are you getting the drift? trading key players for a one shot deal on a superstar is not the only option - in fact it is not even the best option.

I appreciate the break down but I don't believe it's entirely accurate

1. The cap isn't going up - we can be assured of that
2. Unless something drastic and unexpected happens no one will be retiring on their roster.
3. Even if they waive someone like Campbell they still have to pay him and he still counts against the cap.

I agree they could trade for picks but is that really better than renting Kovy for this year and taking a run at the cup? Isn't upgrading from versteeg to Kovy worth the downgrade of barker to hendry?

Originally Posted by Bojanglz

Why do you and others think Kovy won't want to stay in Chi? Do you guys talk to him personally? Yes he could walk but he can also sign. It's amazing how many psychics we have here who know for a fact if Chi gets him that he won't re-sign with them.

As for Chi dumping salary in good players, see the other posts from people about how much they need to shave off and those 3 are their best choice at freeing up the salary they need as it has all been said on many other hockey blogs, boards, etc.

Even if kovy wants to stay he would have to take much, much less to stay as Chicago doesn't have cap space for him.