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

Originally Posted by Iron Duke

I'm sure Waddell would be licking his chops at that pile...

That's funny as hell!

Yeah, I've wondered myself why no one has brought up trading Harold and Martinez and the big winger that couldn't in Purcell for Kovalchuk. Waddell can go to hell if he doesn't like that group.

Originally Posted by jt

Waddell has said he won't allow a team to talk with Kovalchuk until a deal is done and is contingent on discussions (not an extension). We'll see if he sticks to that, but that's what he's said.

Seems like a big gamble to me. He would get far more for a Kovy who says "yes I'll sign with you guys" and far less for a Kovy who says "**** no, I'm testing the FA market." He's betting that whoever gets him as a rental will be intrigued enough to pony up and only then find out that Kovy is hell-bent on becoming a UFA. Interesting.

Originally Posted by Winsomemore

The trick is getting the Kings into the playoffs without damaging the team long term.

Kovi as a rental and not resigning with us after giving up players that could take years to replace would not be something Lombardi would do.

Originally Posted by VCRW

This can't be an argument for inaction if Lombardi determines that making the playoffs this year is in jeopardy. If LGK is any barometer, the culture of losing already permeates too deeply as it is. One has to believe that any trade made by Lombardi at this point is not going to be a detriment to the creation of a winning culture.

Weigh the options: getting the Kings into the playoffs this year vs. long term team health.

I wouldn't do a deal that would handicap us that way.

Goallum has done the math if Stoll and Simmer were to go, Kovi arrives. I'm sure DL is doing the same thing only DL knows who he's prepared to move/lose and receive/replace.

I won't be pissed if we don't get Kovi. None of us saw the Williams and Smyth deals coming and, imo, those players have worked wonders for the development of the team.

Haha Eklund is reading this thread and posting as we discuss, what an idiot.

Originally Posted by Winsomemore

Weigh the options: getting the Kings into the playoffs this year vs. long term team health.

I share jt's view that the two sides of this statement are synonymous. Both conditions are necessary and definitely not mutually exclusive.

Originally Posted by VCRW

I share jt's view that the two sides of this statement are synonymous. Both conditions are necessary and definitely not mutually exclusive.

Ohh...sorry. My bad.

Originally Posted by Winsomemore

Originally Posted by santiclaws

Seems like a big gamble to me. He would get far more for a Kovy who says "yes I'll sign with you guys" and far less for a Kovy who says "**** no, I'm testing the FA market." He's betting that whoever gets him as a rental will be intrigued enough to pony up and only then find out that Kovy is hell-bent on becoming a UFA. Interesting.

Sure, it's a big gamble and anyone who isn't willing to take big gambles has no business being an NHL GM.

The thing is that it looks like Kovalchuk is already hell-bent on becoming a UFA...

Originally Posted by Winsomemore

Weigh the options: getting the Kings into the playoffs this year vs. long term team health.

But it's not either-or. The Avs/Nordique were a pretty good hockey club in 92-93 but they SUCKED in 93-94 only to come back strong in 94-95. Then they traded what some would have called their "long term team health" away for Roy (Rucinsky + Kovalenko + Thibault).

Now I'm not saying that the 09-10 Kings = the 95-96 Avs or that Kovalchuk = Roy and yeah, Roy was signed and Kovalchuk isn't.

But my point is that you can trade away young talent and draft picks and still be healthy long-term.

I wouldn't do a deal that would handicap us that way.

I agree but one doesn't necessarily follow the other.

Goallum has done the math if Stoll and Simmer were to go, Kovi arrives. I'm sure DL is doing the same thing only DL knows who he's prepared to move/lose and receive/replace.

He damn well better.

I won't be pissed if we don't get Kovi. None of us saw the Williams and Smyth deals coming and, imo, those players have worked wonders for the development of the team.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by KingsWord

Barring a terrible slide by Quick I think Bernier becomes a great peice of trade bait. I know that everyone is enamored with Bernier but I think he is a project that is being cultivated so that he can fetch as much as possible in a trade scenario.

how bout bernier gets a chance to come up and prove/showcase himself at the NHL level first? imagine our two goalies battling for a starting job during next season. then imagine the rest of the league drooling for our "table scraps."