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

Originally Posted by Sleestak

You can read into it whatever you like, bottom line is I'm not buying into the "we tried" line of BS so many people like to fall into. Actions speak louder then words, either you make a good deal and get who you targeted, or you don't.

And if you overpay, then yes, you have FAILED, because you gave up too much.

There is PLENTY we can do and succeed, including NOT trading for Ilya and getting someone else that fits in, NOT trading anyone and signing him this summer, signing someone else this summer, etc.

But to say "yay, I'm so happy that the Kings really TRIED to get this guy" is just more koolaid to swallow when a deal doesn't go down and we miss the playoffs for what, the 8th straight year?

Talk is crap, action is everything. Stop the talk and do something.

The results will speak for themselves, and either you've improved the team or you didn't.

Wow right back at you.

The problem is that you're refusing to acknowledge that at trade deadlines and the UFA market the ONLY options are to overpay or lose the player, making failure the only option.

Originally Posted by KINGS17

Lombardi targeted Hossa and Gaborik ahead of Smyth and couldn't get them on his terms. Did he fail?

Duh, yeah!!

Originally Posted by Bandit

I don't think anyone SHOULD be irreplaceable, but given the Kings' track record, yeah, Simmonds and Quick are irreplaceable.

This is the part of the thread where we agree to disagree...

Originally Posted by KINGS17

Guys like Kopitar, Brown, Doughty, and Quick are learning what it means to carry a team. Whether or not this team makes the playoffs this particular season is secondary to that.

Mmm, I'd say these two things may well be inseparable at this point. Not making the playoffs, considering where this team has been this season, may be a big blow to the long-term prospects of this team as it is currently composed. I don't know if I would call the playoffs a MUST at this point, but it's pretty damn close.

Originally Posted by santiclaws

Mmm, I'd say these two things may well be inseparable at this point. Not making the playoffs, considering where this team has been this season, may be a big blow to the long-term prospects of this team as it is currently composed. I don't know if I would call the playoffs a MUST at this point, but it's pretty damn close.

In my entire time as a Kings fan I would never have agreed with this...but THIS season I do.

Originally Posted by santiclaws

The #1 target July 1 is most likely a man named Patrick, not Ilya (if he is not re-signed).

The real s*** kicker is that Monsieur Marleau is going to be coming off a career year, despite being 30 years old and probably on the downside of his career.

And then you have him playing next to Kopitar, who contrary to purple goggles, is not Joe Thornton.

So what can you expect from Marleau-minus-Thornton next year? I say 35 goals and anything else is gravy.

Meanwhile I have more faith in Kovalchuk to dominate regardless of who's on his line than I do anyone who has gone for a ride on Jumbo Joe's line.

Originally Posted by moontheloon23

And then you have him playing next to Kopitar, who contrary to purple goggles, is not Joe Thornton.

He'd likely be playing in the #2 center slot, which wouldn't suck.

And Patty seemed to be able to score goals before Joe got there.

Originally Posted by Iron Duke

I can almost guarantee you if Lombardi doesn't feel strongly enough to bring Kovalchuk to a likely playoff team right now, and get him playoff experience playing with these players, he isn't in DL's plans, and there will be no participation in the July 1st bidding frenzy.

i don't think that is necessarily true. if waddell wants more than what DL will give up i see no reason why DL wouldn't make a move for a UFA to help the offense this year and take a look at Kovy in the summer, especially if Kovy wants to come here.

the bigger question is does DL think the Kings can be a playoff team with Kovy if they trade the likes of johnson, simmonds, etc.

DL can't keep everyone if he wants kovy. the question is are the players that he's willing to let go the same players that Waddell wants? if so, then they make the deal. if not, DL hangs on to the guys he wants to keep and moves the others to make room for kovy.

this team should make the playoffs as is plus williams is coming back after the olympics (we hope).

but you know a guy that i'd like to see here - brad boyes.

he's had a down year on a team that is making changes. his contract is pretty good ($4M for 2 more years) and he scores goals.

there are quite a few offensively gifted players DL can target...and these are just a few teams that will probably be sellers. a few more will be in a month.

whitney
brind'amour (would love to see him here)
stajan
cogliano
comrie
torres (he does have double digit goals)
modin (if he could ever stay healthy)
boyes
tkachuk
kariya
nolan

Whitney and Boyes are the most attractive on that list to me, but I am not so sure that Boyes will be available.

Originally Posted by shoot2scor

Whitney and Boyes are the most attractive on that list to me, but I am not so sure that Boyes will be available.

Boyes is TERRIBLE in his own zone. I doubt he'd fit in the with Murray's system.