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

Originally Posted by JJ289

But if that Mercedes isn't guaranteed to work after this season how you gonna get to work? Just sayin.

I would love to see Kopi dishing to Kovy for a goal 60+ times per year, but he is not worth what he is asking. He might be worth about 20% less than Ovechkin ( or less ). He is not going to get the contract that he is asking for and Waddell is not going to get what he needs in return. They are still in the playoff hunt and he might keep Kovy and hope to sign him in the offseason or do a deal like Florida did with Bouwmeester.

The way Kovalchuk has been playing for an extended period of time, Waddell is guaranteeing them getting bounced from the playoff picture. Kovy needs to go, even if he can't get max return, and soon. He has enough other pieces he can move to bolster whatever return Kovy gets him.

2000 posts?

really?

2,000!

Originally Posted by fiveholio

really?

This thread won't die until he's signed this summer...

Originally Posted by Iron Duke

Yeah, agreed, not sure why Atlanta wouldn't just take Schenn, Frolov, Purcell if that would be the case.

I think there's some exaggeration with the notion of the type of roster players going to Atlanta, I've always been led to believe they are looking for young top 6 and top 4 types (a Wheeler, Barker, Versteeg, Simmonds, etc)...some of the names I even see the pundits throwing around (Jokinen? seriously?) really have me scratching my head.

waddell's been very clear on this. his team has to challenge for the playoffs this season. his management has been terrible thus far. he knows that fans and therefore ownership will not accept a rebuild, afterall were they ever built? thats why he is emphasizing roster players over picks and prospects.

one other point. some have argued that trading johnson is ok because next season hickey will be able to play with the big club. hickey hasn't played since november and before that he was playing hurt, and he is going to be out probably for the rest of the season. there is no way he plays with the kings next season. and there is no guarantee that voinov will be ready either. not to mention the fact that trading johnson now creates a huge hole in the D for THIS season. a jones/harold or jones/drewiskie pairing is scary ****.

Originally Posted by D0wntime

waddell's been very clear on this. his team has to challenge for the playoffs this season. his management has been terrible thus far. he knows that fans and therefore ownership will not accept a rebuild, afterall were they ever built? thats why he is emphasizing roster players over picks and prospects.

That's well and good, but there's a vast difference between a Versteeg/Wheeler/Bergfors roster player and a Jokinen/Kaberle. What he's said, which is true, is that he cannot get a return that won't reap any benefits until 2-3 years down the road. Waddell has put this team slowly onto the right path for the past 2 years or so, and I don't see him making a desperate stab for the playoffs with past-their-prime veterans and soon to be UFAs.

Plus the fact that O'Donnell might not be back next year. Gotta make sure your D corps stays intact. Plus many of the forwards are continuing to improve (Simmonds, Richardson, etc.). I have a feeling DL will probably make a minor move to get a physical forward that can score if one is available.

Originally Posted by drums4dmf

this thread won't move to nhl talk until he's traded elsewhere and likely won't die until he's signed to a ridiculous contract by somebody else this summer

ftfy