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

i agree with you that DL can't spend it all on Kovy. $9.5 is still too much unless the cap hit is less. with the cap going down next year (which it most likely will) teams aren't going to have the money to spend $10M/year on kovy.

plus, the $8-9M/year i mentioned is what would be coming off - we are still quite a bit under before that so there potentially is room.

i agree also that chicago is the front-runner for a rental. if they offer sharp, versteeg and barker for kovy and kubina then they will get him. i don't question that. that would work for both teams.

expiring contracts to chicago and quality NHL talent going to atl. i guess the question is does ATL want those players. but i can't disagree that chicago is the front runner. i've said that a week ago or more. but it's good to hear that DL is seeing what he can do.

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Originally Posted by Kubrick

Bubble playoff teams make trades for rental players every year. Kubina is a great option to fill a gaping hole on the blueline that seems to be getting bigger by the week. What good are assets if you don't utilize them at the appropriate time?

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They do, and that's fine. But if you want to use your assets as well as possible, is getting a 32-year old UFA-to-be who will demand a pretty big salary in the offseason the best bet for the future? Don't forget, there are other players and holes that will need to be filled, hopefully by guys already in the system who're gonna need raises.

You want the rental and let him walk in the offseason, fine, but the price better be right 'cause regardless, the likelihood is that you're only gonna get one round out of this team come mid-April.

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Originally Posted by gretzky99

i agree also that chicago is the front-runner for a rental. if they offer sharp, versteeg and barker for kovy and kubina then they will get him. i don't question that. that would work for both teams.

expiring contracts to chicago and quality NHL talent going to atl. i guess the question is does ATL want those players. but i can't disagree that chicago is the front runner. i've said that a week ago or more. but it's good to hear that DL is seeing what he can do.

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How great would it be to see Chicago through a Barker, Versteeg, Sharp +, package at Waddell and then have Chicago get eliminated early in the playoffs and watch Kovy walk off to Free Agency.

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Originally Posted by gretzky99

i think if DL makes a move for kovy i imagine kubina could be in the deal as well. ATL isn't going to need a lot for him as i don't imagine they are going to re-sign him.
i'm thinking it would be similar to the hossa deal in they sent dupuis in the deal as well. ATL would probably like to save the $ and we could use Kubina for the rest of this year.

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Kubina is NOT going to be a throw-in, and if he is included, then subtract at least one more young roster player, prospect or high draft pick. He's having a good year on a team that has been pretty poor defensively (his +/- 0 in the 8-1 rout last night is a pretty accurate idea of the performance relative to the team), and he is exactly the type of player that a team is going to want as a rental going toward the playoffs (veteran, UFA, SC experience, plays in all situations). His value is more than just a throw-in, at this point in time at least.

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Originally Posted by Youngblood

How great would it be to see Chicago through a Barker, Versteeg, Sharp +, package at Waddell and then have Chicago get eliminated early in the playoffs and watch Kovy walk off to Free Agency.

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As an Atlanta fan, I would LOVE to see this. Him going to the Kings would make it far more difficult to root for this kind of scenario. :hurt2:

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Originally Posted by Iron Duke

As an Atlanta fan, I would LOVE to see this. Him going to the Kings would make it far more difficult to root for this kind of scenario. :hurt2:

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i think that deal looks the prettiest. but i don't think it does much for my team after that two-year window and having to look at two VERY well compensated 3rd line/2nd pairing players.

Atlanta has GOT to get the receiving team's first rounder in this deal... and if making a deal with Chicago, Kyle Beach is also someone i'm after.

i agree with the idea that chicago is a contender and it's the right time for them to go after kovy as a rental. it's a perfect fit for everyone.
chicago would love to have kovy for the stretch run and they need to dump some salary. ATL would get some NHL quality guys in return that can play right away. Kovy gets to showcase what he can do in a stretch run/playoffs to increase his value and shake the tag of not being a team player/clutch player.

i also agree that LA is in a similar place to where Chicago was last year as far as wanting to make the playoffs and give their young players some experience and confidence. missing the playoffs this year after a great start could be a killer for our core group. at some point they need to believe they can win and i think it's imperative that DL does what he can to get this team in the playoffs.

i still think the best deal out there is whitney + one of their d-men for a combination of prospects and picks. no high end prospects, but we have plenty of assets in our 2nd tier of prospects we could move.

carolina is already playing their young players and cutting ice time to brind'amour and others so i think they are ripe for a trade, and why not sooner than later? carolina is already out of it and already cutting playing time to veterans and LA could use a spark and a d-man right now.

and before someone starts complaining about trading "assets", just look at Chicago and see what a playoff run did for their young players. assets are only assets if they help your team. some of our prospects have more trade value than they have just playing in manchester.

there is no way teubert, hickey, martinez and voynov all end up as regulars on this team. same can be said about bernier, jones and zatkoff. and same for schenn, azevedo, loktionov, kozun, moller, purcell, elkins, lewis, etc.

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Originally Posted by gretzky99

plus, the $8-9M/year i mentioned is what would be coming off - we are still quite a bit under before that so there potentially is room.

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Sure there's room...NOW. But that's a short-term view because in a couple seasons they need to have cap space to keep Doughty and others.

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Originally Posted by darby

They do, and that's fine. But if you want to use your assets as well as possible, is getting a 32-year old UFA-to-be who will demand a pretty big salary in the offseason the best bet for the future? Don't forget, there are other players and holes that will need to be filled, hopefully by guys already in the system who're gonna need raises.

You want the rental and let him walk in the offseason, fine, but the price better be right 'cause regardless, the likelihood is that you're only gonna get one round out of this team come mid-April.

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If DL thinks this team (after adding a Whitney, Kovalchuk, or someone like them) is likely to lose in the first round, he has failed this season and should be fired. This team is PRIMED to make the playoffs. They have the goaltending to win in the 1st round. Sure, they might lose in the 1st round, but if that's the expectation (likelihood), they have failed. If they pick up the "right" guy, I fully expect a 5th or 6th seed and that would give them a realistic shot at a 1st round win (definitely not a "likely" 1st round exit).

I'll add that if their expectation with this team is likely a 1st round loss, they need to make significant moves this summer to get rid of the players they're counting on to win in the playoffs. I'll reiterate, this team has the talent and character to win at least one playoff round and if ANYONE thinks it's likely they won't, I think they're wrong. I'd also ask that person to explain what teams like Colorado and Phoenix have (teams they're likely to play) have that the Kings don't.

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Originally Posted by gescom

i think that deal looks the prettiest. but i don't think it does much for my team after that two-year window and having to look at two VERY well compensated 3rd line/2nd pairing players.

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Yes, agreed, Beach or Skille would be a much more attractive option, IMO, somewhere in that deal.

i agree we need to save room for doughty, but there will also be contracts coming off the books at the end of next year. i don't have the list in front of me, but i know handzus and his $4M comes off after next year.

i trust DL can manage the cap. i think there is room for one more front line player even after re-signing doughty. i think we're in the same boat when it comes to kovy. IF DL thinks he's the right guy, then try and make a move. we have assets and we might as well use them. we're coming into the window of where we need to make the playoffs consistently and make some noise when we get there.

but there are big IF's in the Kovy scenario. If DL can get him signed for much less than what he's reportedly asking for. If DL thinks he's the right fit for this team. If DL doesn't have his eye on Marleau or someone else.

but i just like that he's at least looking at bringing in some help for this team. i still think he needs to look at a backup goalie with some playoff experience (biron) but we'll see what he does.