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

Originally Posted by Bogey

2/26/2008 Atlanta Thrashers traded Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Angelo Esposito and a 1st-round selection in 2008.

Ouch... was a bottle of KY included?

Originally Posted by KingFanMGM

Another thing to consider is, despite Brown not scoring points these days (I still blame Purcell)... IF Brown is traded, the Kings become a fairly soft team.

You'd have Simmonds on offense that plays physical, Parse, and then what Greene and Johnson and that is it?

I still agree that talent outweighs toughness, but that has to be considered as a factor.

The Kings do play better when they come out physical. Which can be said about most of the NHL. Checking causes turnovers which creates scoring chances.

Simmonds, Schenn and Clifford are not soft, they'll still just be highly inexperienced... and there's Clune and Westgarth.

i know it's painful for some to hear but Jarret Stoll has been a more effective hitter than Brown has for almost 2 years now.

i love Brown, but he is easily a year behind where he should be by now in terms of having a complete game and he is THE most important player on the team. the one player, even more than Kopitar or Frolov or anyone else who MUST elevate his level of play and take the next step... and a decision should probably be made about him sooner rather than later.

Originally Posted by gescom

and Bernier has more.

they aren't going to breathe on Little Jonnie Jewel just yet... and they shouldn't.

he's STILL their prize.

Bernier absolutely is still the apple of Dean's eye. ges is right, he isn't going anywhere just yet and neither is Quick.

Besides Atlanta is pretty high on their young goaltender, and is probably looking for different pieces to their puzzle.

Originally Posted by Giveittomodry

I like the way you think. However, why not include Bernier? He is only going to be backing up Quick the next 10 years. Unless there is an injury or something happens where he really outplays him, I just don't see Bernier really getting a shot here where his potential can be used. Even then, I have a feeling we have found our guy already. It's not that I think Bernier sucks or won't be good, it's just I think we have finally got a number one goalie we are happy with and still has a lot of upside.

If you think Quick is the goalie of the future then you missed the "Bridge" chapter of DL's book. Quick = Quincey

Originally Posted by KingFanMGM

Another thing to consider is, despite Brown not scoring points these days (I still blame Purcell)... IF Brown is traded, the Kings become a fairly soft team.

You'd have Simmonds on offense that plays physical, Parse, and then what Greene and Johnson and that is it?

I still agree that talent outweighs toughness, but that has to be considered as a factor.

The Kings do play better when they come out physical. Which can be said about most of the NHL. Checking causes turnovers which creates scoring chances.

Dustin Brown is a wuss who should compete in the Summer Olympics in 2012 for diving.

10.0 10.0 10.0

don't forget, the one thing the Kings don't have in the system is a link between their vision and grease.

5 or 6 years of Ilya Kovalchuk allows breathing room while they draft and layer the organization with hands over the next couple of summers.

Originally Posted by gescom

i love Brown, but he is easily a year behind where he should be by now in terms of having a complete game and he is THE most important player on the team. the one player, even more than Kopitar or Frolov or anyone else who MUST elevate his level of play and take the next step... and a decision should probably be made about him sooner rather than later.

Guess they slapped that C on his chest a tad bit early didn't they?

I could be wrong (and in a way, I hope I am, because Brown really doesn't bring anything that I can't see the Kings replacing fairly easily at this point), but I feel like by giving him the captaincy, the Kings already made their decision as to what they want to do with Brown. I think that combined with his reasonable contract is going to be a big mental hurdle for the organization to overcome prior to throwing him into any possible deals.

Originally Posted by gescom

don't forget, the one thing the Kings don't have in the system is a link between their vision and grease.

5 or 6 years of Ilya Kovalchuk allows breathing room while they draft and layer the organization with hands over the next couple of summers.

I'm a little confused; yesterday you agreed with Legionnaire about Brown being more of winner than Kovalchuk, but now it seems like you're for acquiring Kovalchuk if the price is right -- even if that means including Brown. What gives?

Originally Posted by dyvps

If Dean is telling you the "truth" (he has been known to say one thing and then do the other) then I would really think different of him. First he goes hard after Hossa, but can't get him(IMO Kovy is a better player then Hossa) He doesn't go after Gaborik (even though at that price I didn't mind) then he doesn't trade for Heatley (look at his stats right now with Thorton) Now he doesn't want to go after Kovy!!! These type of players don't come around that often, especially to the Kings. If he is available you have to go after him.

well all three do have something in common...

Originally Posted by gescom

Simmonds, Schenn and Clifford are not soft, they'll still just be highly inexperienced... and there's Clune and Westgarth.

i know it's painful for some to hear but Jarret Stoll has been a more effective hitter than Brown has for almost 2 years now.

i love Brown, but he is easily a year behind where he should be by now in terms of having a complete game and he is THE most important player on the team. the one player, even more than Kopitar or Frolov or anyone else who MUST elevate his level of play and take the next step... and a decision should probably be made about him sooner rather than later.

You are right about Stoll, but in terms of the fans, other teams in the NHL, and the Kings players themselves I still think they look to Brown as the inspirational leader because of his track record and the "C" on his chest.

I completely forgot about Clifford, but isn't he still a couple years away? I'd imagine he would spend at least one year in the AHL first.

Clune would have made the team if he hadn't gotten injured. He needs to prove he can stay healthy. If he is going to be a key to provide physical play, why has he been passed over in the call-ups this year?

Schenn is a large player and from all indications, knows how to use his size, but he doesn't strike me as a physical player.

Westgarth will be Ivanans replacement. I have hope that he will be more effective in that role.

You are right about Brown needing to step up and demonstrate leadership right now. If the Kings are going to take the next step then Brown needs to be a leader on the ice. He cannot control what everyone else does on the ice, and I think he needs to not carry that weight on his shoulders so much. He needs to just go out and lead by example with his play. Take a page from Parse's book. Hit every player carrying the puck and drive to the net every single shift.

I still think that if a trade for Kovalchuk is available, the only players that I think would be completely untouchable are Kopitar, Doughty, Quick and Bernier. I personally would hate to see Johnson go too, but if the deal is right... you have to.