Sure, and $5M is 9% but he's not going to sign for $8M or $5M per yr. His demand to the Thrashers has been $9.5M/yr and I bet he's going to sign with someone for something close to that...at least $9M/yr. If the cap goes down to $51M that's 17.6%. Given the threat that he'll go to Russia, he might get that $9.5M (or more), that's 18.6%.Quote:
Originally Posted by gretzky99
Kopitar's potential is there for 40 or 50 goals and I agree it's more likely that he tops out around 40. That said, Kovalchuk has averaged 46 goals the last 5 seasons so on average he's not a 50 goal scorer either.Quote:
i think kopitar can be a 100 point guy but not a 50 goal guy. this team needs a 40 goal guy and i would sacrifice a little depth up front to get it.
Sure, but that's a coach's decision. He could have played him with Smyth and Brown but chose not to. Last night Crosby played with Guerin and Kennedy and Malkin played with Fedotenko and Nick Johnson...which of those is going to be the 50 (or 40...or 30) goal scorer?Quote:
no player can be expected to do it alone - kopitar played with richardson and simmonds tonight. i like both players but neither will ever be mistaken for goal scorers.
Again, who are the snipers on Crosby's line? On Malkin's line? It's up to Kopitar to figure this out.Quote:
kopitar is a creative player and i think he'd flourish with a little room out there. he showed it to an extent with smyth early in the year but smyth isn't a sniper - he's a mucker.
That said, I agree that the Kings need one other high end talent in the top 6 and they don't have that. But I don't think it has to be someone with Kovalchuk's skill - or salary.
There's no need to be disappointed because DL has ALREADY taken a shot.Quote:
we'll see what kovy fetches at the deadline but if he goes somewhere else and the price isn't very high in trade i'll be disappointed that DL didn't at least take a shot.
[quote]and i think it's too easy to focus on Kovy's attitude - it can't be easy to play on a team for nearly 10 years and only make the playoffs once (we should know). a change of scenery might be exactly what he needs.
It's easy because it's true and it's obvious. Coasting because your team is in tough to make the playoffs is inexcusable for a 22 yr old and if a 26 yr old does it and I was his GM I'd go bananas. It's the main reason Thornton was traded and that trade had almost no negative impact on the Bruins.
Someone else addressed this but that's just not true. He played three seasons with Marc Savard. Kozlov also played alot of center in Atlanta and he wa a VERY talented center.Quote:
plus he's never played with a talented center like kopitar - it might make for a great match. there's nothing like scoring to motivate a goal scorer.
I said it above, but Kozlov played ALOT of center from 02-03 thru 05-06...and he was a very good center.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bollocks
