Thread: Kovulchuk, not about the money, it's about competing

Originally Posted by santiclaws

If he's a UFA next summer, there will be very few teams, especially good teams, which will be able to afford him. The Kings by next summer should be coming off a season in which they made it into the playoffs. Maybe they even would have gotten lucky and gotten into the second round. A young team on the rise with loads of young talent. In LA. There are worse things in life.

So, I would not say that Kovulchuk in LA is NOT a possibility. I'd put the possibility at maybe 10%. Not real likely, but not a lottery ticket, either.

Playing the devils advocate and knowing how LA hates opening the check book, if LA makes it to the second round this season, I hear mgmt saying that they don't want to change the chemistry and sign nobody else....Per DL, "These kids need to get better" will keep them from spending $7-10mil on any player.. But there is nothing wrong with hoping and my fingers are now crossed!

Originally Posted by hokyfann

Playing the devils advocate and knowing how LA hates opening the check book, if LA makes it to the second round this season, I hear mgmt saying that they don't want to change the chemistry and sign nobody else....Per DL, "These kids need to get better" will keep them from spending $7-10mil on any player.. But there is nothing wrong with hoping and my fingers are now crossed!

Very true but also think about how DL admitted to going after Hossa. We have all heard DL say things but then go and do the exact opposite of what he preached. Theres always of a possibility if DL thinks Kovi will fit well.

Once again, more breaking news from LGK. I am not trying to be mean, but this is old, old news. Kovulchuck has been talking about this for a year.

Originally Posted by Bojanglz

Wait I am confused then. How can Detroit not sign Hudler with Hossa leaving along with 2 others. I thought they were all factored in already and Hossa they were trying to get for 6 mil I think?

Well to me that sounds like they have the room since Hossa said no and another 2 left. I could be mistaken though but I don't see how if they were offering Hossa $6 mil?

But either way I would say his chances of staying are 80% and 19% will sign with another team if it came down to it and a 1% chance the Kings would get him. Like I said, DL can't land the star UFA's.

There is a reason that hudler darted off to Dynamo moscow to play in the KHL for 2 million a year.

Detriot cannot afford to pay him 2 million, so there is no way in hell that they are gonna go anywhere near landing kovy.

unless kovy signs for 1M, then it could happen.

Kovalchuk is my favorite player if he gets signed by the Kings next year I will be complete, so now im going to start praying for a miracle

I think that many people are forgetting that with the addition of Ryan Smyth and the hopeful extension for Frolov, that we won;t have the salary cap room for Ilya

Originally Posted by Obejuan

I think that many people are forgetting that with the addition of Ryan Smyth and the hopeful extension for Frolov, that we won;t have the salary cap room for Ilya

The Kings would definitely have to dump some salary, but if the prize is Kovalchuk, they'd do it I imagine. If Frolov is signed.

Originally Posted by Obejuan

I think that many people are forgetting that with the addition of Ryan Smyth and the hopeful extension for Frolov, that we won;t have the salary cap room for Ilya

True... If we sign Fro, forget about another big free agent such as Kovi.. Here is my problem (and I've said this before) I would HATE to lose Fro HOPING that we are going to land Kovi. When these top scores are available they want to play for a Det, NY, etc. I would love to have Kovi on our team more than any other player I can think of but i will be devasted this time next year we're saying "Alright guys we need a first line LW.....Again", if we lose Fro and miss out on the Kovlachek sweepstakes (IF it even happens)....

Originally Posted by Obejuan

I think that many people are forgetting that with the addition of Ryan Smyth and the hopeful extension for Frolov, that we won;t have the salary cap room for Ilya

Handzus, Williams, Stoll and Smyth don't have to be resigned and can (might in the case of Smyth and Handzus) be traded before their contracts are up. Schenn, Lewis, Purcell, Simmonds and Moller are all cheaper option to replace them.

If you can sign him for a cap hit around 8m then it's easily doable. A bit trickier at higher numbers but absolutely worth it.

In 2010-11

Kovi(8-10)-Kopi(6.8)-Brown(3.175) = ~20-22m
Smyth(6.25)-Stoll(3.6)-Williams(3.5) = 13.5
Fro(5-6)-Handzus(4)-Simmonds(.822) = 9.822-10.822
Fourth Line = ~4m

22+13.5+10.822+4 = 47-50m for forwards with no trades

Doughty(3.475)-Greene(2.95) = 6.425
Scuderi(3.4)-Johnson(1.425) = 4.825
Hickey(1.3)-Blah(1) - 2.3

6.425+4.825+2.3 = 13.55

McCauley Buyout = .667

Maybe 3m for goalies. (Quick resigned ~2m + Bernier(.8) or Ersberg(.75))

47-50+13.55+.667+3 = 64-67

So, at 67m worst case scenario you have to shed salary. Let's say... 10m.

Stoll traded, replaced by Schenn or Loktionov. Save 2.5m (guessing... Schenn has yet to sign an ELC as far as I know)

Trade Williams, replace with Moller. Save 2.8m

Make every attempt to trade Smyth or Handzus. Smyth is replaced by a third line LW from one of the trades or minors, on the cheap, for a 4.5m savings or Handzus replaced by Lewis for 3.2m savings.

So far, that's 2.5+2.8+3.2 = 8.5m

If that's not enough to stay under the cap, you can save a little on the fourth line or you can try and move Scuderi (will he be movable?).

Assuming Frolov resigns, your last resort is to trade him.

That's without losing anyone I don't want to. The real point is, you sign Kovalchuk if you can and deal with it later.

I apologize in advance if I screwed up any math...