alt="LA Kings Insider with Rich Hammond" />I have checked, and there is no concrete update on the Kings’ pursuit of Ilya Kovalchuk. The process is ongoing, as it is with several other teams, it seems. If you’d like innuendo and speculation, there are plenty of places to go. If I get any updates of substance, I’ll post them. If not, I won’t. The process is likely to take several days and involve a lot of teams. I have no updates on whether Atlanta’s asking price has dropped.
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Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He previously worked at the Los Angeles Daily News, was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar.
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well, it seems that the longer this goes on, the less leverage Atlanta has in the matter bc Kovalchuk has become a total distraction to their club.
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Rich you are the best, thank you for all that you do.
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Who cares
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Simmer and JJ stay!
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Ya they want way to much for him? I heard bernie are prospect goalie was in on the trade
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if we get him… great,
If we don’t … even better.
I just want this standoff to be over
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Per Eklund, the Kings are officially out re Kovi. Who knows. Just sayin…
[Reply]
Keep the Kings the way they are.
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Dumping players and prospects for a rental is what killed this team in prior years. That’s not that prudent thing to do. Wait until he’s a UFA, then go after him.
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Yeah, let him be some other team’s cap problem.
[Reply]
Rich,
What can you share about Whitney? Did he want three years? If so is that door closed?
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DrHockey:
Amen to that.
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Rich, what was the original asking price, say a long list of names, wasn’t sure if it was all or some..
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“Per Eklund, the Kings are officially out re Kovi. Who knows. Just sayin…”
This means they are officially in…right?
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Thank you Rich. I’d rather wait patiently for you than waste time on the rumor blogs.
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NO KOVY! Dont do it DL!
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@Kyle
Oh come on Kyle! You’re telling me you don’t hit those up just for $#i+s and giggles? I mean, what else do you do with your time ;)
[Reply]
Your point is well taken, there are great fiction writers and then there is non-ficiton. As a fact based writer yourself, can you tell us a little about how you deal with trade speculation? I’m sure you don’t go running to management everytime a blogger writes something, but on the otherhand would you attempt to scoop the organization by tapping outside sources?
Thanks!
[Reply]
Rich-
After reading all of the comments about Kovi, on a scale from 1 to 10, how much do you hate your job right now?
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So the Kings are still involved in the process?
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That needed to be said. Rich you are the man. All the madness will be over very quickly. All we can do now is wait and read tabloids and listen to Bob Mackenzie.
The whole Ray Whitney situation is interesting as well. Apparently we were very close to acquiring Ray Whitney but he wanted a contract extension? craziness.
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To all these people not wanting Kovalchuk…do you not like him? Or do you just not want to give up what you think we have to give up to get him?
Personally, if the price isn’t too high, I’d love to have his scoring. We could desperately use a scorer like that. Imagine! The 1 goal games would be 2 or 3 goal games.
I sure would hate to give up Simmer though. He’s my man-crush.
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Thank you Rich.
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Hey Rich…what’s the chance of getting a nice favicon on this blog? I hate looking at the generic white piece of paper icon while I wait for a Kovalchuk update.
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I’d rather sign him on July 1st instead of giving up Simmonds, Schenn, Teubert and whoever else.. We have to keep rebuilding, Dean’s best move in this situation is to just hold back and look somewhere else to help the team, in my opinion.
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Thank you Rich for the update!
Not waiting patiently for news but Rich answers with news anyway……PRICELESS!!!
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Lucas:
I think we all would love to have Kovi on this team (highlight quality goals on a semi nightly basis, etc.), but at what cost? Look at the Rangers, they have Gaborik and… ? Plus they’re screwed salary cap wise. This will be all over soon. If we get him, yes i will be fired up. I just don’t want to mortgage the future for a three month rental.
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i don’t mind giving up Teubert, the kid is useless, I don’t know how he keeps making these canadian junior teams? maybe he has a big upside or there’s lots of potential, i dunno, i just haven’t seen anythign crazy yet
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Please don’t give up Simmonds.
I wouldn’t make that trade even if it was a player for player swap.
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I would be shocked if we get Kovalchuk, only because there are more desperate GMs out there than Lombardi. Lombardi is in a position of strength because he has a young team that hasn’t even peaked yet, a lot of prospects, a lot of draft picks and cap space. That’s great for off season trades, but not usually for deadline trades. He can probably afford more than most GMs, but he’s not in a position of desperation to do something stupid just for a rental player. In the end, I think it will be a team like Chicago who is not only looking to get better this year, but is looking to clear cap space for next year. They could afford to give up a Sharp or Versteeg for a better chance at the Cup this year, rather than trading them for draft picks over the summer to clear space.
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I fully hear you guys. If only Waddell would accept draft picks and prospects. Why does he need roster players?
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Buckster
So far though, you have to admit Gaborik was a good signing.
I think DL would have paid him $37.5 / 5 for 34G 32A in 57.
And if he was with Kopi all year I believe those numbers would be higher.
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Lucas, I personally say the price is too high. If the reports are true that he turned down 10 mil a year from Atlanta odds are he will be in the KHL next year. Whitney is a safer bet if we can agree on a contract for him that will work for both Whitney and the Kings.
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Sather’s Gaborik signing is the only reason Sather still has a job with NYR
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Rich makes a point, as a Kovy deal could involve many teams and many players changing hands, not just Atlanta and another team. Atlanta obviously wants too much for one team to trade straight up for one guy. A 4 or 5 team deal (or more) is not out of the question here. That would be the only way everyone is happy in the long run. Waddell must feel he has to deal Kovy before the Olympic break though.
After a massive 6 team trade, Lombardi gets Kovy for nothing except a bag of popcorn and a Wetzel Pretzel at Staples……..PRICELESS!!!
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Waddell needs roster players for two very good reasons:
1) His team presently qualifies for the playoffs. If he makes his team weaker in the short term by trading Kovalchuk (i.e., giving up on his team during a playoff run), he will be run out of Atlanta on a rail.
2) Kovalchuk is Atlanta’s franchise player. If he is perceived as giving up his franchise without getting something tangible in return (i.e., players of obvious current value), he gets run out of Atlanta on a rail.
[Reply]
Lucas, If ATL is to stay in ATL. They need help now. They don’t want to hear “Well this kid is only 19 and can be great in a few years.” etc..
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Kevin @ USA Today said “Atlanta will get better return than it got for Hossa.”
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Matt George,
That WAS funny. You’d rather have Simmer! LOL!
And I like Simmonds! He’s a terrific young player, but he is not in the same planet as Kovy.
Again, we have NEVER won a cup. I think by adding one or two more pieces, we have a chance in what is a somewhat down year in terms of dominating teams (I think Washington can be had and while I don’t want to face San Jose, I’m not scared of Chicago).
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R.E.M. Murray:
I would’ve of loved to have Gaborik, but he’s all the Rangers have, and they’re stuck with that contract. Now so far, he’s been injury free (I believe that’s why D.L. was balking @ signing him, and who could blame him with his injury history). But watching Gaborik last night, I couldn’t help but think how good his numbers would’ve been with the Kings this year (like you said), at least we wouldn’t throw passes off his face.
Anyways, here’s a little quote from a poster on a Atlanta site: “Here’s the only trade I’ll accept. And it’s the deal of the century. Kovy to whereever his Russian heart desires … for Don Waddell’s resignation or termination.”
I feel bad for Thrasher fan, and I’m glad that it’s good to be a King again.
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Lie to us Rich! Lie to us!
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The only other thing I have to say is: What a difference a year makes.
At the beginning of last off-season, majority opinion in the comments was that the Kings HAD to go outside the organization for a premiere scorer, with a vocal minority feeling that if Dean Lombardi didn’t do whatever he had to do to get one, he should be fried in batter and sold on Manhattan Beach Pier.
Now, it seems that there is a solid majority in favor of keeping the Kings intact.
I can afford to be a little smarmy about this because my opinion about Kovalchuk and the Kings hasn’t changed at all. Then and now, I feel that if he can be added for the right price, fine. If not, then the Kings can still be successful without him.
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Buckster:
I have seen a few posts like that on this site after those 3 game losing streaks.. lol
Go Kings!
No Kovy!
[Reply]
DougS, If Waddell hasn’t been run out of town by now he could be their GM until he dies. How he could have kept his job for so long mystifies me.
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It’s a good thing none of us on this blog resort to fantasy or speculation during times like this……uh, I mean, most of the time!
I wake from a dream about Kovy becoming a King only to find out the Kings win the Cup just as they are right now………PRICELESS!!!
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No Kovy. can you say first round exit via a sweep.. if the kings make the playoffs. all because of the lack of scoring depth.. Can’t say Simmonds is scoring depth, or frolov, Smitty and Kopitar are the only two guys that have put out scoring so far in this 7 game win streak.
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Wait til July 1. Go after Torres for a playoff run
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Isn’t Waddell the same guy that traded away Metropolit, 1st and 3rd in 2007, and a 2nd in 2008 for Tkachuk in 2007 only lose him to FA that following offseason?
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If it requires giving up Schenn and Simmonds, no way. But I’d be willing to part with one and the others rumored to be in the package (Johnson, yes Johnson, Moller, draft pick.) Fine with me. As much as I respect Simmonds’ game and Schenn’s potential, obtaining Kovalchuk in his prime is too much to pass up. He’s only 26, geez. We’re talking about the greatest offensive threat in hockey, even more than Ovechkin, as Ovechkin’s had better players around him. Kovalchuk’s career in Atlanta has banished him to obscurity. Saw him play in Nashville last week. He is a categorical force. Amazing player. He would immediately make the Kings cup contenders with all hyperbole aside. They must also be certain that he’ll sign. If there is no assurance – forget it.
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>DougS
And besides batter, what spices/herbs, and available exactly where on Manhattan Beach Pier???
After dozing off, waking to realize my wife cooked fish sticks and french fries……….PRICELESS!!!
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Heard from a source that he’s going to the Yotes
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Here we go, more info
http://tsn.ca/columnists/bob_mckenzie/?id=308816
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Atlanta wants JJ, Fro, and Purcell or close to this
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thanks Rich.
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OK, Say what you will about getting/not getting Kovy. I actually hope we do get him. Sort of along the lines of “I’d rather have him with us than playing against us”.
As for the cost. I think DL is a smart guy, ATL is in need and there are many teams in the talks. Look at our current roster, and look at our prospects. We can definitely sweeten the deal if needed. The Question now remains, are we now allowed to talk to the Kovy camp?
How about possible deal speculations? If we were able to talk to Kovy and figure out a long term deal, would you offer let’s say? Stoll, Williams, Parse, Teubert and our 2010 1st?
The real big loss here is Stoll, Williams is out and were still winning, Parse is a fluff-er prospect/roster player for them with lots of upside, Teubert is a top D prospect and we free up 7.6 Mil in cap space.
The up side to Kovy is much more than any of these players can bring.
So, Would ya???
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Caroly Vadnais
Then what would I do with my Simmonds jersey??!
:)
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If it’s true that Whitney is basically holding Carolina hostage with his NTC unless he gets a 3 year deal, then it suggests he’s putting himself before his team and their needs and the fans – this to me says he does not have the type of character that DL so often points out as a necessity before signing someone to the Kings.
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The gamble is giving up the top six forward, top four d-man and a prospect and Kovi signs elsewhere in the off season or bolts for the KHL. I say DL should stay the course and if he is available off season then try and sign him then.
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Lilly
It is part ‘holding Carolina hostage’ but it is also part ‘LA is not at the top of his list’.
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I called it!
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I’ll add that what McKenzie is writing about the Kings is essentially spot-on, other than I have heard the top-6 forward requested as being a different one, and I haven’t heard any suggestion that management would try to influence a move. Not saying that McKenzie is inaccurate on that, at all, just that I haven’t heard that.
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@Caroly Vadnais…remember that its not ILYA for SIMMER. its SIMMER and contract vs ILYA and CONTRACT
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Waddle is insane! No wonder he can’t get a deal done!
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More News
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/2010/02/can_kovalchuk_price_be_met.html
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Thanks Rich
I bet the top 6 is Smyth, owed only $5.5 and $4.5 the next 2 years, very attractive for Waddell. And will plug nicely into Kovi’s void.
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I doubt DL would dish Smyth for a rental–maybe not at all.
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BTW, Hammer, I hope you’ll tell DL don’t worry about pressure. Most of us aren’t fools.
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Yeah that seems like quite a stretch.
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I need a Xanax
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Don’t worry! It’s not going to happen unless it’s a good thing. What we have now is a good thing.
I think we can trust Lombardi on this one.
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JJ/Frolov and Purcell is a no-brainer if Kovy signs with us. I hope Dean can convince Waddell that such a package is the best he can get and let DL have 24 hours to negotiate a long term deal. We have to do this deal if presented (JJ’s and Frolov’s $$$ would be 3/4th of Kovy’s $$$) and look at the team we would have!
For a rental, I agree it’s too much — but just barely. Maybe Frolov and Purcell or Jack and Purcell and I like our chances as we make a run for the cup.
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This is going down my friends, Waddell will take Frolov by Friday.
What is really nice is it sounds like Bernier is not involved.
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Heres Helene
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2010/02/kovalchuk-rumors-heating-up.html
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Any chance for a cup this year is really slim, so it can’t be worth giving up much.
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Frolov just may be expendable, because of the 3 bobbleheads being offered this month at Staples, none is Frolov. Frolov seems to have disappeared from promos for the Kings, whilest Simmer has notably emerged. Kwinkie dink???
Okay, after dozing again, I awake to hear Kovy is a King and Lombardi only had to give Frolov and a bag of popcorn and a Wetzel Pretzel……….PRICELESS!!!
(much more realistic and believeable)
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Brown. LOL! I’m not sure he’d give up Brown if he knew he could sign Kovi.
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Lets not forget, JJ and his shootout prowess is worthless in the playoffs
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i wonder if DL is working on multiple team trade where as we still give away prospect and picks while the other team give the roster players.
from the look of it chicago is best positioned for roster player for kovi. however there is no way they can keep kovi at end of year due to cap.
king is best positioned cap wise to sign kovi.
so would they entertain a 3 way trade where as chicago gets picks and prospects, atlanta gets roster players and we get kovi. however being on the same conference i somehow doubt it. if DL can pull this one off he is one heck of a negotiater and sales. HA
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IT’S OFFICIAL!
The Kings have acquired Kovalchuk for the rights to have Juraj Mikus play for the Atlanta Thrashers in one exhibition game in 2012. The immediate reaction from other GM’s is that the Kings clearly are desperate at being this close to a playoff spot and are taking a huge risk with this move. If the Kings win the Stanley Cup, then maybe, just maybe, it would have been a win win for both clubs.
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HA HA HA Kovy’s Wikipedia page has him listed as being a part of the Bruins and the Flyers! Gotta love that positive thinking on the part of their fans.
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I agree, that If LA wants Kovy they would have to do a 3 way trade. Edmonton perhaps? Or do we not want to give our good prospects to another Western team?
To Edm: Prospects (we can discuss who)
To ATL: EDM players.
To LA: Ilya
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Let’s look at this honestly from a couple of angles…
1: All info suggests that Kovalchuk wants $10M+ per year to sign a new contract, and that if he’d budge at all the Thrashers would meet him in the middle someplace and sign him. So if he doesn’t budge, that’s the price to make him a long term King if he lands here. When since Wayne Gretzky have the Kings shown anyone they’re willing to spend that kind of dough? Especially in the salary cap era, where that would probably be 1/5 of your cap spent on one player.
2: Atlanta wants a current top 6 forward, a current top 4 defenseman, and a prospect or high pick. Why would the Kings, or any team (besides Toronto or the Rangers) make that kind of sacrifice for a player they have to assume is a 3 month rental, at least until he’s in their uniform. The asking price is way too high for a rental, but I don’t blame Atlanta for setting that price.
3: Does Kovalchuk play the kind of game the Kings play? Sure he’s a 40-50 goal scorer and the Kings could use the firepower, but so was Heatley and the Kings wouldn’t touch him with a 10 foot pole this summer. And Heatley plays defense too (+17 compared to +1 for Kovalchuk). And both have been rumored to be problems in the dressing room. Plus Heatley’s contract is cheaper then presumably what it will take to keep Kovalchuk. If the Kings wouldn’t go for Heatley, why would they go for Kovalchuk?
As much as I’d love to see the Kings “take the plunge” and go for it now, I’m just not sure I see it as a real possibility. The only way I could see it going down is if Atlanta gets really desparate and lowers their asking price. Ray Whitney seems like a much more logical target to me.
I just hope there aren’t too many Kings “fans” that jump off the bandwagon (or the Staples roof) if the Kings don’t end up with Kovalchuk.
[Reply]
Paul, Ilya could always take less than what he wanted from ATL because
1) maybe its a city he really wanted to go to
2) He realizes they are a cup contender soon a season or two away and realizes he’d have to take less money
All those could come into play too.
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Heatley has “personal issues” that contributed to him not being desirable by many teams that Ilya doesn’t have.
10 million for Kovy — and remember, he can earn a lot more in endorsements in LA than in Calgary — is not a lot when you figure in JJ’s and Frolov’s salaries combined (probably around 7-8 million next year). If we throw in a No 1 pick, that’s money we will save in the signing of a pick. I’m PRAYING Waddell allows Dean to negotiate for Ilya.
(One word of caution: what if the trade happens this week and, god forbit, he gets injured in the olympics? I’m sure there will be a huge insurance rider in place as well.)
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So no one agrees with the 3 way deal i proposed with EDM? Seems like best option and we keep all current roster players..
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Itsd not that I don’t agree. Just who are we going to get from EDM for prospects that ATL will want? Thro some names in there. I think a three way deal with a team is possible, if thats only what your asking???
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Well we “technically” dont get the players. they will go straight to ATL, we send prospects to EDM etc.. Cogliano, sullivan whoever else EDM is selling? I mean they would take prospects during their rebuild… Its just a idea i thought i’d post.
[Reply]
Good thought, But that’s no where near the talent ATL is looking for
[Reply]
Well you never know until you call Waddell and say “Hey what players you like from EDM” Its just interesting to think of possible deals especially ones not involving any of our roster players…
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i would love to see a 3 way deal to get kovi here as long as its not sending good prospects to a western team. i mean, think about it… kovi/kopi/simmer til williams gets back…. and we can keep our smitty/stoll/brown line going too…. sick!!! and when williams does come back simmer goes on that famous 3rd line with fro and zues!!! Stanley Cup contenders for reals!!!!!
[Reply]
Well i can’t think of any other teams that are considered real sellers at this point that could work for 3 way trade, so far EDM is only one with some good young players but don’t know prospects it would cost but we’ll see what plays out. I expect Kovy to be dealt before friday if they can. (thats their next game.)
[Reply]
Waddell is talking about apparently wanting JJ, Fro, and Purcy it seems, along with prospects/draft picks. He’s not allowing any team to talk with Kovy’s agent because the other teams would make a deal with Kovy’s agent and make Waddell look inept at his job, which he looks to be. It would also leave Waddell almost comepletely out of the negociations, and he seems to be too much into himself to let that happen. At $11 mill /yr, isn’t that too steep a hill for the Kings to accept also???
Any other players out there we could fold into the group we have that currently has 34 wins and 7 in a row, DL may look at, but this group is not only winning right now, but winning with playoff type hockey. I like how this team is shaping up, and as I said before, I trust DL to do the right thing as he’s done just that up to now, right?
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So we trade almost all of what Wadell is asking, get Kovy, make the playoffs, make a run and who knows, then he splits to the KHL for $10+ mil per. Is it worth it? Would a cup be worth giving up all the players and picks Wadell wants? Because that may be the best, but possibly unrealistic, outcome of this potential trade. I want a cup here in LA, but I’d rather have a great young team for many years to come too.
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A edmonton fan posted this
The way I look at it is something like this
To Edmonton
Teubert/Hickey/Voynov
Another decent prospect if we trade Cogs or O’Sully but Im not sure who, if LA would be willing a second Dman wouldnt suck
To Atlanta
Frolov/Cogliano/O’Sullivan
Grebeshkov/Gilbert
LA’s first
To LA
Kovalchuk
Im not sure if this is fair or not, as an Oilers fan Id do it in a snap but Im not sure if LA or Atlanta would
[Reply]
Well, the news now states that everyone dropped out of the running for Kovy except LAKings. So is a deal imminent??
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where did you find that net? I hate reading into rumors but i can’t help it tonight. Going to the game tomorrow and wondering what would happen if a deal is made during game whether its kovy or anything else.
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Come on DL, don’t give away our future. If your gonna pull the trigger, don’t eviscerate us. We’re almost there now!!!
[Reply]
Mike,
NHL.com – news – headlines
[Reply]
Where did you hear that net? I’d just like to read it if its possible..
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I would do that trade in a hearbeat, Thats an amazing trade giving up non roster player but waddell would never go for that. Again like he said they are in a play off race and they dont want just prospects they want to compete. Iam very anxious about this honest i didnt know how true of a KINGS fan i was until these last two days . i know your a fan when you can sleep. i dont want to give up key players like simmer or johnson.
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Ok thanks.
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OMG I JUST SAW THAT ON NHL TOO. what does that mean . DID WE GET HIM??
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Hmm idk, it also says LA said price is too high. I still think ATL gets the deal done with some team by friday could be late tonight or tomorrow possibly. Anyways have a nice evening and see what happens..
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Here you go
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=515802&navid=DL|NHL|home
[Reply]
I feel that there some scenerios here.if the Kings trade for Kovi..It would JJ,Moller,Lokitionov and Hickey,plus a 2010 3rd rounder and 2011 2nd rounder for Kovi,Koslov and 2010 2nd rounder.. Then trade Handzues,Purcell and Koslov to Dallas for Richards and Robidas.. Put Richards with Kovi and Brown/ Kopi- Smyth-Williams/ Stoll-Simmonds-Fro/ Richardson-Segal-Parse..Just a thought.. But Brad Richards for sure PLEASE!!!!!
[Reply]
as far as that trade proposal mike l…..
i take in a heart beat with out hickey involved!!!
[Reply]
richards is awesome i love his play. Tough…..
but I say no on ZUS>..>> hes too valuable for the team not only faceoff situation, line change. Hes a Solid all around play., ya not too physical but whats BROWNIE for !!
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ok i dont know if this is something, but i guess Niemi from the hawks is sick and missed his start. Is that a cover up for a trade with the blackhawks on kovi… any thoughts?
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Quotes like this is why I don’t listen to Bob McKenzie any more…
“The conventional wisdom is that the Kings could trade Johnson, centre Alexander Frolov and a prospect such as Ted Purcell (or one of their many other young prospects) for Kovalchuk and the deal would be done in the snap of the fingers.”
Purcell, a prospect? 40 games played for us this season and Bob thinks he is a prospect! Hell that’s 1 game fewer than Smyth (granted Smyth was out for a bit but you get my point). Bob McKenzie doesn’t know what he is talking about when it comes to the Kings. Why we are listening to rumors from him is beyond me. If there is any news, Rich will tell us. I trust him over McKenzie any day!
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KRIS I agree. I LOVE RICH with all my heart. He is the BAckBone for all us fans. i know iam not gonna sleep tonight again . Wow i cant imagine what hes going through or even lombardi must be tough.
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KRis, some people still consider that a prospect…
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Wow, 105 trade comments.
If there is a trade someone is gonna look like a genius!
No long term contract, Noovalchuk. Wait for the off season.
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He also calls Frolov a center…
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JJ Frolov Purcell/Moller 2 prospects and a 2nd rounder. No more.
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I admit, I hope the Kings do not disrupt the current roster right now for a rental player. However, this is a fifty goal scorer, and if we could acquire him for frolov, purcell, and a pick I say do it. No Simmonds or Johnson though.
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Is this Hockey’s Future?
Seriously, it was JJ, Night Train and a prospect. Not worth it.
How does any team or Kovalchuk for that matter justify paying him more than AO, Crosby or Malkin? I just don’t see it. He just isn’t worth more than 9.
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Kovi is a great scorer, but DO NOT GIVE UP JJ!!!
This is a young team that finally has chemistry, so why give up young promising D.
10 years deal is a big risk with any player, and that’s what Kove wants.
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If the Kings do pick him up (I don’t think they will, and hope they don’t unless he’s extended first, but IF they do), I’d hope its after the Olympics. No sense in trading roster players for him only to risk losing him to injury over the break. There’s no harm in waiting 5 games. I’m sure Waddell is mindful of this risk as well and would prefer to move him before the break.
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The funny thing is that every GM thinks Atlanta is asking for too much. Too many teams still in the hunt or worried about the future. Hey Kovalchuk, win a Hart or 2 and then ask for the league max. I wouldn’t mind a Steve Ott or Torres trade.
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The more I hear about Kovi the less I want him. His salary demands alone are enough to turn me off. Although we don’t know for sure what he would want with the Kings (if they even trade for him) his $10MM / yr demands for 10 years turns us into Tampa Bay West. Just replace “Kovalchuk” with “Lecalvalier”. On top of all this, we are talking about giving up assets just to be in a position to lock ourselves up with a salary cap nightmare ? Even as the cap continues to go up, what about resigning all the guys we currently have like Doughty, Simmonds, Bernier/Quick ? I say pass on him, maybe even in UFA season unless his salary demands go down. Kovalchuk is demanding Crosby/Ovechkin-like money without actually playing like either of those two.
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Anybody want more?
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=308868
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Enough already!!!!! Or is that Pheneuf already!! I hope he goes to…………………………………………………………………………………………………..sorry, I’m thinking……………. the New Romantics. Wait, wasn’t that a music movement in England in the 80’s? Yep, I think it was.
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NO MAS! NO MAS! NO MAS!
(Ilya to Philly, book it) =p
GO KINGS GO!
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You know being out on the west coast, I don’t get to see him very often. Found this link, thought I would share for those in the same boat. One thing I can say, the guys got skills…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axmOCYuukQo
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501Daoust,
Thanks for that, I hadn’t seen him much. Holy geez, that guy is quick.
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Decent clip 501
Maybe it’s just set up lke that, but one thing I took notice of just for “whatevers” is that kovi seems to like to fly solo eh?
Is this guy a team player or is it all about him?
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501, damn! I wanna stickhandle like that! :) Reminds me of ovechkin those goals.
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Kovi wants 10 mil a season??? Sounds like a Manny scenario. The guy is good but i think he would mess up what’s going on right now. let’s say we get him go with kovi kopitar smyth?
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Bob, I disagree.
Kovalchuck is on the same level as Ovechkin and Crosby and will be compensated as such, no matter the destination. Actually, Crosby is probably eclipsed by both in terms of individual skill. Kovalchuk is as fast as Ovechkin, creates as many opportunities, knows how to finish at the net, both have lethal right handed shots, incredible stick handling, their styles are almost identical but Kovy has a little more discipline to his game. We all know Ovechkin is a ball of energy on skates. Kovalchuk’s discipline, imo, makes him the better player, if only slightly.
Lombardi must not disrupt the active roster too much, must not lose both Simmonds and Schenn (part with only one if necessary), and must have assurance that Kovalchuk will sign.
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probably put him on a separate line so we have two different scoring lines, thus creating a competitve spirit between the two.
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@ Scaught
Agreed. We finally have an opportunity to acquire a premier player. I can’t remember the last time we headlined a trade rumor and actually took credibility from it. Kovi would take us to the next level. However it must be done at a reasonable cost. DL won’t screw it up though.
the suspense is killing me…..
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AND THEN THERE’s THIS
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/339231-kovalchuk-for-ryan-neidermayer-and-a-1st
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omg the quacks that would be horrible
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T*Matt George*
That is one interesting scenario you found. It also makes way more sense than a Kings trade. It works actually much better for ATL also that way than with the Kings. Thanks!
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Wouldn’t it be ironic if the Hawks dealt Hossa back to Atlanta for Kovalchuk?
The Thrashers get an impact player signed to a long-term contract for an impending UFA. No-brainer for them. Their fans (assuming the Thrashers have fans) are familiar with Hossa so Waddell can sell the trade to his fans.
Chicago sheds some salary while getting a sniper for their playoff run. Stan Bowman gets the Blackhawks’ cap situation a little more under control without making his team less competitive for their playoff run. According to TSN Hossa dooesn’t have a no trade clause.
Seems logical to me.
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Wow, check out Kova’s youtube stuff and tell me you don’t want this guy. Wow, fast, big, tuff and a sniper.
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Kevin C. Cox has no clue. Niedermayer will dictate wher he goes, but to even think that he’d go to Atlanta for the chance of another cup is ludicrous because Atlanta has next to no chance. I believe the only trade that Niedermayer would accept is one to the NJ Devils, anyway. Then again, maybe he has time to dream up whacky scenarios like the one he did.
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Scaught,
We will have to agree to disagree. Crosby younger and is still improving in all aspects of the game. Ovechkin dominates games and can almost score at will. Plus, both are more marketable household names that people outside of hockey know. Kovalchuk plays at a level just below theirs and is only known within hockey circles. Obviously he is a superstar that would dramatically help this team. I just think his cap hit would handcuff us too much especially when we resign guys we already have on the roster. Chicago is already looking to trade guys like Sharp, Versteeg, and Barker because they cannot afford all of their current roster. That’s why DL made a point of getting small cap hits with Kopitar and Brown. Getting one guy to take up that much payroll for 10 years will undo all that. If it was a shorter length, like 3 years or 5 years, I would not mind as much.
Having said that, I think if we do get him it may have to be a 3 team swap. We send prospects to a team willing to get the “future considerations” Waddell doesn’t want and get NHL roster players that we can send Atlanta’s way. This way we avoid giving up current roster players and keep the team together. The guys have been playing so hard it might almost be disheartening to see someone like JJ or Brown (names the Times and TSN have reported) go even if Kovalchuk comes back.
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Obviously there’s an auction taking place held by Don “Blow Your” Wadell for the services of Kovalchuk. The one thing is I do hope we lose and get to Plan B and a more affordable one at that. The price being asked is too insane for a rental, and I would like to kindly ask Dl to step aside and enjoy watching the Price Is Wrong until possibly July 1st.
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Will Kovalchuck be this year’s Anson Carter? Will he destroy the chemistry on a good young team and then move on?
Does anyone even remember some of the Kings’ trading debacles in the past?
What was the Rick Martin trade again? Wasn’t it at the trading deadline? Didn’t we trade the rights to Tom Barrasso for a guy who could barely skate and who played in four games for the Kings?
How about Jerry Korab? Rick Chartraw? Gerry Desjardins?
I think the Kings traded the rights for Steve Shutt, Larry Robinson, Phil Housley and Claude Lemieux to get next to nothing.
How many games did Dick Duff play for the Kings? Didn’t he score 6 goals for us while Larry Robinson played a Hall of Fame career for Montreal?
This is one old-time Kings’ fan who wants no trade of any kind. I love this team, I love Wayne Simmonds and I want Jack Johnson to be there when we reach the Final in a couple of years.
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Sign him and we go from making the playoffs to Cup contenders. There is enough in Manchester that we could give up. But absolutely NO way to Simmers
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DL too much of a tactician to give away johnson or simmers. fro maybe.
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Atlanta seems to want a top-six forward and defenseman Jack Johnson, maybe Purcell and a prospect, but DL won’t budge losing Johnson. It would deplete us too much. But what if we traded Frolov (UFA) as our top-six forward, Purcell, maybe defenseman Davis Drewiske, and a high-level defensive prospect? Or something similar… It wouldn’t disrupt our team too much and Atlanta would get at least three guys that it could stick into its line-up as regulars immediately. Purcell might actually do well there.
Then our lines would look like this:
Kovalchuk—Kopitar—Simmonds
Smyth—Stoll—Brown
Richardson—Handzus—Parse
Ivanans—Moller—Segal
Not bad! We’d get a top scorer with Kopitar and Richardson would replace Frolov on the 3rd line, where he fits better anyway. And later we get Williams back to strengthen us further.
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King John,
Those are great looking lines. would suck to lose drewiske though.
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This came out from Wyshynski about an hour ago
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/The-Ilya-Kovalchuk-Derby-and-the-cost-of-winnin?urn=nhl,217651
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NO KOVI, unless it falls into our laps.
we won’t win the cup this year, but with what we have in the cupbroad, manchester, juniors, let those assest compete for a job, and they may be the missing pieces right under our nose. low risk management, at this time.
let Chicago shoot their wad.
if not, they will still be assests for adding a good player later. Phil Kessel’s availability during the beginning of the season, is an example of how things are in flux. also, like many have said, we have this summer to shop.
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Hadley
I think we do need to make a couple of minor deals just to push us over the hump. It shouldn’t be of the magnitude of a Kovy trade, just due to the fact that it will hurt OUR chances.
There are maybe three players I want to see off the roster and TWO I want to see getting more ice time on another team’s roster, with no hard feelings towards those guys. The other one (JONES) I just want to see on a milk carton.
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Hadley it is nice to see a fellow longtime fan who remembers the blunders of the past and doesnt care to repeat history….. Anders Hakannson for the rights to Kevin Stevins before he bacame a star… The players we got for Wayne from St. Louis when we traded him… Craig Johnson was the only one who last a few years… The Fuhr trade,what a bust, Kimmo Timmonen was actually a King we gave him up to protect Jamie Storr, Paul Coffey, and who was that great Goalie Marc Crawford wanted so bad … and who can forget Blake not waiving he no trade clause and then we dont resign and get nothing for him…and so on… Steve Shutt, Ron Dugay, Ed Olyck all players who eventually played for the Kings but who’s draft choice was traded by the Kings… Good and perhaps a few great players will be available this summer I for one can wait a few more months so I dont give up the next young star who didnt get the chance to be a star with the Kings first….
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Kovi has scored more goals I think in the last 5 years than anybody else.He is used on the point on the power play,and is fast enough to get back if the puck goes the other way,having a guy like that on the #1 pp would make it top 5 at least.Do any of you remember how he killed us when we played the thrashers I think he had a hatty, and a couple of those goals were hilights.Of course he hogs the puck,look who he has on his team,not alot of help,so he does it himself, he was also made captain.I think he would make a great teammate,he wouldn’t have to be too selfish,with the likes of Kopi,smitty and the rest of the team.I think if he signs and we go far, that he will see the greatness we have in this team, the potential,he might resign.Of course it has to be reasonable.
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I just saw this…could it be?
http://www.fromtherink.com/2010/2/2/1289934/sources-ilya-kovalchuk-close-to
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I’ve heard 10/85 was the minimum that Waddell offered to Kovalchuk.
You have to remember that Atlanta has been mentioned for some time now as a team for possible relocation.
If you are Kovalchuk do you want to sign a big contract with the future of the team not certain?
One thing I have not heard much of on this board is the future of the salary cap. Do you think it will stay around the mid $50 million over say, the next 5 years. Will it go to $60 or $65 or more over that time?
You would think the Kings would have analysts (or know some) to project this sort of thing and act accordingly.
Myself, if we can sell Kovi on LA the rest of the season and show him a culture for winning is brewing in LA, I can see him and Grossman taking 9, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10, 10, 11, 11, 11, i.e. 10/$100 mil. Again, if the cap moves to $65+ mil over this span that type of deal would not seem too outrageous.
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kenny: it was written tuesday fed. 2nd. just say’in. who is this source?
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Just read that Kovy rejected 10 mil a year from Atlanta :
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=516230
No player is worth 20% of the cap.
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Here is a statement from Waddell
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=308935
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my final take (until the next stage) and posted on a more recent thread…:
we don’t lose anything if we are patient…the opportunity to sign a big UFA that might be a better overall team-fit, rather than star-fit, than kovy will be there in the summer…
and when i say “team-fit” vs. “star-fit”…
kovy is a great player…and maybe on the right team he becomes ovie-worthy or crosby-worthy accolades and money…
but $10 million…???
the guy just turned down an eighty-million dollar deal to stay in a city where he said he WANTED to stay…what does that tell you…?
it tells you that either kovy…his agent…or his wife…or any combo of them…have other motives than winning a cup…
now i’m not saying that atlanta has done everything in their power over the last few seasons to make a run at anything realistically…i already brought up hossa before…don’t underestimate how the danny snyder tragedy and the subsequent trade to land hossa for heatley impacted the organization…
but the way kovy handles himself in this situation and how it all ends up playing out at this point suggest nothing to the effect that…if put in a cup-contending situation…that he WOULDN’T bolt for the money vs. an opportunity at winning the cup…
d.l. talks about adding not only important pieces and “filling in the boxes”…but making sure each piece has the certain “character” attributes that are impossible to teach…
how does kovy fit into d.l.’s box…?
well there’s no question about the skill level…world-class…
there might be questions regarding his character…and i think those are completely justified by the ongoing saga that is upon all of us…
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and d.w.’s statement only lends more credence to my take on kovy’s character…
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Variable-
You bring up a great point. I’d like to think the captain of any NHL club has a bit if character in him. However, none of really know what we’re getting until he’s here. I imagine DL and his crew have done their due diligence in looking at the things you’re talking about, and that they wouldn’t even pursue a deal if the fit wasn’t right. Some things though are intangibles, and we wont really know the answer til we get to that point.
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That’s where DL needs to be smart and not sell the farm for this deal.
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“Do you think there is another team that will give Ilya Kovalchuk a 12-year, $101 million contract?”
Yes – 1,064 (31.6%)
No – 2,303 (68.4%)
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After a massive 6 team trade, Lombardi gets Kovy for nothing except a bag of popcorn and a Wetzel Pretzel at Staples, the trade is made on Monday morning, Feb 8, Kovalchuk arrives at Honda Center just in time for the game, and subsequently has a Natural Hat Trick and the Kings win 3-0 (…or worse)……..PRICELESS!!!
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The only way Fro, JMFJ and Simmonds get shipped to Atlanta is if Dave Taylor is running the show. Thankfully, he isn’t.
I just don’t see this happening unless Waddell breaks down. And he just very well might bc no one seems interested in his terms.
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Any minute now?
http://www.csnphilly.com/pages/landing_09?Kovalchuk-Close-to-Being-Dealt-But-Not-t=1&blockID=175333&feedID=704
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he’s going to the DEVILS!!!
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Captain Jam — nice swipe at a career King who only left us Kopi, Fro, Brown, Parse, and Quick.
Go back and see that DL traded away the Lecavalier No. 1 and you’ll “educate” yourself a bit. Taylor’s biggest crime was trading Grebeshkov. Not necessarily suicidal.
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Here it is
http://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie
NJ!
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