Money matters « LA Kings Insider

Money matters

Posted by Rich Hammond on 19 July 2010, 4:12 pm

People are starting to get a look at Ilya Kovalchuk’s new contract. Seems as though it’s for 17 years and $102 million, with a massive but curious form of frontloading. I’m told that, in real dollars, Kovalchuk will make $6 million in the first two seasons and $11.5 million, the maximum allowable, in each of the following five seasons. Over the first 10 years of the contract, Kovalchuk will make $96 million. Numbers like that make it clear that the Kings weren’t even in the same ballpark, in terms of the numbers that mattered to Kovalchuk.

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960 Comments

Ose says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:15 pm

So who are we looking @ now.

[Reply]
Dr.Gonzo Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
@Ose, Hopefully we look into getting Patrick Sharp… Love watching this guy play, and definately in our price range.

[Reply]
smoKING gun Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
@Dr.Gonzo,
I’m on the Patrick Sharp wagon myself. I’ve said this here before, he’s no Kovalchuck but he’s definitely a solid top 6 winger and puts up good numbers and was a gamer in the Cup run. I think his playing style would be a great fit with the Kings. Not sure if the Hawks are thinking of making him available but if they do, (most likely for cap room), I say get that guy!

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:26 am
@smoKING gun,

IMO, Patrick Sharp is one of the most underrated players in the league, even though he was on the Cup winning team.

Unfortunately, Stan Bowman said yesterday that Sharp ISN’T going to be traded… all that means is it’s gonna take a lot more in the way of prospects and picks to pry him off their roster.

Not sure DL COULD get it done… but I’d love to see it.

LBlocal Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
@Ose, If Plan “B-” includes Frolov.. They better contact him soon.

https://twitter.com/dchesnokov

Reports him starting negotiations with SKA Salavat Yulaef, located in Ufa, Bashkortostan.

Yes! Ufa, Bashkortostan.

Now, Frolov has to decide between the NHL and Ufa, Bashkortostan.

gKg!

[Reply]
LBlocal Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
@Oso, “So who are we looking @ now?”

http://kings.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=-6&id=74073

gKg!

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
@LBlocal, Excellent! Sign ‘em all I say.

Question: “Why should you be a member of the Kings ice girls?”

Answer: “Because I’m crazy.”

Priceless.

wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
also…

“Are you more nervous than last time you auditioned?”

“I’m a hundred and thirty five thousand percent more nervous.”

Awesome.

LBlocal Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
@Waves, I think we’re all a bit loony, we’re Kings fans.. =) Just some of us look (WAY) better than others.. (like on the video)

BTW.. Did you happen to see this?? WHAT THE??

UMM: How come Kings management was so ill informed on IK’s true feeling of them? Not ONE MENTION of LA in the entire press conference. Oye!

http://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2010/07/ilya_kovalchuk_staying_with_de.html

“It appeared that Kovalchuk was hoping to sign with the Kings, but he said he never intended to make up his mind when he visited L.A. Nor did he intend to sign on July 1.

“Some guys sign 10-15 minutes (after noon) on July 1 and they don’t really know where they are going,” he said.

He said he never visited the Devils during negotiations.

“No, but I didn’t have to,” he said.

He knew what was offered in New Jersey.”

gKg!

wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
@LBlocal,

I would expect nothing less from the announcement. He would never say anything other than he is 100 percent sure it was the right decision. He’d say the same thing if he signed here. So I don’t put much stock in that at all really.

I think if the Kings rolled out the red carpet for the guy and really made a huge push by ownership, he just as easily could have signed here and been just as happy to do so.

There are definitely pros and cons for each team. The news conference is all roses, but no one there, in that very classy organization, has their head buried in the sand. They’re fully aware of the hurdles ahead of them.

Clearly ownership was fully committed to having Kovi be the face of the Devils after MB retires. I have to hand it to them.

johnjuan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
@LBlocal,

DITTO!

[Reply]
hockeyking Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
I would have liked the kings to sign him, but let’s move on. We still need at least 1 or 2 really good wingers and 1 defenseman. Is there any chance that the kings will resign Modin? Even though he is older, he was impressive with his positioning. If he can be had at a “resonable” price, he would be a decent acquisition.

[Reply]
fourtunato Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
@Ose,

I hear Patty O’Sullivan is available. Bring back Patty O! ( I jest) Matt Moulson is a RFA!!

[Reply]
The Real Coach Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
@Ose,

Rich. Any hockey fan that takes a look at any solid team will see that the team is paying several players top dollars. Can that be said about the Kings? The short annswer is “No.”

Look at Minnesota’s signing. Can one even compare what Minnesota got to what IK brings to the table?

Moreover, this is Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States, not some little town in the middle of Siberia where the only game in townm is hockey.

Southern California hockey fans and more specifically Kings Fans are taking a good hard look at the owners of the Kings and the product that they are buying and then turning around and selling to the people here in Los Angeles.

A careful look at the teams’s financial picture shows that for the past two years and for this upcoming year, the owners of the Kings have not had to pay more than the minimum for Doughty (his present salary is below $1 m) so any fans that Doughty puts in the stands are free-bees for the owners. The same holds true for J.J., Simmonds and Quick.

Today management retorts, “What about next year”? But any owner of any team can ask that question.

The plain hard truth here is that the owners of the Kings were “on the cheap” and “looking for a deal” with one of the premier players in the league. Would you be surprised then, if the owners are “on the cheap” and “looking for a deal” next year when it comes to re-signing Doughty, JJ or Simmonds or someone with slightly less than Kovalchuc’s credentials/statistics?

Let’s be candid here, Rich, and all you Kings Fans and ask yoursef honestly: Are the Kings closer in comparison to the LA Clipers or the L.A. Lakers? Easy answer, isn’t it Rich?:

Los Angeles has a cheap owner for its hockey team that simply cannot be mentioned in the same breath with owners of championship calibur teams.

Ownershop (not management) has spoken, and the actions of the owner of a sports team speak volumes about the results that will follow.
So Rich and all you die hard Kings Fans, until you acknoledge the fact that the Kings did not want pay to have the best free agent available and one of the top 5 players in the world, i.e, a true supoerstar in a league that is getting more and more $7 million dollar/year players, get used to being the Clippers of the NHL and associated with everything cheap.

That’s the straight talk from me, the Real Coach.

[Reply]
tuchman Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:22 am
@The Real Coach, I dont know if cheap is the right word to describe what management did here, they were only 2 years and 20 million short in comparison to what the devils did, im going to stand with kings management they have a long term goal and paying ilya all that money so they can potentially be short handed in the year after would be a major setback. there are other forwards out there and depending on what happens this coming up season and how much cap room they have they can make a ton of blockbuster deals. If Ilya doesn’t want to come play here thats fine but, i dont think its as bad as people are saying it is. If anything i’d be pissed off if I was Dean cause he dropped out of this thing twice and wanted to move on and most likely ilya was still thinking about wanting to play here if anyting Ilya is a fool because kings took 2 out of 3 and in my opinion if Quick would have kept up his game like in the first 2 games than im pretty sure the kings would have taken that series. Your a fool if you are going to invest so much money and risk the future of the rest of your team on just 1 guy that just isnt good management. Oh rich you the man and GO KINGS GO!!!

[Reply]
maraudking5 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:27 am
@The Real Coach,
Ok guy,
In the modern salary cap world of the NHL and the current CBA in place, building a team while adding a player like IK is no easy task.
Looking for a cheap deal??
Crosby’s contract = $8.7 mil through the 2012-2013 season… 2 Stanley Cup final appearances, 1 SC championship ring, and now Olympic gold.
Worth every single penny. But NOT making 11.7 mil like IK will be making in a few seasons.
Is Kovalchuck good? You bet. Is he worth the price? At this time, I think any SMART GM/ business person would argue that.
The Red Wings are arguable the blue print for NHL teams. Do they go out and spend to the cap every year? No. Do they go out and overpay for players, or get hot going after FA’s of Ilya’s caliber? Nope. They draft and develop players. Which, if you knew anything about hockey, would understand that that is certainly the SMART way to build a TEAM. In fact they have about $4 mil in cap space too. They don’t over pay their players, build from within, and as we all know; are still a very, VERY dangerous team.

Are you a Kings fan? What’s up calling out “you Kings fans”?

Bottom line is this.
IK is not Sid, Ovi (no rings), Zetterberg/Datsyuk. He was the only scoring option for most of his time in ATL, stuck on a terrible team. Goes to NJ, is a point a game player in the regular season, and the Devils still get swept in the 1st round.

Is it worth getting stuck with a $6+ mil cap hit for 15-17 years. That is a move that handcuffs teams. NJ will probably lose Zach Parise next year as a result of the IK signing. Is it worth a $6 mil cap hit if the guy is in his 40′s and is retired?

Ik is a nice player… Drew Doughty is a Norris trophy candidate, a good bet that he will will a few in his career. Those type of players are a rare find.

I’d rather have DD, JJ, Bernier, “Night train” Simmonds, Schenn, etc. A TEAM of talented players, opposed to over paying a 1 guy $102 mil till he’s not in the league.

Chew on that…. Coach

[Reply]
The Real Coach Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:05 am
@maraudking5,

This resposne to to those of you who would publicly suggest that the Kings gave it their best shot, that Kolvolchuk was “lucky” to have the ear of the team and will be begging he was gere, and that it was for the samke of the team that he was not selected.

You each probably have a bridge to sell or some swampland you’d like to get rid of too, and there are probably some out there that are buyng ioto what you’re selling. But for the majority of us with plain old common sense the bottom line is that the Kings cheaped out. Period. Ask anyone in any other part of the county, noit those that want to see things through your rose colored glasses.

Ask Philly if they reget signing Pronger? Yeah, right.

Ask any one with a brain in their head if Chicago won’t match all offers for Toews. Yeah, right.

And Chicago still regretting having signed Hossa. He only brought them a Stanley Cup.

The same could have been said for Kovalchuk and the Kings. So chew on that. Bottom lneL the Kings had an opportunity to move to a higher kevel and they didn’t. Period. EWnd of story.

Chris from Canada Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:50 am
@maraudking5,

I agree with you 100%! I’ve got your back on this all way in Canada!!

Chris from Canada Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:04 am
@The Real Coach,

You know it’s interesting you think so highly of Kolvolchuk. What has he done recently? I mean L.A is a team up and coming that has made it to the playoffs since 2002 AND did with just over 100 points…when was the last time that happened? Not since 2002 I can tell you that. The team is developing nicely with some good players…such as Kopitar, Doughty, Quick, Brown, Simmonds, Johnson, Bernier and then the minor league guys like Hickey, Schenn etc. L.A can make the playoffs guaranteed…the real help they need is in the playoffs, some one with experience and knowledge and wisdom. Is that Kovi? I doubt it…how much playoff experience does he have? how many cups has he won? He has played 9 playoff games, that’s just shy of how many the L.A players have played and they did without Kovi!! So Kovi is really only a guy to get a team hopefully to the playoffs and then after that well he is just as green as anyone else but L.A doesn’t need a player like that do they? AND on top of that do you think Kovi’s attitude will be a fit in a team focused on defense? Terry Murray was not afraid to bench Frolov and I agreed with his decision, if Kovi does the same as Frolov or not play to the best of his ability Terry will bench him as well and then what will Kovi do for the team? This big free agent the Kings got to play and he’s benched what a good deal there!!

But also too coach, remember that Doughty, Simmonds, Quick will need new contracts so if it came down to Kovi or those young guys who would you choose?

Doughty is from my city London Ontario Canada and grew up loving the Kings like myself so he wants to stay on the team and help, that’s a great player attitude to have and something Kovi will never have unless it has $$$ signs next to it.

Just some stuff to think about and ponder over…but yes I know you are the real coach that’s why you’re coaching L.A and not Terry Murry.

[Reply]
The Real Coach Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:10 am
@Chris from Canada,

Dear Chris:

1. I do think very highly of Kovalchuk. So too does every team in the NHL.

2. Kovalchuk mads the players around him better. That’s how playoff games are won.

3. Does Kovalchuk have a bad attitude? Just ask NJ. They re-signed him did’t they? And they agreed to pay him $102m. to do so didn’t they. So I can’t agree with you there Chris.

4. Was it necessary to chose between Kovalchuk and the remainder of the Kings’ team? Nope. A little brain power goes a long way Chris.

5. As for Terry Murray, I like the guy but he has his ups and downs like everyone else in this world, just ask Philly who fired him.

6. As for me, you know it. I’m the real coach and even taught you a thing or two today if you are honest about it Chris.

Danny Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
@The Real Coach, Even though your spelling is awful, the point you are trying to get across rings true. The Kings mgmt. always uses the excuse of “we have to sign one of the kids next year” so lets scrap another season. Standing on the sidelines and watching 90% of the other NHL teams try and improve while we twiddle our thumbs is disheartening.

[Reply]
The Real Coach Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 3:16 am
@Danny,

LOL about the spelling (you’re right). Props to that and to you for seeing things as they are.

The Real Coach
wavesinair says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:16 pm

LOL. Gotta laugh.

With an EXTREMELY manageable cap hit of 6 mil, the Kings couldn’t even get into, “the same ballpark.”

Unbelievable. The more things change…

[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
@wavesinair,
Waves, never mind the 6mil. Did you read this? it’s 11.5 mil per year After that!! That’s manageable. To you maybe, but not to me. Plus, in my book he doesn’t deserve that. Then what does Crosby get? $13.5 million a year. I can’t wait to see the first $20million a yr hockey player. Boy, he’ll Really be good. Will probably break all of Gretzky’s records and be a Selke candidate to boot.

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
@number 6,

No, the CAP HIT is 6 mil over the life of the contract. Period.

We offered him a 15 year contract, they offered him a 17 year contract. NOT a huge difference.

The difference was in cash, not cap.

I couldn’t care less what ownership has to pay the guy as long as it doesn’t bury us down the road. 6 mil cap wouldn’t bury us even if it went the full term, which it won’t.

So yes, we had him if we wanted him and it would have been great.

[Reply]
concussionman02 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
@wavesinair,

But it is all about cap and not about cash!!?

You mean Lie-Weekly was not truthful with the fans……………..again.

I knew once he was involved this deal was going to sh!t.

variable Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
@wavesinair,

bottom line….:

it is too much cash for him…

and i think it was wise for us to walk away from that type of arrangement…

if you agree to pay kovy that much, you run the risk of yr own homegrown talent elevating their demands based upon what he got – a ufa – with no prior kings organizational allegiance…

i guess we agree to disagree…partner…(!)

BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
@wavesinair,

Not on your side on this one.
Monopoly money may say make the bet, but this is real cash, and I agree that the more spent with Kovee Babee, the more would be needed to secure the rest, especially with DD.

–Would’ve loved to have him.
–Felt as though the Kings (and especially us fans) got played.
–All the falderal and fiddle-de-de simply increased NJ’s bet, which saved face for K.B. and his agent.
–We need ALL our young’uns to stay, long-term…

-pass-

Danielle Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
@wavesinair,

I’m totally in agreement with BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy here. Cap is one thing, but there has to be real cash there to be able to make the outrageous payments that are part of this deal.

luc20rules Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
@wavesinair, Well as far as Kovi went I didn’t think we would offer as much as we did. If the numbers published were true 80mil over 15yrs? I still don’t think Kovi a one dimensional player is worth that, because really it was 72mil over 8yrs the rest cap magic to get it to 6mil/yr. The actual assessment is the Kings just refused to pay 8.5 mil at age 35 and 6.5 mil at age 36.
I still think Kovi wanted more than Ovie and it didn’t matter too much where an ego thing. Well in my opinion some fool was willing to make Kovi the highest paid in hockey as the 15th ish best player in the league.

wavesinair Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
Unfortunatley guys, that’s the mentality of “afraid to win.” There’s nothing about the NJ deal that wouldn’t work for us. Let our young guys demand more money. They should! And I bet you they will. As long as we can manage the CAP, we have no worries.

The problem is in ownership. What makes you think for one second they will dish out cash for our young guys? Where do you get such amazing faith in a corporate giant?

Phil Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
@number 6, Like so many others here, you are fixated on the big numbers – the total of the contract and the structure of the annual salaries within the contract; both of which are irrelevant to anyone other than Kovalchuk and AEG.

What matters to fans is the cap hit (contract total divided by the contract term), and how it would affect retaining the young players currently on the team.

“wavesinair” is exactly right – $6M/yr cap hit doesn’t “bury us,” and the addition of Kovalchuk would have made the Kings a better team.

[Reply]
Mikke L Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
@Phil,
I can’t believe your saying this guy deserves 11.5M at all…. read Helene Elliots twitter with her interviews with Lombardi very good and opne you eyes to this. I’m sorry I wouldn’t even give Crosby a 17 year deal

number 6 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
@Phil,
Phil, I don’t doubt that he would have made the Kings a better team, but I have to agree with what variable said above.

‘if you agree to pay kovy that much, you run the risk of yr own homegrown talent elevating their demands based upon what he got – a ufa – with no prior kings organizational allegiance…’

It’s Just Not As Simple As Numbers. I don’t doubt your excellence or waves or anyone else when it comes to normal math. But my instincts tell me that there is WAY more to this than just the normal math that meets the eye. PLUS, maybe it is $6mil over the life of the contract, but if he’s being paid 11mil for five years in a row, my assumption is that That Money goes against your cap hit for That Year… not like, oh well, we just figure in what his average hit is over the life of the contract. Maybe I’m wrong, but I seriously doubt it.

luc20rules Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
@Phil, The Kings lost money last year. AEG is a business the Cap figure is important, but so is the amount paid out. The Kings are a vechile to increase profits at LA Live & Staples Center, but I would guess dispite the Salary Cap the Kings will not pay more than 60 mil/yr in player Salaries. I would guess the DD contract will be likely a lifetime contract locking him up for the rest of his career and a few more to make it cap friendly. I like 110mil over 23 years for DD, 55 mil over 23 years for WS, 40 mil over 20 years for BR, and 95 mil over 25 years for JJ. Better use the Loophole while it lasts.

wavesinair Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
Number 6 said: “That Money goes against your cap hit for That Year.”

Not sure how to tell you this in any other way. The cap hit for NJ will be 6 mil every year for the length of the contract (unless he’s traded or retires). The 11.5 million per year for those 5? years is his salary and NOT the cap hit. I hope that makes sense.

Phil Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
@MikeL For what seems like the hundredth time on this blog let me explain again: the $11.5M/yr only matters to AEG. In terms of building a Stanley Cup championship team, the only number that matters is $6M/yr – his cap hit.

@Number 6 Think whatever you like, but your “instincts” do not change the facts: according to the current CBA between the NHL and the NHLPA, cap hit is defined as contract total divided by contract term, plain and simple.

@luc20rules I’ll say it again: the amount paid out in each year is relevant only to AEG and Kovalchuk. To fans wanting to see the Kings hoist the Stanley Cup, the only number that matters is the cap hit – $6M/yr. Which makes it crystal clear that this was a case of putting business way ahead of winning. As a Kings fan, I don’t like when I see that – especially when the opportunity to acquire a top-10 NHL player at a cap hit that would still allow the Kings the cap space to retain their core of youth is lost.

Naturallawyer Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:23 am
@Phil, I agree. The cap hit would’ve been fine and the Kings could’ve put together a contending team for the foreseeable future. But AEG apparently thinks the investment isn’t worth it. I’ll take that into account when I’m deciding whether to invest in Kings tickets. I’d urge you all to do the same.

King John Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:48 am
IF THE CONTRACT TO PLAY FOR NEW JERSEY IS TO BE REALISTIC, IT SHOULD BE FOR NO MORE THAN 12 YEARS.

IF KOVALCHUK STILL WANTS AT LEAST $100 MILLION, THEN THEIR $102,000,000 DIVIDED BY 12 WOULD BE A CAP HIT OF 8,500,000! WOULD THEY BE WILLING TO DO THAT? I DOUBT IT.

THE LEAGUE NEEDS TO STEP IN AND VOID THE CONTRACT. 17 YEARS IS RIDICULOUS. IT WAS ONLY DONE TO LOWER THE CAP TO 6 MILLION/YR.

[Reply]
Bingram Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
@wavesinair,

Another feature of the contract structure the $11+M for years three though seven make the contract unmovable. Even with a $5.9M cap it, I believe the extra $5M out of pocket to assume the contract would be untenable to most organizations.

I would like to have seen the Kings strike a deal, but not at the terms of the contract the Devils signed with Kovi.

Go Kings Go!

[Reply]
ike Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
@wavesinair, do you base your car purchases solely by monthly payments?

[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:32 am
@wavesinair,

Waves, I know your are (or were) a Kovi guy but your a little out of context here.

..”first two years”, sure, so they can keep a semblance of a team together. After that, it will be what ever happened to the Devils, remember when they suited up winning teams year after year? They’ll become Islanders II.

Of course Lou will be long gone by then and we will still be watching a maturing and ever improving Kings Team!

Hear that DL? Good (non)move. Worth the try, worth the pass.

[Reply]
gene says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:16 pm

Then why the H did the kings and DL waste three weeks and allow all the other top UFA to go to other teams? What a joke this has turned out to be. Thanks DL for another screw up on your part.

[Reply]
Steve McQueen Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
@gene, it wasn’t a screw up pal, not even close. A screw up would have been caving into Grossmans’ demands only to find out that we can’t pay Doughty or say Schenn because we blew our cap wad on one guy. But I’m sure you would have pointed that out too.

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
@Steve McQueen, Uh, yeah, 6 mil is really blowing our wad. Whew! Glad we didn’t get caught up in that. Hell, Kopitar has a cap hit of 6.8 mil. His agent must be Grossman. Gotta get rid of Kopi now if we want to pay Doughty. Wait, if we pay Doughty the big bucks then that will be caving also. Yeah, let’s grind DD in arbitration and get him for a “reasonable” amount so he doesn’t screw us down the road.

Man, no wonder us Kings fans are the laughing stalk of the NHL.

[Reply]
King John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
@wavesinair,

laughing stalk—that is funny!

wavesinair Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
ahh, yes, stock…kinda close, right? (sort of the same thing too!) stock/stalk

ringo Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:13 am
@wavesinair,bottom line is he was about the money nothing else, we dont need that type of personality on this team, we worked too damn hard on drafts and what not to screw up the core. is kovi a good player, yes could he help the team, yes, but it would be stupid to put all your eggs in one basket. one player does not win the cup. now lets all put on our big people shoes and get over it. we are the la kings we have a good team and there will be a trade comming up, trust me, i know these things ..iam sicillian!! if he would rather go to jersey then la hes got to have a screw loose anyway. and hows this for a second line, simmonds..schenn..and brownie yea we will be fine..

USHA#17 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:39 am
@wavesinair,

If you gonna cry over a lost love at least cry about a man who cared about you.

As I said on your blog upon seeing the “personal” IK, his wife and his agent; gruesome.

gen Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:04 pm
@Steve McQueen, you are out in never never land. If KOVI was determined to sign for at least 100 million, then why the hell did we waste 3 weeks trying to sign him for 80,000,000? It was a joke and we did waste 3 weeks and now we pay for it. Take that to the bank STeve. Get real and realize DL hasnt a clue.

[Reply]
Steve McQueen Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
@gen, I’m glad you’re here to point this out to all of us. And just how are we paying for it? This guy wasn’t going to win us the cup single handedly. He would have been a nice piece, but by no means is he worth 100 mil plus that NJ will be shelling out over the next 17 years. Sometime you need to look at the big picture Gene, because in the cap era , one bad contract can effect your team for years to come.

gene Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
@gen, Man you need to get the point. I am not talking about the amount of money NJ gave him. That I agree with is stupid. OK? What I disagree with is why did we waste thre weeks knowing we could not sign him for 80,000,000 if he wasnt going to sign for less the 100,00,000. The point being we wasted three weeks knwoing we could not sign him. Get It?

BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
@gen,

Actually, I think KoveeBabee was aiming for 115 million, or 11.5 mil/ten years. Don’t forget, he turned down 100/10 at Atlanta!

But he was foiled by the market. The market was 80/15 until NJ jumped in at the last minute and OVERPAID. KoveeBabee is worth whatever the market will bear, and it bore 102/17.

For all of you who don’t drive a Lexus or Jaguar or BMW or other luxury wheels (I don’t), if someone offered you a deal where you could have one, only if you paid >50% of your net take-home pay every month, would you buy one? Perhaps some of you would; I wouldn’t, because that is fiscally irresponsible.

There is a place where one has to make a judgement and bear that choice’s responsibility. Sweet Lou over at NJ made his choice. Will all of you who think the Kings pinched their pennies too tightly blame Sweet Lou and call for his job if NJ doesn’t win the Cup next year?
FUKIFUJI says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:17 pm

I just threw up in my mouth. Disgusting figures. Good luck with that contract, NJ.

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
@FUKIFUJI, I just threw up all over the floor… Give me .1 million and I would be over the moon…

[Reply]
Naturallawyer Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:26 am
@FUKIFUJI, let’s see how much AEG will make this year, and save by not paying up to the Kings’ salary cap. Uncle Phil’s numbers probably won’t make you feel any better. For every penny you think Kovy doesn’t deserve, how many million do you think Phil Anschutz doesn’t deserve?

[Reply]
Haleyyy says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:18 pm

He’s obviously just a greedy bastard. I’m glad he didn’t come to L.A.

[Reply]
Harry Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
@Haleyyy, Ilya is a BLYAT!

[Reply]
broncokings Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
@Harry, ok whats a BLYAT, I can never figure that crap out…

[Reply]
broncokings Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
@Haleyyy, EXACTLY,don’t need that in the locker room

[Reply]
Deke'r Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
@Haleyyy, One more greedy bastard in LA wouldn’t have even been noticed!

[Reply]
Josh e. says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:19 pm

These types of contracts should not be allowed in the NHL…they should have to pay even if he retires and have the cap hit count against them until he is 44

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
@Josh e.,

They might throw it in the next CBA that if a player retires, at ANY year into his contract, that at least a portion of the cap hit stays on the books.

Hopefully, they also put in like an AHL salary cap, so that you can’t bury a contract like that in the minors (like what people think Chicago might do with Huet or Campbell).

[Reply]
King_Stoner says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:19 pm

re-dick-ulous!!!!

[Reply]
Dayman says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:19 pm

enought already Rich. Get back to your vacation

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
@Dayman,

LMAO, I love the anger with which people chastise Rich for updating us.

Rich you bum! Stop with the blog posts! Jerk.

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
@Lanny McDonald’s ‘Stache,

Exactly. Meanwhile, Rich is kicking back on a tropical beach somewhere, drink in one hand, mouse in the other, laughing his a** off.

[Reply]
Dayman Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
@Lanny McDonald’s ‘Stache, i wasn’t chastising him. the guy hasn’t had a vacation in a probably a year

[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:02 pm
@Dayman,

I read his post as … you’ve spent enough time on your vacation writing on a dead story, enjoy your vacation. No bashing what so ever.

[Reply]
Kevin Y says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:20 pm

Yeah, when you look at that, it’s bizarre… Don’t feel the Kings were ever taking Kovy seriously. Not with numbers like that. Sad, a missed opportunity for sure, but Kovy took the right offer for him and his family.

[Reply]
notposimatt Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
@Kevin Y,
Cause I couldn’t live off 85 mil over 15 years good thing he chose the right thing for his family just sayyyin I wanna see how this all works out I’m glad we didn’t pay that

[Reply]
NoBiggie says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:20 pm

that will help pay for the guy who will be shoveling the snow off his driveway and from the front of the house. stupid money

[Reply]
otto ped says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:21 pm

Contracts like that should not even be legal. Where does it end

[Reply]
Kevin Y says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:21 pm

Yeah, when you look at that, it’s bizarre… I get the feeling the Kings never took Kovalchuk seriously. Not with numbers like that.

Sad, a missed opportunity for sure, but Kovy surely took the right offer for him and his family. Can’t get mad at the player when the offers are so drastically on different levels.

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Sorry for the double post. The first one came from my phone, and said “error”, so I got out of bed and went to my computer.

[Reply]
Rob Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
@Kevin Y,

Rollin out of bed at 4:32??? LOL. Hard working hockey town!!!

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:07 am
@Rob,

HAHA Yeah…

No, I’ve been sick and dizzy all week. Heat exhaustion (it’s not because of Kovalchuk).

I work in a grocery store. Most of my job is pushing carts in. Doing that for three hours straight… and I have to wear a tie, you could bet I had some bad reactions to the heat.
kngsfn77 says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:22 pm

Rich,

Any idea why we heard so much more about the Kings being ‘in it’ in regards to woo’ing him, and him coming back to us twice, and heard very little to nothing about Jerseys side of it? I know they keep things pretty hush hush there, but it really seemed as if he was headed here based on coming back to us 2 xs and stating that he WANTED to play here. It will all work out in the end, and ias much as was really hoping he’d come here, he is NOT worth 11.5 a yr. He’s good, but not THAT good. How many 100pt seasons? Trophys? Cups? Playoff wins? Ect. Thanks again Rich….GO KINGS GO…..GO KINGS GO

[Reply]
puckbandit Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
@kngsfn77,

I don’t recall Kovy ever stating where he did or did not want to play. All that talk was speculation from “sources” Kovy & Grossman were both quiet on that.

If fact, if I recall, even the players that talked about the visit mentioned that Kovy “wanted to win” not that he wanted CA.

[Reply]
bruin18 says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:23 pm

If these were the numbers and were probably so from the beginning then we needed to look elsewhere quickly like to Gagne. Unless DL has a deal with Tampa in the works for Gagne we missed a big opportunity to add a top 6 forward.

[Reply]
Masked Man Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
@bruin18,

I wanted Gagne over Kovalchuk ever since this debacle started. It makes more sense financially. Now they realize they cant pay Kovalchuk what he wants and we lose the ability to trade for Gagne. What did the Flyers get in return? practically nothing. Stupid move Flyers and Kings.

[Reply]
Harry Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
@Masked Man,

Gagne over Kovi? Gotta be kidding right? Gagne is older, and coming off several injuries…

Gagne – last option

but too late now…we may look at Sharp, or Lee, Fro

[Reply]
fourtunato Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
@Masked Man,

Gagne had a no trade clause except to Tampa. We were not getting him. End of story.

[Reply]
vahe says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:23 pm

If it comes to real dollars, AEG is one of the richest owners in league, why can’t they afford that?

[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
@vahe,

THERE IS A HARD SALARY CAP IN THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE.

[Reply]
Vahe Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
@number 6, I aware that the Kings will have $28 million available in Hard Cap Space in 2 yrs. Current cap space = $16.643
Off the books in 2011:

Handzus = 4 million
Williams = 3.5 million
Ersberg = 750k
Mcauley’s Buyout = 667k

2012:

Smyth = 6.25 million
Stoll = 3.6 million

Thats 35 million in cap space..

I think the Kings could afford to keep the young core with that amt of cap space

[Reply]
Sarkis Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
@Vahe, that’s a similar point that I have been making, people forget that there are players that we won;t resign that have big cap hits right now. Although, I would probably want to keep Handzus. But I don’t blame DL for any of it.
Bonvivant1 says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:24 pm

A front loaded contract. I guess the prospect of playing for the Kings is not good enough for Kovalchuk. When you come from a country where the majority of of the population subsists money is all that matters. Now Kolvachuk can call himself one of the richest Russians outside of Russia and he;s not even and industrialist. Wow!!! Where we go from here is anybody’s guess. DL tried to get it done but in the end we could not get it done. Apparently Lombardi has enough faith in his process and the development of the youngsters that he would not touch the offer that the Devils put on the table. Let’s hope one of our prospects turns out to be half the player Kovalchuk is. I look at Stamkos, Tavares, Crosby, Malkin, and shake my head in dismay. I truly believe that we have a strong supporting cast and with the addition of a game breaker we could have gone the distance. Looks like the rebuilding process will continue and patience is indeed a virtue with this organization.

[Reply]
guuny Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
@Bonvivant1, seriously? I mean really?
apparently all NFL holdouts come from Russia
and apparently its ok to be the guy paying millions of dollars to be rich but not the guy getting the millions. The guys seems to be a egomaniacal moneygrabber but then again I dare any of us to walk away from that kind of money.

I still think hes not worth the money. as good as he is, he is not a star. Incredible hockey player but not the human highlight reel that the typical “LA” fan wants to see.

[Reply]
borracho says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:24 pm

Fire Lombardi!!

[Reply]
Jack the Lad Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
@borracho,

Have another cerveza.

[Reply]
lv is the way Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
@borracho, That is what my wife said. fire Lombardi, but you really can’t blame him, greed got in the way. I guess it’s all about money. If you offer me 15 years 80 million or whatever offer it was, i would not even think twice… I would ask where do i sign.. But i guess it’s onto plan B or c or whatever..

[Reply]
jet Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
@borracho, Yeah, Calgary would love that.

[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
@borracho, You wanted to pay this guy more than Ovechkin, Crosby, etc as the 15th best forward in the league? The difference in the deals was years 9 & 10 when Kovi is 36 & 37 still getting the 8.5 & 6.5 does that sound right?

[Reply]
lv4la says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:25 pm

I’m glad we didn’t fork out all that money. Yeah, he is a good player but it seems a risky move to me. One well placed hit by an opponent(Ovechkin) and then what will Jersey do?

I still say 3 players who can score 20 goals a season for the same kind of money gives us more goals in the end and more time on the ice during the game. And if one is injured, there are still 2 more able to play. If it all came down to just one player it wouldn’t be a team sport.

Good for you Dean.

Enjoy your vacation Rich. Just got back from the Kings cruise…had a blast.

[Reply]
Mark1967 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
@lv4la,

I can remember another GM who years ago used your arguement to not resign his 30+ year old “Superstar” and said he could replace him with two or three 10 game winning pitchers, one being Bruce Kison…. The pitcher Nolan Ryan and he pitched and made history for another 10+ years… Some times it is not that simple…

[Reply]
lv4la Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
@Mark1967, And since we can’t predict the future we make a decision and hope for the best. Sometimes it works in our favor and sometimes it doesn’t. Only time will tell if Jersey made a smart move or if the Kings did.

Baseball is not the contact sport that hockey is and pitchers are not the same as hockey forwards. I understand what you’re trying to say but its like comparing apples to oranges. They are two different kinds of fruit/sports.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
@Mark1967,

This ain’t baseball. Kovalchuk won’t get to stand 90 feet away from the goaltender & fire the puck…not even for $11.5M a season!

[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
@lv4la, Glad ta see that SC education is paying off. without quesstion your take reeks of sobriety and common sense, I’m proud of you !

[Reply]
Kevin Y says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:25 pm

One more important thing: say we lose one of our key RFAs next year… it would be on offer sheet, and at the least we’d get draft pick compensation, right?

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
@Kevin Y, Yup, it depends on a number of factors, but for a good RFA we would get a 1st and a 3rd pick.

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
@VanKingsFan,

I posted the breakdown on an earlier post here…

For Simmonds, it’d probably be something like that. For Johnson, maybe a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

[Reply]
nykingfan Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
@Kevin Y,

We better not lose any of our key rfa’s.
We didn’t sign IK because we didn’t want to leave ourselves vulnerable to crazy offer sheet. We have plenty of cap space to be able to lock up our key rfa’s. If not, I would have to question management’s commitment to winning.

[Reply]
kyle says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:25 pm

Nor should the Kings have been in that ballpark. Enough of the “OMG we need this one critical missing piece of the puzzle who will bring the Cup to LA, stop global warming and give Rich a real (well deserved) vacation” whining. Kovalchuk wanted a deal that DL should not make. If New Jersey wants to go that way, good for them, and we’ll see if they made a good call for the franchise over the next few years.

[Reply]
stagger Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
@kyle,

This^^

[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
@stagger,

+1

[Reply]
guuny Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
@xeropoint, i concur with the +1

Danielle Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
@kyle,

Thank you.

[Reply]
Bonvivant1 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:45 am
@kyle, New Jeresey has won three cups, is a perennial playoff team and they just played us like a Randy Newman song.

[Reply]
lovela says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:26 pm

Let’s just screw the ducks and take bobby Ryan that sounds like fun

[Reply]
kings fan in dallas says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:27 pm

Good luck with that contract ! Glad we didnt match that…the only thing that makes us look like we have egg in our faces is….i dont think he even thought about coming here…he just wanted jersey to feel like it..looks to me like the kings were just used to make new jersey give in….we were played

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
@kings fan in dallas,

I don’t know if that’s necessarily true… I mean, I don’t have any evidence to back up my claim, but I think Kovalchuk definitely had to consider LA as a very attractive destination.

Unfortunately, that extra 20 million dollars called his name and he took the largest offer presented. Suffice to say, Kovy was looking for the cash grab, and he got it. Like others have said, it’s not our fault that another team was willing to put forth an INCREDIBLY risky 100MM + contract.

If Kovalchuk gets driven into the boards by Dustin Brown in late October and IK’s groin does the Nutcracker Waltz (Russian composer reference!!!) then NJD will be in a world of hurt…

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:05 pm
@Lanny McDonald’s ‘Stache,

GOD I hope that happens! I never want people to get hurt…but greedy m’fers!

[Reply]
Mike says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:27 pm

Just another disappointment in Kings-land. Nobody wants to play here. The perception, anyway, is that we have lousy ownership and don’t care about winning. And things like this (along with our past free agent foray failures, both those who we did sign and those who elected to go elsewhere) just make the perception keep perpetuating itself. We’ll never get a Cup at this rate. Sigh.

[Reply]
A Little Confused says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:28 pm

So for those of us who don’t know, A) Does his cap hit stay on the NJ’s books for the entire term of the contract regardless of whether he retires and B) Is the whole contract guaranteed, regardless of whether he retires?

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
@A Little Confused,

Unfortunately, IK can retire after the front loaded portion of his contract, and the last few seasons where he gets paid peanuts just disappears while Kovy laughs all the way to the Kremlin.

[Reply]
5holer Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
@A Little Confused, It comes off only if he retires. This means in lawyer speak the contract is retired, cuputzky, gone, done, dead! They are not really talking about Kovy, the asset retiring here. Everyone knows he won’t be playing after say age 36 or so, when the pay out is miniscule. And not laughing all the way to the Kremlin, but all the way to the KHL to play with Ziggy and his friends! Who cares, you have to deal with the Cap, so you do what you have to do to deal with it. Those are the CBA rules, so you either play by them or go home and don’t play anymore! Mommy, mommy the Kings are going home again!

[Reply]
Paul From Oxnard says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:31 pm

Is there really anything more to say? Other then go enjoy your vacation Rich!

[Reply]
Kevin Y says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:31 pm

Just realized something: Kovy wanted 10-yr/$100M, right?

As it turns out, what NJ gave him: $95M in his first 10 years (and $7M over the next 7 years)

First of all, those extra, pointless years brings the cap down from $9.5M to $6M. Dropping the cap $3.5M? Clear circumvention of the cap, but the league isn’t going to do anything about it.

In the end, Kovalchuk basically got what he wanted, and there doesn’t appear to be any reason why LA couldn’t have given him the same thing.

[Reply]
King John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
@Kevin Y,

That’s what I see too (regarding the numbers for N.J.). But L.A. couldn’t nor shouldn’t have given the same numbers. It’s ludicrous.

[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
@Kevin Y,
That’s almost 10 million a year. How do you sign Doughty, JJ and then if Bernier ends up being exceptional and you want to keep him too? And of course Simmonds deserves a good contract.
How many 10million dollar players are out there? Ovechkin?

[Reply]
Whodawat Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
@number 6, you REALLY don’t get it do you?

CAP HIT is $6m

SALARY PAID varies through the life of the contract.

In the sense that most Kings’ fans are speaking, it DOESN’T MATTER what his yearly salary is. Whether he gets paid 10m in a given year or 5m, IT DOESN’T MATTER. ALL THAT MATTERS IS THE TOTAL CAP HIT.

CAP HIT is what will or will not prevent a team from resigning younger players.

[Reply]
Daniel Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
@Whodawat, It does matter that he get’s $11.5/yr from 2012 – 2017 because that is what the agents will be pointing during negotiations. “Player X’s stats are the same as a guy who makes $11 million a year. That what the market dictates!” Queue next ridiculous 25-year, $150 mil deal. #CAPHITis$6m

Danielel Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
@Whodawat,

That’s just it – “in the sense Kings’ fans are speaking” does not matter to the people who have to write the checks. We, as fans, have the luxury of looking just at the cap and playing with numbers that we think are reasonable. Lombardi and his management team have to look at the real numbers – revenues vs costs – and try to make them work within a budget that makes sense for the team.

As I said elsewhere, thank goodness the fans aren’t running this team. It would have been bankrupt long ago…

John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
@Whodawat,

OH it does matter when he’s making $2.5M a season IN REAL DOLLARS more then Crosby & Ovechin! How does that look to Doughty, Schenn, Bernier & the like?!

He is NOT the best player in hockey, not even close!

jet Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
@Whodawat, IT DOES MATTER. Well, I guess if you have seats that you do not want to double in price.

USHA#17 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:49 am
@Kevin Y,

I think Quisp pointed out that the concept is Kovi will/might retire prior to the end of the contract (if he retires the remaining years drop off the cap entirely).

Years 3-5 are three reasons LA didn’t and shouldn’t have done it. Do you really want to see the Kings pull off a Chicago and lose the core of the team in 3 years?

Personally I think this is a disaster for hockey and a shame as DL and LL had the guy in a corner and LL let him go.

[Reply]
Sydor25 says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:31 pm

AEG and Lieweekly are a joke. The Kings have just passed the Clippers as the worst franchise. Lieweekly was trying to act like it was all about the cap hit and not the cash. How does a $6 million cap hit prevent the Kings from signing their kids? It doesn’t, it was always about the cash.

I can’t believe that Dean doesn’t see that he won’t be around for Doughty and Kopitar’s prime years without improving the NHL roster. It’s not about having the best prospects and cap space.

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
@Sydor25,

The Kings have eclipsed the Clippers as the worst franchise… right… that’s why we finished with 100+ points and at one time led our playoff series 2-1…

Get real dude

[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
@Sydor25,

Dude I thought you just retired?

[Reply]
Jesse Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
@Sydor25, are you serious? The Kings are as bad as the Clippers? obviously you know nothing about basketball or for that matter hockey either. The Kings had 101 points and made the playoffs, the Clippers had under 30 wins and missed the playoffs AGAIN. While I am disappointed that IK stayed in New Jersey, the Kings are going aabout this the right way. Look, I have been a Kings fan since 1969 adn have seen some players with names today’s Kings fan probably never heard of and have wanted the Kings to build the franchise this way for years. DL is going about this the right way and if it takes another year, then give the kids a chance to play. Many fans were crying that we did not have quality draft picks because they were always traded away. Keep the picks, let the kids develop, plug in holes with the kids on the farm and if someone does not want to come here–THEN THE HELL WITH THEM. DO I want to win the cup–YES, but not the way Chicago did it and then have to dismantle the team RIGHT after winning the Cup. NO WAY. SO to put it succintly—the CLippers should not even be in this conversation. GKG.

[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
@Sydor25, Why you proudly use Sids name as your monikor is beyond me. Sid was one of the most overhyped and overrated prospects we ever drafted. Just remember this, Jim Rome used to call the Kings defense the escort service because they used to give up 40 to 60 shots a game. And who were the 3 charter members of the escort service ? Charlie Huddy, Tim Watters, and of course Darryl “the tin man” Sydor. Sid used to get burnt to the outside constantly which is an embarrassment for a defenseman. Dont feel bad though, their is one guy that loves Sid as much as you…Barry Melrose..LMAO !

[Reply]
von_swine says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:31 pm

thanx but no thanx Iilya, have fun in the Garden State where you’ll be HATING life by the 3rd season,…Kings should pick up a few short term UFA’s and let the kids/draft picks continue to simmer. we’re still a playoff team,..~ T.Von Swine.

[Reply]
Daveyg8499 says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:32 pm

It’s amazing that AEG will spend $250mil for 5 years ona 31yr old stiff like David Beckham playing a sport that very few care about in the US. I understand I’m comparing apples to oranges here but the fact of the matter is they went above and beyond what they needed to do to try and create some buzz in LA by bringing this guy in. With a sport like LA that has a solid following here in LA and that would certainly grow if we got Kovalchuk, why not get creative and offer the $100mil? Lombardi and the entire front office (except for Luc) are nothing but frauds.

[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
@Daveyg8499,
I already responded to this once. I’ll say it again: 1) David Beckham’s salary was no where near that 2) There Is A Hard Cap in the NHL. There is no such thing in MLS.

[Reply]
Daveyg8499 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
@number 6, lol yes I obviously know that which is why I said this is an apples to oranges comp. but the fact of the matter is AEG did what it could to bring in someone like Beckham to generate some buzz. This is a business and in business there are plenty of ways to make things happen if you have the money (like AEG does) and if you are willing to be creative. Please don’t tell me that LA couldn’t offer something that is close to the $6mil per yr cap hit NJ is going to have.

[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
@Daveyg8499,

Also, everyone seems to play this as though… OK, DL, here is the best offer. Can you top it? That’s not the way it worked. He had to make what he thought would be his best offer and hope it worked. It didn’t. End of story.

David Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
@Daveyg8499, Once again, check your information people!!! Beckham’s contract is more about endoresment deals than about actual salary!! AEG only pays Beckham $10 mil per year for 5 years, totaling $50 mil!! The other $200 mill that is always talked about is in the form of endorsement deals that were packaged into that figure!! People need to stop using the Beckham deal with AEG as a basis to their argument with the Kings situation!!!

[Reply]
tornado12 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
@David, Thats still 10 mil per year…and IK would have gotten plenty in endorsements

[Reply]
Barry's Mullet says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:35 pm

There are only a handful of players that I would even consider front loading this type of money too….and they are all retired…well maybe AO?

Good luck NJ…only a devil would spend this kind of money on a Kovalchuk!

That could be 20% of your teams cap space spent on ONE player, depending on what the cap is in 2012-2013

People…look at these ridiculous numbers and tell me how DL could have made this work with the players we have to sign now and the ones we have to sign after them?

2010-2011 $6,000,000
2011-2012 $6,000,000
2012-2013 $11,500,000
2013-2014 $11,500,000
2014-2015 $11,500,000
2015-2016 $11,500,000
2016-2017 $11,500,000
2017-2018 $10,500,000
2018-2019 $8,500,000
2019-2020 $6,500,000
2020-2021 $3,500,000
2021-2022 $750,000
2022-2023 $550,000
2023-2024 $550,000
2024-2025 $550,000
2025-2026 $550,000
2026-2027 $550,000

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
@Barry’s Mullet, The cap hit, for every year, is 6 million dollars. That’s it. Make sense? Hell, a defenseman on chicago not named keith or seabrook has a cap hit of over 7 mil…campbell.

[Reply]
Bill M. Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
@wavesinair,

Yeah. That chicago team is insane, with all their cup winning, and their young players kept together so they can do it again…oh wait.

[Reply]
Oldman Sleepin Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
@wavesinair,

Doesn’t this contract structure just look like an 11 year deal? Nobody is really exepcting Kovi to come play in 2021 for 750k right? The league really needs to look into doing something about these type of deals (hossa, pronger ect). I mean why didn’t we just offer a 20 year deal what is the difference when he retires at 38 and head back to russia? Oh yeah the cap. I’m guess I’m glad we didn’t get him beacuse I like our chemisty now and that is too much money for 1 guy. We still have a good young team here. Go Kings.

[Reply]
rick Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
@Barry’s Mullet, I agree that the numbers are a bit obscene, but didn’t Lieweke say this was only about the cap, not the cash? If I understand all this correctly, the cap hit for Kovalchuk with what he got is “only” about $650,000 per year more than what we were offering. That seems very doable.

[Reply]
Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
@Barry’s Mullet,

Cause each year the cap hit is the same 6 million. That’s the money he earns, but not the cap hit

[Reply]
Axel Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
@Barry’s Mullet,

The Kings offer of 15 years $80 million would’ve been a very similar breakdown. The spike in the 2012-2013 season is of course due to the potential lockout and Kovi wanted to make sure he got paid during that time.

As sickening as these contracts are, you can’t fault Kovi for getting his payday, you can’t fault the Devils for finding clever ways to circumvent the salary cap…the only ones at fault here are CBA for allowing such foolish contracts to be made. They should have put the kibosh on these types of contracts after the Hossa debacle from last year. Frankly though, these are the types of deals you have to make right now to be competitive and Kings management were simply too afraid to pull the trigger.

I can count all the 50 goal scorers in the league one hand, and one of them could have instantly made our team a Stanley Cup contender.

And this whole argument about having enough money to resign our core long term…well teams like the Detroit Red Wings manage to do it, because they surround their core with the type of game changer type players that make the youth want to stick around even if it means taking a pay cut. With the way the Kings are shaping up for next year, what incentive do Doughty, Simmonds, and JJ have to stick around. If management isn’t committed to winning, they might as well go to a team that is…

[Reply]
guuny Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
@Barry’s Mullet, Isnt it amazing how by 2021 ovechkin will have averaged $9.53 mil and kovalchuk will avg $9.6 mil
there is the guys motivation

[Reply]
Barrie G says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:36 pm

Don’t worry, our kids are still learning how to get in shape and lose baby fat!

Dude, DL uses that tidbit in every flippin’ interview now. Laughable.

[Reply]
andrew says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:37 pm

If the Kings weren’t even in the same ballpark, perhaps it’s time for AEG to go find another field.

[Reply]
carol vadnais says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:37 pm

Everyone is aghast at the numbers, but is it smart to pay Kovy the amounts above, or f. modin 3.5 million or frolov 4 million or a slow-as-molasses r. smythe 6.2 million?

whom would you rather have right now: Kovalchuk or Ryan Smythe? ‘Cause they are going to make the same amount next year.

And by the time Kovy makes 11.5, maybe you have won a cup or he is a tradable asset, right?

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
@carol vadnais,

Ryan “Smythe” division!

[Reply]
stagger Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
@carol vadnais,

First of all, who’s Ryan Smythe?

Second, how in the world would someone become a trade-able asset when their salary is the highest?

Sheesh.

[Reply]
Barry's Mullet Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
@carol vadnais,

First off….signing Kovi guarantees you NOTHING! We had the greatest player in the world for 8 years and got the finals ONCE….nothing is a given!

Secondly…if I remember correctly, everyone was happy with DL trading for Smyth…ONE season and already buyers remorse.

Third….what happens when you have buyers remorse for ONE player who eats up 20% of your teams salary and you can’t move him for SEVENTEEN f_cking years……lmao

Last…by the time Kovi makes 11.5 and you won your cup, 2/3 of your team will have to be made up of players from Manchester and than see how happy you are paying $150 for tickets and $25 for parking, $10 for beer, so you can watch your team get smoked every night!

[Reply]
Ryan SD Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
@Barry’s Mullet, That pretty much sounds like being a Kings fan now.

[Reply]
Axel Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
@carol vadnais,

I wholeheartedly agree. There’s no reason why the Kings couldn’t have made this happen and still resign Doughty and Simmonds. Frankly, I’d let JJ go elsewhere, I’m not convinced he’s worth a pay raise.

The Kovalchuk contract wouldn’t have been the problem it would’ve been having a contract like Smyth’s on the book for another year.

I know we all want to tell ourselves that we were the smart ones not paying Kovi his blood money, but have you seen the guy? He’s a freaking stud, he’s well worth a cap hit of 5.5 mil a season.

And what a lot of people on these boards aren’t understanding is it’s about the average cap hit, not the actual dollar amount per season…

[Reply]
jet Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
@Axel, sounds like Dad pays for your tickets

[Reply]
axel Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:33 pm
@jet, I buy my own tickets and unlike you I don’t have any delusions of grandeur in regards to ticket prices, I hate to break it to you but ticket prices were gonna go up with or without Kovi. We just made the playoffs for the first time in 7 years. Not to mention that AEG has never had any problems raising ticket prices in the past when we’ve finished the previous season in 10 place.

So your attempt at a witty comment is nothing more than a FAIL.

Dave24 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:52 am
@jet, I thought it was funny.

John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
@carol vadnais,

Smyth because he clearly has the heart & soul of a champion, Kovalchuk? Not so much. Who would you rather have around the kids, is a better question!

[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
@John, Certainly not that perverted looking agent of Ilya’s. Keep him in NJ and hide the children

[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:13 pm
@carol vadnais,

Good thought but problem is the $11M. Too much for too long. Not tradable.

And might be struck with a white elephant that disrupted the rebuild and who few wish to play with.

Then again might win a cup…then…the the team implodes and you have the “old kings” to watch for a another couple of decades.

[Reply]
UglyinLA says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:37 pm

Looks like we can afford him in year 11 when his salary drops to $750K. Circle that date on your calender everyone.

[Reply]
Sam says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:40 pm

Good to know that we were used as a tool to make the Devils fork up some major cash for Kovie.. I mean.. a flight to Los Angeles yet, we weren’t even in the same ballpark as the Devils.. IK used us to make it seem he was gonna come here so the NJD can panic and up their offer..

[Reply]
kings fan in dallas Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
@Sam, yep….we were used

[Reply]
edwood2 says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:42 pm

Anyone notice how many old players the Devils have? Sure, he might bring them a cup in the next couple of years, but after that, it will be like being in Atlanta again (only with money)! Can’t wait for the fan reception when he comes to Staples!

[Reply]
hipcheck Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:29 pm
@edwood2, Brodeurs best years are long gone…his numbers in the playoffs were worse the Quicks.

[Reply]
Capt Jam Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
@hipcheck,

Agreed. The real cost of that deal to NJ will be felt the day Brodeur finally gets shelved and Lou realizes that he shelled out $100 MM for a one-way player who will prevent him from competing for the services of players that can actually make NJ a legitimate contender. I expect that this will ultimately cost Lou his job and his legacy.

[Reply]
KNGFAN004 says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:44 pm

WHO CARES LETS MOVE ON!

[Reply]
Ryno86 says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:45 pm

Ok, guys… lets really take a look at this. Brownie, Kopi, Simmonds, Johnson, Doughty and Bernier coming up next year…. At what point do you jeopardize your ability to sign any and all of these players? Would you really do that for Kovalchuk?

Ok, so 40-50 goals a year is nice and all, but when you look at what Kovalchuk has done in the post-season (you don’t have to look far, or hard for that matter) he isn’t the impact player people think he is.

Does he have heart, yeah. Can he score, absolutely, but for my money, he isn’t worth one Doughty, Kopi, Brownie, Johnson, Simmonds or Bernier.

This young team is getting better. Ask yourself this: There was a team last year that made a splash by signing an oft cursed UFA to a long term, ridiculous contract. Said team did win the Stanley Cup, however now, they are minus the real impact players, Versteeg, Byfuglien, and may lose their Cup winning goalie.

One cup isn’t worth that. These players need to improve, and they have shown they can. At that point, when they are truly close, then it’s time to bring in a sniper that actually can make an impact.

Oh, and DL, make a play for Crosby in 4 years, after the Penguins waste his talent by signing useless fillers at wing.

The Kids will be alright: GO KINGS GO

[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
@Ryno86,

While I whole heartedly agree with your sentiment, Kopitar and Brown are signed for 6 more and 4 more years, respectively.

[Reply]
Clyde says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:45 pm

17 years!!!!!!!!! NJ you can have him for 17yrs. He maybe good now but I think 17yrs from now? That is rediculous, I’m glad DL did not go for a contract. I don’t know if signing a top 6 player is a must now. I say go with the kids and see where they take us next year.

[Reply]
rick Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
@Clyde, We offered 15 years!! Their offer offends you, but ours doesn’t???

[Reply]
kings fan in dallas Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
@rick, both offend me…glad new jersey got stuck…doesnt anyone remember…the islanders Rick DiPietro to a 15-year contract ??? ask them how they feel about it now

[Reply]
Michael_DD8 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
@rick,

It doesn’t offend me cause we can afford it.

[Reply]
Steveag says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:45 pm

The Kings got played. They gave him four days to get a better deal from NJ.

[Reply]
Scaught says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:46 pm

Bernier’s gonna lead ‘em instead. Let’s win the damn Cup and tell Kovalchuk to kiss our ass.

[Reply]
Datacloud says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:47 pm

Does anything about that contract seem in any way reasonable? That scrap of turd-wiped garbage should be shredded. I’m no CBA expert, but that kind of thing should be straight up outlawed. Does anybody really think IK is going to lace ‘em up at 43? It’s an abomination, a travesty, and a mockery of the system, and I’m glad DL had absolutely nothing to do with such a thing. But hey, I guess it’s legal, right? So do anything possible, including mortgage your future, to sign one guy who’s now going to be a desperate man on a desperate team 4-5 years down the road. It’s pathetic. We are so much better off now that I’ve seen the numbers. If you can’t see that, I’m sorry. I know there are probably a lot of minors on this board who make up quite a sizeable population of those who are bewailing the situation, but give yourself a few years and some patience and you’ll see that what the Kings did was the right thing for our team long term.

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
@Datacloud,

Ok. So you didn’t like the 17 year deal.

Do you like the 15 year deal the Kings offered? Is that an abomination too?

Curious.

[Reply]
Datacloud Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
@wavesinair, I seem to remember the final years of the deal being at around 2M. Maybe I’m wrong. It’d be nice to have a side by side comparison. It’s the disparity in the numbers that grab me. $11.5 to league minimum? It’s just ridiculous. I’m having trouble reconciling conscience with business, that’s all, and I’m generally appalled that somebody would pay him 11.5M a season and not bat an eye at it. I KNOW it’s the cap hit that counts in the big picture, but that money for a player of his caliber is nuts.

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
@Datacloud,

LOL, we tried to do the same thing… our term was 15 years, only 2 years less. It’s just the reality of the current CBA. This was all about the cash, plain and simple.

[Reply]
rick Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
@Lanny McDonald’s ‘Stache, Absolutely agree with you. It was about the money all along. The cap hit is not that different, contract lengths are very close. New Jersey management was willing to pay him the money he wanted, we weren’t. Time will tell who made the right call, but let’s be honest about what happened here.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
@rick,

I beg to differ! At 41, I feel nothing like I did at 39 ; P

Cry Baby Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
@Datacloud, Finally a sensible post…

[Reply]
kq949 says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:52 pm

What part of HARD CAP is not understandable here people! Freakin’ A!!! Look it up!!!

[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
@kq949,

Except for the part where he makes 22M more (overall) than we offered, yeah, I agree with you.

I believe he signed due to that fact alone, much less the difference in our cap hit compared to what NJ gave him.

It really seemed like he had the whole 10 year- 100M (even though he didn’t get exactly that) figure in mind the whole time.

[Reply]
Barry says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:53 pm

Yet another front line player the Kings were not able to sing….and while they were in limbo they didn’t sign any other free agents of note either. A double wipe out. Now they need to look at trades to bring in players, meaning players will also be leaving if this, the only route remaining, is chosen. Deja vu. If only the push to re-sign season ticket holders could be matched with the effort to sign front line players. Don’t blame it on the travel schedule…..front office problem. Out of town owners. Think deep down they’re all Avalance fans.

[Reply]
Bingram Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
@Barry,

Actually it looks like the Kings were played for fools. The Devils improved their current roster ‘during the Kovi negotiations’.

I’m just saying.

Go Kings go!

[Reply]
Dayman says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:54 pm

has anyone seen that the league approved this? or does that not even matter?

[Reply]
tbone says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:55 pm

Exactly! Lets talk about some available players who can score. Lets move on! Who is available??

[Reply]
Joe Dirt Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
@tbone,

Um…. noone. It’s either Fro, Afinogenov or Stempniak or the Flyers dumpster. Take your pick.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
@Joe Dirt,

So because we did not sign Kovalchuk, the NHL has restricted us from trading? Damn, that sucks

[Reply]
IceGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
@tbone,
While Dean was at hockey management school learning how to negotiate, (UFA 101) the world moved on. It is no longer a question of who is available, but rather who are you going to give up.

What I’m afraid of is that Lombardi hasn’t taken “Trade Negotiations 102″ either.

[Reply]
Nitorhockey says:

July 19, 2010 at 4:59 pm

I’m glad it’s over and Kovi isn’t a King. I don’t think we were used as a tool. I think he was serious about coming and it was New Jersey who panicked and threw that ridiculous offer at him! If that’s what he wanted all along, DL wouldn’t have played the game as long as he did. NJ has their own version of a Luongo contract. How the hell do you even trade a guy who gets 11.5 mil a year? I think DL was smart not to bite at the end. NJ saw that shiny new car, and now has to figure out how to afford the payments! I guess if they sell the house, cancel their cell phone, eat nothing but Top Ramen and live out of that car, they can afford it. Kovi wouldn’t have brought us a cup any more than Gretzky did. And we’d probably go right back to our old ways of sending away our youth, and being left with 30 somethings who’s best days are behind them. I’m willing to see what we get on the trade market and watch this season before I decide whether DL is a hero, or a goat.

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
@Nitorhockey,

Good post.

[Reply]
Jess Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:15 pm
@Nitorhockey,
So well said. Thank you.

[Reply]
Bingram Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
@Nitorhockey,

I completely agreement. Give it time.

Go Kings go!

[Reply]
Duffy says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:00 pm

I wish I was a Sports Agent.

[Reply]
aCanopener says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:00 pm

http://bit.ly/bb2wkn good article on the kings being better without kovy

[Reply]
Thomas Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
@aCanopener,

The quote I wish some folks could get through their head here: “Breaking the bank for Kovalchuk guaranteed nothing.”

[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
@aCanopener,
Hey, thanks for posting that. I’m not tooting my own horn as I wasn’t AS convinced before today as this writer was, but I was honestly leaning very strongly that way. Result… I’m not that upset about it. It wasn’t meant to be, and I’m personally not a fan of Any athletes getting crazy money unless they are Peyton Manning, Crosby, Favre, OV, can’t think of a baseball player yet (sorry, don’t care for A Rod,… maybe Jeter_. They are people who transcend the sport.

[Reply]
Bingram Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
@aCanopener, Thanks.

Go Kings go!

[Reply]
Chuck says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:01 pm

For $102 million, forget it. Glad he signed in NJ. He can stay in Hell with the Devils, a perfect place for him. Enjoy Jersey, it’s a lovely place to live…

[Reply]
Alen Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
@Chuck, Why are Kings fans so happy when our organization fails? You guys love letting the owners and DL brainwash you. It was a 6 million cap hit which is reasonable. All the alternate number is is a number of the money they didn’t wanna spend. NOTHING to do with salary cap and keeping young players, NOTHING. Don’t you understand that? They are in NEW JERSEY and they have a winning organization that is willing to spend. Kings are in LA with potential to make so much money if they are successful yet NOBODY wants to spend. 102 million is just a damn number for an ownership who put up $250 million for David Beckham and now trying to get Ronaldinho over to MLS. Don’t you get it? Ownership doesn’t care how well this team does. Kings were a source, a way to downtown LA so they can make the real money that way. THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE TEAM and people like you just don’t understand that apparently.

[Reply]
Bingram Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
@Alen,

Just because your right about the owners of the Kings. Doesn’t mean your right about Kovi. We’ll have the answer in a couple years.

Go Kings go!

[Reply]
Chuck Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:25 am
@Alen,

Who said I was happy? I give you credit for knowing more about what’s in my mind, than I do. $102m is too much, for a 1 dimensional player (granted it’s a great 1 dimension). The cap is going to start going down, he’ll suck up 1/5th, and we’ll be stuck with 1 great player with a bunch of 3rd/4th liners. If we happen to have won the cup in that time frame, then I guess it would have been worth it. That $6 million doesn’t go off the books either, the league is going to keep these retirement contracts on teams books in the new CBA. How do you know what I understand, BTW? I’ve been a Kings fan for 36 years, I understand plenty. BTW, since you like attacking, why don’t you understand that you don’t know everything, and that you should really think your post through before you write.

[Reply]
pa33y says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:02 pm

omfg

[Reply]
KingsFan says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:04 pm

And seriously kids, if you feel like redirecting your frustration towards Rich, just don’t read the website. While you’re sitting blogging in your mommy’s basement fanning your teeny cajones all day, Rich is working his ass off on his vacation. Have some class and gratitude please. Gracias.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
@KingsFan,

AMEN.

[Reply]
stagger says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:07 pm

I have to say that while I am glad we didn’t sign Kovi to the deal that NJ did, I am bummed by the double-speak from mgt. For TL to say that “It’s not about money. . .” and then to have Dean say “There’s a money issue. . .” is frustrating.

I understand Dean’s point, and to a certain extent agree, but to have TL saying one thing and DL saying another is frustrating.

[Reply]
5thLine Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
@stagger,

That would be a great question for Rich to ask when he returns.

[Reply]
stagger Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
@5thLine,

Which brings up this question:

Will Rich actually ask a controversial question like that to his boss?

For the most part, I love the job Rich does, but I can’t help feeling that he will not ask the hard questions.

As a matter of a fact, I don’t think any hockey writer in this town would risk the alienation that may come from asking a question mgt. doesn’t want to answer.

To reiterate, Rich is doing a GREAT job. I just think he is more of a spokesperson than a reporter.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
@stagger,

But that is exactly how the main stream media operates in this country, all of them. When was the last time you heard a hard question asked of politicians?? And what they do, actually has an impact on our lives! So…
RabidHockeyFan says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:09 pm

The important question is what do we do now? We have some holes to fill if we are going to compete deep into the playoffs! Dean NEEDs to make some moves to build around the youngsters. As a STH, I want to see Dean bring something to help the core. Matter of fact, as a STH, I expect to see some additional talent to be brought in!

[Reply]
KingsFanInGA says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:19 pm

I think what a lot of people are forgetting here when the HARD CAP & 11.5 mil is mentioned is ‘How do you think the Kings ownership (AEG) will pay 1 player a frontloaded contract whether its 8 mil or 11.5 mil after the 1st two years?’ They will raise ticket prices, food, parking, concessions! Every way that $ can be made to pay 1 superstar, even if it was Kovi will be the fans that ultimately suffer!! Remember that next time you go to a Kings game.

[Reply]
Thound Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
@KingsFanInGA,

Put a consistent winner on the ICE and the fans will STILL pay. They will come.. they will spend.

Deep playoff runs pay for players like Kovalchuk.

[Reply]
jet Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
@Thound, but he has one playoff win

[Reply]
ForumFan says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:20 pm

HOW MANY 40+ GOAL SEASONS?

Kovi’s salary average 8 seasons = $10,000,000 per year (35 yo)
Kovi’s salary average 10 seasons = $9,500,00 per year (37 yo)

I’m glad we didn’t sign him and am only disappointed that DL even let him ‘think about it’ over the weekend instead of letting him use the Kings to up the ante with New Jersey.

[Reply]
Koval-suck says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:23 pm

Forget koval-SUCK. Who are we looking at. For people that are posting start posting about who the kings are looking at. Is Bobby Ryan a potential. Patrick sharps name has been thrown around.. Rich can we get some type of closure? I’m dying over here.

[Reply]
Cindy Vacek says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:28 pm

I wonder how Lou Lamoriello feels about giving Kovi $21.9 million more than he had to. To me that is just plain stupid. Dean Lombardi made it very clear from the start that he was never going to go to the $100M level.

[Reply]
Thound Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
@Cindy Vacek,

Well, considering that under Lou Lamoriello, the Devils have made the playoffs in 20 out of the last 22 seasons, including each of the last 13, while winning three cups in the process, I’d say Lou probably still feels ok.

Say what you want, but I’ll take Lamoriello’s track record over Lombardi’s any day of the week and twice on hockey nights.

[Reply]
guillermo Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
AMEN to that……i totally agree with you…..DL will never get us to the promised land….we need a PROVEN GM AND ONE WITH BALLSS

GO KINGS GO!!!

[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
@Cindy Vacek, Lou is in the Hall of Fame as a coach/GM so I am sure your comment won’t bother him. As for the Kovi thing he wasn’t negotiating verse the Kings Proposal as much as he was Kovi’s EGO (more than 10mil a yr and total over 100 mil). Kovi had stated that he wants more than Ovechkin, and for all practical purposes he got it. Lou I believe this one is a mistake, but I recognize that your reputation trumps mine. UFAs tend to get 20% more than what they are worth thats why the teams that are constantly competative convince them to sign for one year or just get vets that want a shot at the cup. With Kovi I think it was more like 30% overpriced, as for cap hit it was reasonable, but what if at the CBA they punish those with a new rule that have those contracts. Majority rules and it is a bad loophole? Can you see NJ in 2013-14 with a Kovi salary cap hit of 11.5 mil it could happen.

[Reply]
Alan Sicherman says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:30 pm

So we lose out on getting a top scorer with both kovalchuck and gagne. We lost some needed roughness on our team. Haven’t resigned doughty, Johnson, or Simmonds yet, and haven’t done anything to make the team better. How have we failed this off season to produce norhing to get the la fans more excited about next season. We need a goal scorer, another defensman and all I here is cap room for the future. This is crap and makes me disappointed in the management staff we have. This just proved my theory that lombardi doesn’t know what he’s doing and can’t get the team where it needs to be to win a cup. If I remember correctly we were ready to make ovechkin an offer if he hir the market and go after him hard. What happened to getting the players we need to win!!! The only player to score more than kovalchuck was ovie and we didn’t and haven’t done anything of substance. What a waste of an off season!!!

[Reply]
Stikman says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:31 pm

like many,I too would’ve liked to see Koval..what’s his name on the Kings team. But,now that he’s not, it’ll be real interesting to see how he’ll be received by players on other teams next season (not to mention his own). As we all know, one of the great things about the NHL is that prima donnas aren’t treated too kindly. just food for thought. Kick A@# Kings.

[Reply]
BluLiner says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:32 pm

While wallowing in my tears, I realized that Jersey got played.

The primary reason Kovi came to LA (and his agent lingered even longer) was to pressure Jersey into paying more $$$ and it worked.

Jersey clearly overpaid, by an extra TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS – noone else was close (the next closest was Kings at $80M). To Devils fans, all I can say is – ahhahahahahahah. (Not like I’m bitter or anything).

[Reply]
Carol vadnais says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:33 pm

How can Pitt afford their big paycheck players and not the kings? Why is smyth’s contract cool but kovi’a cap hot not?

Can anyone Truthfully say they’d rather not win a cup if it means losing the “core” afterward? I wanna win a cup before I die

[Reply]
5thLine Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
@Carol vadnais,

Just let the dirt shower over you….

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
@Carol vadnais,

That’s not a tough call for you? Pittsburgh/win The Cup & keep your team vs. Chicago/win The Cup & dismantle your team immediately. For me, it’s a really tough choice. But I do not believe we have to make it. If we signed Kovalchuk to the Jersey deal, it would’ve been forced on us.

We learn to love these kids, especially watching them grow, so I would HATE to blow it up after watching them hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup!

Oh & Smyth won’t be a King in 2 seasons, Kovalchuk would’ve been for 15 years thereafter. So it’s not exactly a fair question.

[Reply]
madA says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:37 pm

There is no way this ends up as a 17 year contract. This will be a 10-11 at the most. The last 6 years are a farce, but Sweet Lou is just taking advantage of a loophole.

The Devils are gonna end up paying an average salary of $9.5M for 10 years and about $9M for 11. I really don’t think IK will play after 38. Between retiring or playing a young-man’s game for less than a mil a year? He would be crazy NOT to retire.

Then once he retires, that $6M cap hit goes poof like Keiser Soze. Basically, the Devils are getting $3M of “cap relief” per year. It is a great deal for them.

But I call BULLPLOP on Leiweke saying it was more about cap than cash. If one year ago, I said that you could sign Ilya Kovalchuk for a cap hit of $6M/year, you would sign him. You could easily fit him in and sign everyone. AEG just didn’t want to pony up the cash. Oh well, it is not like I am going to get all emo and suck my thumb and bitch and complain.

[Reply]
tim says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:44 pm

f kovi!!!!

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:48 pm

…Oh, by the way:

More than 1500 posts today, in less than 9 hours.
Not that anyone really cares, right?

[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

Bako, Can You Explain Something Please. Everyone is saying that it would have been an annual cap hit of 6million dollars. Is that correct? Or would the years where he’s being paid 11.5 count for 11.5 during that given year?

[Reply]
kingfish Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
@number 6,
its 6mil cap hit per year, every year. the salary is all over the place but the cap hit stays the same. 6mil per

[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
@kingfish,
Thanks

-J Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
@number 6,

hey number 6- cap hit is calculated by taking the total of the contract and dividing it by the number of years. This is the number that is applied each year against a teams cap. The actual salary doesn’t matter with respect to the cap. So even when he is making 11.5 his cap hit is only 6 million.

Check out capgeek.com- there’s cap info for each team and you can also see the actual salaries of each player.

I think contracts like this should be voided. It completely circumvents the cap. Maybe in the future there should be a sliding cap calculation on contracts over 3 years, where the cap hit is the average of actual salary over a 3 year window prior to and following the current year, with the final year being the average of the last 3 years of the contract. That would take care of so much front-loading of contracts but still give teams some flexibility in locking up players long term.

BTW- are you on LI? I’m on the north shore. If you are, that was a nice little storm we had today, huh. ‘Bout time we had some rain.

[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
@-J,

Hey -J…. thank you soooo much. Gads, to get some information around here that is just straight and without a ‘sky is falling’ caveat attached to it is nice.

1) No, I live in Brooklyn. Greenpoint to be precise. Yeah, this weather is catching up with me. I’m American but moved here after a long time in Europe, so I’m certainly not used to it (3rd summer here… and by far the hottest)

2) Well, also the way you explained it, I couldn’t agree more. I hate to sound grumpy but I am getting so fed up with sports (all sports… but I love hockey so damned much) and all the silliness, between ‘The Decision’, IK needs to get more than AO, Mark Teixera tells Torii Hunter after the Angels offered the paltry sum of $160mil for 8yrs that he was ‘waiting for the Angels to step up’.

It’s just become absurd. I wonder how long it will be before the Yankees start making their preps to scoop in and grab Steven Strausberg? (If they haven’t already). He’s played what, a third of a season. Ooops. Hope you don’t take offense if you’re a Yankees fan I should have thought of that before.

-J Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:05 pm
@-J,

I imagine something will be done to “correct” the cap in the next CBA. The way it’s going, there seems to be a progressive elimination of hockey’s “middle-class” players, if you will, and i can’t imagine the vets struggling to find a job are too happy with the way things are going.

My sister-in-law lives in Brooklyn (18th street over near Prospect Park). We drove back from her place one evening a few weeks back and it was 90+ degrees at 8 o’clock. Everyone was hanging out along Ocean Parkway and all I could think of was how glad I was that I didn’t live in the city. It gets hot out where I am (miller place) but somehow the city just seems airless and miserable when it’s that hot.

number 6 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
@-J,

Yeah, I could Not believe it. 87 degrees at midnight? This is nuts. And the subway…. god!! That is my personal idea of hell in the city. It’s a bit cooler here too in this part of Brooklyn.

You make an extremely good point that the middle players are being effected. They Definitely need to address this. Quisp makes it clear… where does it stop? Contracts till the player is 50? 60?

BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
@number 6,

Sorry I didn’t see this until later…

Cap hit is just an average; the salary varies from year to year. The last years are usually little (550K is the minimum salary, 11.5 mil is the maximum).

But what makes the whole thing complicated is the player motivation. Kovee Babee wanted the maximum dollars, it’s clear… Had he wanted the Kings, the 80/15 offer wasn’t pocket change. But it also wasn’t 102/17, front-loaded the way he wanted.

Much of the discussion here has been about the ability to ‘retire’ early, freeing the team from the CAP hit by voiding the contract. No payment, no money, but when the money is the minimum 550,000 over the last 7 years and you already have 97 million dollars, who cares?

I’d take that another step. When the salary dips below 11.5, I bet Kovee Babee ‘retires’, then signs with the KHL for substantially more money. K.B. won’t let his salary go down, if he can help it…

Of course, that will be seven years from now, 2017-2018. K.B. will have already banked 69.5 million by then, and he’ll be 34…

Who knows what he’ll want by then?

[Reply]
captain insano says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:48 pm

Well no big deal. Jersey got played and I’m pretty sure they will be regretting that deal in a year or two. We will be better off without him…I hope.

[Reply]
Scaught says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:51 pm

Sign Lee Stempniak. Sign Lee Stempniak. Sign Lee Stempniak. Sign Lee Stempniak. Sign Lee Stempniak. Sign Lee Stempniak. Sign Lee Stempniak. Sign Lee Stempniak. Sign Lee Stempniak. Sign Lee Stempniak.

[Reply]
5holer Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
@Scaught, That makes too much sense to me! It is beyond this management team to consider Stempniak. It just makes too much sense to do that. Why there are always the character, fit, fitness,and the room issues, and a large pool of countless other issues to disqualify such a fine young developing hockey player like Stempniak! LOL! Can someone please run this ship for once. Does Stempniak even want to play here? Nobody else does, or so we are told! Oh yeah and Willie Mitchell has a headache, remember? If there are 3 strikes and you are out in the old ballgame, then what happens when you get to the 9th inning and you havn’t made contact yet? Your all out then! Right DL? I’ll go to sleep now and wait for next year one more time! No, I just can’t give up another hockey year like they are asking their players to do again this year! Forget it! Get Stempniak on the phone, I’ll talk to him if they won’t!!

[Reply]
kingfish says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:57 pm

What this all boils down to is ownership not wanting to pay this kind of money to one guy. Its not about the cap hit. 6 mil a year is an excellent cap hit for kovalchuk. Its the 100 mil. I think AEG didnt think they would get a return on this kind of investment revenue wise, nor did they think this guy is the missing piece to a cup.
NJs owners on the other hand seem to think he is and obviously think they will get a good return in the form of ticket sales and merch. I am not bitter about it, its just the reality of the economics involved. Lets face it NJ is a bigger hockey market and it makes more sense for them. When people in LA actually know who the kings are and the team is not loosing money every year then AEG might spring for a guy like this. Go ask the average person in LA who the kings are, most people go “hockey?? what???…”.

We had Gretzky and half of the oilers dynasty and still couldnt win the cup. AEG knows one guy isnt going to tip the scale and paying him that kind of money is a waste.
And I think AEG rightly had a ceiling on what they would spend on the guy (lifetime) and we got outbid probably at the last minute.
We will still be better off with two good forwards then one kovalchuk. Unfortunately now we will have to trade and maybe a piece of the core to get it.
I still support DL %100 because as 25 yr fan of this team I know what he is up against. We are in good hands folks.

[Reply]
andrew Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
@kingfish, you are choosing to believe AEG in the face of all evidence to the contrary that the Kings are losing money every year. I choose not to trust them and thus far I have never been disappointed. Why would you take anything they have to say as the truth after all the foolish statements Leiweke has told the fans time and time again?

[Reply]
kingfish Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
@andrew,
I have heard luc say it as well. ok yeah lucs lying now because he works for AEG… Best case they are breaking even. Its an economic decision IMO. That or as someone else pointed out it was a big game of chicken in which
the kings thought they were putting the best REAL offer out there and were spending what was their max.
Its easy for fans to say yeah spend that much money and for that many years, but its not our money. Its business. This guy is not Crosby or Ovie. He has nowhere near the name recognition. If it was one of those guys I bet AEG would open the vault. People can say they are cheap and they may have a point but at least they are not stupid.

[Reply]
andrew Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
@kingfish, I will say they are disingenuous if they think fans don’t remember that AEG was unwilling to spend when there was no salary cap even with all the new staples center revenue and then they pushed for the salary cap and are still unable to compete. Leweike wanted the salary cap, pushed for the lockout which crippled the sport’s reputation and then blamed the salary cap as the problem. Seems to me he should be looking in the mirror.

5holer Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
@kingfish, I am all in with Andrew on this arguement. AEG is the wealthiest ownership in sports period, perhaps worldwide. Talk about unknown sports in LA, how about Soccer? Did anyone know who David Beckham was when he arrived at 250ML? Lets see now the average MLS player makes around 40-50K salary, some stars make 100s of K even! Wow! Beckham gets a $250ML deal to play soccer in LA, plays sometimes! Now tell me about AEG and their poor little losing investment in LAK hockey club. That is smoke heading northbound at your backside. Luc is a fine guy, good company man too. That is excellent for him. He is a great roll model for anyone and everyone really. But by no means is Luc in the upper reaches of AEG. I doubt he is in the loop for the business side of AEG International, a humongus corporation in many industries and countries. Luc does hockey at Toyota Center. DL does hockey at Toyota Center. TL does hockey and many other things for AEG. Anschutz does what he wants when he wants, based in Colorado mostly I believe, or so we are told. The Lucs, the DLs and so on are meer pawns on a chess board of many pieces. The big numbers deals are decided by higher authorities for sure. DL went to see Phil about the Kovy offer, right? Well, can we ever know from the Horse’s mouth what is going on here? Why tell us anything? We are able to draw our own conclusions from the press releases passed on to us by the mouthpieces, Luc, DL, and whomever else. It is clear to me, in a down economy, with a looming NHL work stoppage approaching, a huge investment accross the street, and also in Europe, that spending competitively for a hockey player of premium talent is not in the works here at competitive prices. We did not make a competitive enough offer for Kovy period. He is no different then any other RFA or UFA in any pro sport. Not a Bastard, not Greedy, just a player in a league with a Salary Cap and a Free Agent. He got what he should have gotten. He got what he was offered and took it like he should have taken it! Not a Saint, Not an Angel, just a Pro Hockey Player and now a Devil! When are we gonna see the light here?

kingfish Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
@5holer,
Yeah I think an a$$load of people knew who Beckam was. the guy is a huge international star. Theres a movie named after the guy that came out years back. Kovalchuk is not in the same league as Beckham, maybe in russia but not internationally. Bringing Beckham here was a huge gamble but one that could have paid off big time for the whole business of pro soccer in the US. That is not even a a close comparison to the kovalchuk situation. People need to put this into perspective.
Split says:

July 19, 2010 at 5:57 pm

I seriously don’t think the Kings were used or NJ got played. It sounds like the NJ offer was on the table since the first weekend of free agency. I believe that Kovalchuk (or his wife) wanted to be in LA, but the money had to be comparable to the NJ offer. They made the trip to LA in order to get the final and greatest offer out of the Kings, and that offer was 15 years / $80 million. Lombardi himself said that they did not believe the 17 year / $102 million offer was on the table. At that point, it’s a gamble. Is our offer better than their offer? In this case it was not better. NJ ultimately overpaid for Kovalchuk, but got their man. The Kings now will look at other options to improve, knowing they did their best to get Kovalchuk. The exciting part of all this is we still get to watch Kopitar, Simmonds, Doughty, Johnson, Bernier and Quick one year older and wiser. What an exciting time to be a Kings fan!!!

[Reply]
5holer Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
@Split, Let’s see, according to “I want him and I’m going to get him 101″, it goes something like this….Hey now Grossman, we want your client here. We got the Cap Space, the talent, the management and all the guns needed to win it all. But we are going to get your client here period. Bring him out to see for himself. We’ll wine and dine you folks in the proper way, we mean business!! We are not taking No for an answer!…These are the rules, term is long, Cap hit is good for everyone, Top Dollars paid for right years, perks we can provide more than anyone. That is what happened in a manner of speaking, but that was Lou Lamoriello speaking not DL or TL or Anschutz to Grossman. Why not DL or TL? NJs deal was actually better than our 15/80 proposed deal…better for everyone but the LA Kings that is!

[Reply]
King John says:

July 19, 2010 at 6:00 pm

Here is an article about the signing and a quote from it:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=burnside_scott&id=5393375

“The Kings are a sexy, young team with a huge upside, but Kovalchuk committed to a team that offered him more money and lifelong security.”

[Reply]
Bobby Scribe says:

July 19, 2010 at 6:00 pm

We went out and got the interview nobody could…with Cap Hit himself. For the full interview, click here.

http://www.lakingsnews.com/2010/07/19/q-a-with-cap-hit/

[Reply]
DBB Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
@Bobby Scribe,

Great article. A moment of levity today is just what the doctor ordered.

[Reply]
therope says:

July 19, 2010 at 6:09 pm

I would like to start a movement at Staples Center next season.

Rather than boo he who must not be named on Oct 30, I propose we clap instead.

This way he understands that we are GLAD he didn’t come to LA….

[Reply]
Ryan SD says:

July 19, 2010 at 6:19 pm

DL just announced that he will attempt a trade for Kovi in 2022. His salary will only be 750k that year… and with 12 years of draft picks that we might have to actually pay…that will be perfect for the cap. We can save $$$ and keep our fingers crossed.

[Reply]
Alen says:

July 19, 2010 at 6:20 pm

I don’t care about the 11.5, I care about the cap hit of 6 million. The Kings management told fans over and over again that they weren’t gonna get someone with a huge contract so we can resign all of our young players. 6 million cap hit would of let that happen but it looks like the ownership didn’t wanna pay that 11.5 million so once again it was all about the money this ownership didn’t wanna spend. At the end of the day we all got bs’d and taken for a ride.

[Reply]
The Kinger says:

July 19, 2010 at 6:20 pm

Wow. 11.5!!!! Good grief. New Jersey paid alot of money to be dysfunctional for the next decade. The Kings still get the cup before they do. I like what we got!!!!

[Reply]
USCG Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
@The Kinger, yeaaaahhhhh um no we won’t.

[Reply]
The Kinger Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
@USCG, go become a New Jersey fan then. And quit spewing your rants.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
@USCG,

Really? Link please

[Reply]
The Kinger Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
@USCG, thanks for helping me make my point. I stand corrected. You already are a Devils fan!!

[Reply]
Feelikepoo says:

July 19, 2010 at 6:37 pm

I’ve had the misfortune of having to witness these shenanigans for too many years. Won’t have the money to sign our young players? BS! Bets are on. Whadya wanna wager that when it comes time to sign DD or anyone else for that matter, management will offer their usual lowball offer and insult our “core” players to the point of fleeing to another team that pays better for their services? Management acts like every elite player should feel honored to play for us. Why would they? We have a reputation as a team that has NEVER WON A CUP, and a reputation for not being able to attract good,wholesome,fast,scoring, elite NHL players. Guaranteed, we will screw up the future signings of DD, JJ, WS, or anyone else of value! *good and mad now*

[Reply]
Cristobal says:

July 19, 2010 at 6:37 pm

Kill the Cap!!!

[Reply]
johnny says:

July 19, 2010 at 6:38 pm

Same old crap over and over again, first 10 years we are rebuilding, we spend 2 weeks on 1 guy and all the most of the good UFA’s are gone. Kings management should attend GM 101 at Tampa new GM Steve’s School, how in the name of God he was able to make the deal in 2 days for Gagne, and the Kings just f-ing around….

To Lombardi.. My check is in the mail for the season ticket, don’t start the season without it…
Ps: where is Bruce Macnall when we need him the most ???

[Reply]
stagger Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
@johnny,

“where is Bruce Macnall when we need him the most ???”

You mean the felon who bankrupted the team?

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
@stagger,

Out of love, stagger. He bankrupted the team out of love.

[Reply]
concussionman02 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
@stagger,

No the man that transformed hockey in California and the only person to make a ballsy move in this franchises history.

[Reply]
jet Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
@concussionman02, WITH SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY
KingsfaninWNY says:

July 19, 2010 at 6:39 pm

Stempniak stunk for 2+ seasons in StL/Tor before his hot streak in Phx. considering he wasnt signed right away when FA started, shows most(or all) GM’s agree he is nothing worth getting excited about. Max for a year sounds Ok, it would at least add some speed, which this team sorely lacks.

the opinion some in here have, that if you say anything negative about the Kings, DL, TM etc. means you are not a real fan is laughable. for a team that has Never!!! won anything, they are Lucky to have the support they do.

[Reply]
RenoKingsFan says:

July 19, 2010 at 6:46 pm

does anyone else agree that whatever the cap hit per year is, should be exactly what the player makes per year? Whats the point of a cap if not????? Some one please explain to me again why we lost a season of hockey, so that other teams can still out spend other teams??

[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
@RenoKingsFan,
YOU GOT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Reply]
RickyM2 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
@RenoKingsFan, Then you’ll see contracts like this.

1 year half the team gets double what their cap salary would be, the next they get minimum. There will always be a loop hole.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
@RenoKingsFan,

I’m waiting for a thirty year contract, next year…

Can you imagine what Crosby or Ovechkin would make, if they were free agents next year?

Bettman should step up and void this contract, but he won’t… Now that the strategy has been validated and everyone assumes the contracts won’t proceed to the end, the later years are just cap hit ghosts which disappear on demand.

There must be a limit, otherwise the system is completely fraudulent…

[Reply]
brian says:

July 19, 2010 at 6:47 pm

just a thought. gagne was traded to tampa for a non name player and a 4th rounddraft choice.i wonder who we can pick up from teams with cap problems?as for the kovi situation only time will tell if dl made the correct choice or not

[Reply]
johnny says:

July 19, 2010 at 7:01 pm

He may be a felon and he paid for it, but did not bankrupted the team.. Kings never filed any chapter 7-11-13, but the kings where in the playoffs most of that time as a contender not a punching bag, we had great players, full house. That is what you want in a hockey team…..
Stagger.. Why don’t you ask the GM why did we waited so long for 1 guy and let all the other core players slip away…
He should of see Kovi just dicking us around, and we should just go after Gagne..
Oh and other kick in the nuts….. try to sell a 10 day ticket crap for the kings… We don’t even know who is in the linup..
It is like buying a movie ticket and no clue what you will see..
Good luck man…..

[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
@johnny, Well wel well. another Bruce Mcnall supporter, lets see , where do I start? So you like that coin collecting, bank defrauding, scheister huh? As I have stated previously, he is a no good rotten bastard ! To think he got only 6 years for screwing banks over for 236 million dollars is nothing ! You can rest assured that he has some of that money put in a swiss bank account so he would have something when he got out. As far as his involvement with the kings, bringing Gretzky over here changed hockey forever, that was the only good thing he did. The big problem he had was he entrusted this franchise to Gretzky and Melrose, two guys that didnt know jack diddly squat when it came to drafting and developing players. Because of Melrose, Roy Mlaker and Nick Bevery were tossed in the garbage can even though they were the guys that had built the team into a Stanley Cup contender. Mcnalls biggest problem? he let people run the team that had no business running it. If Mcnall had someone Like Dean Lombardi running things back then, that team would have won a couple of cups because of good young players and the fact that Mcnall didnt have a salary cap to deal with like they do today. But Mcnall is even more blessed by the fact that our judicial system is sympathetic to people like him and Charles Keating.

[Reply]
Michael J Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
@puck73,

You are awesome! Problem is other than you, me and about five others on here, nobody has a clue who Charles Keating is!

You do make a great point about Mlaker and Beverly-especially Mlakar.

[Reply]
stagger Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
@johnny,

From Wikipedia.

It later emerged that McNall had grossly mismanaged the Kings’ business affairs. At one point, Cohen and Sudikoff were even unable to meet player payroll, and were ultimately forced into bankruptcy in 1995.[41] They were forced to trade many of their stronger players, resulting in a roster composed of Gretzky, Blake, and little else. The Kings missed the playoffs for four seasons, from 1993–94 to 1996–97.

41-Source LA Kings Media guide 2002-03

[Reply]
DT was the Man Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
@stagger,

But before it all went bad we were just one “illegal stick” penalty away from winning the Cup.

[Reply]
stagger Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
@DT was the Man,

Those were the days, until that happened. Since then, not so good.

Old Codger Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:22 am
@DT was the Man, I’m probably the only person that defends McSorley. The stick incident only took game 2 to OT, series tied 1-1, coming home. Next two games– lost in OT with some other controversial calls. 3 goals scored, McSorley scored 2 of them.
Not criticizing here, I just think McSorley redeemed himself.
Choralone says:

July 19, 2010 at 7:02 pm

Waaaah. This was our only chance to sign a player. There will never be a good free agent on the market again. All our young players will age at an accelerated rate and be old men in walkers by the end of the season. We missed our window. Waaaah.

[Reply]
Thound Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
@Choralone,

Exactly what about Lombardi’s history of whiffing on upper tier free agents doesn’t seem to resonate with you?

There could be 4-5 upper tier FA’s next year, and DL’s history and track record of NOT being able to close the deal, simply makes the odds of the Kings being shut out again on all 4 or 5, a more REALISTIC bet.

How about DL actually shows us that he CAN reel one in, before we start essentially calling other people whiners regarding his inability to get the job done year after year, ok?

Maybe you can list all the upper tier FA’s he’s brought to LA?

Tick-Tock

[Reply]
KingsFanInGA Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
@Thound,

Who exactly are those 4-5 upper tier FA’s next year? I know one of them would be Chara.

[Reply]
Choralone Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:44 pm
@Thound, If DL signed Kovalchuk then the 4 to 5 upper tier FAs next year would be a moot point -in other words, the only reason we have a shot at them next year is because we didn’t sign Kovi this year.

Is it disappointing that we didn’t add a player of Kovalchuck’s caliber? Sure, but my point (underneath the sarcasm) is something that has already been voiced – the team is young, it has been improving, and I believe it will improve next year even if everything else stays the same.

We’re still very young and still have time to add that elite player next year or the year after. Sure, it would be nice to make a cup run sooner rather than later, but I can wait a little longer. I guess a lot of people can’t.

I don’t think DL is unable to “close the deal.” Until now, I don’t think he’s had a realisic chance of doing so.

Anyway, all along Rich has intimated that he feels we’ll improve oursleves with a trade rather than a FA signing anyway.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
@Thound,

Well then he’s just gonna have to go old school, ala the Oilers in the 80s, build through our sytsem. But make no mistake, do it he will!

[Reply]
KFAN says:

July 19, 2010 at 7:02 pm

I would love to find out who DL is after now… I’ve heard that it might Sharp,Savard,Lucic,JI,Vinny or Speeza.. I say why just one?… I would love for the Kings to try to get any combo of Sharp/Savard or Sharp/Speeza and then sign Lee Stempniak… Sharp and Savard would be perfect since the make 4 mil a yr each… That will leave you room to sign Stempniak and the rest of the team.. A whole lot better paying 3 guys about 11 mil then to paid Kovi 11.5 mil… Pleaseeeeeeeeeee Kings !! Make these deals happing!!!

[Reply]
kingsfan4life says:

July 19, 2010 at 7:06 pm

I am not going to sit here and say that I hate Kovalchuk and that we dont need him or want him, cuz that would be plain bull shit. The truth is I would have loved to have that kid on the kings, as a die hard kings tattooed fan I am really just sad right now. I just feel that we are always so close and that we never get the respect we deserve as fans or anything. Honestly Carolina won a cup before us, the Fing gay ducks did too, we had our chance to make our team so close to being a legit cup contender. I hate days like this as a fan, I get so much crap from people cuz i live in orange county and am a kings fan, its just so annoying to hear fat ugly loser duck fans brag about their disney movie team. I really really wanted Kovy on this team, he could have done wonders, I for one would have been willing to give up a JJ or a Quick or a few of the prospects for a guy like him. The kings could have really used a super star to get that well deserved attention. I for one will never stop loving this team, nor will I bash any GM or Coach, except Crawford, for something out of their control, They couldnt make him come here or sign on that line. Yes he may have signed just for the money, but hey can you blame him? I know I cant…But kings fans tomorrow is another day and I for one will always stand by my team and say F the ducks GO KINGS GO

[Reply]
Cup B4 I Die Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
@kingsfan4life,

From Anaheim Mighty Ducks
to
Anaheim Ducks
to
Anaheim Gay Ducks….hmm I think you’re on to something here.

[Reply]
Brian D. says:

July 19, 2010 at 7:13 pm

2010-11: $6 million
2011-12: $6 million
2012-13: $11.5 million
2013-14: $11.5 million
2014-15: $11.5 million
2015-16: $11.5 million
2016-17: $11.5 million
2017-18: $10.5 million
2018-19: $8.5 million
2019-20: $6.5 million
2020-21: $3.5 Million
2021-22: $750,000
2022-23: $550,000
2023-24: $550,000
2024-25: $550,000
2025-26: $550,000
2026-27: $550,000
The last 6 yrs. are meaningless, because he will be retired, and as I understand with the CBA, if a player willingly retires, all is basically erased from the books, so no more cap hit… Correct me if I’m wrong, but this surely shows how the system is flawed…

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
@Brian D.,

The last 9 years are meaningless.

When the money starts going down, unless he has lost his game KoveeBabee will just ‘retire’, then re-sign during the season at a pro-rated level for more money or go to the KHL.

Athletes don’t accept decreasing money unless they are hanging on for dear life.

[Reply]
Phil Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
@Brian D., You are 100% correct sir, on all accounts.

There is the (very slim) chance that the NHL does not ratify this contract based on the salaries in the final 6 years. However, it would seem to me that Lamorello has enough clout to push this thru no matter how many other teams object. It would be funny to see the deal falling apart after all the waiting, hoopla and assorted shenanigans of the past 19 days!

[Reply]
The Kinger says:

July 19, 2010 at 7:15 pm

Okay, alot of people are on this blog complaining and being very pesimistic about the Kings. What did we lose? Nothing. Sure we could, should have and would have, but aren’t those what ifs? Get real, are you a Kings fan or not? If not, go enjoy New Jersey’s season and don’t let the door hit you on the way out. I like what is here in LA!!!

[Reply]
FrustratedKing Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
@The Kinger,

It’s not about being pessimistic, for a cap hit of 6 million he was more then worth it. When people day 102 mil is a lot of money they fail to realize the cap hit which is very affordable for the kings. The bottom line is that the ownership refused to dish out the cash. I guess a washed out Beckham was worth more then a Kovi at his prime. The ownership does not care if the kings win a cup or not, they just want a mediocre team that might make the playoffs and sell season tickets and seats as well as merchandise. How can people possibly say that 6 million cap hit is too much for this guy? Seriously? Even if it cost Simmer or JJ down the line. I’m a Kingd fan because I love my team and to me the uniform and the crown means more then AEG and their profits.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
@FrustratedKing,

You think he’s worth TWO.FIVE MILLION DOLLARS A SEASON more then Crosby & Ovechin? Really??

[Reply]
Phil Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
@John, For the 100th time, let me explain again – he may be making $11.5M/yr in years 3-7 of this deal, but that number is relevant only to AEG and Kovalchuk.

What matters to fans is the cap hit number – $6M/yr. Cap space is what will affect the Kings’ ability to retain their core of young talent. For sure Kovalchuk at $6M/yr cap hit is worth it – right now AEG is paying Ryan Smyth $6.25M/yr for 2 more years!!!

FrustratedKing Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:27 pm
@John,

At a cap hit of 6 million…HELL YES!! Are you telling me that the cap hit would be bad?! This would be AEG money invested in the team and in us fans who have been waiting a LONG time for exciting hockey and not have us be the bridesmade AGAIN!

John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
@Phil, I know how the cap works, thanks buddy.

But let me explain again, he is NOT WORTH Crosby & Ovechin money! He is NOT, or has he EVER been, the best player in hockey!

Who FREAKING cares who it is between?! And don’t tell me what matters to fans – overpaying for a guy matters to me, ok.

And what matters to our kids coming up through our system? It’s a HORRIBLE precedent. Do you know what “precedent” means?!

Smyth’s off the books in TWO seasons, Kovalchuk will be in SEVENTEEN seasons. If it was a 2 year contract, I may be sympathetc to the argument.

We are trying to build a culture here. Inserting a greedy egomaniac into that mix could end up being toxic. I’m glad we now have to grow our own sniper & Ilya’s in Jersey!

Phil Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:33 pm
@John, Great reply there pal – really shows your understanding of the situation.

I especially enjoyed the royal “We” when referring to “building a culture here.” Which is pretty much as unintelligible as the rest of the nonsense in your post.

While you and the rest of your mighty “We” go about “building a culture,” you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy from afar all the other teams that will win Stanley Cups before the Kings ever do – those organizations that are actually serious about winning.

John Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:57 am
@Phil,

You, apparently, understand next to nothing when it comes to the building of your hockey club (oh except the cap hit). That’s ok, some fans are like that eh

Your “20yrs/$120M cus it’s a bitchen $6M cap hit” cries don’t hold in the long term. “We” tried your way for 39 years & it got us nothing. So just step aside & let DL continue building something special! You’ll come around eventually, trust me.

Michael J Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
@FrustratedKing,

No way Kovi is worth 11.5 million at 33 yrs old, 10.5 at 34, and 8.5 at 35! That 11.5 mil at 33 equals 287K per home game! For someone past his prime??? NO WAY! My seats cost enough, I don’t need to pay another $15.00 per seat per game.

The Kings already tried that with Larry Robinson, Charlie Cruddy, Kurri, Barry Beck, Rick Tocchet, and probably about 20 more that I can’t think of right now.

Not signing Kovi was the best deal for the Kings since drafting DD & Luc.

[Reply]
number 6 says:

July 19, 2010 at 7:16 pm

RenoKingsFan says:
July 19, 2010 at 6:46 PM
does anyone else agree that whatever the cap hit per year is, should be exactly what the player makes per year? Whats the point of a cap if not????? Some one please explain to me again why we lost a season of hockey, so that other teams can still out spend other teams??

[Reply]
ducksuck says:

July 19, 2010 at 7:16 pm

Some fans maybe upset, but if they are real fans they will stop posting their disappointment all Kings fans are disappointed. But the real fans believe in the management and the direct the team is going. I believe in the young kings core and the future of the Kings i know many agree this is just for the people posting how cheap the Kings are. I have seen Palffy go seen Blake go so this is nothing to cry over go Kings the future looks really bright!!!

[Reply]
Thound Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
@ducksuck,

“Some fans maybe upset, but if they are real fans they will stop posting their disappointment”

This statement is ridiculous.

I will GLADLY prop up my 40+ years of following this team against yours.

You can seriously can your “real fans” would stop this and that BS.

[Reply]
rick Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
@Thound, Agreed. I try not to criticize others on here, but today is not a day I want to be accused of not being a “real fan” because I am not happy with what transpired here.

[Reply]
Old Codger Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:33 am
@ducksuck, I think most of the negative comments here today is from disappointment rather than dislike for the Kings. All said and done, we have a lot of 40 year fans on this blog, including myself.
AND, we will all be behind the Kings when they hit the ice in October.

[Reply]
number 6 says:

July 19, 2010 at 7:17 pm

I am gonna double up on his comments to make sure Everyone reads this. Gary Bettman is the First one who should read it!

RenoKingsFan says:

does anyone else agree that whatever the cap hit per year is, should be exactly what the player makes per year? Whats the point of a cap if not????? Some one please explain to me again why we lost a season of hockey, so that other teams can still out spend other teams??

[Reply]
griddle says:

July 19, 2010 at 7:21 pm

http://www.downgoesbrown.com/2010/07/leaked-ilya-kovalchuks-contract.html

funny stuff on the kovy contract

[Reply]
Moondoggie says:

July 19, 2010 at 7:28 pm

Kovi wasn’t worth it, period. I truly believe NJ will regret doing this deal. I’m satisfied with what DL did and how far he went with this. No, I don’t believe Kovi was worth the long term sacrifice. I’d have loved to see him in a Kings jersey but it’s over, it’s truly time to move on.

The Kings will be fine. DL has built one hellevua young team that will only be better next year. The minors are totally stacked with talent. I’m looking forward to next season; the Kings WILL definitely make the playoffs.

With that being said…….Now what??? What’s our next move?

In DL, we trust!

GO KINGS!!!

[Reply]
Vahe Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
@Moondoggie, Do you still trust in his free agent signings over the years.. Mcauley,Cloutier, Preissing,Calder, Nagy, etc..

[Reply]
Moondoggie Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
@Vahe, I trust what DL has done by totally rebuilding the team from the ground up. Are you aware that the Kings had no minor league organization before DL came to LA? He build it from the ground up. I loved Dave Taylor but c’mon, he isn’t the GM that DL is. Most GM’s probably would have matched Kovi’s price for the short term and suffered in the long term.

As far as the names you mention, I only find fault with Preissing & Clouts. McCauley would have worked out had he not been as badly injured as he was. Calder & Nagy were part of an interim solution that DL said would only part of the initial equation, the quick fix. They were stop gaps that served a purpose until DL could accumulate the picks and youth he needed to build the team from within. He told us it would be painful and it has been. But, you know something? This team, as it stands right now came within two goals of advancing to the 2nd round of the playoffs this year. And it’s a team build around a very young core of players that DL has drafted, a team that will grow together and only get better together.

Question, what does NJ do now? I believe they have to shed salary to make this work. Personally, I am thrilled the Kings are not in the same position.

As far as the UFA’s and trades are concerned, they will come. I’ve always believed it is better in having two good top six forwards to having one “sniper”. That’s called depth.

Funny, but hockey is a team sport, isn’t it?? And if so, one player a team doesn’t make. How did NJ do in the playoffs with the sniper? First round exit???

End of story.

[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
@Moondoggie, You just slapped him so god damned hard he’s gonna have ta pull his pants down to brush his teeth !
Forecheck! says:

July 19, 2010 at 7:32 pm

TIME TO MAN UP KINGS FAN’S…MOVE ON…SHOW SOME CLASS…ENOUGH OF THIS NEGATIVE NAME CALLING BLASTING MANAGEMENT…I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE INCAPABLE…MAN UP AND GROW SOME CAJONES…GO KINGS!!!

[Reply]
jesse Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
@Forecheck!, I could not have said it better myself.

[Reply]
Forecheck! says:

July 19, 2010 at 7:34 pm

ENOUGH OF THIS “DEANS BAD HISTORICAL MOVES/TRADES/NON-TRADES B/S”…BE GRACIOUS AND GIVE DEAN THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. GO KINGS!

[Reply]
Phil says:

July 19, 2010 at 7:35 pm

According to Blackhawks beat writer Chris Kuc (Tribune), today Patrick Sharp was told by GM Stan Bowman that he won’t be traded this off season:

http://twitter.com/ChrisKuc/status/18951031998

[Reply]
speedy says:

July 19, 2010 at 7:35 pm

did everyone see how cheap we could have had Gagne for
I would have taken that trade so so d-man and a 4th round draft pick
come on Dean your missing out !!!!!!!!!!

[Reply]
liba says:

July 19, 2010 at 7:36 pm

Good luck keeping him motivated when you’ve given him absolute job security for his entire career.

[Reply]
number 6 says:

July 19, 2010 at 7:36 pm

THE THING THAT HAS BECOME EXCEEDINGLY CLEAR TO ME READING THESE COMMENTS IS THAT EVERYONE IS BLASTING DL AND AEG FOR NOT DOING BETTER THAN THE DEVILS OFFER. PROBLEM IS, NO ONE KNEW WHAT THE DEVILS WERE OFFERING! Last I knew DL does what he does but I don’t believe he’s clairvoyant. You make the best offer you think you can make and that’s it. It’s beyond me when people blast them as though it was a back and forth bidding war. It Wasn’t!!!!!!

[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
@number 6,

Also, Hossa’s contract was for 12 years and DL was offering 15 years. What was he supposed to do?

[Reply]
RickyM2 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
@number 6, Devils actually structured the deal to where his NMC expires June 30th 2017, and his NTC doesnt kick in till July 1, 2018. so, that gives NJ 1 year to move him if need be. At taht point he’ll have received $68 Mil of his contract and will be 34 years old.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
@RickyM2,

See my comment above.

KoveeBabee will never see his paycheck decrease, until he can no longer play.

Frustrated_King Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
@number 6

Kovi’s camp had said from the begining that they were looking for 100 milllion. Kings offered 64 million. That is a 36 million dollar difference. TL came on last week and said “it is not about the money, it’s about the cap”. This is my problem because that was obviously BS. If they offerd Kovi 85-90 million you think there might have been a chance he signed for a small difference to play in LA? Seriously, AEG chocked on this one.

[Reply]
5holer Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
@number 6, You are avery trusting soul! Cudos to you for your trust, loyalty and honor! Once is okay, twice is explanable, but to fail every time on these high end deals in July or in March, it does not wash. Are we to believe that every other GM, Management Team and Ownership Group is just stupid in making all these deal that we don’t make? And the LAKs are in perfect market harmony on every deal they get in the mix on, but always fall out of? Call me dumb, but I ain’t stupid. Something is up in AEG land. It ain’t the Kings either! Lower down that priority list I believe, way lower! Players on the cheap sign here! Repleat with their considerable baggage they come! Some work, some don’t. Do I hear Ladislav Nagy is in town, he is a left winger! Shopping for lug nuts and wheelbarrows again!

[Reply]
concussionman02 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
@5holer,

B I N G O

[Reply]
Forecheck! says:

July 19, 2010 at 7:38 pm

SO BASICALLY YOU ARE CALLING IN TO QUESTION DEANS INTEGRITY AND CALLING HIM A LIAR! WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE YOU…SHEEESH!

[Reply]
FU King Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
@Forecheck!, Money talks and Kings upper management (as does Kovalchuck for that matter) walks.

[Reply]
Bill M. says:

July 19, 2010 at 7:53 pm

I get the feeling this has a lot to do with the unknown size of a certain blue-liners demands.

Now, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he stayed here at a relative bargain. I think he likes being a king and so he’ll keep it reasonable. But if you were Lombardi, would you be counting on that? Or would you keep an absolutely, seemingly ridiculous amount of cap around, plus a few million extra, just in case the guy decides to play hardball. You don’t negotiate with a 20 year old Norris nominee who is already a fan favorite. Mostly, you tell him “write a number on this piece of paper, and I will write that same number on this check.”

Right now, the entire kings fan base is pretty divided. Half of us thing Lombardi is doing exactly what the kings need, not making big wagers against the future of the team. The other half of us think he is incompetent and want him fired.

But if he lets Drew get away, we would all be united. I don’t think there is any disagreement among us about the penalty paid for the GM that lets Drew play in any other Jersey. Getting fired? more like set on fire. There are a lot more complicated numbers involved here, that we don’t get to see. And if Dean saw that he might, possibly, in his wildest nightmares, be even a single dollar short of Drew’s demands, he probably had visions of himself roasting on a spit with an apple in his mouth.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
@Bill M.,

Yep!

[Reply]
FU King Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, Just to be a bit of a contrarian, what if Doughty goes elsewhere for a incredibly lucrative contract?

Hopefully, it won’t happen because one thing D.L. seems to emphasize is a focus on ‘the core.’ Right now, I don’t have too much faith in the organization. They have acquired a bunch of young talent (due to years at being amongst the bottom of the NHL) and have remained WELL below the cap year after year. NO risk, NO reward. It’s been way too long since the team has signed a great U.F.A.!

[Reply]
Bill M. Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
@FU King,

You have to understand, being near the bottom for several years is a great way to draft well and rebuild your team. It’s also a great way to scare off any UFA who believes they can add the cup winning piece to a team. I think we will need to spend another couple years making the playoffs and struggling through the first round before U.F.As start looking at LA as a place to land if you want to win a cup. I don’t think Dean has had the leverage of cup potential to land a big UFA until now, and it’s still not great. Hopefully in a couple years, our home grown talent will be even better and we won’t need UFAs. But if not, making the playoffs a couple years more should help us get one. It’s Dean’s first opportunity to go fishing with real bait. You didn’t expect him to land the mother of all fish on the first cast, did you?

Oh, and if Dean let Doughty go elsewhere, not only would he probably be fired, I think he would have a hard time getting work anywhere else. Oh, and the kings would really suck…at least maybe we could get some more good draft picks…
TVA333 says:

July 19, 2010 at 8:01 pm

Rich.. Great coverage

DL.. Great job

Kings organization.. I’m still with ya

Bandwagon.. Begone (we’ll see you after we bring the cup home, with our home grown kids)..

Kopi’ll be putting 40-50 away/season soon..

F all this noise… All is well that ends well.. And we still have a great team!

Always faithful… Or drinking the Kool aid as some douche bags have referred to it. I don’t care. This is my city.. This is my team, and as long as they’re here.. I’ll still support them regardless!

Go Kings Go!

[Reply]
kingfish Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
@TVA333,
here here

[Reply]
jesse Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
@TVA333, AMEN BROTHER. I second that. GO Kings GO.

[Reply]
crashin' da net says:

July 19, 2010 at 8:04 pm

I like it…..a simple moving average.

[Reply]
DT was the man says:

July 19, 2010 at 8:06 pm

I posted this same message in the “Lombardi quotes part 2″ thread but realistically would you not be willing to lose some of our “core group of players” over the next few years if it meant winning just one Cup?!?!?!

[Reply]
rick Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
@DT was the man, Not Doughty, or Kopitar, but as to everyone else on the current team – my answer is YES.

[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
@DT was the man,

If our stated goal was to win just one cup then blow everything up again, yes.

However, I remember hearing something about us being built into a long term contender.

[Reply]
xeropoint says:

July 19, 2010 at 8:10 pm

For those who think we would have been instant Cup favorites with Kovulchuk consider this:

There were 46, 40+ goal scorers since 2005 (after the lockout). 5 teams had 2 40+ goal scorers each, yet none of them won the Stanley cup.

Of the 46 40+ goal scorers, thier teams made the playoffs 67.3% of the time. That’s 31 out of 46.

Of the 10 teams in the SCF’s since 2005, 6 had 40+ goal scorers on the team. So 60%

Of the 5 teams that won, 3 had 40+ goal scorers. 60% again.

Of the 3 teams that won AND had 40+ goal scorers, only 1 time did (40+ goal scoring) player lead team in goals during the playoffs. 33%

That was Zetterberg in 2008 with 13 playoff goals. Nevermind the fact he isn’t a left winger.

Ilya Kovulchuk scored 40+ in each of the last five seasons. He has made the playoffs only 40% of the time (2 out of 5).

In 9 playoff games (2 first-round exits, including a sweep) he has a grand total of 3 playoff goals.

A 40 goal scorer guarantees you nothing aside from a higher than 60% chance at a playoff berth. In fact, the last 2 teams to win the Cup had zero 40+ goal scorers and of the 4 teams in the finals, the last 2 seasons, only detroit (lost to pittsburgh), did.

[Reply]
DT was the Man Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
@xeropoint,

All good points however the reality of the Kings is that they need the offense not just for the sake offense but we need the 40+ goals to help our defense. I am not a Fro fan but we keep losing goal scoring ability that the young players simply cannot make up for and therefore our D is going to have tremendous pressure on them to keep the games low scoring.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
@DT was the Man,

It’s not as simple as inputting 40 goals. He did that on systemless, crap team – just look at Hossa, only 24 last season on a good team. A team game is the way to go & that’s where we’re going.

[Reply]
DT was the Man Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:36 pm
@John,

Do you really think AEG is going to pay to keep all the young players, especially Doughty?!?!

And even if they come up with the money is Doughty going to stay on a team that cannot win the Cup.

Bottom line is that Kovi would have given us a chance to go deep into the playoffs.

And I will bet good money that Luc who I trust most of anyone in management felt the same way about getting Kovi.

xeropoint Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
@DT was the Man,

Why do they have to focus harder on defense? Kings were ranked 9th overall in goals for (2.82 per game) last season. Yeah, top 10 in the NHL.

Our 5-on-5 scoring is the issue (19th overall). Adding a high scoring winger would certainly help, but not as much as a top 4 defenseman.

The offense starts from the back end. Not one team runs an offense where the forwards carry the puck the whole length of the ice to generate scoring chances.

The current team knows how to score just fine, as evidenced by the above numbers. It’s getting the puck UP to those forwards, so they can generate more 5-on-5 offense is what we REALLY need.

[Reply]
DT was the Man Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
@xeropoint,

I could not agree more on getting a top 4 D-man but that is not happening either.

Still I think you are wrong in assuming we are fine in terms of offense as when the going got tough towards the end of last season we had a terrible time scoring goals.

I am not a huge Kovi fan but after being a season seat holder for almost 30 years now (1982) I am sick and tired of hearing about building from within because we have already tried it time and time again.

xeropoint Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
@DT was the Man:

Sure, we had a tough time scoring at the end of the season. All teams experience rough patches.

That actually strengthens my argument though, rather than me being wrong in assuming.

You remember how tight the race was? How all but 2 teams were out of contention until the last week or so? Well consider that you had teams focusing on the Kings’ weakness of transitioning to offense, trying to exploit that and gain critical points in the standings.

Which was exaggerated in the Playoffs by our lack of 5-on-5 scoring (sorry for beating a dead horse).

You have Defensmen who can make quicker, better decisions with the puck under pressure, your forwards can make plays. That’s the exact reason we were hemmed in our zone for minutes at a time by Vancouver.

Currently you have about 10 teams up against the cap right now (according to capgeek). I would say that leaves plenty of opportunity to pick up a Dman through trade.

I feel your frustration, I just don’t think the glass is half full.

xeropoint Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
@xeropoint,

*half empty

xeropoint Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
@xeropoint,

*half-empty

sammuch Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 3:20 am
@xeropoint,

WOW! YOUR STATS ARE OFF!

ITs not if he can score 40 gls a seasons, its threat that he can socore 40 plus goals that can create other players to score more goals also. Agian thats what the Kings do not have and what kovi can do…

I will go back to all the teams that won the cup since New NHL started in 2005. In why you need a guy who can score 40 goals as a THREAT on the ice to win the CUP!

I agree with on the D’s, we have DD & JJ for that! So thats a done deal in what you said.

2006 – Canes won the cup

1 40 gl and 3 30 gls and 2 20 gls scorers

1 Eric Staal CAR C 82 45 55 100
2 Justin Williams CAR R 82 31 45 76
3 Cory Stillman CAR L 72 21 55 76
4 Rod Brind’Amour CAR C 78 31 39 70
5 Erik Cole CAR L 60 30 29 59
6 Ray Whitney CAR L 63 17 38 55
7 Matt Cullen CAR C 78 25 24 49
8 Frantisek Kaberle CAR D 77 6 38 42
9 Bret Hedican CAR D 74 5 22 27
10 Aaron Ward CAR D 71 6 19 25

2006 – DuCKS

1 40 gls and 4 20 gls scorers and 3 guys in the teens

1 Teemu Selanne ANA R 82 48 46 94
2 Andy McDonald ANA C 82 27 51 78
3 Scott Niedermayer ANA D 79 15 54
4 Chris Kunitz ANA L 81 25 35 60
5 Chris Pronger ANA D 66 13 46 59
6 Ryan Getzlaf ANA C 82 25 33 58
7 Dustin Penner ANA R 82 29 16 45
8 Corey Perry ANA R 82 17 27 44
9 Francois Beauchemin ANA D71 7 21 28

2008 Det

1 40 gls 1 30 gls and 4 20 gls scores 4 guys in the teens.

1 Pavel Datsyuk DET C 82 31 66 97
2 Henrik Zetterberg DET L 75 43 49 92
3 Nicklas Lidstrom DET D 76 10 60 70
4 Brian Rafalski DET D 73 13 42 55
5 Dan Cleary DET R 63 20 22 42
6 Jiri Hudler DET C 81 13 29 42
7 Tomas Holmstrom DET L 59 20 20 40
8 Mikael Samuelsson DET R 73 11 29 40
9 Johan Franzen DET R 72 27 11 38
10 Valtteri Filppula DE C 78 19 17 36
11 Niklas Kronwall DET D 65 7 28 35

2009 PiTTS

2 30 gls and 2 20 gls scorers but 11 total guys who have scored in the teens. why? Malkin and SID 40 gls scorering threats.

1 Evgeni Malkin PIT C 82 35 78 113
2 Sidney Crosby PIT C 77 33 70 103
3 Jordan Staal PIT C 82 22 27 49
4 Petr Sykora PIT R 76 25 21 46
5 Ruslan FedotenkoPIT L 65 16 23 39
6 Miroslav Satan PIT R 65 17 19 36
7 Tyler Kennedy PIT C 67 15 20 35
8 Kris Letang PIT D 74 10 23 33
9 Matt Cooke PIT L 76 13 18 31
10 Pascal Dupuis PIT L 71 12 16 28
11 Maxime Talbot PIT C 75 12 10 22
12 Alex Goligoski PIT D 45 6 14 20
13 Sergei Gonchar PIT D 25 6 13 19

2010 Chi

1 30 gls 5 20 gls and 14 total players who scored in the teens.

But look at HOSSA stat 24 goals in 54 games if thats not a threat of 40 goals and then add the talent of the young hawks. Bingo!

1 Patrick Kane CHI R 82 30 58 88
2 Duncan Keith CHI D 82 14 55 69
3 Jonathan Toews CHI C 76 25 43 68
4 Patrick Sharp CHI L 82 25 41 66
5 Marian Hossa CHI R 57 24 27 51
6 Kris Versteeg CHI L 79 20 24 44
7 Troy Brouwer CHI L 78 22 18 40
8 Andrew Ladd CHI L 82 17 21 38
9 Brian Campbell CHI D 68 7 31 38
10 Dustin ByfuglienCHI L 82 17 17 34
11 Brent Seabrook CHI D 78 4 26 30
12 John Madden CHI C 79 10 13 23
13 Tomas Kopecky CHI R 74 10 11 21

Thats it, so tell me again what team has not won the cup without a 40 gls scorer threat in NHL the last 5 years.

[Reply]
Krusher says:

July 19, 2010 at 8:22 pm

I figure the Kings are saving $10.84 per seat per game by not signing Kovulchuk.

If the Kings aren’t going to spend what it takes to put the best team on the ice, why should we pay more?
Where exactly is that $8,000,000 going? Are the Ice Girls gonna be hotter to make us forget this travesty?

Oh wait, here’s a better idea, why not give all us long suffering season ticket holders Kings jerseys with “Cap Space” instead of Kovulchuk on the back. That’s what they want us to root for, isn’t it? “Yea, there goes Wayne Simmonds into the corner on the dump and chase, we’re gonna give him lots of money next year!”

[Reply]
Slapshot says:

July 19, 2010 at 8:23 pm

I would really like to comment on all of this, but I really need to go take a kovulchuk. BBL

[Reply]
Adam says:

July 19, 2010 at 8:28 pm

Ilya Kovalchuk will Apologize the team because record to the rules is if Kovalchuk visit LA and Matt Greene and Dustin Brown said he liked kovalchuk to be a kings and win the Stanley Cup and Ilya Kovalchuk will be a mistake a decision about the devils team because Dean Lombardi talks to Kovalchuk first about sign for 16 years and 60 million for his contract Kovalchuk will apologize the New jersey Devils and will sign with the kings if Kovalchuk change his mind and I say Kovalchuk will change his mind right now and be with the kings and kings fans will be happy with Kovalchuk for good is Kovalchuk’s choice but if he sign with the Devils 1 more time Kovalchuk will be rejected from the Devils and sign the LA kings now of Kovalchuk’s deal

[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:34 am
@Adam, Your post is pure fatasyland. 1st, Kovi is signed with NJ, and 2nd, the NHL is has already stated they are not going to investigate this even though I think most of us who have any common sense realize that these GM’s have figured out a way to cheat the system and the cap when it comes to these contracts, and lastly and most importantly..Your Grammar is so piss poor that this posting was not very ledgible so you need to re read what you have written back to yourself and I think you will see what I am talking about.

[Reply]
sammuch says:

July 19, 2010 at 8:31 pm

WOW!!! 6 MIL CAP!! KING OWNWRS SUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!

JERRY BUSS PLEASE BYE THE TEAM BACK, WE NEED YOU!!!

DL KNOWS HOW TO BULID A TEAM, BUT HE IS NOT A FINNSHER!!

MCNAL PUT HIS LIFE ON THE LINE AND ALL MOST WON US THE CUP!!!!

GLAD I GAVE UP MY SEASON TICKECTS IN 2004!!!

I think we have a future still, but instead of being one of 5 teams to win the cup the next 5 years, we will be of the bottom 10 that might win the cup in the next 5 years…

AEG in charge, what star will want to come to the Kings now! If think are young guys do not see the writing on the wall of how AEG is going to pay there players be ready for them to sign other places when they are 27 or 28???!!

Last, you think Kopi and DD are going sign long term contracts after they saw that they could have been one of 5 teams to win the cup this year. In pro life you only have so long to win the cup and why in hell would you sign a long term contract with the kings if they can’t afford 6 mil cap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????????

[Reply]
FrustratedKing Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
@sammuch,

VERY WELL SAID! Although I would not be blaming DL for this, I think his hands were tied by the stingy cheap A$$ owners!!!! PLEASE SELL THE TEAM TO SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY CARES!!

[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
@sammuch,

I think Kovi not signing is your fault. Have heard he fears people who overuse capslock and exclamation points.

[Reply]
sammuch Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
@xeropoint,

Damm!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you are correct, sorry, I did mess up this Kovi deal. So sorry !!!!!!!!!!!

[Reply]
Rich Not Rick says:

July 19, 2010 at 8:34 pm

This bad karma makes me wonder if the Kings once traded the Babe or kicked a goat out of Staples.

[Reply]
IceGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
@Rich Not Rick,

McSorely’s curved stick. Bingo.

[Reply]
Sandra says:

July 19, 2010 at 8:38 pm

just goes to show, he’s all about the money and not the game!

[Reply]
notposimatt says:

July 19, 2010 at 8:40 pm

Waaaaahhhhh waaaaaaaaah all day you guys have been crying about one thing or another I just wanna know who all the other ufas people are talking about ? And what the hell would happen if there were no big name ufas? Would that be deans fault also what about your kids failing classes must be aegs fault and god damn dean for gary coleman dying anything else you guys wanna blame on him bottom line is kovy went somewhere else now time to get over it you sound like a bunch of babies just sayyin

[Reply]
Kingsfan4life says:

July 19, 2010 at 8:43 pm

Does anyone care to go out and beat down some Duck fans to relieve some frustration? Im down to go anytime i think it would make us feel way better

[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
@Kingsfan4life,

It’s not cool to beat up retards.

[Reply]
MIK3Ysfv says:

July 19, 2010 at 8:43 pm

MIK3Ysfv says:
July 19, 2010 at 8:16 PM
I haven’t posted since the last playoff game. I have however, read every single post starting before this site was constructed. After following all developements in this saga, and post-playoffs, I felt I was FAR too emotional to comment objectively. It is even against my better judgement to post now.
Objectively, I feel if JB was inserted in place of an OVERWORKED JQ, we could’ve taken the Canuckleheads. At first I blamed JQ. Retrospect being 20/20, JQ was ridden to death. Only a PULSE was needed to beat Luongo.
Secondly, I am torn between DL making the right call and AEG being cheapskates.
What I am not torn about, is history. DL, far and away, is the best GM ever to call the
Kings home. You may jump the gun and blame DL for not “getting it done”, but you don’t know what DL was allowed to work with. You don’t know what AEG, Lieweke et al, allowed DL to work with.
DL is the !st and only GM in the history of the Kings to develop and maintain a first rate scouting and development department.
If it takes one more year to realize all of our dreams (to be a perennial contender), so F’ING be it! This team, THIS YOUNG TEAM, has GREATNESS written all over it.
I suggest that we all, ALL, wait to see how this season plays out before we call it a disaster.
I am not a blind supportnik, but I also have been watching this team since 1978. What I mean by saying that is this: We are in a unique position in the 43yr. history of the Kings. For the FIRST time, we have the luxury of looking ahead. We have great prospects, great player development, and the great luxury of a first-rate scouting department.
I’m not telling anyone to ease up on criticizm of management, I’m just sayin’…… Look at all sides, AND KNOW WHAT YOUR SAYIN’!!!!! GO KINGS!!!!

[Reply]

[Reply]
KingsFan Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
@MIK3Ysfv, Nicely said Brother. DL is the man. Someone posted earlier that DL actually flew out to meet with Mr. Anshuetz in person about the contract? I guarantee I can tell you how that conversation went, and you can bet your rear that DL wasn’t the one saying it was a bad idea or arguing for less money. Corporate America = genitalia in a vice. We lost out on this one thanks to ownership and it does set us back, but DL will make other moves within the next 2 years to replace the scoring equivalent of a Kovi, and bring us the Cup within 4 years. Great post on your part. Proud.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
@MIK3Ysfv,

WOW AMEN, MIK3Ysfv! Completely my sentiments as well.

[Reply]
xeropoint says:

July 19, 2010 at 8:46 pm

I don’t think AEG had a hard time paying Kopitar the 40.8M over 6 years. That’s not quite Kovulchuk money, but Kopitar is BY FAR the more valuable player overall.

I’m not saying the two players are comparable, but a center is always valued more than a winger (at least in Lombardi’s eyes).

Goalies > Defensemen > Centers > Wingers

DL has always said thats his hierarchy, it’s no suprise he wouldn’t give Kovulchuk a Cap hit bigger than Kopitar. I think you will see the money get shelled out for Doughty without a problem if this holds true.

[Reply]
kingfish says:

July 19, 2010 at 8:49 pm

FOR ANYONE SAYING THE KINGS SHOULD HAVE THROWN THIS KIND OF MONEY AND TERM AT KOVALCHUK, TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND THINK ABOUT WHAT ABSOLUTE INSANITY AND POTENTIAL HORRIBLE BUSINESS MOVE THIS COULD END UP BEING.

WHAT IF HE GETS HURT???? YOU THINK TIX ARE EXPENSIVE NOW WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE PAYING A GUY THIS MANY CLAMS WHO ISNT PLAYING MORE THAN 20 GAMES A YEAR AND HE HAS A NO TRADE CLAUSE.

NOBODY WANTS A BEAT UP GANE BUT A 32 YR OLD KOVY THAT IS STILL OWED 50 MILLION ON HIS CONTRACT IS GREAT RIGHT???

THE KING’S OFFER WAS CRAZY ENOUGH. THEY PUT THEIR CRAZIEST OFFER OUT THERE AND BANG NJ OUT-CRAZIED US.

IT IS AN INSANE BUSINESS MOVE BY NJ. THEY ARE TAKING A HUGE GAMBLE. KINGS DREW A LINE IN THE SAND ON HOW MUCH RISK THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE. NJ IS NUTS.

GO LOOK AT QUISP’S GOALS FOR OLDIES CHART. THAT SHOULD HELP ILLUSTRATE THE INSANITY OF ALL OF THIS.

[Reply]
FrustratedKing Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
@kingfish,

When a team signs a long term deal like this there is an insurance they take that would cover long term injury. Lots of teams have done it ,

[Reply]
kingfish Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
@FrustratedKing,
right what does it take for that policy to kick in?? does the guy have to be in a wheelchair?? what if he can still technically play but he sux or can only play so many games or have so much ice time?? also those policies arent free and there has NEVER been a policy taken out on a contract in the NHL like this for this term.

[Reply]
sammuch Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
@kingfish,

Who cares…. Bottom line Jery Buss says, if I do this how many Cups will I win. GM says one for sure, but maybe 2 or 3.

Buss says sign him NOW!

AEG says, not in my budget!

sammuch Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
@FrustratedKing,

Good point! Jerry Buss is saying, damm! I would have sign that deal if it might or very likly won me the cup!

I hope DD will go to AEG and say no long term deals with me until you show me you want to be a winner like NJ, DET, PITTS, CHI and soon WASH!

[Reply]
kingfish Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
@sammuch,
if you guys think Kovy was the sole missing piece to the cup than I cant argue with you.

WE HAD GRETZKY!!!!

and half of the oiler dynasty and still couldnt win the cup. McNall spent all the money he could and NO DICE.
Take A Deep Breath says:

July 19, 2010 at 8:54 pm

I’ve decided it’s a sham. The last 5 years he’s only making $500k/yr, so it’s there just to stretch the contract and lower the per year cap hit, making him affordable. Hell, why not make it a 30 year contract with the last 10 years he earns $1.00/year???In reality he will retire after 11-12 years, and walk away from the last 5 and the chump change that goes with it. If you subtract the $2.5mm he will walk away from, that leaves NJ with an $8.33mm cap hit per year for the guy, much different from the $5.3mm the contract reads now(reads-NJ CANNOT afford Parise, etc.). Currently he would be the 5th highest cap on the NYR ( behind Gaborik (7.5) Drury (7.05) Lundqvist (6.875) Redden (6.5) Total manipulation of the system. The league should call bullshit and block it, then when he comes back to LA with his tail between his legs tell him to pound sand, or make him the Zamboni mechanic on the side to earn his keep.

[Reply]
Alex says:

July 19, 2010 at 8:59 pm

I agree with the Kings not signing Kovalchuk to that contract. And looking at next year’s free agency, I wouldn’t be worried about the Kings missing out this year, there are some great guys next year:

http://www.nhlnumbers.com/freeagents.php?team=none&pos=none&summer=2011&status=none&type=none

(And Yes, Doughty, and Johnson will be RFA’s, but still, so will Parise and Stamkos. The UFA’s look nice as well!)

[Reply]
stagger Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:36 pm
@Alex,

Assuming that many of those guys will sign with their current team, it still looks like a lot of big names will be out there net year.

[Reply]
Joshua T. says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:00 pm

I think a lot of people are missing the point. If Kovy was 22 then I’m sure DL and Co would have thrown the money at him. Bottom line is, how much do you want to be paying a 34 year old scorer. At that age, not many players top 35+ goals. I can see it now, if he would have signed with the Kings, 6 years down the line, when Kopi is 28 and needs a new contract and we can’t sign him becasue we have some guy on the roster making 11.5 Million to score 30 goals all hell would break loose…

[Reply]
Everyone Relax says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:02 pm

I’ve decided it’s a sham. The last 5 years he’s only making $500k/yr, so it’s there just to stretch the contract and lower the per year cap hit, making him affordable. In reality he will retire after 12 years, and walk away from the last 5 and the chump change that goes with it. If you subtract the $2.5mm he will walk away from, that leaves NJ with an $8.33mm cap hit per year for the guy, much different from the $5.3mm the contract reads now (reads NJ CANNOT afford players like Parise and the rest). Currently he would be the 5th highest cap on the NYR ( behind Gaborik (7.5) Drury (7.05) Lundqvist (6.875) Redden (6.5) Total manipulation of the system. The league should call BS and block it, then when he comes back to LA with his tail between his legs tell him to pound sand, or at least make him the Zamboni mechanic to make him earn his keep. (Not meant to offend unionized Zamboni mechanics…you will be his supervisor)

[Reply]
xeropoint says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:05 pm

It’s fine to feel frustrated. It really is. Thats part of being a Kings fan.

But please…

At least TRY and put up a cogent argument as to why we are now so doomed.

Why this up and coming team is somehow lessened by not signing, an admittedly, big-time free agent. Who, by the way, has put up a TON of goals, yet won NOTHING.

I have no love for AEG. We have had a bad team for the majority of thier reign. You can question a lot of DL’s decisions, because there have been a lot of bad ones.

This is NOT one of them!

Take a deep breath and remember how you felt after the kings lost in the playoffs. It hurt and we all wanted to lash out and blame Quick or Murray or Jones, but don’t let your disapointment blind the all the positive things that ARE happening.

This team is young and talented. We have a deep system. They took thier first steps into a brave new playoff world and didn’t look too out of place.

[Reply]
We B Ilya'n says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:05 pm

Now that Philly has picked up yet another dman, look for them to be moving either Carle or Coburn for Justin Williams. Then we pick up Stempniac to replace JW. Now we’re looking a little better…

[Reply]
Disgruntled Kings Fan says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:06 pm

Way to go Kings! Thanks for blowing your only chance to return to the glory of the Gretzky years. Do you realize how badly you screwed up? McNall was 10 times the owner that Anschutz is. All you have to do is look across the hallway at the Lakers organization to realize how horrible a botch up job this was. Do you think Jerry Buss would have let a talent as big as Kovi get away. I am beyond disappointed. Sucks. Don’t give me this cost garbage. You would have had Staples rocking every night. Stupid.

[Reply]
Cry Baby Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
@Disgruntled Kings Fan, That’s right AEG should have offered 120M for 20 years! What a bunch of cheap bastards, the Kings suck now. I hate AEG…WAH, WAH, WAH….GET A GRIP!

SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT SHOULD HAVE DL DONE?

The NJ/Kovi signing is completely retarded. All of you complainers what the heck could DL have done against the numbers NJ offered? This is not a rational deal, Stupid.

[Reply]
sammuch Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
@Cry Baby,

All that matters is the cap! thats it at 6 mil we would not have lost any player or prospect!

Lou has always base his money on how many cups I can win and at least get me in the playoffs for chance to win.

What we think Kovi worth or not is not for us to worry about! The Cap is all we have to worry about thats it!

Buss when he think of winning he only thinks like a champ not like the clippers…

Teams like Det, NJ, Pitts and Chi are thinking how can we be in the playoffs ever year to win the cup and that is the goal.

If you think Lou is crazy and he can win 2 cups under a tatented devloping team he builds year after year for the last 20 years, I rather have him as the owner of the Kings then AEG!

[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
@sammuch,

well…Lamoriello does own a team. A team with Kovulchuk on it! You know what I’m sayin?

Nipper Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
@Disgruntled Kings Fan,
Yeah! We need to go back to the glory days of Gretzky when we spent all that money, gave up draft picks and won all those Cups!!

[Reply]
sstephen17 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:26 am
@Disgruntled Kings Fan, The irony for me was that on Sunday night, I watched a replay of “A Kings Ransom”, the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary about the Gretzky trade. Brought back a lot of fond memories. It introduced the sport of hockey to me and I’ve been a fan ever since. However, what a lot of people posting about the good old days with Gretzky and McNall was that it was all a sham. McNall was a crook, simple as that.

[Reply]
Jason says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:11 pm

Follow the math.

I’m fascinated by people who talk about NJ’s loony contract as only a 6 mil cap hit. We need to remember that cap is based on the annual average value over the term of the contract. It’s a fictional number to circumvent the cap. It’s a fantasy number. Once you look at NJ’s deal as a 8-11 year contract — which is really is — you then see what the real numbers are. And that’s not a theoretical cap hit, but the real amount on money they are going to shell out for this punk of a player.

No hockey player today is worth earning 11.5 million bucks a year for 5 years in a row. That’s insane.

For all of us here, hockey is probably our number one sport. But, in America, football, basketball, and baseball all are more popular and ahead of hockey in terms of fan base. If the NHL were as big as those other sports then we can imagine players earning that kind of cash. But that day isn’t here.

But at least now we know what drives Kovalchuk. Cold hard cash. Filthy lucre. Greed. And now we know how the NJ Devils are run, by criminality, creative math, and pure chicanery.

If the NHL lets that illegal contract stand, it alone almost makes certain that there will be a lockout until the CBA cap loophole is removed. Maybe the NHL should but a max limit to any contract, of say no more than 8-10 years. Or they look at the yearly real value, not the average over time — which as NJ figured out all you have to do is make the time infinite, and like magic, it all works…

Something needs to be done that would prevent teams like NJ from playing fantasies that this guy is going to play for the next 17 years. As it was the Kings were stretching reality to offer the guy 15 years. He’s only got 10-11 years in him. That’s reality.

The Kings dodged a bullet and should be very glad not to have a player of this type of character on the team.

Now they should go find players with heart, and who have North American values as players and as people.

[Reply]
Bill M. Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
@Jason,

You are dead on with Kovy. He is not a real competitor, or he would have come to LA. And if he is not, then we don’t want him. He could have been a Hollywood superstar with a fat paycheck, playing on a team that contended for the cup every single year of his prime.

Instead, he took a job with a fatter paycheck, in a city populated by a chubby little orange woman and a guy they call “The Situation”. And he has 1, MAYBE 2 years for this devils team to win a cup before Brodeur retires and it all goes to hell. If you are trying to win a cup in the NHL, you might get close a couple times before it happens. So trading a few extra shots at it for extra $$$ just shows what he is all about, and it’s the last thing the kings need.

[Reply]
Cynic says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:12 pm

I wanted him as a King.

We offered him a fair deal with a good cap hit for us. Simple numbers dictate Uncle Lou just wanted to win more than us.

Offering 20mil more over a contract term for just 2 more years is a LOT OF MONEY FOLKS! I don’t care HOW you divide it up.

Could we sign the kids with the EXACT SAME DEAL Ilya got from the Devils? HELL NO! 11.5/year for 5 years in his prime? Don’t think every GM isn’t pissed at Lou for this deal right about now. The bar just got raised WAY too high for a league with a hard cap.

Kovi was an important piece, but every single championship team since Ilya has been in the league has won without him.

We can too.

This is a grand opportunity for the kids to step up. SO the team doesn’t jump ahead of plan one year. I’ll deal with it. 30 years a fan and going for 30 more, thick & thin.

It stings and Ilya sucks for dragging this out so long, but he can enjoy the yellow water and armpit stench of New Jersey. He’ll have a lot of $$$ to pay for water conditioners and air freshener.

Next…

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
@Cynic,

Well said, brother!
Inspired by Mikus, no doubt…

[Reply]
King Lopez Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, Just wondering who this Mikus kid is and why i keep hearing about this guy? Please explain.

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
@King Lopez,

Mikus is an experience. It’s impossible to explain, you just have to FEEL him.

Disgruntled Kings Fan Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
@Cynic,
1 Playoff appearance in 7 years. Anschutz would not have lost money with this move. He would have just not have made as much as he’d like. The guy owns a ton of stuff. He’s a billionaire. I frankly only care about 1 thing. I want the Kings to win. They would have been a big winner adding Kovi to the team. Now, guess what, more mediocrity ahead. Enjoy it capologists!

[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
@Disgruntled Kings Fan

Too bad there is more than 1 thing to consider to “win”.

If you can come up with a good reason WHY the kings are winners, by signing Kovulchuk to a 100M+ contract, I’m all ears.

I’m not arguing AEG isn’t cheap or DL has what it takes to “close” but I’m just curious to hear some actual, reasonable, coherent thought behind why he would have made us a contender.

[Reply]
Disgruntled Kings Fan Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
@xeropoint, Why do you think? This guy is a ridiculously prolific scorer, plus super exciting. He is instant offense. Where else are you getting that now? Every team has to pay their talent at some point. When you have a chance to acquire a superstar left winger, you go for it. I keep saying this, because all you koolaid drinkers keep ignoring this small fact. Your LA Kings are hardly ever in the playoffs. Congrat’s, you’ve now saved your money for a deep run in, let’s see 2, 3, 5 years, maybe never. Who’s going to score like Kovalchuk?But you saved money. Fabulous. Well done!

sammuch Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:07 pm
@xeropoint,

One good reason is Hossa, potentional 40 goal scorer every year.

Hossa was on the Atlanta team that did not belive in winning. He went to Pitts almost won the cup! Why just the fact he could score 40 goals gave room for Malken and Sid room to do there stuff. Gets them to finals

Hossa goes to Det makes room for other players to score more goals and do there stuff and him being a threat on the ice to score too. Gets Det in the finals

Hossa goes to Chi says damm this team has a future long and short term. I will sign long term contract and make Toews and Kane a better players while I make room on the ice for them to score. Chicago stanly Cup!!!!!

KOVI is a theret on the ice and now they have to watch him and give more room for Kopi, Simms, DD , JJ. Then Kopi only gets 33 goals while the rest of the guys get 5 extra goals each every f’n year and we will win 1 cup for sure but as many as 3 in 7 years.

That my friend is what Kovi is all about!

Like Hossa saw how Heatly and Kovi are the furture with Atlanta. They all moved on to try to win cup somewhere else.

The Q is not are the kings like Chicago?

The Q is are Kings like Atlanta?

Will Kopi, DD, JJ, Simms, stick around and just deal with mediocrity that Kings have a history of doing the last 15 years?

Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:15 pm
@xeropoint,

Just gonna give this a shot in terms of maybe why…

The Kings have goaltending. Quick has proven he can handle the best. Bernier hasn’t proven much yet, but he looks like he can be something insanely special.

The Kings have some good defense. Doughty and Johnson are good. Really good. Scuderi is a good stay at home guy. Greene too. Still kinda looking for another top 4 guy, and a guy to round things out (though that is easier for one of the kids or Drewiske). They have the foundation, and it’s already really impressive. Just need to solidify things.

On offense the Kings certainly have the two-way game down. The best they got with Kopitar and Brown hustle back as good as the grinders like Richardson and Simmonds. Then of course with vets like Stoll and Handzus the Kings have an offense that knows the defensive aspects pretty well since that is what the team preaches first and foremost.

The penalty kill was shaky at times. The powerplay was extremely streaky this year up until the playoffs where it became the envy of the league. Part of it was the fact was Vancouver’s PK wasn’t great. Another part was the success from Doughty and Johnson. Hopefully Murray remembers this and he can sort out that PK.

Scoring…The Kings finished second to last in the playoffs (coincidentally, ahead of New Jersey) and 19th in the regular season in 5 on 5 goals scored. It was an area the team was looked upon being a weakness. Lombardi knows this too. Why else even bothering going after Hossa, Gaborik, or Kovalchuk? Having a guy that could add 40+ goals is a huge asset. Denying that is pointless. It may not be the most important thing, but it is a helpful thing.

And when it seems all other areas are seemingly addressed, and the one flaw can be remedied, that can be how a team becomes a contender.

Hopefully the Kings can find a way to still do this

xeropoint Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:31 pm
@Digruntled Kings fan AND sammuch:

If you do the math, and read my previous breakdown of 40 goal scorers and their impact on Cup winning teams you would see there is little connection between the two.

There is more to the game than goals. So the only reason these teams made it to the finals and of those, won the whole thing… you’re telling me it’s all because of these guys Hossa and Kovulchuk?

Players don’t need superstars to “make room” for them. They need a talented blueline to make smart plays under pressure. THAT is why chicago won the cup.

THAT is what we were missing. NOT a 50 goal scoring winger. If kovulchuk is hemmed in his own zone for minutes at a time, how is he going to score?

Will he make end to end rushes all game?

I understand goals are exciting. Hell it’s fun watching all those youtube highlight reels of Kovulchuk blasting lasers and roughing up Avery.

However, if you watch him AWAY form the puck you will realize he just isn’t that great. People call Frolov a “loaf” but Kovulchuk is a floater without the puck. At least Frolov has enough sense to play his position, not necessarily looking for points.

Sure the CAP hit could work and we could keep our guys too. But is he the RIGHT guy to push us to the next level? Not even close. I guarentee you Vancouver bounces us in 6 with Kovulchuk on the roster.

It’s not the goals themselves. It’s the other 75% of the game happening AWAY from the play that was our downfall.

Patience and smart moves for a Defenseman will rectify that.

Cynic Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:07 pm
@Disgruntled Kings Fan,

You can cry us a river and sail down it all night long, but if you’re going to tell me that this team isn’t WORLDS better over the last 4 years BECAUSE of what DL has done, You’re smoking good stuff. 3 of those 7, we sucked. the other 3 we were rebuilding. the 7th year we made it. I expect that trend of the playoffs to continue each year BECAUSE of the rebuild WITHOUT Kovi anyway, so who cares? Would have been nice, but it’s not hap’nin so move on.

If you’re complaining because you just want to ‘Win’. I get it. but I don’t want to just ‘Win’, I want a friggin’ DYNASTY! That takes painful time to build and I believe we’re halfway there. We don’t need Kovy for that. If you just want the cheap 1 year cup win, go to Chicago. That team is going to be painful to watch for the next few years. When you win the Cup, you should expect to be a contender for YEARS to come, not one and out.

Be bitter if you want, your choice. Anschutz makes more money than you, presumably because he knows more than you (Or I) on what it takes to do so. He takes PLENTY of risks (See Beckham). Just because he’s not taking the risk YOU want, he’s a bad guy? OK. Build a billion dollar empire, buy the Kings, and pay for the next Ilya then.

Meanwhile, I’ll just deal with what’s next. DL has some work to do and I hope he gets it right.

BTW, I was OK with a 100mil contract over 17 years. I actually put a scenario out there before that I thought would work and it had a less than 6mil/year cap hit in it. Less money up front, more level on the back. Obviously, management was not for it for some reason. I don’t have all the numbers and boxes, so I guess I’ll defer to them.

Overall, the plan is still moving forward. When it starts to move back, I’ll get pissed then. I understand you, I’m just sayin’ we’re not hurt because of it all.

[Reply]
Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
@Cynic,

I would argue the team isn’t hurt at all by it. They still haven’t addressed the top winger they need or top 4 defenseman they should have. Again, hopefully they address those. Either that or I really hope Parse and Muzzin are ready for the demands.

RJB Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
@Cynic,

You people are MORONS…Chicago had Toews, Kane and Sharpe and a developing Kieth and Seabrook..Do you think they needed to sign a high priced Hossa to put them over the top..? YES THEY DID HE MAKES THE TEAM BETTER AT WHATEVER COST…

Kingsfanone Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
@Cynic,

Well said, but doesn’t it go against your name to be supportive & not a *cynic*? I’m jus sayin! I agree totally with you.

[Reply]
Cynic Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
@Kingsfanone,
I guess I’m just an honest hypocrite then.

Cynic is actually a name of a Progressive metal band I like, but I guess I like being Cynical against the negative as well. That’s kinda like a double oxymoron isn’t it, which in itself is an oxymoron…..only doubled….which would make it..

aahhhhhhhhhh skip it.

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:24 pm
@Cynic,

I’m a huge prog metal fan as well! No clue that’s why you called yourself Cynic. Traced in Air is great, too short though!

Puckin-A Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
@Cynic, Cool, you a fan of TOOL? Got to see them the 15th in San Diego. I know they aren’t classified prog like Dream Theater but they fit into a realm of their own kinda like King Crimson. Will look up Cynic , I need to hear new music that is thought provoking and technically sound. Doesn’t have to be overly tech but like musicians who know how to actually use their instruments.

Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
@Cynic,

Damn near brought a tear to my eye! Well said my friend.

[Reply]
UglyinLA says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:19 pm

These Krybabies for Kovy are making me naseous.

I wonder if these are the same people that lease oversized SUVs for 5 years and then realize that they dont have enough money for gas, insurance, and maintenance…and the dealer wont take the SUV back.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:21 pm

Now we are up to 1790 posts in a little more than 12 hours…

Doesn’t feel like much under the circumstances, but there it is…

[Reply]
Jim Jones says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:37 pm

The money situation is very easy.

Between the years of 12/13 to 17/18, the Devils will be paying Kovalchuk $68M. That is too much over 6 years. That would be fine if Kovalchuk was very marketable and would lead to many sellouts that would pay for the contract; but he’s not. He’s not Sid or AO.

If you want Kopitar, Doughty, Johnson, Simmonds, Brown, Greene, Quick, Bernier, Schenn, etc. to eventually be resigned, then you should be happy Kovalchuk is in Newark.

[Reply]
Johnny Forecheck Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
@Jim Jones,

I totally agree with you

[Reply]
b.o.b. by the D Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:26 am
@Jim Jones, I agree too but dean is gonna have to trade at least one of this guy to get the top 6 foward he wants…

Since Dean confirms is looking at trades to fill the hole..

[Reply]
TopShelf says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:42 pm

You guys don’t forget one really important thing…the new owner of the New Jersey Nets is Mikhail Prokhorov, so this is a Kovy’s way in getting closer with the Russian Billionaire and establishing a close freindship, Prokhorov could back Kovy from the Russian Mob in the future and Kovy could use MK to start business together long after Kovy retires…PLUS dont forget Lou was not gonna lose out on this after he traded young prospects to get Kovy from Atlanta, he wasnt gonna walk away with nothing in the end. It was all a fix a set up can you see it now!?

[Reply]
kingfish Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
@TopShelf,
good points especially about Lou wanting to save face

[Reply]
Forecheck! says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:42 pm

Total over reaction as with all these “THE SKY IS FALLING” posts…Now we know who are the Alpha Dogs!

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
@Forecheck!,

No, but we did suck pretty bad last season. 6th is so insulting!

[Reply]
sammcuh Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
@Forecheck!,

6th is correct! Blues was in 7th in 2009, out the playoffs in 2010. Why, for all the teams thought they are playoff team and lots of teams played them hard last year and Blues did not make the playoffs this year.

Play the Kings 5 on 5 and your chances of beating the Kings are about 70%. Vancouver prove this and now other teams know how to beat LA.

How will the Kings deal with this 5 in 5 is my Q?

Last, Alpha Dogs is stated here… The sky is not falling and statments like yours is made for the fact that you must belive in mediocrity that Kings history has shown in the last 15 years.

I want the Kings to play like Lions be the King of the jungle in NHL! So if you prefer being a dog fan just keep barking

[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
@sammcuh,

Hopefully you don’t mean play like the Detroit Lions.

And there are very simple way how 5-on-5 scoring can be improved. I’ll give you a hint: it doesn’t require a russian left winger!

[Reply]
Goring 19 says:

July 19, 2010 at 9:46 pm

Kings v.s. Devils in the finals, now that would be interesting…….

[Reply]
KingsFan Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:05 pm
@Goring 19,

GTL Baby, GTL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

[Reply]
Matt George says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:06 pm

All I know is we better not sign Doughty to big money long term … otherwise we might lose the ability to sign Jack Johnson.

Also, we better not sign Jack Johnson to big money long term … otherwise we might lose the ability to sign Wayne Simmonds.

And we better not sign Wayne Simmonds to big money long term … other ….

hey … when does this end?

so … if a 2 time 50 goal scorer is not worth big money long term … then, who is?

AAHHhhh… i see now

[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
@Matt George,

Does this mean you simply believe AEG is cheap? Or that you over value two-time 50 goal scoring wingers?

If its AEG, I can’t argue (who the hell knows).

If it’s the latter, I can count on one hand how many 50 goal scorers have won it all since 2005.

ZERO

[Reply]
Weas Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:33 am
@xeropoint,

well with 5 years between now and 2005, they could win every year:)

[Reply]
bure10 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:07 pm

wanted Kovi as bad as everyone else but right now I’m kinda pissed at Lou Lam and his bald head!! Kind of sneaky…how in the world are they gonna sign Parise next year as well?!!!

[Reply]
Scramble91 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
@bure10,

i hope youre joking?? The kings currently have 2 players with a higher cap hit than what Kovy signed for..

With a 6 mill cap hit, NJ can sign a bunch of players and still be in good shape. Next season they have a bunch of people coming off the books. They just need to dump 1 player right now before the season starts. DL and AEG got owned by a better GM and franchise, plain and simple.

[Reply]
bure10 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
@Scramble91, I hate getting owned

[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
@Scramble91,

Yea, but who can they dump? Rolston? No one is gonna touch the guy at 5M with a NTC. Elias? I don’t see anyone taking him for 6M either (also NTC).

They can try and dump Salvador or White (NTC), as their cap hits are OK, but that would seriously thin-out an already weak blue line.

No they’re pretty much F*&#ed.

Maybe Langenbrunner

[Reply]
Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
@xeropoint,

Apparently there was some bad blood with Langs and management. Seeing how he is a slightly more valuable asset for a cheaper price, would not be surprised at all if he gets moved. Then the older guys come off the books and they still got Parise, Clarkson, and Zajac. I think people assume NJ is in way more trouble than they are.

KingsFan Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:43 pm
@bure10, we need to draw a line in the sand here. No making fun of bald guys, chrome domes, or Mr. Cleans. Thanks

[Reply]
IceGuy says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:16 pm

Lou will sign him to a 25 year contract, because if Bettman doesn’t void this insane Kovi Kontackt, what’s to stop him? Cap hit of 4.5M per year.

[Reply]
KB says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:17 pm

Someone should remind Helene Elliott that she’s not writing for the inquirer.

“Speaking of money, a few hours after being beaten to Kovalchuk, the Kings notified season-ticket holders that their credit cards will be charged for their first payment Tuesday. Nice timing. And no discount applied for failing to land Kovalchuk or any other free agent.”

I’m pretty sure the real kings fans bought their season tickets before Kovy was an issue. Nice attempt at sensationalism though.

Also, “How do I unfollow someone on twitter?” Good question.

[Reply]
kingfish Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
@KB,
yeah her headline is a joke too.
“Kings gamble and loose big on Ilya Kovalchuk”.

Go to bed Helene

[Reply]
crashin da' net Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:53 am
@kingfish, Maybe Helene is pissed about getting played like a fiddle by DL during these negotiations? Her turn to get even with him with some disparaging headlines.

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:09 am
@KB,

That is just like the Kings…

My dad’s been a season-ticket holder since 1981. I was born in 1990 and have been going to games literally since I was born.

I was born with the Kings and will die with the Kings, with or without a Cup.

[Reply]
Matt George Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:44 am
@KB,

I actually really liked the article.

Her bitterness is well placed.

[Reply]
Scot says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:18 pm

I agree with anybody & everybody who suggests we should go after Patrick Sharp. He is the player the Kings could really benefit from having. Fantastic hard worker, & tons of skill & speed. Very strong 2-way player, & a good guy.

[Reply]
Johnny Forecheck says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:22 pm

Kopitar: 40+ M over 6 years. Is he worth the money? Yes

Kovulchuk: 54 M over 6 years. Is he worth the money? To the Kings? No

Kopitar is a more valuable player to the Kings.

Dean’s Hierarchy:

Goalies > Defensemen > Centers > Wingers

We are gonna need money for Doughnut and JMFJ plus unknown breakout players in the Organization…trust me, we will.

[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:36 pm
@Johnny Forecheck,

Agreed. But there is something strangely familiar with this post…

I think some douche named xeropoint stole this exact post from you earlier in the thread.

[Reply]
bure10 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:26 pm

only way to get Mr.Sharp is through a trade though…and it seems like the blackhwks still want him badly…

[Reply]
Scramble91 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
@bure10,

not picking on you…but once again, when will kings fans realize, we will not get Sharp unless we overpay for him. IF the hawks have to dump him, there are many teams NOT in the western conference that will trade for him. Look at the rest of the hawks dumps this offseason…is there a trend that you guys see there? Yes, they are all in the eastern conference.

So the question would be, would you want to overpay (and sacrifice our depth) for a second liner who is slightly better than frolov?

[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:03 pm
@Scramble91,

Agreed. Sharp ain’t happening.

Chicago is obviously dealing to the east so far. Frolov statistically, is the better player. Might as well overpay him again.

Alexander Frolov Career regular season PPG: 0.71
playoff PPG: 0.66
Patrick Sharp career regular season PPG: 0.58
playoff PPG: 0.66

[Reply]
scvking Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:32 am
@Scramble91,
I agree it is unlikely we would be able to obtain Sharp, although I would certainly want him.

I think the notion of sacrificing depth to get Sharp is not clear to me. If the Hawks trade Sharp, they will do so because they have cap issues. They will not be able to trade Sharp and take on salary. They would want prospects or picks, at least that is how I see it. We have an abundance of young talent in the organiztion. Isn’t it possible to offer enough of that talent to convince Chicago to part with Sharp? Moeller, Teubert, Loktionov, etc. are all “potential” guys. We have no idea how they will pan out. I would certainly give up some of that potential for an established NHL player the caliber of Sharp. Let another team deal with some of our “potential”.
I did just read that Chicago is saying they are not trading Sharp. Hard to know how serious to take that, though. Everyone is available for the right price.

[Reply]
tornado12 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:28 pm

What happens if the NHL doesn’t approve contract?

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:12 am
@tornado12,

First off, they probably won’t void it… there’s something against “circumvention of the cap”, but when they drew up this new CBA, they had this huge loophole. They “investigated” the Hossa and Pronger contracts, and nothing came from it.

And besides, if they voided it, all that’d mean is that we’d be stuck with another three weeks of Kovalchuk… We have Kovalchuk-itis. Even though he signed with them, I don’t think Devils fans even want to hear his name ever again.

But if they voided it, then I assume he’s a UFA again, and we get to do this all over again. Not sure if there would be any penalties against the Devils, because I don’t know the CBA that well.

[Reply]
Matt George Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:56 am
@Kevin Y,

Correct me if I’m wrong but Bettman is first and foremost a lawyer.

And, by the rules in play now, the contract should be valid.

HOWEVER, and this is a big however, Bettman is also steward of the NHL, and as such, clearly this contract is an abuse of the spirit of the collective bargaining agreement. As such, this piece of shi*t should be VOIDED.

Explain to me how it’s fair that in ANY year of his contract he should get paid 11.5 million and only 6million go against the cap hit?

That’s about as classless as it gets.

[Reply]
tornado12 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:21 am
@Matt George, agreed. it sets a trend in the wrong direction. Whats to stop a classless GM (kevin lowes of the world) and win it all costs owner (Jerry Buss like) from assembling whatever players they want and completely defeating the purpose of the cap. Why did we fans lose a whole year of NHL hockey for then? What was the point? The weasel Bettman has to do alot of explaining to do if he approves this contract! I see another lost year of the NHL when the current CBA expires and this contract will be a main ralling point for the owners! And who is gonna suffer most? thats right US FANS!
fourtunato says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:32 pm

wow, I knew the economy was bad, but I had not idea so many general managers were out of work.

[Reply]
lakingsfan89 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:36 pm

I always get free tickets and with all this hoopla I think im gonna get a whole lot more. I hope we keep rebuilding for 20 more years victory will be sweeter in the end as well as cheaper.

[Reply]
KingsFan says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:39 pm

For all you Colbert fans out there, I doubt the “truthiness” of these sky is falling reports. However, this non-signing does put the Kings in a bind for this year. I see 2010-11 as a “gap” year for the Kings, meaning that their top minor league prospects are still a year away from being ready for the NHL.

Prior to our off-season moves, we needed a scoring winger, a top-four mobile defenseman, and a second line center. Now, we likely need to replace Frolov’s 20-30 goals, and need to replace OD as the physical 6th defenseman (should be doable with Drewiske, and personal opinion, I don’t think Randy Jones is an NHL player, but lets say he is), and that’s just to get back even to where we were last year. We missed out on every major free agent, despite reportedly going hard after Paul Martin and Hamhuis, but still came up empty. So now by losing out on Kovi, if we want to improve the team, DL’s hands are tied to trades for the rest of summer, which he will likely have to overpay for since other GMs will know he’s in a pinch. We just don’t have the internal options to fill these holes with improvements this year. Moller and Loktionov won’t fill out enough over 3 months of summer to be ready, the odds of Schenn being ready to fill a 2nd line center role are remote, and we will be forced to bring up one or two of the young defenseman (probably Voynov or Muzzin plus Drewiske, with Hickey having an outside chance to challenge Voynov and Muzzin) to play a top-four defenseman role as a rookie- a tall order at the toughest rookie position in the NHL.

The Kovi situation brought the free-agent and trade market to a halt, but you can count on that picking up again now that Kovi has set the contract bar, and I trust DL to still have some trades up his sleeve. As it stands now, I don’t at all worry about the Kings long term future, but I do worry about next year. As competitive as the West is, I don’t think it’s any guarantee that we make the playoffs next year without some additional moves. And if you think 1800 blog posts is a lot, just imagine what the reaction would be if that happened…

[Reply]
Matt George Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:00 am
@KingsFan,

I know all about the truthiness thing.

And I’m definitely NOT a Colbert fan.

That guy is exactly what he preaches against.

ok …no politicsnopoliticsnopolitics

[Reply]
CupRun2011 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
@KingsFan, all very good points…and I will add that even if we did win the Kovi Sweepstakes (Kovi replaces Fro @ LW), we would still have the other holes you mentioned to fill. So we double the goal output at LW, but maybe lose some D from that position. We need a second line C, a puck-moving top 4 D and someone to replace OD.

Of course I neglect to mention that Kovi would have been a HUGE plus on PP and help the 1st line…that includes to production of Kopi + TBD RW.

[Reply]
KingsfaninJp says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:39 pm

Cap hit is only 6 mil. Reality 11.5 mil. Is a guy who will never score 50 goals in a season again worth it? Really? The 6 mil cap hit means there is a way to cheat the system. OK, no salary cap, how much is he worth? Still not 11.5! Most would say 8 mil, now a 6 mil cap hit on 8 mil per year would be worth cheating for.

[Reply]
Scramble91 Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
@KingsfaninJp,

i love that people are saying this now, but do you think DD wont demand a similar type of contract? If the kings dont learn to play the front office game, then the “core” will win cups on other teams.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
@Scramble91,

Hahaha are you kidding?! At 21 years old he’s going the “$100M or Bust” route??! Ok

[Reply]
KingsfaninJp Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:19 pm
@Scramble91, DD is an asset, JJ is an asset, Kopi is an asset…. If they demand more than their value then they should be sent packing. Are you a team fan or a player fan?

[Reply]
Scramble91 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:19 am
@KingsfaninJp,

How do you know what market value is? the precedent was set with Kovy being the biggest FA in a long time. What do you think the best players will reach for when its contract negotiating time? Its professional sports…it has no bearing whether im a team or player fan. If the LA kings dont pony up anytime in the near future, you will see our “core” go to other teams..then what will DL and AEG say?? Its a cycle that kings fans have always been through.

tuan jim Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:23 am
@Scramble91,

There’s a difference between doing a “lifetime contract” for a forward — i.e., a 17-year $102 mil deal that’s actually 10-year-$95 mil — who will be collecting social security at the end of it and a prospective Norris trophy-winning defenseman who’s only 21 or 22 years old.

Doughty is actually worth such a long-term contract. He’s likely to play well throughout the course of it — not “retire” during the last seven years when the actual payroll takes a nose-dive.

In fact, if we can get DD for a $6-mil/year cap hit and keep him for his entire career I’d say mazel tov!

However, I expect a shorter term with a good deal more frontloading of income. JJ may want something like that himself (though I fear he really would prefer to play elsewhere). Simmer should be nailed to the floor like a Strassbourg goose and not be allowed to escape to any other team.

[Reply]
chuckrocks says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:45 pm

i cant wait to see who we dont get next year……..

[Reply]
chuckrocks says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:53 pm

there is no way in hell Chicago will trade Sharp to the Kings. not going to happen. Another first round exit for our Kings. AEG you suck.

[Reply]
smk49 says:

July 19, 2010 at 10:59 pm

New poster here but followed it from it’s birth…was on LGK from year one and quit posting because, well…because of what it is now.
I’ve been a fan of this team for over 25 years…which of course just makes me feel that much older with another birthday coming up. I’ve seen the good, the uber-sh*t, and and the multiple rebuild era’s of the Kings. Today just felt like the Kovy to LA deal was not gonna happen and of course, that kick in the gut is exactly what happens. Seeing yet another prized UFA slip away was enough to leave me deciding which bottle to select from…the Vicodin or the Vallium.

However, after some major “cool down” time…that contract is insane that Lou gave him and as bitter as it is to not see what could have been the most exciting winger in years wearing the Kings crown, I have to agree with DL. Yeah we’ve heard the upcoming RFA rant, but it is valid. Top flight wingers are eye candy, but a generational talent defenseman like Doughty is so very rare and he is going to eventually be in the 8 million range himself and you just DON’T let a guy like that leave over money. Uncle Lou is in a cap quagmire and is gonna have to dump some quality guys for cheap. Add Parise’s contract next year…oy vey. Someone else posted on HF…Lou may just be into “eff it” and let the next GM clean up the mess when he retires.

But I do think that the major concern that most Kings fans who have been around long enough is the track record DL has (as mentioned by everyone) when it comes to not only luring UFA’s, but keeping his RFA’s without going “scorched earth” and leaving a very sour taste in players mouths. Moves like signing Lubo to a 5 year deal and then trading him before the NTC kicked in was a d#ck move (whether you agree with the trade or not). There are only so many players out there and word gets around about how GM’s negotiate and treat players. Also, count me as one of in the group that just does not think Jack Johnson wants to be an LA King long term. Really contract issues with him first coming out of MI to the childish back and forth comments between JJ and DL about his college coach,etc…I don’t know…I just don’t feel it so it makes me wonder about the hype of locking up JJ long term when I just get the feeling the guy wants to wear another sweater.

I’m just spitballing here after wrestling with trying to get my 19 month old kid to sleep…but with a history of failure to lure players over his years as a GM, it begs the question, does his reputation amongst the guys who actually lace up the skates have some stink to it? DL is a brilliant scholar of the game, and has a tremendous eye for later round talent, and of course has taken what was really a pile of sh*t prospect pool and built it into what most experts agree with as the top 3 in the league. But I wonder…is he the man, and does he have the stones (and again, yes I drink the DL kool aid) to get “the guy” to help put the Kings into the cup favorite grouping or does he suffer from prospect pool myopia?

I’m not sure…he has some serious work to do to shore up the top 6 and a top 4 d is a must as everyone knows. I’ve been looking at other teams that are up against the cap and I’m just not seeing a lot of top wingers that another GM would part with without gutting the pipleline.

Anyways, just thoughts. Thanks for letting me rant.

[Reply]
fourtunato Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:58 am
@smk49,

Interesting take in DL. He may not be the guy but I’ll wait a couple months to see what shakes out before I write him and the Kings off for one more season. I never liked IK and I get the feeling neither did DL and RH. I think they go for the grittier two way player than a one way goal scorer with no history of winning. I know my opinion of IK is not popular here but it is what it is.

[Reply]
KingsFan says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:06 pm

Just read Helene Elliott’s article. Let’s just say it: she’s a hater. But it’s not like she doesn’t raise valid points. I hadn’t heard the rumor that TL pushed Kovi onto DL, but that’s interesting. You know Kovy isn’t the ideal teammate for one reason alone- he doesn’t play defense. As in most sports, defense is about effort and benefitting the team above yourself, and quite frankly, players in all sports who aren’t willing to play defense make me sick. Throw in the competetive dollar thing with Ovie etc, and I really hurl a lung. All that being said though, I still think the Kings had to get Kovi, if for no other reasons than the fanbase deserved it. We will need to make some moves prior to the season to fix the situation and already existing holes.

[Reply]
Cynic says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:16 pm

DL could make all of this hatred go away if he would just POACH BOBBY RYAN!

3 years, 5.5mil/year.

I’ll give up the 3 1st rounders. Don’t care. Still cheaper than Ilya and I’ll trade for first rounders if I need them later. Our prospect pool is stacked.

[Reply]
kingfish Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
@Cynic,
how about we poach Ryan or offer something really good for Parise? I know nobody believes NJ would give up Parise, but it looks like now may be the time. unless we wait a year and try to poach him too. Ive been saying it for weeks. there has to be a deal Lou would take. I would trade either Quick Simmonds, Hickey, Tuebert, Williams if necessary. obviously not all but at least any 2 + prospect.

[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:53 am
@kingfish,
They won’t trade Parise. He’s untouchable. Do you think they would sign Ik to such a huge contract just to trade away their other franchise player?
Think again.

[Reply]
goldielocks Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:06 am
@Cynic,

I agree with you 100%.

[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:51 am
@Cynic,
Cynic, do you think it will be As good of an idea when the Ducks poach Drew Doughty back from us? That might make us regret having gone after Bobby Ryan no?

[Reply]
Cynic Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:56 am
@number 6 & Blugator

I’ve mentioned this a bunch of times. I’m not worried about DD or any other RFA being poached from us if we simply lock them up early. San Jose tried to poach the D-man from CHI. DO you see Chi trying to do it to SJ? True, they are in no position to do so now, but that was kind of the point Doug Wilson had. Take advantage of your opponet while you can. DW Locks up his RFA’s early anyway. Chi matched the offer sheet, effectively weakening them even further.

Who did SJ fight with for top spot in the Conference this year? Who beat who in the playoffs this year? DW has now weakened the opposition a little more for this coming season.

THe point: Either way, whether he gets the player or not, SJ wins. Either they get a top d-man at a decent price or their opponet has even less cap space and will have to ditch more players, weakening their core.

Anaheim has a BIG problem at D-. Very weak. Bobby Ryan wants a 3 year deal so he can be an RFA @ 27 that Anaheim will not give him. THey want longer term. Anaheim has already offered him 5mil/year for 5 years, which BR refused. If we offer BR 5.5mil/year for 3 years, BR will sign that deal. Anaheim will match most likely, but now their locked into a contract they don;t want for MORE money than they were willing to offer, which leaves less for the d-men they need THIS season. That’s a division rival over there. If we can put them in a position of weakness, great. If for some reason they let BR go, WE GET BOBBY RYAN! Either way we win. All we need to do is lock up our RFA’s early and we’ll be fine.

Has Edmonton been poached by the Ducks or Brian Burke since Penner? Edmonton is not devoid of talent. IMHO, it’s a big worry for nothing. I think DL has an opportunity here.

Hell, if he’s not open to poaching, try to offer a trade. Maybe he already has, but he should offer it with the caveat that if they can’t work something out, we’ll be poaching. That way Murray (Ducks GM) can’t say he didn;t see it coming.

Just my point of view of it all.

[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:15 am
@Cynic,

Read your responses below. You don’t just DO things cause, yeah, that would be cool, let’s Do It!!

blugator Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:53 am
@Cynic, Attempting to poach Bobby Ryan will not get us Bobby Ryan. Anaheim has already stated they will match any offer, and, they have the CAP space to do just that. Besides, that would throw the “poaching door” wide open next year, when we have about 18 RFA’s coming due, including some very key players. Why open that can of worms when it will gain us nothing? That fact (~ 18 RFA’s) also helps to explain why DL was reluctant to mess with our cap space for IK.

[Reply]
fourtunato Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:03 am
@blugator,

Does anyone remember DL’s quote about other GM’s poaching Kings players. Something about a scorched earth response. I don’t recall it exactly but I doubt he’d go out and try it after going on record that he’d retaliate big time if anyone tried it with the Kings.

[Reply]
blugator Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:36 am
@fourtunato,
Yeah, I sure do remember that, which is why I said it would open the “poaching door” against DL. Not a smart move, and I don’t think he would even consider it.
Doc. Mark 1968 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:16 pm

There is too much vitriol going on today to add much that is new right now.

But I am wondering why everyone is talking about Patrick Sharp. If you have not figured this out by now, the Kings will not give up what it takes to get a guy like Sharp.

I love Sharp as much as anyone, but on the ‘Hawks. He has success because he is on that team, which runs that system. As far as the Kings go, we already have a “Sharp.” His name is Stoll, and he is a far better face-off man to boot.

We now still need a top defenceman, someone to play on the left side of Zeus, and someone to play on the left side of AK. I love Smyth but he belongs with Stoli and Brown; they kick ass.

If those spots are not filled, your guess is as good as mine.

[Reply]
Puckin-A says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:22 pm

Just was really thinking about all the angles of this situation and then this popped in my head: My grandpa Stu Vollick had season tickets since the Kings inagural season, he loved going to Kings games and that was his team, even though he was canadian and later moved to Detroit,then to LA he embraced the brand new team. So every year he renewed no matter what the product was due to his love of the game and the team.Then the Gretzky trade happened and guess who gets priced out of his seats that he had since day 1???? My loyal grandpa who would take his son ( my uncle) or me to the games. The point is that if we signed Kovalchuck the$$$$ would directly affect the fan. This is a business and when Gretzky came the blue collar fan was priced out of their tickets so stars and business men/women could show up in the second period and leave before the end of regulation. It was all due to signing a star and his entourage. It wasn’t a hockey game it was an LA event, an evening of Gretzky.

[Reply]
Bonvivant1 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
@Puckin-A, That’s an interesting and poignant take on the whole situation. Too often I’ve gone to games and I have seen fans who could care less about the Kings, let alone the game, sitting in seats fit for a king. Then it dawned on me that in the end it really doesn’t matter. If the Kings win with this team ticket prices will go up. If they don’t win ticket prices may or may not go up depending upon whether or not this recession continues. Apparently L.A was not a big enough draw for the Kovalchuk family. I didn’t think the schools were that bad either.

[Reply]
lakingsfan89 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:39 pm

Here’s a couple ideas lemme know what you guys think.
A) Trade for Alex Semin for his fighting skills.
B) Trade for Marty Havlat and his ability to stay off IR

[Reply]
HB Kings Fan #99 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:41 pm

I for one can’t wait for 10/30/10. I hope Kovi is shotless, Kings win big, and Doughty or JJ get a chance to level Ilya K.

[Reply]
Puckin-A says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:56 pm

Frolov haters name one King who has his puck possession and takeaway skills. He also had 30+ assists and increased defensive responsibility playing against other teams top lines. I watched every televised game and don’t see any of the things Frolov haters saw. I saw plenty of Kings go through scoring droughts. I even saw Brownie take some games off, as Did Kopi and many from JMFJ and some nights even Simmer looked kinda worn out. However T Murray already had his scapegoat so Fro was publicly bashed.(on purpose to drive down his value in case he was a last option at a UFA???? ) Something to ponder?[Reply]

[Reply]
UglyinLA Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:54 am
@Puckin-A,

I saw the same things you did regarding Frolov. He was strong in the corners and skated back hard on defense.

For some reason unknown to the public, management (AEG) has soured on Frolov. And its curious that the rest of the league hasnt touched him either.

[Reply]
Puckin-A Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
@UglyinLA, Yeah, it is an odd situation. I have seen many 30+ goal scorers have “off” aka less productive years, whether it was from a new system,line mates, increased defensive responsibility, injuries, an improved conference,or just plain bad luck. I have also wittinessed them return to form as well. I think AEG and mgmt thought they drafted a superstar with Frolov and panicked when his numbers declined and seemed to struggle adapting to TM vision of Frolov defending top lines and scoring at an increased pace. However you can’t expect that when you put him on the 3rd & 4th line to have the same offensive output as a 1st line winger. He got less offensive opportunity and wasn’t with playmakers who would open up the ice for him. I know he can score but he is not a sniper and never will be, he is a puck possession player with very skilled hands but an average shot. He also is a great skater, not fast but very technical and deceptive with his change of speeds.

[Reply]
vicarious Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
@UglyinLA, Apparently its a money issue. Helene wrote that the rumor was Fro wanted 5 million a year or more and, while he was the best forward on the Kings for a while and I hope they resign him, 5 mill a year is apparently pricey for what Fro brings to the team. While the Kings were pursuing Kov, they had no salary space with which they could sign Fro so its not surprising there were no talks. I’m not sure what DL might hv said on that one (i really like this pretty girl, but if she blows me off, then maybe we can go to the prom?) On Fro’s negative side (which all people have) he’s proven he can play in the NHL but not that he can help so much a team win in the NHL. Personally, I think his scoring wld rise dramatically if you played him with 2 other scorers but thought he was a good fit on the checking line.

[Reply]
EJ Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
@Puckin-A, you can try and convince fans all you like, but the reality is that unless DL is interested, it ain’t gonna happen.

[Reply]
nate101 says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:57 pm

Very good source: @dchesnokov – KHL’s Salavat Yulaef started negotiations with Alexander Frolov. if he gos what next..

[Reply]
johnny says:

July 19, 2010 at 11:58 pm

Don’t kill the messenger Guys…. because of bad management up front failed to see Kovi was just used the Kings as bait and let most of the other UFA go and sign somewhere else, it is still falls on the management shoulder, besides that it would of been a bad deal to sign Kovi more than 6.5 mill / year and max 5 years…S. Gagne would of been the best player for the Kings. I think DL is like Mellrose whom traded one of the best defensman P. Coffey for 3 loozzzers.

What is up with Frolov? Can we get anything for him, he is good to protect the puck, but slows down the game so much sometimes thinking this is a senior game after the actual game….
I missed good hockey in LA for over 10 years now, but if you guys don’t see a problem with this team… It is already F-d Up. I don’t think the Kings will make the playoffs with this players….
Check it out… We will have 3d time charmer R. Blake soon and asking Brown the “C” back……

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:03 am
@johnny, Gagne wasn’t really an option; he has been quoted as saying his first choice to list his NTC was just to Tampa, not the Kings.
No we can’t get anything for Fro, he is UFA now.

I for one, am extremely! excited about next years team!

[Reply]
rontheking Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:29 am
@johnny,

Barry Melrose was overrated as a coach IMHO but I never knew he was calling the shots as GM on trades…now I like him even less. The b–tard!

As for fro, I think his puck possession skills on the forecheck are a very good thing. It allows for a young team to settle down and set up their offense. Unless you prefer the constant excitement of the other team stealing the puck and storming toward your goalie en masse…I’m okay with the game slowing at times in the offensive end. But that’s just me….

[Reply]
Jeff says:

July 20, 2010 at 12:08 am

So what am I missing here? Some of you folks act like we just walked away from Wayne fricken Gretzky.

PEOPLE, PLEASE STEP AWAY FROM THE GLUE YOU’RE SNIFFING. The guy is a solid player sure, but he scored a whopping 42 goals. For $11.5M a year, the guy should be putting up 50+ goals a year and at least 100 points. Sorry pal, show me something on the ice, then I’ll show you the money.

[Reply]
Goring 19 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:50 am
@Jeff, exactly. Didn’t Kopitar score like what, 34 goals? 8 less than the 100 million dollar man? You can’t tell me Kopi won’t be scoring 40 plus soon.

[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
@Goring 19,

He will blow by 40 this year, and play both ends of the ice.

[Reply]
chuckrocks says:

July 20, 2010 at 12:35 am

Deans free agent report card: Strike 1 Drury, strike two Gomez, strike three Chara, strike four Gaborik, strike five Hossa, strike six Kovi. Im not saying I wanted most of these players its just fricking weak Dean cant get anyone to come here thats not drafted and dont say “well he got Scuderi” cause who cares. who did Dean get? an overpriced Handzus, Nagy, Calder. I will have to give Dean an F for his inability to get someone who is worth a sh%t to come to LA and bring them to the next level…. good thing he just got signed to a two year extention……

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:05 am
@chuckrocks,

Scuderi & Zeus are sh!t?? haha NICE! Gotta love the pure sunshine around here

[Reply]
johnny Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:59 am
@John, chuckrocks may used a poor choice of words but he is 100% correct, a GM missed so much great players to get them into the Kings lineup.. Most of the people would be fired with this job performance. Please take a look at the new GM at Tampa, he already made 2-3 excellent trades, they will be very strong on this season, and the Kings will be very happy to make the playoffs again at 7th or 8th place… That is not justify to buy any season ticket at all !!

[Reply]
EJ Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
@John, yeah, I don’t get it at all. These people hate DL so much, and hate the current lineup so much, and are just generally so miserable, why don’t they give up and go do something else. They could take up another team, or better yet, take up a hobby that isn’t so emotionally challenging. Actually now that I think about it, I do get it. Nothing will make them happy. They don’t have it in them.

[Reply]
nykingfan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:03 am
@chuckrocks,

Gotta love how you throw in that little “not saying I want most of these guys”
Then why bring them up if you don’t want them? Who the heck would want Drury and that ridiculous contract? So if DL would have gone for that and overpaid…that wouldn’t be a strike against him?
Cmon!

[Reply]
chuckrocks Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:33 am
@nykingfan, The point is Dean can not get anyone to come here, not who he tried to get to come here and Im not saying Zues and Scuderi are sh%t Im just saying they are not superstar game changers. Dean can not get any game changers who were not drafted to comes to LA, plain and simple.

[Reply]
hockeysureshot Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
@chuckrocks, You should be thrilled we didn’t sign Drury and Gomez. THRILLED

[Reply]
goldielocks says:

July 20, 2010 at 12:54 am

Oh, yeah. There is no doubt Kovi would bring excitemet to the fans if he ever joins Kings. But wait … what about the chemistry and the team work?

Do you guys think Kovi will fit Kings system? Or can he still be effective against teams in western conference with tighter defense? I haven’t followed his game alot but by watching the playoffs replay, I can see he don’t play much defense.

Remember Kopi(2 season ago) and Fro(last season) both struggled big time by playing defensive role? And remember when JW joined Kings, TM and DL regarded him as a defensive minded hardwork winger? That’s exactly what we need. Not an offensive minded only player.

I believe when Kovi visit LA, TM briefly explained our system to him. I don’t know what his impression was but maybe the guy got scared because he knew his production will go down if he plays defense.

Like I said, adding sperster to the team brings excitement and possibly an immediate effect. But what if it doesn’t work as we expected? Ok …. he isn’t as good as we thought …. perhaps there’s something wrong with the team or the system? Really? That’s just ridiculous.

Building the team around one individual is a double edged sword. If this individual got injured the whole team goes down. And when this player retires the team has to repeat the whole process all over again. I think Devils will suffer consequences like that.

Our GM played cool. Alright … if we can get him with right price why not? Hopefully we can find the way to use his talent WITHOUT jeopardizing our system and our young core players. But if the price is too high, we don’t have to take a risk.

See? Signing Kovi was already a risk. Do we need additional risks by paying unreasonable salary?

Kovi wanted to play in LA and his wife wanted to come to LA. Huh … maybe that was true. But if he said He wants to be a King, he has to play along within Kings system. That’s really risky … He knew. Or if DL or TM said we are going to build a team for him, he might have signed.

Oh, well. All is over and I don’t hate his decision really but if we ever meet in SC final I would like to see Kings shoves it back to his face. That would be priceless.

[Reply]
tsaiguy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:22 am
@goldielocks,

Sure, if the Kings ever make the finals again. Dave Lombardi and AEG have shown over and over again that they are unwilling to pay the price to win.

DL can talk all he wants about his “boxes”, and how he doesn’t want to be the next Chicago. Atleast they have a Cup.

Watch, with the way AEG is worried more about having to pay Kovalchuk and Doughty mega-money in the same year, rather than a totally manageable cap hit, this Kings “core” will wind up being the next Boston Bruins (Neely, Bourque, and Oates era) ….

All I have to say is that when Kovalchuk retires, taking his 6 million dollar cap hit with him, in the last 5 years of his contract, he might have a championship ring to take with him to the Bank … All the other teams are taking advantage of this loophole… But not the Kings.

[Reply]
Dorian Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:33 am
@tsaiguy,

Don’t you mean Samuel Lombardo??? LOL!

[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
@tsaiguy,

AP reports IK-NJ deal will be voided,

rejected by NHL saying IK will not play at age 40 for $515K

[Reply]
Minas says:

July 20, 2010 at 2:40 am

20 goals from DD and add another 12 from JJ…heck they each might get 20 from the blue line….that’s 40 goals for you right there. that should cancel out the 40 we were gonna get from Kovy
we are going to be just fine!

[Reply]
Chewy says:

July 20, 2010 at 3:16 am

So just want to make sure I’m reading this corectly….Kovi’s cap hit in NJ will be 6 mil….and what we offered would have been 5.3….and management has the balls to tell it’s fans who pay the bills it’s not about the money….am I reading this corretly….I’m ok with not landing Kovi but I’m not ok with the bs the give us.

[Reply]
Dorian Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:21 am
@Chewy,

you have to look at the difference. They added 2 years and 20 million more than us. A 15 year contract is already suicide if you ask me……But the most important part is that in 2 years Kovy’s contract pays him $11.5 mill for 5 years. That would be a huge problem when signing a guy like Doughty, as DL mentioned. Just cuz we have money doesn’t mean we should spend it recklessly. If this was Ovechkin or Crosby we’re trying to sign, you throw everything at them and run….but until Kovy proves that he’s a big game player and not just flash and dash, then he’s not worth that money….Let’s see how NJ is gonna keep their players in a year or two.

[Reply]
sammuch says:

July 20, 2010 at 3:40 am

@xeropoint,

WHAT A 40 GLS SCORERING THREAT DOES TO A TEAM!

ITs not if he can score 40 gls a seasons, its threat that he can socore 40 plus goals that can create other players to score more goals also. Agian thats what the Kings do not have and what kovi can do…

I will go back to all the teams that won the cup since New NHL started in 2005. In why you need a guy who can score 40 goals as a THREAT on the ice to win the CUP!

I agree with on the D’s, we have DD & JJ for that! So thats a done deal in what you said.

2006 – Canes won the cup

1 40 gl and 3 30 gls and 2 20 gls scorers

1 Eric Staal CAR C 82 45 55 100
2 Justin Williams CAR R 82 31 45 76
3 Cory Stillman CAR L 72 21 55 76
4 Rod Brind’Amour CAR C 78 31 39 70
5 Erik Cole CAR L 60 30 29 59
6 Ray Whitney CAR L 63 17 38 55
7 Matt Cullen CAR C 78 25 24 49
8 Frantisek Kaberle CAR D 77 6 38 42
9 Bret Hedican CAR D 74 5 22 27
10 Aaron Ward CAR D 71 6 19 25

2006 – DuCKS

1 40 gls and 4 20 gls scorers and 3 guys in the teens

1 Teemu Selanne ANA R 82 48 46 94
2 Andy McDonald ANA C 82 27 51 78
3 Scott Niedermayer ANA D 79 15 54
4 Chris Kunitz ANA L 81 25 35 60
5 Chris Pronger ANA D 66 13 46 59
6 Ryan Getzlaf ANA C 82 25 33 58
7 Dustin Penner ANA R 82 29 16 45
8 Corey Perry ANA R 82 17 27 44
9 Francois Beauchemin ANA D71 7 21 28

2008 Det

1 40 gls 1 30 gls and 4 20 gls scores 4 guys in the teens.

1 Pavel Datsyuk DET C 82 31 66 97
2 Henrik Zetterberg DET L 75 43 49 92
3 Nicklas Lidstrom DET D 76 10 60 70
4 Brian Rafalski DET D 73 13 42 55
5 Dan Cleary DET R 63 20 22 42
6 Jiri Hudler DET C 81 13 29 42
7 Tomas Holmstrom DET L 59 20 20 40
8 Mikael Samuelsson DET R 73 11 29 40
9 Johan Franzen DET R 72 27 11 38
10 Valtteri Filppula DE C 78 19 17 36
11 Niklas Kronwall DET D 65 7 28 35

2009 PiTTS

2 30 gls and 2 20 gls scorers but 11 total guys who have scored in the teens. why? Malkin and SID 40 gls scorering threats.

1 Evgeni Malkin PIT C 82 35 78 113
2 Sidney Crosby PIT C 77 33 70 103
3 Jordan Staal PIT C 82 22 27 49
4 Petr Sykora PIT R 76 25 21 46
5 Ruslan FedotenkoPIT L 65 16 23 39
6 Miroslav Satan PIT R 65 17 19 36
7 Tyler Kennedy PIT C 67 15 20 35
8 Kris Letang PIT D 74 10 23 33
9 Matt Cooke PIT L 76 13 18 31
10 Pascal Dupuis PIT L 71 12 16 28
11 Maxime Talbot PIT C 75 12 10 22
12 Alex Goligoski PIT D 45 6 14 20
13 Sergei Gonchar PIT D 25 6 13 19

2010 Chi

1 30 gls 5 20 gls and 14 total players who scored in the teens.

But look at HOSSA stat 24 goals in 54 games if thats not a threat of 40 goals and then add the talent of the young hawks. Bingo!

1 Patrick Kane CHI R 82 30 58 88
2 Duncan Keith CHI D 82 14 55 69
3 Jonathan Toews CHI C 76 25 43 68
4 Patrick Sharp CHI L 82 25 41 66
5 Marian Hossa CHI R 57 24 27 51
6 Kris Versteeg CHI L 79 20 24 44
7 Troy Brouwer CHI L 78 22 18 40
8 Andrew Ladd CHI L 82 17 21 38
9 Brian Campbell CHI D 68 7 31 38
10 Dustin ByfuglienCHI L 82 17 17 34
11 Brent Seabrook CHI D 78 4 26 30
12 John Madden CHI C 79 10 13 23
13 Tomas Kopecky CHI R 74 10 11 21

Thats it, so tell me again what team has not won the cup without a 40 gls scorer threat in NHL the last 5 years.

[Reply]
Ike Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:23 am
@sammuch, by your own data, Chicago and Pittsburgh won the cup without 40goal scorers.

You use the argument of “threat of a 40 goal scorer”. Well Kopitar is a 40goal threat so there you go.

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:00 am
@Ike, Agreed Ike

[Reply]
NOT IMPRESSED Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:11 am
@Ike, Problem is Kopitar is no more consistant than Frolov.

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:13 am
@NOT IMPRESSED, I am going to contribute at least a small part of that to the inconsitency of his line mates all year due to injury.

Also, Kopitar is only 23!!! haha i always forget because it feels like he has been a fixture here forever already. Kopy is on the verge of superstardom

sammuch Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:46 am
@Ike,

Again the word is THREAT! Is there are guy on the team that has scored 40 goals or more on the team in there career?

Now did Crosby and Malkin on Pitts score more then 40 gls in there career? Yes

now did Hossa On Chi ever score more then 40 gls in there career? Yes

So
You are saying Kopi is a threat?
By you bring Kopi in I agree by Dec people look at him as a threat! But once Jan hit and lost Smyth he tail off! Other teams nutrlize him and his goal scorering died of in his last 30 games.

Not to say he not able to do it! But other team knows he the only threat out there at 30 at this time. Kovi at the same age as Kopi scored 40 gls twice at 23 year old. That my friends is the diffreace of what a threat is.

If the Kings did get Kovi I truly belive both would be avg 40 gls each for 5 years and man what a threat that would be! Think Malk & Sid
Kane & Hossa

Kope can not do this by himself unless we have another 40 gls scorer or 2 30 gls scorer. If 2 people can threaten to be 2 30 gls scorer on the Kings this year I think Kopi could get 40 to 50 gls if he can have the room to shoot!

[Reply]
sammuch says:

July 20, 2010 at 4:03 am

Here what we have to give up if we sign Bobby Ryan offer sheet, at age 23.

If they sign him Over $4,637,944 to $6,183,925 a year.
First-round, second-round and third-round choice

How many of us think he is worthy for a 35 gls or more a year?
2008-2009 Ducks 64 31 26 57
2009-2010 Ducks 81 35 29 64

[Reply]
We B Ilya'n Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:11 am
@sammuch,

I, for one, would gladly give up those picks for Ryan. He will be a top 10 scorer for years to come. But DL will NOT ever sign an offer sheet, especially to a rival team. It would be suicide.

[Reply]
We B Ilya'n says:

July 20, 2010 at 5:05 am

I think our first step should be to pick up Stempniac ASAP. To me he shows a lot of potential the way he went on a tear once PHO acquired him and obviously had no problem adjusting to a new team. Also seems like a character kinda guy.

This would allow us to shop Williams- Possibly to Philly who need a forward to replace Gagne and first line players are hard to come by at only 3.5 mil. (Plus we know how DL likes to deal with PHI. Philly now has an extra dman they can trade. Maybe Coburn or Carle (I’d take either but pref. Coburn) May have to throw in a 3rd round pick but our D would now be firmly in place:

Doughty-Scuderi
Coburn-Johnson
Greene-Hickey
(Drewiske)

Quick-Bernier

Now I’d think we’d just need to find that left winger and we’re looking pretty good. I think we hold onto Stoll one more season and see what happens with Handzus. Schenn will soon be our #2 center. Realistically, can’t expect us to make a run at the cup until 2011-12 anyway.

But you never know with that D!

[Reply]
YES on 19 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:56 am
@We B Ilya’n, Why would Philadelphia want an injury-prone forward if they’re already up against the cap?

[Reply]
KOHO Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:17 am
@YES on 19,

Williams is crap. Philly already traded him once for something better. Then Carolina traded his broken ass for something better.

We should never have traded for him in the first place but all the kool-aid drinking fans fell for DL’s sales pitch on this guy.

FAIL!

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:20 am
@KOHO, I noticed you didnt include POS in your argument; since it would have totally refuted your point! Williams hasn’t been as good as we hoped, truth, BUT he has been better than POS, even while injured.

YES on 19 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:12 am
@KOHO, I’m not sold on Williams, but on the other hand I don’t think that anybody can blame him for a broken leg. It’s not like he wanted to, after all. is the trade a disappointment? Yes, only because he hasn’t yet lived up to expectations. Did we give up too much? No, based on the fact that the worst team in the league last season didn’t even want to keep O’Sullivan around.

VanKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:58 am
@We B Ilya’n, Im not convinced with Stempniak. He did go on a tear, but then completely disappeared in the playoffs

[Reply]
KOHO Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:39 am
Let’s see…the coach got fired, they ended up getting rid of their captain and other players, the team failed from top to bottom. The one thing they did right was get the number one pick other than that the whole organization doesn’t deserve an NHL job…but it was all POS fault right?

[Reply]
oldthunder says:

July 20, 2010 at 6:54 am

Lets all now bask in our haul for this years FA market… Raffi Torres….

Let the trade speculation begin!

[Reply]
Smokin67 says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:22 am

Relax. This wasn’t the year LA should be signing anyone anyways. Nobody in their right mind expects the Kings to win the Cup this year, regardless of who they signed. The kids need more playoff experience. There’s no disputing that. Even Chicago went to the Western finals before signing Hossa. So let the kids grow, get some experience, go further in the playoffs this year. Before that, nothing

It would’ve been a mistake to shell out this year. Maybe next offseason the time will be right. Look at the UFA’s available: thornton, gagne, semin, chara, etc.

[Reply]
YES on 19 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:25 am
@Smokin67, You could scratch Chara off your list. If he didn’t want to play on the west coast five years ago I doubt he’d want to play on the west coast after this year.

[Reply]
variable says:

July 20, 2010 at 8:29 am

dmitry chesnokov, a washington d.c. based lawyer-turned-writer who contributes to puck daddy and other nhl-oriented publications, tweeted the following last night…:

“Alexander Frolov has begun contract talks with KHL’s Salavat Yulaef.”

fyi….

[Reply]
scvking says:

July 20, 2010 at 8:35 am

EASportMGT:

I noticed your post I think you and I are on the same page re the Kovy thing. I will let others make their case as to why they feel Kovy was the missing piece for the Kings.

What I do want to converse about is the point you brought up about the upcomming CBA and how the NJ-Kovy contract is problematic…

This Kovy deal, much like the Hossa-Chicago and Pronger-Philly contracts, seems to be a very clear violation of the spirit of the “hard cap”. These are obvious attempts to manipulate the cap, and if the NHL had a commissioner who was not spinless, these contract would have (and should have) been voided. Certainly, I am not oblivous to the fact that the Kings offer was an attempt to use the loophole that currently exists. I am not denying that.

I do believe that the next CBA will deal with these manipulations. However, the NHL certainly does not want to make it more difficult for the star players to end up in the correct markets.

Bettman is a protege of the NBA’s David Stern, and I seriously doubt that Bettman cares about things other than growing the game. The NHL will need to decide what it wants, either to be a version of the NBA that funnels players to the markets that are most desirable, or if they want a real cap that tries to insure a level playing field.

This article was a good read (don’t know if you have seen it or not).
http://blogs.denverpost.com/avs/2010/07/19/is-it-too-soon-to-worry-about-another-nhl-lockout/4065/

[Reply]
Bob Bobson Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:46 am
@scvking, This is a point that I am concerned about at well. If Hossa and Pronger’s contracts are clear-cut cases of cap circumvention, Kovalchuk’s contract flushes it down the toilet. These shady circumstances surrounding the NHL’s cap situation makes me feel uncomfortable about what will happen when the current CBA expires. I don’t think it will be as gloom and doom as Dater’s warnings but I do think there will be a lot of annoying posturing and rhetoric from both the NHL and NHLPA in the years to come.

[Reply]
King John Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:24 am
@scvking,

Great article to understand the dynamics of revenue and ratings in the NHL. Thanks.

[Reply]
EASportsMgt Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
@scvking,
I agree man, also let me say one thing on a major point that I do not feel I did a very good job at articulating in my previous post. I know “Stache” even called me out on it.
Yes, Kovi has not done any of those things like win a Cup or win the scoring title and such, so my real point is why in the world should he make more money than a player like say Crosby who has won the cup, the scoring title, and a Gold Medal. My real point is if you are going to spend that much money, like 102Mil over 17 years, you better know for sure without a single doubt, that he is the guy. Crosby is that GUY, Kovi let’s hope for NJ that he becomes.

Anyways, I think these loopholes are ridiculous. NJ did nothing wrong besides manipulate that loophole. And so has other teams as well. It’s funny how even Lou came out and said he feels these contracts should not exist, and they shouldn’t. I am confident that these will be addressed in the next CBA for the benefit of the game and their atheltes who risk it all on the ice.

The problem with Bettman is that he can’t come out now and say wait a minute. It’s a dangerous precedent I know, but one that follows others like the Hossa deal. SO a balancing act of getting the star atheltes in the top markets yet making the cap work to make them fit. There’s no doubt that Koci being in NJ is better for the NHL than Kovi in Atl, but not as good as it could have been if he signed here in L.A.

Anyways, good stuff on the CBA, I know a few agents who I have discussed this with who feel it’s going to be a very tough negotiations come the next CBA, and the players will be holding their final vote soon to get Donald Fehr on board. Should be interesting.

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:47 pm
@scvking,

As far as I understand the CBA, it’s critically important to note that a grievance must be filed by a team or the players association BEFORE Bettman can do anything about it.

He can’t just willy-nilly open up an investigation. That’s not how the CBA “NO CIRCUMVENTION Article 26″ is set up.

It’s important to know this before you call someone spineless.

[Reply]
variable says:

July 20, 2010 at 8:44 am

also…

two names that keep on coming up via trades are marc savard and…to a lesser extent…jamie langenbrunner…

for the record, i have no direct knowledge…i am just reiterating the amount of published reports and updates i have received since the kovy deal that have stated the kings are said to be interested in either player…

[Reply]
bobo Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:00 am
@variable,

Savard I can live with as long as the cost is not too much. Either Stoll involved or some other picks and prospects and move Stoll to wing. I have no interest in Langenbrunner and the devils would be wise not to move him if they are indeed making a run now. Frolov looks to be destined to the KHL, I am actually ok with going with the current roster and maybe picking up 1 D-man. At this point players like Lewis, Cliche, Clune, Westgarth should be in our roster or traded. They have spent enough time in the AHL to either contribute or be let go as they wont ever make it with us.

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:08 am
@bobo, Agreed on Lewis and Clich, for them it is this year or never.

I don’t really like Stoll on the wing, but I also don’t think he is a number 2 centre, GREAT #3, but not as good as Zeus, thus making him prime trade target for me.

The big names rumoured of course are Spezza, and yet again, Vinny L.

1st Round Pick
Voynov
Stoll

for

Spezza

Yes, No?

Remember, Heatley was traded for Michalek, Cheechoo and a 2nd rounder…

[Reply]
NOT IMPRESSED Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:15 am
@VanKingsFan, Spezza’s contract is for $8 mil/yr. We were not willing to pay IK that much.

griddle Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:33 am
@VanKingsFan, i don’t think we want vinny L. he has a 7.2 cap hit for several years left on his deal. if we wouldn’t give kovy a 6 mil cap hit, why would we take a 7.2 in vinny? also, he has a no movement clause in his contract….sooooo, i think we can squash the vinny rumors now.

VanKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:48 am
@VanKingsFan, You are both probably spot on, just throwing it around since they are both still in their prime and have proven then can put up equal points to Kovy
Just want the Cup says:

July 20, 2010 at 8:56 am

Sign Belanger – He is good on the PK, scores goals, can skate and is responsible in his own zone.

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:49 am
@Just want the Cup, We don’t need another 3rd line centre, we already have 2!

[Reply]
Old Time Hockey says:

July 20, 2010 at 9:05 am

I find it very interesting that a majority of the teams are signing a large number of their players that need to be signed for only 1 year. Sounds like collusion to me. The upcoming CBA wouldn’t have anything to do with it now would it. The NHLPA bringing in Donald Fehr as the guy or advisor does not bode well for the fan. I guess the players or management didn’t learn a thing from the last lockout. Personally I think the top players should be capped at the max of 3.5 mil. per season and then it goes down to the next level of player ability. So what if the owners make money, isn’t that why they are the owners?

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:11 am
@Old Time Hockey,

I think 3.5 is too low, but I would like to see a hard cap, (48-50 Million approx?) with NO cap floor (always thought it was kind of dumb).

Then the key is that the cap doesn’t grow each year by 4 or 5 million. The cap should increase at the rate of inflation each year, and that’s it.

Bottom Line though, if there is another lock out or strike…. 2 in 10 years… so long 4 or 5 small market teams…

[Reply]
Old Time Hockey Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:30 am
@VanKingsFan, I agree with you, maybe $5 mil would be more realistic. Well if there should (and I would expect to see it….. again another lockout) I would look to see Tampa, Phoenix, Florida, Nashville, Columbus possibly go away. Then it opens up for more Canadian teams, such as Winnipeg, Hamilton, Quebec to be established/return.

[Reply]
King John Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:06 am
@Old Time Hockey,

Keep Columbus. We need a team in Ohio. But a few of the sunbelt teams can go away. Then we can see another team or two in Canada. But we really need a team in Seattle too.
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy says:

July 20, 2010 at 9:13 am

Simple question about the cap:

Now that extended contracts for the purpose of circumventing the cap have been ratified by Bettman and the NHL…

To this point, the only extended contracts have been for the mega-stars…

What happens if/when a third line center and third pair D-man gets a 20 year contract (thereby reducing the cap hit proportionately)?

And, inferring the obvious, why can’t someone simply offer a 30+ year contract, especially for the young, developing superstars (like Drew Doughty)?

We all know the maximum true salary is 11.5 mil/year. Therefore, the best players will get multiple years at that amount WITH INSANE EXTENTIONS OF THE TERM to lower the cap hit.

Therefore, we shall soon be seeing a contract for, say, 11.5 mil/year x two or three years, for a term of twenty years, rendering the cap hit to just over 1 million/yr. Long term contracts will be handed out like candy, then when the money decreases the player will ‘retire’, voiding the contract and cap hit. Later, the player will ‘unretire’ and sign a new contract.

This is about to happen, and will happen for two years until the CBA expires.

Mark my words.

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:19 am
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

Very true, and if possible lets sign Wayne Simmonds right now to a 20 year deal worth 30 Million or something and have his cap hit at 1.5.

I think that this 17 year deal will push Gary’s buttons a little, especially since it is being talked about so much in the media. I really think that the Kovy deal will spur something on from the NHL to try and stop these deals. Maybe just a gentlemen’s agreement between all the owners?? I don’t know, but I just don’t see them letting it get too far out of hand.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:12 am
@VanKingsFan,

How far is too far out of hand?

We all know (wink-wink) that KoveeBabee’s contract is for seven years… The rest of the term does not mean anything real. No way K.B. plays for $750,000… No way he plays for 3 mil, either.

[Reply]
YES on 19 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:47 am
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, Excuse me? Only megastars? I don’t think so. Maybe the NYI thought that Dipietro was going to be a megastar, but they gambled and lost.

[Reply]
variable Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

you are 100% correct…

this is exactly what i’ve…and you…have been talking about, not just now, but for months…

the current cba is garbage…both sides know ho to create opportunities through the schisms and fissures it currently allows…

fehr is gonna want a “soft cap” – like in baseball…and the nhl’ers are gonna love his ideas and champion them in their own “new era” of expansion and growth…

bettman/owners are gonna want a “hard cap” with more early structure, especially pertaining to players under a certain amount of years of service…

the extension was agreed upon because the two sides are not equally ready to battle…the nhlpa needs to appoint their man – by all-accounts fehr is the guy – and then the real battle of battles begin – the war of words played through the media in preparation for another historic milestone…: the creation of a radically new salary structure system…or…the recidivism of ’04-05 climate…

guys, unfortunately, be prepared for another round of serious uncertainty and serious contention…

count on it…

[Reply]
Dazed N Confused says:

July 20, 2010 at 9:26 am

These mega year contracts are killing the NHL. BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy is correct on all of his points and if you do it right the league is balanced. If you look at baseball yo know every year who is making the platoffs before the season begins. Yes you have have a dark horse team make it once in awhile, but they are gone after the next season. The owners offer these long contracts becasue there is no punishment if the player retires, the numbers come off the books. As stated above if we sign all of our young guys to 25 to 40 year contacts we would still have plenty of cap space to add a shorter term contract during the season. I still feel that we are becoming the Clippers of the NHL.

[Reply]
sstephen17 says:

July 20, 2010 at 9:26 am

Does anyone know if Kovi’s contract includes any bonuses or incentives for scoring 50 goals, 100 pts, etc? Has that been included in the total contract numbers or was it a flat deal, no bonuses involved?

[Reply]
stagger Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:35 am
@sstephen17,

I believe bonuses are not allowed in the NHL

[Reply]
sstephen17 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:11 am
@stagger, In Kovi’s case, I think you are right. According to NHLSCAP.com:

With a few exceptions, players may only earn roster, reporting, or signing bonuses under the new CBA. Entry-level players may earn bonuses for certain awards and performance (Exhibit 5) bonuses. (Page of those bonuses coming shortly.) Players 35 and older as of June 30 who sign a contract for the immediately following League Year may earn performance bonuses, as well as players with 400 or more games played and who spent 100 or more days on injured reserve in the last year of their most recent contract; however, in these two cases, performance bonuses are only allowed for 1-year contracts. If players in these two categories sign a multi-year contract, they cannot earn performance bonuses.

[Reply]
stagger Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
@sstephen17,

Cool. Thanks for posting that.
oldtimehockey says:

July 20, 2010 at 9:33 am

Kings will never sign a high-profile star player. They have proven in the past and they still prove that now. With all the attention focused on Kovi, they passed up on Gagne. I highly doubt that they will get anyone. Sharp is staying in Chicago. There really isn’t anyone else left on the RFA market that can bring it to the table, as in impact player. As long as Lombardi is the GM, the Kings will never go far in the playoffs and will have so-so regular season’s. It is the path that he has layed out.

[Reply]
iansez Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
@oldtimehockey, it’s ironic that you post that when they landed “the pretty darn good one”, Gretzky, the biggest fish ever. But whatever oldtime, best you stay inside, the sky might be falling.

[Reply]
Fu King says:

July 20, 2010 at 9:34 am

Rich or whomever monitors the posts on here, PLEASE don’t censor messages that don’t contain profanity nor personal attacks…we’re not in Communist China here!

Surly & Scribe:

Tim Leiweke’s it’s not about the money comments:

Statement 1: It’s about the cap. Cash won’t prevent us from signing him.

Statement 2: New Jersey offered more cash than we did and that is why they got him and we did not.

Statement 3: We did what we could to sign him to a reasonable cap hit. We tried but it wasn’t about the cash.

The difference in cap hit: About $700,000.00 per season ($5.3 v. $6.0 million, give or take)

The difference in cash: $20 million.

You decide.

P.S. Nice touch charging season ticket holders for their 1st installment today.

[Reply]
ShortHanded says:

July 20, 2010 at 9:39 am

Can someone please tell me what we are going to do about our left side? RS is our only left wing right now and I don’t really see anyone in our system that can fill those holes!

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:52 am
@ShortHanded, Parse?

He showed some realy flashes last year at times, and if he gets more consitent and plays with good linemates, he could be a surprise, kind of like a Rich Peverly

[Reply]
ShortHanded Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:58 am
@VanKingsFan,

It shows Parse as a RW. Did he play on the left side last season? I don’t recall. I know Brown can switch, but he plays much better on the right.

[Reply]
src Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:02 am
@ShortHanded,

Right handed LW is his posiotion of choice. I personally believe Parse will replace Fros number, not intangebles, but numbers.

King John Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:10 am
@VanKingsFan,

I like Parse too. I hope they give him a chance. He played mostly on LW and seemed more comfortable there.

[Reply]
Dazed N Confused says:

July 20, 2010 at 9:59 am

Kovi is gone, lets move forward now. What are our options? Who could we get that would make us a better team? We lost a few players and have not added one.I may not be good at math but even I know this is not good. No more complaints just ideas or possiable solutions. We are all upset and need to vent, but now is the time to stand up and fix our team.

[Reply]
ShortHanded says:

July 20, 2010 at 10:01 am

I know DL doesn’t do offer sheets, but James Neil is an RFA and a LW.

[Reply]
number 6 says:

July 20, 2010 at 10:07 am

For whoever is interested NJ press conference is on nhl.com. Yippee.

[Reply]
VanKingsFan says:

July 20, 2010 at 10:10 am

What about Pony? Anybody else interested if we can ink him for 2.5 Mil?

Could be a decent fit on the second line LW spot, and then we can leave Smyth up front with Kopi

Was never a huge fan of his but he has put up some good numbers

[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:12 am
@VanKingsFan,
Why get him if you’re not a fan of his? Just to do it?

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:26 am
@number 6, Well because I am not always right about players; and I can admit he has some skill and when he played with Sundin and Antropov on the same line, their size was imposing and they used it to control the puck in the other teams zone a lot. I see him possibly replacing Fro on the 3rd line LW spot.

Pony – Handzus – Simmonds

This line would continue to do the same work that the line did last year and I think Pony would be an equal replacement for Fro, but for cheaper.

[Reply]
dwave Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:23 am
@VanKingsFan, just say no to the pony. He’s basically a less talented frolov with all the baggage.

[Reply]
Tom says:

July 20, 2010 at 10:16 am

Ok; I have read all the comments and it seems to me that a lot of people do not understand the salary cap. Are you a Kings or an AEG fan ?The only number that matters to you IF you are a Kings fan is the 6M salary cup number. Again 6M, not 11,5 or 102 for 17 years. Is that do hard to understand. Are you worried that AEG will be loosing money ? I am not, cause I do not care about AEG. I am a Kings fan and a 6M salary cap for Kovi would be a fantastic deal.

[Reply]
Matt George Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:23 am
@Tom,

Agreed.

I’m coming to realize more and more that I can still be a Kings fan and not spend money for AEG.

They’re riding on thin ice with my 2 lower bowl seats right now.

THIN.

So far, after this episode, I’ve instituted a new montra of not spending a DIME inside Staples. Beer will be consumed at a tailgate party…

One more bit o bad news and the seats go bye bye.

[Reply]
Carolina Kings Fan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:33 am
@Matt George, Do you think they really care about your 2 lower bowl seats? I had season seats for 10 years before I moved. Not really. They can turn a higher profit on a new season ticket sale or even on a game by game basis. Sorry guys but they do not care. It is obvious by DL’s comments that we are sitting tight for the rest of the summer. It is going to be a make or break year with the kids. There was no Plan B! Both DL and TL are both shocked that once again they failed bringing in a UFA. It’s not the city or fans that players don’t come. It is the management and ownership. Face it everyone, AEG has a bad reputation around the league and players know it!

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:27 am
@Tom, 6 Million cap hit right now is great, and for the next 5 years is great..

6 million cap hit is not great when he is 37 or something and he is worth way less potentially.

[Reply]
Joey Drillings Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:34 am
@VanKingsFan,
Exactly, and if you think they can force him to retire and not get a paycheck, you are nuts. That 6m will be an albatross long after he is productive.

[Reply]
EASportsMgt Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:33 am
@Tom,
I understand your point and it’s a good one. I think most of us here consider ourselves Kings fans, but few also understand the business side of things. I can assure you that an organization that loses money, or claims they are losing money if you believe some reports, will not be a Stanley Cup contender and a smart destination for top players. If you want to attract talent and build a winner for many years, then you have to be profitable.
With that said, you must remember that DL is employed by AEG, and he must do what he can to build a winning franchise within the scope of what he is given to work with.
Yes a 6 mil cap is manageable. And if you assume that he knew of what NJ had offered then even more so, you have reason to be upset he didn’t get him. But there are two fundamental problems here. One, he didn’t know. He told Rich yesterday and Helene yesterday that he did not know what NJ offered. And second, and probably most important and overlooked, is that Kovi had a desire to make more money than Ovechkin. It’s one of those personal goals. And with that desire his contract was front loaded so that 6 of those years he is making more than Ovechkin. Now if you pay him that same amount, and then add Doughty’s salary which is going to be massive, along with the supporting cast, you have an unmanageble cap, that would require you to trade assets for cheap return.

[Reply]
Fu King Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:50 am
@EASportsMgt, “his contract was front loaded so that 6 of those years he is making more than Ovechkin. Now if you pay him that same amount, and then add Doughty’s salary which is going to be massive, along with the supporting cast, you have an unmanageble cap, that would require you to trade assets for cheap return.” <====wrong

You, of all people should understand this. The cap hit remains the same each year, despite the front loaded structure.

True, AEG would have had to pony up a considerable amount of cash in the upcoming years, if they had signed Kovalchuck and IF they resign the core guys like D.D. and J.J. The cap would still be manageable though. Too bad they won't have to worry about that though, since they've proven, yet again, that the Kings can't land top tier talent.

[Reply]
EASportsMgt Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:05 am
@Fu King, You are correct, I didn’t mean to imply the cap hit, I meant to say they just can’t afford it period. But I realized I wrote you have an unmanigable cap, which is incorrect. You have an unmanigable bottom line for AEG. Helene wrote “He wouldn’t be able to afford Kovalchuk, core players and other pieces, which makes some sense.”
So yes I understand the cap, just didn’t articulate the fact that paying Kovi that much in salary and then having to pay Doughty, Simmonds, JJ, and of course Kopi who makes a pretty penny, it wouldn’t financially make sense.

BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:06 am
@Fu King,

How much do you believe it will take in cap hit to sign DD, especially with the 6+ mil it took to sign Kovalchuk?

YES on 19 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:08 am
@Fu King, But if you give Kovalchuk the contrct the Devils did do you not think that Doughty is going to enter negotiations saying, “Well, you gave Kovalchuk $11 million for several seasons so I think I deserve more since I’m going to be a Norris Trophy candidate for years to come and have been touted as the cornerstone of the franchise up until now”. Don’t think that he’s not interested in getting his piece of the pie, too. Just because a King doesn’t mean he’s not going to be looking out for himself first and foremost.

Miller29 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
@EASportsMgt,

Whether the Devils give Kovi the contract or the Kings give Kovi the same contract doesn’t make a difference. When it comes time for Drew to negotiate a new contract he will use the top-tiered players (no matter what team they are on) and their contracts as examples of what he believes he should be paid. In other words, he will use Kovi’s New Jersey contract as an example of what he wants. With that in mind, the only thing tht sucks now is that we don;t have Kovi.

[Reply]
Puckin-A Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:31 am
@Tom,as far as the salary goes It does affect the fan.Who do you think will be paying for that 102 million, AEG just out of pocket? No it will trickle down to the fan. Season tickets and individual games will go up, beer,food,parking,etc will go up.Wayyyyyyyyy up!!!! And once again just like the Gretzky era the blue collar fan will get priced out. It then would be an event and not a hockey game. It will take us back to the wrong direction, when the buzz fades and the overpriced tickets don’t sell then AEG starts to let homegrown talent walk because he doesn’t want to pay players that no one is paying to watch. Then we will trade assests for garbage, trade our star for Patrice Tardiff and Nathan Lafayette etc. Then we will trade picks for a quick fix.We will trade offense for defense then realize we can’t score and trade defense for offense and realize we are losing games 5 to 4 and we will keep the insane cycle going until …… I have seen it before and don’t want to rebuild for another 20 years.

[Reply]
Goring 19 says:

July 20, 2010 at 10:45 am

Time to move on people. Can anyone list remaining available UFAs. Anyone know what Fro is demanding? HAHA that sounds funny.

[Reply]
pr0cess Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:58 am
@Goring 19, not sure how up to date this is but here you go

http://www.sportscity.com/nhl/2010-nhl-unrestricted-free-agents-by-position/

[Reply]
EASportsMgt Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:10 am
@Goring 19,
This deal is the best thing that could have happened to Fro. He is the best winger remaining now that IK is signed, and IK just signed a monsterous contract. What do you think his agent will be demanding now?
It’s sort of like real estate when you use comparable sales to get value. You look at age, position, performance, attitude, and then you look at what similar players signed for. Kovi is one year younger, granted a 50 goal scorer, but Fro is a two time 30 goal scorer. Can also argue that his defense has improved greatly and who can argue that anyone can hold onto the puck as good or better than him down low?
I think Fro gets the money he wants or close to it. At worse, I think he signs a 1 year deal for good money and proves himself to be a 30 goal scorer again.

[Reply]
yobro Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:21 am
@EASportsMgt, And it could easily be here if he’s not buried on the 3rd or 4th line. I still wonder if it was a shrewd move to bury him last year and keep his #s down to lessen his value and (maybe) re-sign him for less.

Go Kings

[Reply]
scvking Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:27 am
@EASportsMgt,
Do you see any chance of that being with the Kings?

[Reply]
EASportsMgt Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:48 am
@scvking,
Actually I’m told that the Kings have reached out to his agent to see what number Fro has in mind. Other than that there was nothing else. No indication of whether that number was realistic or not.
My guess is that if it’s a 1 yr deal, it will be with the Kings. But that’s just a guess. They have the cap space, they have the need, and they know what he brings. At worse case they hope he does at least what he did last year. At best case, Fro shows us finaly what an elite player he is and commands the salary that he is looking for.
Personally I think Fro is better off with a team like the Islanders or the Rangers though.
pr0cess says:

July 20, 2010 at 10:47 am

I think its clear there are some real feelings to what happen, well it is clear we did offer some money but, i think most feel this one got away. And alot of people feel the reasons or xx and oo dont add up to why. I was never on the Kova bandwagon, but i wont say he isnt a good player. If something doesnt pan out to help the team i feel we did waste alot of time this off season

[Reply]
UglyinLA says:

July 20, 2010 at 10:55 am

Here’s my suggestion to DL. Sign DD to a 17-year contract immediately. Structure the contract in the exact same fashion that NJ did for Kovy. This will lock up DD for 17 years, pay him what he’s worth, and drive Bettman crazy. LOL

[Reply]
Slapshot says:

July 20, 2010 at 11:00 am

I have to believe (for my own sanity) That DL did not know what NJ was offering. People keep saying that he is not the Great one get over it. With all due respect, todays NHL is better defensively, especially between the pipes. So much so that I would think that 40 goals would be a good year for even the great one. I can only hope that we make some improvements before the season gets going and that, EVERYONE gets back to the love of the game and the love for the KINGS. All of the BS should just halt now, as we do have 23 guys, regardless if you believe it or not do feed off of us fans.

[Reply]
chuckrocks says:

July 20, 2010 at 11:01 am

Did you here that? That was Dean dropping the ball, again. I honestly have no more faith in Dean or the Kings ownership. 43 years and no cup, 25 years of me watching and supporting and its like they constantly kick us in the balls. For those of you who say big deal we lost out on Kovi I say we lost the potintial to become cup contenders and we gained a first round or maybe if we are lucky second round playoff exit and the sad part is a lot of you would be ok with that for the next 3-4 years, Next year, just wait until next year, well I have been waiting for coming up on the 26th next year. Who cares if we would have lost a few so called “core players”, like we lost Cammi or Sully, you know “core players”, if that ment winning just one cup and loosing JMFJ and Simmonds I say who cares we won the cup. Now we will get someone who will be most teams third line left wing, I mean really who is left? I dont want Spezza, Savard, Sharp or Vinni we already have those types of players. I wanted someone who makes you jump out of your seat and he just went somwhere else. Nice “big splah” in free agency. I made a bigger splash in the toilet this morning. Go Kings. I guess I will have to wait till the 27th, 28th ‘or 29th next year……………………

[Reply]
Bryan Agee Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:21 am
@chuckrocks,

I hear that loud and clear! And I agree with you. I will admit I have had some “patience” issues growing up. I have really worked hard on them. But…this is getting more and more trying!

It’s so wierd how Gagne was traded right after Kovalchuk signed. I wonder if he was on his way here too if Kovalchuk had signed here. All it costed to get Gagne was a peanut and some cracker jacks. Although I am not fully on board with the Gagne express…for what he was traded for that would have been a doable risk.

I guess the only thing to do is hope we are in a position to be buyers (not sellers) at the trade deadline next year. Maybe something miraculous will pop up then. Man this is hard…

[Reply]
chuckrocks Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:32 am
@Bryan Agee, Yes, but then we wont do anything because we might have to give up a “core player” to get that player that we didnt want to have to give up to get Kovi. We could of had Kovi at the trade deadline last year and then maybe he resigns hear instead, but nooooooooooo, It goes on and on and on and on. LAME.

[Reply]
Miller29 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
@chuckrocks,

Great post. It totally reiterates my feelings after all these years.

[Reply]
In Dean we (kinda) Trust says:

July 20, 2010 at 11:08 am

We wasted three weeks on Kovalchuck and we didn’t even get him. Now we are 3 weeks into free-agency we missed out on Martin, all the good players are gone, and we lost OD, Ivanans, and maybe Frolov.

Time for Plan B…Gagne was tradedto Tampa!

Time for Plan C…What the hell is plan C!

If I were Dean Lombardi I would strongly go after a sertain RFA by the name of Bobby Ryan. I know the Ducks won’t trade him yet but can’t we just make him an offer sheet like San Jose did to Hjalmarsson? I would offer him a 4 year, 6 mill per year contract (I think he’s worth it). It’s a win-win cause’ if Anahiem matches it than they go into cap trouble but if they don’t we get Bobby Ryan! That is what I would do.

I keep hearing that the Kings might trade for Spezza or Lecalvier. In my opinion that would be stupid. First of all we would have to trade for em and second of all we don’t even need a second line Center cause’ we have Schenn on his way up! I say we go after a winger.

[Reply]
rick says:

July 20, 2010 at 11:15 am

When all is said and done, the thing bothering me the most on The Day After is the haunting feeling that New Jersey simply did a better job of negotiating than we did. On Friday we are being told by the usually cautious Rich that things are looking good – a sentiment echoed by several others that day including Helene Elliott. By Monday morning, everything had changed. What happened? Did management give him too much time to decide? Did management misread his intentions? How could New Jersey swoop in with a better offer and management knows nothing about it? All the dollars, cap hits and related detail aside, it sure feels like we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory here.

[Reply]
nykingfan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
@rick,

I’m not saying that Rich or anyone else was misleading us, but nobody, including DL, knew what his decision was…how the heck can anyone else know? Rich thought it looked good for us but this was just his opinion..there was nothing coming from the Kovalchuk camp suggesting anything.
The Kings made their offer to him and so did NJ. He had to decide between the 2 and he chose NJ. If we would have gotten him, should the Devils fans have been upset about being misled?
I don’t think anything underhanded happened here. It was his choice between 2 offers. Someone has to win and someone has to lose. It will depend on how many cups the Devils win over the next 17 years and how many we win during that time to determine a winner or loser. Does anyone believe that in 13 years Kovalchuk will be worth a $6 mil cap hit when he’s 40 years old?
NJ did this because they want to win now..or I should say Lamoriello wanted to win now. His opportunity is closing. Brodeur won’t be around much longer and neither will Lamoriello. Heck..Brodeur’s kids might get a chance to play with IK by the end of that contract.

In my opinion the Kings are being built to win the smart way…thru drafts and shrewd trades.
I’ll take the Kings future over NJ’s any day of the year.
Next year a guy like Parise will be available as a UFA. I’m sure we’ll be able to be right in the thick of that one as well…In my opinion, I’d rather have Parise than IK. One guy plays both ends of the ice and the other guy..well, we’ll see what happens.

[Reply]
kyle Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
@rick, I am not convinced giving away the proverbial fort via a contract that will become the poster child for the argument that the CBA is broken is a “better job of negotiating.” I am also of the opinion that one reason DL did not try to do a deal like this is a belief that these kind of deals will not be allowed under a new CBA (and dear heavens let us hope this kind of game playing on cap issues doesn’t lead both sides to another work stoppage) and he is not going to hamstring the franchise going forward from 2012 with contracts that are economically suicidal following the new deal with the players’ union.

[Reply]
Jeff says:

July 20, 2010 at 11:20 am

I love how all these folks on here want to win a cup via suicide. Sign some guy to a stupid contract, POSSIBLY win ONE cup, then spend the next 16 years in utter misery with an overpaid useless player until he comes off the books.

I’d rather take this approach: build a team from within, develop your own internal talent, keep your core players, then, only when you are truely within striking distance of a cup you add the missing piece or two, even if you have to overpay. YOU DON’T DO THIS BY PAYING SOME JOKER $500M OVER 50 YEARS. You do this by paying someone $10M+ for one or two seasons only. Win your cup, then let him drop off your books like his production, then you do it again.

[Reply]
Zdeno the Goon says:

July 20, 2010 at 11:26 am

I say we wait until next year when we get all our UFAs. Zdeno Chara will be out there. Imagine him, Doughty, and Johnson on our blueline. We’d have the best D in the entire league! Eventhough this is unrealistic, a guy can dream can’t he.

[Reply]
gene Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
@Zdeno the Goon, When Chiro signed with Boston he let everyone know he did not want to comej out west. So what do you think has changed his mind for next year?

[Reply]
Patrick says:

July 20, 2010 at 11:31 am

Listen my fellow fans. Don’t be upset or angry at DL or Lie-Weekly or other Kings management. If you want to be upset or angry at anyone, take a look in the mirror. Be mad for allowing yourself to believe for one second that this organization would do what was necessary to sign a top tier free agent and make this a top notch club for years to come. I don’t care what anyone says, Kovi would have been great in LA. How many times does a 27 year old, proven 40-50 goal scorer, become available? Managment did just enough to give the appearance that they tried to pursue or sign him, they wanted to give the appearance that they did all they could. When in fact they made an offer they knew would get refused. No one with any sense can say Kovi would not have made this team better, nor can they say with a 6 million cap hit we would not be able to sign any of the “core” players. Here we sit, another summer where we got our hopes up and another summer where we were let down. We are the fools, the suckers and the idiots for believeing, even for a second that ownership cared as much as we do.

[Reply]
Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
@Patrick,

Most obtuse comment yet! The irrationality circus rages on around us! Please let the season start!!

[Reply]
Miller29 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
@Patrick,

Yes we are duped again. I don’t expect anything from this organization. We treat players like crap and get crap in return. Constant talk of the “core” is to pacify us until DL leaves with his millions, and when “the core” reach their prime, they will be long gone to teams that have a chance of winning a Cup. I’m sure Luc understands.

[Reply]
fsd1 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
@Patrick, Boy is the Koolaid ever flowing strong around here, did all the crappy teams bandwagons drop everyone off in LA? Jesus, take a freaking chill pill, the Kings and their true fans will be just fine.

[Reply]
Patrick Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
@fsd1, Been a fan for over 20 years and during that time I have seen nothing but mediocrity and horrendous trades and signings. Make sure you know what you are talking about before you make a comment. Where was DL’s plan when he signed Cloutier? Kovi could have been singed and we could have kept the young core intact. Why not get rid of Williams? DL doesn’t mind paying him 3.5 mil to be injured. He already showed this tendency BEFORE he was signed by the Kings. Would you be willing to lose Smyth and his 6.5 Mil to get/keep Kovi and the “core”? I would. If you mean the Kings will remain a mediocre team with fans that continue to torture themselves by following them and being loyal to them then you are 100% correct. We will be “fine”

[Reply]
Barry's Mullet says:

July 20, 2010 at 11:41 am

Final thoughts…

1. Kovi took the money and who could blame him…but he choose the money over coming to a better team!

2. Salary Cap or not, the Kings were not going to give him that much cash up front…was never going to happen!

3. Kovi really did want to stay on the east coast. He didn’t want to come to NHL Siberia

4. Kovi would have hated playing TM’s defensive system and would be lucky to score 25+ goals….look what he did in his short time in NJ

5. These ridiculous long term contracts never seem to work out for the team.

6. Kovi hasn’t won jack shit yet and everyone is willing to pay him Crosby, AO money?

7. Players like Kovi are naturally more into themselves and have a hard time buying into the team concept….and I like our TEAM and the direction we are going!

8. We have more holes to fill than just one LW spot to really compete for the cup…where was the money or cap space going to come from to fill those holes?

9. From what I keep reading, Leiweke wanted him more than DL. That tells me a lot since Leiweke has been here during the mediocre years and since DL’s arrival things have improved dramatically.

10. Mark my words…in the end, we are so much better off that he decided to sign with NJ…let them try and build a championship with a 17 year – $100M contract hanging around their neck!

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
1. Yep.

2. Sadly, yep.

3. I’ll say no. We’ll find out one day just how much he did or didn’t want to come here.

4. TM’s smart enough to turn a guy like that loose. He’d score plenty.

5. I think Quisp did a break down of this, but I didn’t read it.

6. AO hasn’t won JS either. So…

7. I actually think you are dead wrong here. He is very much a team guy.

8. The money would come from Phil Anschutz if he would pony up and the cap, as has been pointed out ten thousand times, would have been very manageable. There was PLENTY of room to add pieces.

9. What does it tell you then? (a lot you said) It’s pure speculation however.

10. Well, to simply state a fact, we will never know if we are better off or not. There’s no way to prove it. Even if NJ tanks, there’s no measurable way to prove we would have tanked also. Two totally different kinds of teams; young/old.

[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
@wavesinair,

1 Yep
2 Smart
3 Who cares?
4 Nope, can win with a one man team
5 Nope, chart showed production slow down after age 27 and indicated this guy will be a dog in a few years
6 but accomplished a hell of a lot more
7 not according to co-players, coaches and blogs
8 not really
9 is speculation, no matter anyway, at the right price it may have been good
10 not really, both are defensive oriented, adding this guy is like putting a right skate on a left foot.

[Reply]
KINGS88 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
@wavesinair, Funny I just posted a rebuttle that says about the same thing .

[Reply]
LVKINGS88 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
@Barry’s Mullet, BM, alot of people are saying Kovi would not fit into our system,what is our system? we were what, in the top half of goals for( perfect for a goal scorer).His assist totals have been way over 40 a season(so he may not be that selfish,Huh),he scored 27 pp goals one year all on a crappy team.Has anybody figured out that maybe that was his job so his +/- was bad.Last year his +/- was +10.NJ is a defence first team,are the Kings anymore defensive than NJ? somebody can look it up,but I think not.I think our team structure and the players we have,Kovi would have fit nicely.nobody gives credit to our leadership,our coaching and the players on the ice,this group would not of had a problem with Kovi.I don’t know.I think this would have a break-out year for most of the guys like Kopi and DD,that line with Kovi and Kopi would have been on fire,and it might of helped out JW (if he did’t get hurt).I’m sure his +/- will be better,but goals scoring will go down playing for NJ,but I believe he would have made the Kings team and players much better if a decent deal was made.But lets stop with putting down his play,maybe his greed or how he handled the situation, yes.

[Reply]
chuckrocks says:

July 20, 2010 at 11:42 am

Maxim Afinogenov, Paul Kariya and Frolov will be our big free agent splash and all together they will get 50 goals and for three times the amount of cap hit as one Kovi.

[Reply]
stagger says:

July 20, 2010 at 11:47 am

So what other free agents that were out there on July 1st do people think we should have gone for?

There are a lot of people here saying we missed out on players while we were courting Kovi.

It doesn’t seem like there was much out there to me, especially forwards. Once Marleau went back to The Sharks, pickins were slim.

I can’t see him giving Martin the 25mil/5yrs that Pitt did. Or giving Gonchar what Ottawa did for a 36 yr old.
Or any of the other d-man deals that went through this year. Not while IK was still an option.

I guess what I’m saying is that I get why DL spent so much time on IK, while putting other free agents on the back burner. It was going to be all or nothing anyway. At least for free agents.

Now is the really important time for DL and The Kings. How do they recover from losing the biggest free agent, not only this year, but maybe ever? How will they improve this team going into next year? This is a defining moment for this ownership/mgmt group.

[Reply]
Johnny says:

July 20, 2010 at 11:50 am

Well, I think the Devils will be owned by Kovi, since they will not able to pay him soon He will make his own trades….
I am still very angry of DL he should of sign Gagne as soon as he was available…
Is any good forwards left for a trade?, Or we just start make the sign
Kings Season 2010/2011 RIP

[Reply]
fsd1 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
@Johnny, Gag me would not be the saviour you think he would be, stay the course Dean!

[Reply]
Gary Livingston Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
@fsd1,

Fourth Period said Gagne wasn’t looking to go to the Kings at all. Was looking to stay with an EC team.

[Reply]
andrew says:

July 20, 2010 at 11:56 am

Somebody needs to tell Lombardi the following:
- probably not the best strategy to keep telling everyone that the Kings are saving cap space for Doughty since he will now justifiably proceed to ask for the moon.
- there is no guarantee that Doughty or any other of our core players will want to re-sign with the Kings given AEG’s reputation.
- just because the Kings did not give Kovalchuk $11 million does not mean that Doughty’s agent won’t use the fact that NJ gave him $11 million in negotiations.

[Reply]
nykingfan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
@andrew,

Doughty’s getting his money no matter what the Kings say. IK’s contract is an apples to oranges comparison. One’s a forward and one’s a defenseman. Also, one guy was able to hit the UFA market to get the crazy offer he got.
DL will lock up DD before he hits the market, thereby eliminating the lunatic GM’s willing to give away the store for anything.
I don’t recall anyone on the Kings saying anything but positive remarks about the direction the franchise is headed.
We had over 100 points last year. We didn’t suck..why would you think guys would think differently?

[Reply]
Miller29 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
@andrew,

I agree wholeheartedly.

[Reply]
Joey Drillings says:

July 20, 2010 at 11:57 am

The Devils offer was open the whole time. He was using the Devils offer to try and get the Kings offer up. The Devils never thought the Kings would make a serious bid or match their offer. As per the NY Post.

[Reply]
SBkings says:

July 20, 2010 at 11:58 am

Do something!!!! Please! The right fit? You don’t have time anymore to get the right fit, dummy. You wasted that time. You’ve ruined picking up a player without having to trade a roster player or a prospect that is NHL ready. Now you are forced to try and fill holes while possibly creating others. You ruined your chances for whatever reason because you’re too timid and scared. Start being more aggressive and f@$*’in make something happen. There are still a few stragglers left on the market- I suggest you make something happen quick. You are underestimating the passion that Kings fan’s have for their club and we’ve had more patience than any other fan base, and yet we will continue to support this team. However, your lack of rewarding our players with much needed talent and also the lack of rewarding YOUR FANS (who buy tickets to see their team in one of the more EXPENSIVE sporting events) by icing a more competitive team than the year before. If this doesn’t happen, you should expect to see major declines in both season/individual ticket sales, which means declines in attendance, concession and merchandise sales. I can only speak for myself here, but, I can tell you that me and my buddies care too much about this team to spend our hard earned $$$$- that helps SUPPORT YOU, when you don’t help to continue to support this team. Stop with the lackluster approach and get something done. I’m tired of hearing these vague, drunk-slur responses and i don’t feel like making the climb up babble mountain with you. There are teams making moves with what little they have and you guys are doing nothing about it. Get something done.

[Reply]
fsd1 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
@SBkings, YAWN feel better now?

[Reply]
SBkings Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
@fsd1, Yea i do. Are you tired, buddy?

[Reply]
Miller29 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
@SBkings,

Agree. No wonder DL didn’t last long in SJ. The reason he is lasting longer here is that he’s AEG’s pet.

[Reply]
andrew says:

July 20, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Somebody needs to tell Lombardi the following:
- probably not the best strategy to keep telling everyone that the Kings are just saving cap space for Doughty, etc. since they will now justifiably proceed to ask for the moon.
- there is no guarantee that Doughty or any other of our core players will want to re-sign with the Kings given AEG’s reputation.
- just because the Kings did not give Kovalchuk $11 million does not mean that Doughty’s agent won’t use the fact that NJ gave him $11 million in negotiations.

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
@andrew, DL’s just doing damage control. I’m sure he’s well aware of most of what you said. As for Doughty, I’ll go ahead and say it IS a guarantee he’ll resign with the Kings. Either that or this whole rebuild blows up in our faces… and I can’t bare to think of that thank you very much.

[Reply]
Sebastian Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
@wavesinair,

None of this Kovalchuk stuff really upset me, BUT If the Kings let Drew Doughty get away I will throw in the towel on my 15 year obsession with the Kings.

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
@Sebastian, the mere thought of it sends shivers down my spine.
pr0cess says:

July 20, 2010 at 12:09 pm

hmmm why are post disapearing? Like that last person said, no rules are being broken???

[Reply]
dMan says:

July 20, 2010 at 12:14 pm

Now that the dust has settled a bit, I’ll throw in my 2 cents.

Clearly, there was only one destination Kovalchuck was interested in; an NHL team that was willing to pay the $100M he wanted. I believe Kovalchuck wanted to stay in New Jersey all along and the only leverage he and Grossman had to negotiate with was Los Angeles. Think about it, out of 30 teams in the NHL, only 2 showed any real interest in this superstar (less than 7%!) – this tells you the state of the current marketplace and shows how ridiculous his demands were.

If this had been such a slamdunk for the Devils, they would have made the offer at the beginning of July and not taken 3 weeks to decide.

Instead, knowing his options were limited, Grossman used the only other possible team that had reason and the money to get his player – Los Angeles – to bump up the price. According to Lombardi, L.A. had made a couple of offers without response and finally when they were out (the first time), Grossman came running back. I can only assume at that point, the Devils had made him a final offer but Grossman wanted to get L.A. back into it to keep driving the price upwards and pretend there was competitive bidding.

Lombardi, to his credit, kept the bottom line in mind, gave his best and final offer and it was apparently nowhere near what Jersey offered, leading me to believe that Grossman hoodwinked Lamoriello pretty badly. Had the numbers offered by both teams been anywhere close, then I’d say there was real bidding going on, but this does not appear to be the case.

Grossman used Los Angeles to get new Jersey to pony up. Los Angeles reluctantly participated in case Kovalchuck really was interested, but apparently, there was no sincerity on Grossman or Kovalchuck’s side to come to Los Angeles.

Grossman did what an agent is supposed to do; get the maximum price for his client, however, I can only feel that there is one winner in this and it’s Grossman.

Kovalchuck went to a team that is struggling to maintain a winning tradition, but I don’t feel his addition will get them the Cup. Lamoriello is normally pretty savvy, but I think has become desperate to win at least one Cup with Brodeur between the pipes before the next lockout and I think he felt his options were limited as well in terms of players they have in their system (hockey’s future has them ranked 26th).

For the Kings, they could have used a real sniper and PR machine, but the cost of matching the Devil’s offer was suicidal. Lombardi can rest comfortably knowing that he made a fair and reasonable offer and that signing this particular player was not the end all be all for his club, that while extraordinary players are not a dime a dozen, Stanley Cups are won by dedicated players as a team not by a single player.

In a few years when Lamoriello retires and New Jersey decides to rebuild, they will ask Kovalchuck to waive his NTC and ship him to another team for picks and/or prospects and some team will be willing to take him and his salary (or a portion thereof). For the next 17 years, Kovalchuck will be sitting in his multi-million dollar estate watching other teams, including the Kings, win the Stanley Cup, bitter with resentment that the highest paid hockey player will never have his name on the NHL’s biggest prize and wonder what might have been.

[Reply]
Pumpernicholl Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
@dMan, Very well analyzed and I think closer to the mark than just about anyone I’ve read. Lou is a master capologist, so they say, but NJ is going to regret doing this ultimately.

Anytime a team goes beyond 5 or 6 years on an NHL contract, no matter who the player is, they really start to regret it. The economic landscape for the NHL will be drastically different by the middle of the coming decade I think, and by then Kovalchuk’s superlong contract will be a millstone around the Devils neck.

The Kings in the medium and long term are better off not playing in that playground.

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
@Pumpernicholl, what analysis? it’s all speculation. at least call it what it is.

All i can say is regardless of this whole saga, the scoreboard remains squarely on the side of the Devils. Their organization has done very well. You can try to minimize that all you want, but it is a fact that cannot be ignored.

We can only hope to have even some of their success. Let’s continue to hope so.

[Reply]
Pumpernicholl Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
@wavesinair, ??? Sure, it’s an analysis. Look at the facts in evidence and draw conclusions. Analysis!

First of all, when New Jersey is seriously in play for your services, why bother making a point of coming all the way out to Los Angeles? Central to Grossman’s strategy, it is obvious now, was to try to crack the normally unflappable Lou Lamoriello. Lou wasn’t born yesterday, so you really do have to work it.

I’d agree with dMan that Grossman did one hell of a job, getting that contract out of a guy like Lou.

wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
analysis involves proof and logical deduction which is missing. but you’re right, there’s another kind of analysis too. we’re talking about two different definitions.

“getting that contract out of a guy like lou.”

Actually, Lou is on record as saying ownership wanted kovi and they were willing to pay, not Lou. He said, “it was out of his hands.”

interesting eh?

see article below…

dMan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
@wavesinair,

Unless a journalist like Rich decides to write a book about it (hint, hint), we, as fans will never get all the facts behind the negotiations on the Devils, Kings, Grossman and Kovalchuck sides. We can only make certain deductions, assumptions based on the hopefully truthful information at hand by various media, as well as comments made by the parties involved (Lombardi, Lamoriello, Grossman, etc.)

I don’t pretend that what I posted was an in-depth analysis but it is an “analysis” based on the limited facts made available to us and also my knowledge and experience of negotiations.

Having said that, all analysis is speculative as the exact same set of facts (data) can be used by various people with
very different results.

As for you comment that “the scoreboard remains squarely on the side of the Devils.” I would have to say that that is highly speculative and open to debate.

wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
@dMan,

Yeah, I’m with you. It was a type of analysis. I had the scientific kind stuck in my mind when I wrote that. But yeah, I agree.

re: scoreboard

I simply mean what has been proven by both organizations. No debate at all. 3 cups to none I believe.

iansez Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
@dMan, so you’re saying he took the D-Fish negotiation route? Took a plane ride across the country to earn an extra mill? (or 20!) It seems that way at least, smart move financially.

And Waves, NJ does have scoreboard but give us their goalie a while back and I say we’d have a cup or two as well..;)

[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
@dMan,

dMan…. what are you Doing?!! I mean, how dare you use actual logic and reasoning to make a post. My response to this won’t make me a favorite at the moment, but I’m not criticizing anyone in particular.
Whew. It’s just nice that someone can put it in a way that doesn’t accuse anyone, gives good solid evidence to make it’s points, etc.

Thank you…

[Reply]
Kevin Y Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
@dMan,

That’s a good point you make about the level of interest the league had in Kovalchuk.

I also have a theory: I think parity (and by extension the OT point) in the league is a huge part of it, as well. Only seven of the league’s 30 teams last season finished below .500. And Tampa Bay and Carolina are probably gonna get over that (TB made some GREAT moves, while Carolina suffered from sucking early on).

Basically, so many teams are in the chase as they are, with the players they have now. Player development has come a long way the past couple years, with the European leagues and hockey in America has really stepped up. And the silver medal in Vancouver is only going to help further that progress along.

So anyway, there aren’t a lot of teams out there that are going to break the bank for one “superstar” because they all feel (rightfully so) that they have a couple players in their system who can become that “superstar” in 3-5 years. And no team is going to mortgage that for one player now. That’s why LA didn’t get Kovalchuk. They could have if they really wanted him, but valued their young players more. I think that’s the right choice.

And most teams are taking that same standpoint. The Kings’ young guys are only going to get better. Kopitar, Brown, Simmonds, Doughty, and Johnson could be an All-Star caliber starting lineup in four years. And how awesome would it be if they were all Kings draft picks?

After all those guys develop, and you have them locked up long term, and you KNOW how much money you have leftover, then you can start getting other pieces on the free agency market.

We were all frustrated yesterday, yes, because we felt like we were the favorite for the last year to get the premier player available. But in the end, I think it was the right decision. DL wasn’t going to sacrifice those young players, ESPECIALLY Doughty (who we’ve called the second-coming of Ray Bourque or Bobby Orr).

No team, no matter how strong offensively, has won a Cup with crappy defense. Offense wins games, but defense wins championships. And the Kings will have plenty of chances to get offensive talent, either through the draft, free agency, or trades. But a player like Doughty becomes available maybe once in a generation.

[Reply]
iansez Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
@Kevin Y, yea good post, I agree with you. It just stings now that we didn’t end up with the candy-kovi but it’ll be sweeter down the road if the Kings keep their core. Such is life..

[Reply]
variable Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
@dMan,

best overall post i’ve read so far…

one point not emphasized enough is that new jersey needs to replace the star-quality of marty and try to reverse the trend of players leaving the garden state…

by signing kovy, it addresses both of those needs…

grossman knew it…
kovy new it…
louie knew it…
and…
you better believe deano knew it…

this is not MINDLESS speculation…nor verified facts…

it is the by-product of opinion and perspective – the two qualities of any healthy blog…:)

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:41 pm
@V,

Get DOWN with your BAD Self!
–Smackdown Special!

(HeHeHeHeHe…!)

[Reply]
sstephen17 says:

July 20, 2010 at 12:18 pm

Ok, I need some clarification on RFA’s. There seems to be a stigma associated with going after other teams’ RFA’s. I’m not sure why that is. Using the NBA as an example, there are plenty of RFA’s who get offers from other teams. If the team holding his rights think he’s worth it, they match. In fact, many teams use this as a tool to gauge the market value of their RFA’s (go see what another team offers and we’ll match it). Why is it so frowned upon in the NHL? If you really want to keep the player, you match the other team’s offer. If not, you get picks as compensation. I know SJ tried to do it with Chicago. People seemed to be worried that other teams will try this with the Kings but why couldn’t the Kings simply match offers on players they feel are worth it (Doughty, Simmonds, etc.)? All is fair in love, war, and free agency right? Heck, Lamoriello practically circumvented the CBA with the Kovi deal.

[Reply]
Pumpernicholl Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
@sstephen17, Why RFA offer sheets are frowned upon (mostly by front offices, not necessarily by the NHL) vs the NBA, is the different player development systems between the two leagues.

You draft a player in the NHL at the age of 18 and you oversee his development, hopefully into a player who can contribute to your big club. A lot of resources go into that in the player’s earliest years. Keep in mind that the NHL with its development system allows 50 player contracts. The NBA allows what, 14?

When you have developed a player for years and years you expect to reap the reward when he is in his mid-20s, and you have prepared him well and can still pay him a reasonable salary.

If another team swipes your player for a sudden overpayment, it’s like all the development resources a team spent from when the player is 18 go for nothing, when the other team drops a bomb on your well-laid multi-year plan. The NBA doesn’t develop players in this way (colleges and separate development leagues spend all the resources) so it’s a totally different mindset.

[Reply]
sstephen17 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
@Pumpernicholl, Excellent explanation. I didn’t think about the whole development process. Still, I think there are going to be those cut-throat GM’s who will try this. I’m curious though, is SJ going to be stigmatized by other GM’s because of what they tried to do with CHI?

[Reply]
iansez Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
@sstephen17, Wilson in SJ knew Chi was against the cap, it was a worth a shot on their part and may have even helped Chi depending on their plans. Lowe in Edmonton on the other hand seems to be the one who has gathered some animosity with his Duck/Sabre offers in years past..

And yes, great post pumper!

nykingfan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
@sstephen17,

at this time, I don’t think SJ will have any issues because there’s really nothing they have that would be considered an attractive RFA. They’re an aging team. They’ll lose guys to UFA, not so much RFA.
Now, when they decide to rebuild and they get some really good young players again, teams like Chicago will make sure to make them suffer when the time comes.
Every move a team makes when there’s a cap involved will have repercussions down the road. Bad UFA contracts will haunt a team for the length of the contract (see NYR Redden, Drury). Poaching other teams RFA’s will cost you when its time to sign them..teams will structure contracts to make sure the original team can’t match it without blowing up their cap.
For the Kings, we have way too many good young players that will be coming up for RFA. It’s best not to piss off others when they can rip the heart out of us. We still have the cap room to sign all of our guys even if these treams attempt to poach us. If they try, DL will make them pay down the road.
pr0cess says:

July 20, 2010 at 12:19 pm

OK the fourm has to be broken cause i just saw that post and now its gone? and the oder of stuff is getting all garbled up?? Is the fourm screwed up rich?

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
@pr0cess, lol, classic. totally classic. (sorry to laugh dude)

[Reply]
pr0cess Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
@wavesinair, Whats that? my craptastic spelling and sentence structure? ITs cool man i know its fail alot of the times. But ya i thought we had a better server now, guess i was wrong.

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
@pr0cess, no, not at all. laughing at the continued frustration of the technology (or lack thereof) that’s behind this blog.

BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
@pr0cess, @waves:

This thread feels like the all-time comments record, with Rich on vacation and KoveeBabee in Swampland…

–652 and counting

[Reply]
king lopez says:

July 20, 2010 at 12:36 pm

Hey everyone, I have been hearing alot about this guy Juraj Mikus? does Him and Kovi have history or what? who is this guy?

[Reply]
Joe Dirt Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
@king lopez,

Juraj Mikus’ mom has a tattoo that reads….son

[Reply]
stagger Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
@king lopez,

When Juraj Mikus jumps in to water, he doesn’t get wet, the water gets Mikused

[Reply]
KingsFan in OC Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
@king lopez,

There is no theory of evolution, only a list of animals Juraj Mikus has allowed to live.

[Reply]
stagger Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
@KingsFan in OC,

LMAO LMAO!!

[Reply]
Puckin-A Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
@king lopez, He is the one thing that Chuck Norris fears. Jesus has a velvet painting of Mikus. The future waits to be the present on his command . He is the only man/god cooler than Bobba Fett. He is fire proof and can shoot mind pucks. He defeated Superman without Kryptonite. Get the picture?

[Reply]
oldthunder Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
@king lopez, Juraj Mikus destroyed the period table of elements because the only element he believes in is the element of surprise!

[Reply]
Juraj Norris Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
Some people wear Superman pajamas, Superman wears Juraj Mikus pajamas

Juraj Mikus can win Connect 4 in only 3 moves

Juraj Mikus doesn’t read books, he just stares at them until he gets the info he needs

It takes Juraj Mikus 20 minutes to watch 60 minutes

Juraj Mikus beat a brick wall in a game of tennis

When Juraj Mikus plays Monopoly, it actually effects the worlds economy

Everbody loves Raymond…except Juraj Mikus

Juraj Mikus is the reason Waldo is hiding

Thats all I got, thanks!

[Reply]
The Weasel says:

July 20, 2010 at 12:38 pm

I need some clarification. If his cap hit is $6 a year what happens if he plays through the $11.5 million years and then retires? You can’t retro adjust the cap for past years. Does the $6 for the $550K years stay on the books.

In other words, is this just creative contracting to pay him $11.5M without having that muchon the books for cap purposes?

In theory, if we had wanted to could we have signed him to the $80M 15 year contract and simply given him all $80M upfront? (Not suggesting that would have been a good idea – just asking)

[Reply]
Dazed N Confused Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
@The Weasel,

From what I have heard on this site is that if he retires, the money comes off of the books. If this is the case we could sign anyone we want to a 30 year deal and when they retire the money comes off of the books anyway. This would keep us under the cap and we would have who ever we want at any price. This is bad for the NHL, I see a lockout coming.

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
@The Weasel,

If he retires, there is no more cap hit from that point on.

Yes, very much creative bookkeeping. It is allowed under the current rules, but that very well may change in 2 years.

There are minimums for each year, so no to your last question. I also think there are rules about how far the salary can drop from one year to the next, but I don’t know what they are.

[Reply]
Derek Bargaehr says:

July 20, 2010 at 12:50 pm

Just a quick note:

‘Hawks are $1 mil over the cap, without signing Niemi, and currently have 11 fwds and 5 d under contract. Chances are they will need to move someone more, and Bowman said it’s not gonna be Patrick Sharp.

DISCLAIMER: This is a BIG hypothetical. IF Chicago needs to get out from under the cap, they may end up moving that large Hossa contract (no one will take Campbell, least of all us). So, theoretically, we could get Hossa in a trade as a salary dump for Chicago. I imagine they’d want young’uns and prospects – essentially, people that don’t cost a lot. So we could grab that Hossa contract with an annual cap hit of $5.275 million. less than Kovy, and more defense than Kovy. of course, now he has a Stanley Cup, so who say’s he’ll be motivated? (haha)

Sources: http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Blackhawks-GM-not-trading-Sharp-no-clue-on-cap-;_ylt=AkfME8Z_Ets_aZfmMF5EFrV7vLYF?urn=nhl,257044

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/397541-will-the-blackhawks-trade-marian-hossa-this-summer

[Reply]
TVA333 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
@Derek Bargaehr,

very interesting theory, my friend… Probably not gonna happen. But it’ll be very interesting to see how that pans out…

[Reply]
goldielocks says:

July 20, 2010 at 12:51 pm

Watching NHL Network but the bottom bar for the latest news has been gone for sometime. What’s going on? There’s no news to report or some kind of media blackout? Or … Is this the omen for the end of the world???

[Reply]
YES on 19 says:

July 20, 2010 at 12:57 pm

For years and years from the mid 1970′s to the early 1990′s, the Colorado Rockies/New jersey Devils were a very poor team, a Mickey Mouse team if you believe Wayne Gretzky. Nobody wanted to play for them and it was the graveyard for most players’ careers to have to play there. Eventually, through shrewd drafting and trading, they started to become better and better, to the point where they became a preferred destination for many NHL players. This didn’t happen in a year or two–it took years of building the product from the ground up. The Kings are doing this now, and hopefully in a few years they’ll have players pounding at the doors wanting to play in Los Angeles and willing to leave some money on the table to do so.

[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
@YES on 19, I believe that time will be the trade deadline this year as we have an excellent chance to be 1st in the division at that point. I will not be UFAs, but players saying they will waive there no trade clause to be traded to a select group of a few playoff teams that will include the Kings.

[Reply]
chuckrocks Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
@YES on 19, I guess 43 years isnt long enough to become a “preferred destination”?

[Reply]
YES on 19 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
@chuckrocks, I went back and read the comments you made on this thread, all of them negative. So you don’t like DL or approve of his job as GM, that’s fair enough as we all have our opinions. Okay, so we get rid of DL. Who, pray tell, would you choose as the next GM for the Kings, and please don’t come back at me and say, “Duh, I dunno, just someone who will sign superstars”. Who would you choose???

[Reply]
wavesinair says:

July 20, 2010 at 12:58 pm

Interesting stuff…

So why would Lamoriello sign Kovalchuk to such a deal?.

“You’d have to speak to ownership about that,” Lamoriello said. “The commitment that ownership has made here, this is a commitment and a decision they wanted to make for this type of a player and all I can do is say whether the player is a player that will fit into the team, can help the team and is not a risk as a player. As far as what the financial commitment is and that aspect of it, that was out of my hands.”

…and later…

“In this situation here, we didn’t know what to expect, but when he came in (after the trade last esason) there was a natural connection between he and the players and it was mutual. No one worked at it. It just happened. And he respects his teammates and they respect him and he knew that he could fit in.”

Full article here…

http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/fireice/comments/lou_lamoriello_admits_kovalchuk_contract_shouldnt_be_part_of_nhl1/

[Reply]
D.K.'s Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
@wavesinair,

Let’s lynch the landlord?

[Reply]
King John Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
@wavesinair, informative article.

It’s interesting that signing Kovalchuk as a free agent during the season was the clincher in NJ wanting to pursue him now and in Kovalchuk feeling comfortable to sign there.

Many had questioned NJ trading for him during the season with the possibility of losing him.

[Reply]
Sam Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
@wavesinair, Seems the ownership stepped in and made a hockey decision. Usually not a good thing.

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Little bit more insight…

Was the offer you signed the same one that was on the table the whole time or did it change?

Kovi: “Kind of similar, but it’s always changing.”

[Reply]
variable Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
@wavesinair,

jersey ownership was more desperate for him than ours…

and all of us here will debate that aspect of this deal forever…

jersey = brodeur…

jersey w/out brodeur = a soon-to-be-(insert NHL team here) fan…(not the die-hards)

jersey w/brodeur AND kovy = serious contenders, once again…

jersey w/kovy after brodeur’s retirement = safe w/a marquee player and one that you can attract other ufa’s to play with….

they saw the long-term franchise effect it will have…IK is gonna be the face of the franchise out there…

in l.a….

kings = a young team on the rise…

kings w/out kovy = a young team on the rise…

kings w/kovy = a serious cup contender…

some would be so wont to choose…:

kings w/out kovy = a soon-to-be-(insert NHL team here) fan…(not the die-hards)

aeg did not think…or perhaps…want kovy to be the face of the franchise at the expense of other candidates…brown, kopi, drew, etc…

i’m starting to think that dl went to the godfather, thinking he was going to be let into the family, only to be sent back to his paisanos empty-handed…

i think dl is wounded, in the sense that he was willing to go against his core values for IK and stray slightly off the proforma and plan he outlined…but…aeg…who had to be convinced from the onset of dl’s hiring that they were gonna win this ‘certain way’ that dl prophesied about, couldn’t jump on board…

the bottom line is…:

kovy will not be a king…

and at the end of the day, we are still…
“a young team on the rise…”

if you were a true king fan before, you should be now…

in this case, i think there’s absolutely nothing wrong with us breaking even when leaving vegas…

but…

it does make you wonder what could have been…i understand…

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
@variable,

good stuff. about sums it up.

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
@variable,
“if you were a true king fan before, you should be now…

in this case, i think there’s absolutely nothing wrong with us breaking even when leaving vegas…”

Perfect sum up.

[Reply]
Moondoggie Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
@variable, Nice…You summed it up perfectly!

[Reply]
tuan jim Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
@variable,

Kovy made it clear today that he had no intention of signing with Kings, regardless of the money offered.

In the NHL an $80-mil 15-year offer with a bunch of it frontloaded ain’t exactly spit. That’s a lotta money.

If the guy didn’t want that kinda dough and didn’t really wanna play for L.A., then I don’t want him to be the face of the Kings franchise.

Good riddance to him.

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
@tuan jim said, “Kovy made it clear today that he had no intention of signing with Kings, regardless of the money offered.”

Kovy didn’t say that. Post the quote.
DoughtyDFan8 says:

July 20, 2010 at 1:04 pm

If you want to understand the Kings and their upper mgmt, then you need to study how AEG does business. And that’s exactly how they look at it: a business. Not a sports team looking to spend whatever it takes to win a championship (see NY Yankees). The talk from Leiweke et al about the Cup being the goal is to appease the fans. They may HAVE $16M to spend under cap rules but that doesn’t mean they’ll actually spend that much. They have a number in their head that no one here or in the press has knowledge of.

In this economy, they know what their budget needs to be in order to stay solvent as they weather the storm. The LAK are just one piece of a vast AEG empire, one of their business units if you will. As LA Live struggles, I just don’t see the Kings being able to do much for the 10-11 season.

[Reply]
State of Flux says:

July 20, 2010 at 1:21 pm

This is Lombardi’s make or break season. He can add the right players to the roster to put this team over the top, or he can break it. So it’s the ultimate test of how good a general manager he really is in the NHL.

Your move, Dean. We are alway hoping you don’t disappoint us.

[Reply]
variable says:

July 20, 2010 at 1:25 pm

remember him…?

http://tsn.ca/nhl/

[Reply]
OttoKing says:

July 20, 2010 at 1:40 pm

So, if the NHL is going to allow these crazy, long, front-end loaded contracts, then why don’t we sign Doughty and Johnson to 20+ year contracts, and structure them the exact same way? We could lock them down for the rest of their carreers, and pay them very well, and have a minimal cap hit?

Seriously. If NJ can sign Kovalchuk until he is 44, then why can’t we sign Drew until he is 44? Why not a 24 year contract? It could be for $90m, and we would have him for life with a 3.75m/year cap hit. Same with JJ, but probably more like 21 years and $75m. Cap hit would be $3.57m That leaves a lot of room with two great D-men locked up.

I am only half kidding, here. I guess it is unlikely they would want to sign for that long when they are so young, and it puts you in a dangerous position if they get injured and you need to buy them out. But still, if NJ gets to abuse the CBA, then we should too.

[Reply]
pr0cess says:

July 20, 2010 at 1:50 pm

Just read that Frolov and Leafs are almost a done deal. Strange, didn’t think he was Burke’s kinda guy. But stranger things have happened (i.e. Olli and Flames)

intresting

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
@pr0cess, please enlighten us. where did you read this? link?

[Reply]
pr0cess Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
@wavesinair, it was at TSN but it was just some guy saying it. So im sure its all fluff. But would suck to see the fro man go

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
@pr0cess, From what I have heard Burke is on vacation so I dont think this is true.

[Reply]
hockeysureshot says:

July 20, 2010 at 1:52 pm

Okay the Kovalchuk fiasco is over. What’s plan B? Are any of the remaining free agents attractive? What about going for a RFA, such as Mason Raymond from Van, or Staal from NYR? Looking at the Kings roster and prospects I feel the team is still in great shape. Bernier,Schenn, Moller,Hickey, and Clifford should be exciting to watch in training camp. This team is clearly fueled by the young players. Would rather see the young guys play than make a panic move for a mediocre veteran or overspend on a UFA.

[Reply]
warren rychel says:

July 20, 2010 at 1:54 pm

Read this and be glad we didn’t sign Kovalchuk:

http://tinyurl.com/33s4426

Also, maybe we can sign a forward now that will help kill penalties! The Kings pk was 20th last year if you recall.

[Reply]
Get Parise says:

July 20, 2010 at 2:02 pm

Lets make Parise an offer sheet next year.

[Reply]
Warren Rychel says:

July 20, 2010 at 2:08 pm

Read this and be glad the Kings didn’t get Kovy:

http://tinyurl.com/33s4426

Also the Kings could really use a forward for the PK. The King’s penalty kill was pretty bad last year.

[Reply]
YES on 19 says:

July 20, 2010 at 2:09 pm

It took the “Hawks nearly 50, didn’t it?

[Reply]
Ari says:

July 20, 2010 at 2:21 pm

I want answers! Come on DL – tell us which FA (if any are left) you are going to pick up!

Stop acting like the current state of the team is ideal and that there is no rush to change things up! Of course there is – unless you think the fans are happy with yet another year of “development”. Its time to win!

[Reply]
king lopez says:

July 20, 2010 at 2:26 pm

Thanks for the imput but that dosen’t explain why Juraj Mikus’ name keeps coming up
is this guy any good? ehats the scoop?

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
@king lopez,

Mikus was deemed ineligible for the NHL because his vast amount of skill, size, speed, toughness, hockey sense, and teamwork would be too great for any opponent to handle. For the sake of league parity he was banned.

[Reply]
king lopez Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
@VanKingsFan, LOL, no really? isn’t he in the kings organization?

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
@king lopez,
haha yes he is.

He played in the Slovakian league and was the centre for Ziggy Palffy. He piled up a ton of points and the Kings signed him up.

He played in Manchester last year but didnt really do too much, low point totals, and was a healthy scratch come the playoffs.

But he is young and maybe was just adjusting to the North American style game; we all still have hopes that he will turn some heads sometime soon and make the team.

Sebastian Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
@king lopez,

Be careful, Mikus is probably behind your right now about to punch you in the face.

[Reply]
BluLiner Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
@king lopez,

Mikus is also a cap-master and said that $80M should be the top offer. NJ will regret the signing.

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
@BluLiner,

As part of the new CBA, Mikus also recieves 70% of each player in the leagues salary as an homage

[Reply]
sstephen17 says:

July 20, 2010 at 2:28 pm

Just listened to a radio interview with DL.

http://www.fan590.com/media.jsp?content=20100720_141320_9540

He made some very interesting points and I came out of it more confident that he did the right thing for the organization. In the interview however, he keeps referring to the Kings offer for 13 years. I thought it was a 15 year deal they offered? No numbers were specified so I’m a little confused as to what was really the Kings final offer to Kovi.

[Reply]
LBlocal Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
@sstephen17, Thanks for posting. DL sounds genuine in this interview.

@ALL: Please have a listen.

gKg!

[Reply]
TVA333 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
@sstephen17,

Great post my man… Really appreciate the find. I had faith before hearing this broadcast… But after… You really hear the genius behind Dean-o. The man has a plan, And I’m behind it! Great post… You should all have a listen.

[Reply]
Rene says:

July 20, 2010 at 2:37 pm

Hey Kings’ Management! It doesn’t matter if we sign marquee free agents ever! Don’t pursue these players. Don’t get our hopes up. You embarrass yourselves with these half ass contracts that are thrown out there. You knew how much it took to sign IK and I’m embarrassed at that offer. What a joke! Stay away from great hockey players. They won’t come here.

[Reply]
VanKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
@Rene, I know eh, just like how people embarrass themselves on this site with comments that don’t make any sense and don’t have any facts or information to back up their half assed attempts at making a point…

[Reply]
Rene Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
@VanKingsFan,

Oh man, Am I talking to DL?

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
@VanKingsFan,

Zing! Good one.

[Reply]
RJC76 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
@Rene,

Funny how were calling 80 million dollar offers half assed contracts. That’s how bad it’s gotten these days with the money that is thrown at hockey players.

[Reply]
Daniel says:

July 20, 2010 at 3:27 pm

Just enjoy the moment, y’allz! Here is a nice video piece The Hockey News did on Wayne Simmonds and Chris Stewart:
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/34526-VIDEO-Urban-Legends-Indepth-interview-with-Wayne-Simmonds-and-Chris-Stewart.html

[Reply]
stagger Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 3:59 pm
@Daniel,

Great vid. Thanks for posting.

[Reply]
Tookie says:

July 20, 2010 at 3:28 pm

Hey everybody!
I got work done today….YAY!

[Reply]
johnjuan says:

July 20, 2010 at 3:43 pm

Bring back Fro Lombardi!

How Fro goes so goes the Puck.

[Reply]
King John Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
@johnjuan,

Who is Fro Lombardi? Did DL adopt Fro during the season only to sour on him?

I know you meant: Bring back Fro, Lombardi!

[Reply]
Tookie says:

July 20, 2010 at 3:45 pm

Also, Matt “money” Smith just ripped Deano on PMS.

[Reply]
5thLine Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
@Tookie,

Is there podcast or link to the comments?

[Reply]
hockeysureshot Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
@Tookie, Who cares what a guy who never talks hockey and knows nothing about the sport says.

[Reply]
Traded for a Pick says:

July 20, 2010 at 3:48 pm

“@EJHradek_ESPN A source with ties to Kovalchuk says Ilya felt more comfortable with NJ GM Lamoriello than he was with LA GM Lombardi. It made a difference.”

Ouch

[Reply]
Cup B4 I Die Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
@Traded for a Pick,

Yuck…that’s not good to hear.

[Reply]
Bingram Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
@Traded for a Pick,

The only thing that mattered was the money. $102M offered by the Devils vs $101M offered from the Trashers. Even Lou Lamarillo (sp?) thought the price paid by the owners of the Devils was too high.

Over the next Ten years lets see which team has the most success; the Kings, the Thrashers or the Devils.

I’d bet my money on the Kings.

Go Kings go!

[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
@Bingram, I also interesting how one of the smartest men in Hockey was immediately distancing himself from the #s in the Kovi deal.

[Reply]
KingMe Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
@Traded for a Pick,

20 million would make most people feel more comfortable.

[Reply]
ForumFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
@Traded for a Pick,

So it wasn’t all about the money then, it was about being comfortable? (yeah, right)

[Reply]
Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
@ForumFan,

You still don’t want free agents saying that about your team’s GM. Pure and simple.

Certainly won’t help DL’s rep as a low-baller at the very least

[Reply]
Hat Trick says:

July 20, 2010 at 3:57 pm

I doubt if our players are as upset as many of you are. To me, this will give our players a challenge to show everybody what they can do without this guy on the team.
The free agents from last year’s team that are gone are a minimal loss. They scored a total of 30 goals (19 from Frolov). We haven’t made any moves yet, and are still better than the teams that were below us. Plus our “core” players have one more year of experience (season + playoffs)to add to their development. If some of you can take your blinders off to look at the big picture, maybe you might see that we still have a team on the way up. By early April……..who knows?

[Reply]
mikeyono says:

July 20, 2010 at 4:08 pm

Just listened to Matt Smith absolutely rip Dean- I’m on fire- lets get rid of this guy- what has he done anyway and don’t give me that San Jose story- they only got better when they got Joe- and he didn’t draft Kopi and Doughty was a no brainer so really- what has the guy done? NOTHING!

[Reply]
GregDM Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
@mikeyono,

And how many Cups has San Jose won?

[Reply]
Vahe Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
@mikeyono,

Money made a good point. DL with his GM ways, would be perfect in a small market. Thats where you can be patient develop home grown talent year after year after year. In LA to be relevant in the sports world you need a star. You need a guy to put the puck in the net, 40 + times. Someone needs to tell DL that you can build a team with a young core AND a top tier free agent

[Reply]
dMan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
@Vahe,

Fact: Lombardi made the your 40+ goal scorer multiple offers – yes, he understands the concept of building with core players AND a free agent!

[Reply]
vahe Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
@dMan,

fact is that Dean has not closed a deal on any big-time free agents. Not sure if that’s ownership or is it on him. It is also a fact that DL loves to low-ball FA’s. That’s a good way to attract free agents, and even try to resign his own players. Just ask Jack Johnson about Dean

dMan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
@mikeyono,

You’re right, Lombardi has done nothing – nothing but build a team that has the most competitive long-term potential the Kings have ever had in their history. And he’s not done!

Think of it this way: He’s actually done more for the Kings in 4 years than Kovalchuck has done for either the Thrashers or the Devils in 8.

[Reply]
DBB Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
@dMan,

Respectfully, I disagree when you say “he’s not done.” I believe Dean lacks the neccesary moxy and savviness to attract top-ticket free agents and complete a trade to bring in a player that drastically improves the team. I would not be surprised if Dean is in fact done for the summer as far as making significant improvements to the Kings.

[Reply]
Fu King Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
@DBB, By “done for the summer as far as making significant improvements” do you mean losing 3 men from last year’s roster and signing ZERO free agents? Just wanted to be clear?

luc20rules Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
@DBB, We need to be successful before UFAs make us the first choice. I don’t see anyone lining up to go to the NYI, Atl, etc. We had a great year last year and most analysts predict several playoff years in the Kings near future. If we lead the division at the trade deadline I guarantee you many top players will waive no-trade clause to move to LA. We are on track. This is all a process and short cuts rarely work. Kovi was not the right deal. The right deal will come in time.

DBB Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
@Fu King, that is pretty mcuh what I mean. I don’t believe that Dean will have the drive to any any sort of player with a “Wow” factor to the Kings this off-season. Hopefully, the remaining team will be enough to get the Kings a 5-8 seeding in the Western Conference next season, but I was hoping that Dean would make improvements to the roster. I am expecting Lombardi to completely let me down now.

@luc20rules, that is a very reasonable counter-point to my argument. And for the sake of all Kings fans, I hope your vision for the remainder of Dean’s tenure is correct as opposed to my opinion of Lombardi.

thound Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
@dMan,

And Lombardi has been a GM in the league for 11 seasons.

Rings?

Think of it THAT way also.

No qualms about how he’s gone about the rebuild…. But he HAS to augment the kids with established stars and he seems to have constant issues in that area.

There have been plenty of red flags popping up the last few years regarding his inability to land targeted FA’s, and people keep burying their heads in the sand and propping up excuses for him in that area.

When he fails yet again on the next impact FA, what will be the next excuse?

And to all those who say, “well, signing Kovy wouldn’t have guaranteed them winning a cup anyway!”

Well, not signing Kovy doesn’t guarantee any of the Kings young core will resign with the Kings long term either.

Two way street.

[Reply]
Joe Dirt Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
@thound,

I totally agree with the points you make. What really chaps my a@@ is that we we’re in the optimum position to sign Kovalchuk and he just flat out couldn’t seal the deal. I always hope for the best with this team and have stuck through some pretty god aweful kings teams. Ive seen and played enought hockey to know that we have to supplement our kids with some hired guns. We aren’t a pitt penguin team that has had consistent top 5 picks for years and a generational player in Crosby. If a guy like Kovalchuk comes along and you have the chance…..take it and close it. For those who say blah blah were better off blah blah. Were now stuck in a quandry where we have to give up assets to fill the holes that Kovalchuk would have filled. I mean wasn’t that the point of not signing him anyway???

Daniel Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
@thound, @Joe Dirt, We’ve had three Top 5 years. Pitt has two First Overall and two Seconf Overall picks. Are guys are good, really good. We’ll get someone to make the team better. We still have two months before training camp and plenty can happen.

dwave Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
@mikeyono, Please dude… don’t start crying because we didn’t get kovy. DL is building this team the right way and plus it’s a long summer. Do really think he’s gonna just sit back and wait for next season because he missed out on kovalchuk?

Dean’s track record with free agents hasn’t been spectacular but that’s because he refuses to overpay for anyone. I bet he still goes out and picks up a big name forward via trade and this whole kovalchuk thing will soon be as though it were a figment of our imagination.

Besides, we’re still basically the same team as last year that made the playoffs after 8 years. Kovalchuk to me wasn’t really make or break for this team.

Keep your head up brother. The future’s still bright.

[Reply]
mikeyono Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
@dwave, I respectfully disagree with you but I’ll take a wait and see attitude- yeah I think “less than spectacular” is the right phrase (cloutier,nagy,mcCauley,calder,preissing, should I go on?
And Mr. McCauley is a prime example of overpayment- what did he play? 3 games!!!

[Reply]
thound says:

July 20, 2010 at 4:26 pm

Zach Parise on Kovy re-signing:

“If you can get a player like that for that kind of cap hit, that’s great for us.”

[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
@thound, Majority rules and CBA that will be voted on in 2 years will not only get rid of the loophole rule allowing contracts with minimum final years to reduce the cap hit, since 99% of players are hurt by them and 60% owners don’t have them don’t be suprised if the cap hit is the actual yearly salary in the new CBA. Which will mean Kovi’s hit will be 11.5 mil for 5 years 2013 to 2017 eat that NJ.

[Reply]
lv is the way says:

July 20, 2010 at 4:29 pm

Just dawned on me, since Dean “We trust” Lombardi taken over, the best move in my opinion was Smitty last season, yes a injury here and there, but look we were not as bad as the ducks, we made the playoffs, but i do find it strange that we can not talk to a top free agent and bring him to town. But Kings will win, no dought..

[Reply]
Joe Dirt Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
@lv is the way,

It should also dawn on you that our top scorer was not drafted by your Messiah.

[Reply]
AZ King Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
@Joe Dirt,

True, but our future Norris Trophy winning d-man was.

[Reply]
gralx Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
@AZ King, Blindfold pick. It was either Stamkos or Doughty. Can’t mess it up when there is only one choice. You can, however, draft a defenseman in the 4 hole, 10-12 picks earlier than he was slotted to go. And then 3 years later, he is one of only 3 players drafted in the top 16 of that draft to have not had 1 sniff of the NHL yet, just sayin’

CupRun2011 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
@lv is the way, Poker game. We went “all in” with $80MM/15 and NJD went “all in” with $102MM/17. We lost. We move on…Nobody knows how next season will go…

Let’s put another spin on this. Say Playboy offered you a job for $80k/yr, but you have to drive to Anaheim everyday from Manhatten Beach, OR you’re offered another job from Reader’s Digest for $100k/yr and work in El Segundo. Which would you take?

[Reply]
demob Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
@CupRun2011,

last time I checked the Staples center sat in the middle of the ghetto…your comparison isn’t close to the real situation.

[Reply]
UglyinLA says:

July 20, 2010 at 4:33 pm

Its the $11.5M/yr, stupid.

I wonder how things will work out with his Devil teammates? It wont take long before the resentment sets in. When management cuts your pay because the guy sittingon the bench next to you is making double of everyone else, thats not a good thing. The only thing that will fix that is winning a cup. The Devils have to win the cup or their team falls apart.

Think about this. All of you that still have a job, how would you feel if the guy in the cubicle is doing the same job as you but he is getting at least double your salary and when you has for a raise the company doesnt have the money because they are paying that other guy twice what you make.

Dont under-estimate this. There are reports out there that Kovy was insisting on the $102M and the 17 years to best his fellow countryman, Olvechkin. People dont realize the egos at this level of competition.

Like I said, winning cures all ills, losing exacerbates them.

[Reply]
thound Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
@UglyinLA,

Per Hradek

“An observation from the Kovy press conference: I felt Elias, Parise, Langenbrunner and Brodeur all were genuinely thrilled to have him back.”

[Reply]
UglyinLA Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
@thound,

The Devils are about $3M over the cap. Somebody has to go (via trade).

Its truly hard to have more than two or three SuperStars on one team.

We are going to have the same problem next year. Our core is DD, Kopi. Add JJ, Simmer, Scuds, and Brown and money starts getting tight. Then add Bernier and we are at the cap. How in the heck were we going to afford Kovy? The only way is one or more of our core players had to go. Not getting Kovy is a blessing to me.

As been said many times on this site, this team is not that bad. I have faith that they will gel as the year progresses. If Williams, age 28, plays his age and doesnt get hurt, thats a pretty darn good lineup.

[Reply]
King John Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
@UglyinLA,

In the interview, DL said that we weren’t even close, especially in terms of structuring and what NJ was offering. And we weren’t prepared to offer something like NJ. I agree. It’s ludicrous.

[Reply]
Daniel Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
@UglyinLA, That what I have been saying all along – Parise’s agent will point directly to what Kovalchuk gets paid from 2012 – 2017 ($11.5 mil) during contract negotiations next summer. You know Parise will be about 10 pts apart from each other at seasons end. Lou better hope Parise has a heart of gold, cuz you know his agent doesn’t.

[Reply]
pr0cess says:

July 20, 2010 at 4:37 pm

lalala DDOS from users, lalala

[Reply]
Rjb says:

July 20, 2010 at 4:52 pm

Kings Rule at sucking, every year same story. We tried to get the elite guys but somehow or another they go elsewhere. Well here is the solution

AEG takes the team to Kansas City leaving LA hockey fans high and dry. Now all those big name free agents don’t need to sign in LA they can sign in KC. Better taxes and a kinder easier going fan base. Ones that don’t care as much as the Rabid LA fan who for 40 plus years have followed routed and pulled most if not all of their hair out only to see mediocrocy. Keep up the profitable stand AEG your killing the true fan. LIE WEEKLY is a cancer. Sorry, sometimes the truth hurts.

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
@Rjb, Your Ducks will rule the bottom of the conference.The Ducks should move to Kansas and change their name to the Chiefs.I like the movie with that team better than the one their currently named after.

[Reply]
AZ King Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
@Rjb,

You’re right the truth does hurt. Next time try putting some of it in your post.

[Reply]
hockeysureshot Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
@Rjb, Let’s see the Kings had one of their best seasons EVER last year. Kings have a stable full of young players that EVERY team is envious of. Kings Have a Norris trophy candidate who is 21! Kings have Two young stud goaltenders. Kings have a forward who is 23 that averages a point per game. Yeah it’s real gloomy over here…

[Reply]
edwood2 says:

July 20, 2010 at 4:55 pm

Waiting for a new “where do we go from here” thread. No time to read 700 comments!

[Reply]
cantSIGNaUFA says:

July 20, 2010 at 5:00 pm

http://www.am570radio.com/pages/pc/
Petros and money hour one 7/20 26:00 minutes in.

I am drinking the kool-aid. Dean has done a great job through the draft, but continues to make poor decisions through free agency. Not so much angry due to the length of the contract, but we could have had a 50 goal score on a line with Kopitar and X. LA is a city that thrives on Stars. Drew will be there, and in my opinion he already is, but defensemen don’t get the credit they deserve to the average socal fan. Although we will continue to fill the seats and should make it to the playoffs for many years to come, we still have missing links that we need to fill.

However, being a goaltender that played tier I midget hockey and played junior hockey as well, I am excited at not only the goaltenders we have now (quick, bernier) but guys like jeff zatkoff and martin jones are great prospects for our future. We have the best two tandom goalies in the NHL right now. Much like Minnosota was a few years back. We wont have to ride quick into the ground this season. In a 76 game season(including states, regionals, nationals and tourneys) I started a total 59 games from september to the beginning of may and it was exhausting, tough to play as much a quicker did. Give him a break some of you…

Got to play against quick and his stacked 04′ mid-fairfield team @ nationals, he pitched a shutout 3-0. I had a feeling he’d make it to the nhl. Glad to see him on our side.

[Reply]
scootty says:

July 20, 2010 at 5:08 pm

I have a 9 1/2 month old daughter that whines less than some people on this site. The Kings didn’t get Kovalchuk. MOVE ON!! The Kings are basically the same team that finished the season with 101 points. Lombardi WILL add. It’s the middle of July for ****** sakes.

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
@scootty,

lol. happily. but move on to what? we are stuck in the middle of july with no moves behind us and buried by 700 comments above us.

I think we’re stuck here for the time being!

[Reply]
scootty Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
@wavesinair,

Exactly, the middle of July with 2 months to get something done.

[Reply]
goldielocks Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
@scootty,

Yeah! There you said it. Stop stalking your x-fiancee cause she chose the guy with a bigger wallet. She is a complete b**** ! Get over it and move the **** on!

[Reply]
scootty Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
@goldielocks,

Wow, how mature.

[Reply]
luc20rules says:

July 20, 2010 at 5:17 pm

For all those still yelling about Kovi & Chicago being great read this link.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Blackhawks-GM-not-trading-Sharp-no-clue-on-cap-;_ylt=AqywdIQ2iUaSAGculGWmEQd7vLYF?urn=nhl,257044

Also think about this Majority rules and CBA that will be voted on in 2 years will likely not only get rid of the loophole contracts with minimum final years to reduce the cap hit, since 99% of players are hurt by them and 60% owners don’t have them don’t be suprised if the cap hit is the actual yearly salary in the new CBA. Which will mean Kovi’s hit will be 11.5 mil for 5 years eat that NJ.

[Reply]
ArmChairKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
@luc20rules,

So much for LA getting Sharp. That puts a real bind into the search for that sniper to fill out the lineup. Is there anyone else out there?

[Reply]
dwave Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
@ArmChairKingsFan, well if it aint Sharp who’s leaving?

Right now in Chicago it looks as though there having a little trouble with getting that square peg into a round hole…. but oh boy can they try!

[Reply]
5-Hole Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
@ArmChairKingsFan,

I wonder if Chicago really would consider trading Hossa as mentioned in that article. We made a play for him last year but he chose the Hawks because he thought they were closer to winning the Cup. (he was right) But maybe now that he has a ring he would be willing to come to LA. Just a thought…Chicago has to get rid of somebody…

[Reply]
ArmChairKingsFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
@5-Hole,

I don’t see CHI trading Hossa, though they do have to move a body. However, it is possible Cambell and Huet start the season in the AHL and CHI does not move a big name body.
I have been hearing the Savard rumors, but I don’t know if he will get treated like Da Boyle and ousted because of Tyler Seguin. I’m still looking for names that could possibly come over in a trade. It’s obvious the Kings need a sniper and another D-man. Again, the question is who is AVAILABLE out there?
The Kinger says:

July 20, 2010 at 5:30 pm

There comes a time when those that are blaming AEG for not having a successful team have to realize that AEG is not the culprit.

If AEG is to blame, then so too are every ownership group since Bruce McNall. Meaning McNall was the last Kings owner that wanted to win.

Tell that to Brown, Kopitar, Simmonds, Doughty, Johnson, and the rest of the players, not with the big club, but in the entire organization, that the managment doesn’t want to win. See what kind of reaction you get. It is a simple equation, money breeds winning and winning breeds money.

AEG, brought in Lombardi. He has built a solid foundation. Something Dave Taylor and his predecesors couldn’t do. AEG also has commited to keeping guys like Kopitar, Johnson, Doughty, Brown, and other key guys. So I am not sure why some people here are blaming AEG for not getting Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk is obviously a cancerous player who is focused on himself and not the team. Why would anyone want that in their lockeroom? We got something good going on here in LA, be patient.

[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
@The Kinger,

All good points except Kovalchuk being cancerous. No one who has ever been around him has said that. He is dong whats best for himself and his family and who could blame him.

You can bet DD will not be much cheaper.

[Reply]
The Kinger Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
@KC23, true. Good point that no one has said anything bad about him.

[Reply]
Dominick says:

July 20, 2010 at 5:58 pm

I’ve read alot of reasonable posts since Kovi signed.Quite a few angry posts as well,but some of these posts are the equivelant of a 4year old kicking the wall and screaming”I want it now”.This team has been built”the right way”,and just because we didn’t get 1 player,does’nt mean that we suck.It just means that were still going to have to do a little more work.

Were still one of the deepest teams in the league,with plenty of cap space.We still have a plethra of young talent on the current roster.So chill man,the universe tends to unfold as it should.

[Reply]
variable Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
@Dominick,

preach it, my brutha…:)

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
@Dominick,

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
@Dominick,

The universe is a bastard.

[Reply]
Stonewall Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
@Dominick, ‘Jefe, what is a plethora?’

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
@Stonewall, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mTUmczVdik

[Reply]
Tonus Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
@Dominick,

Exactly.

[Reply]
Hat Trick Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
@Dominick,

The little girl yells at her dad to “get me a pony”. The dad replies, but in 3 years he will be too big for you. The little girl screams back “I don’t care about 3 years from now, I WANT MY PONY NOW!!!!!!”

[Reply]
luc20rules says:

July 20, 2010 at 6:23 pm

Answer to DLs PR nightmares. Give Bobby Ryan an offer sheet for $6,126,866/yr for 3 years. Why 3 yrs and that amount? I believe that is the max for giving up a #1,2, & 3 draft picks, and 3 years because the Ducks will likely match, so in 3 years Getzlov, Ryan, & Perry go UFA the same summer. I the Ducks don’t match we get Ryan for far less than Kovi, and draft picks will be late in each round.
As Cartman says “KICK THE DUCK”

Sorry for attaching this link I know its worse than a virus.

http://ducks.ocregister.com/2010/07/19/ducks-ryan-at-odds/40919/

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
@luc20rules, it would have to be a 4 year deal or more. otherwise, we’ll screw ourselves with too many free agents in 2 or 3 years.

[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
@wavesinair, I am 95% sure the Ducks would match that offer so we wouldn’t have to worry about it. Your probably right, but I just wanted to stick it to the Fowls. I would hope though that DD, JJ, WS would be signed long term not just for 2 years before the RFA next summer. I think at the trade deadline we will also move some of our older prospects, as we may not have space on the roster for them and they won’t resign to play in the AHL anymore.

[Reply]
RJC76 says:

July 20, 2010 at 6:28 pm

What??? NHL rejected the NJ deal because it circumvented the cap.

[Reply]
RJC76 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
@RJC76, I doubt it means anything, they’ll just rearrange the contract so that he stays in NJ anyway.

[Reply]
gralx Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
@RJC76, actually, it might make the Kings deal better. Not sure we want him now tho….

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
@RJC76,

Seriously?
Have a source?

[Reply]
Nicholls09 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
@RJC76,

Yep, nothing in the way of details yet, but here is the link to the “teaser” story to follow on TSN:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=328025

[Reply]
Paul From Oxnard Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
@RJC76, ROFL! Wouldn’t that be classic!! “The Kings are back in it…..” You can’t make this stuff up.

[Reply]
Fu King Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
@Paul From Oxnard, Hahaha, The Epic Kovalchuk Saga: Jason, Freddie and Jaws are easier to kill than this Never Ending Story.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
@RJC76,

If you ARE serious, and this is true, they will never finish this deal in NJ…

The true value of the deal, over the first seven years, is:

6+6+11.5+11.5+11.5+11.5+11.5=69.5/7
=9.92 Cap hit/yr.

Again… source?

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, it’s not true bako.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
@RJC76,

I cannot shout this loouder…
SOURCE??????????

[Reply]
Stonewall Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=328025

Av Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

http://www.tsn.ca

[Reply]
Paul From Oxnard Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, Multiple sources. Helene. Kukla’s Korner. Check around. They vetoed it due to cap circumvention.

[Reply]
kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

is reported on TSN.. and they say “details to follow”

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=328025

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, or maybe it is… tsn is reporting it.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=328025

[Reply]
Stonewall Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
@RJC76, Yeah. They’ll just actually screw the Devils a little bit. How many years will be shaved off? And how few millions…?

[Reply]
Jonathan says:

July 20, 2010 at 6:34 pm

The NHL has rejected New Jersey’s 17-year 102 million dollar deal with Kovalchuk due to deliberate salary cap circumvention per TSN’s Gord Miller

[Reply]
RJC76 says:

July 20, 2010 at 6:40 pm

tsn.ca

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
@RJC76,

http://www.tsn.ca/

I am totally speechless.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Reply]
Chris Bond says:

July 20, 2010 at 6:40 pm

Rumor is the NHL JUST REJECTED the KOVI DEAL!!! ahahhaha if this is true it is SO EFFING FUNNY!

[Reply]
Chris Bond Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
@Chris Bond, ohhh I forgot to say…Carma is a bitch.

[Reply]
kluka68 says:

July 20, 2010 at 6:43 pm

here is link http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=328025

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy says:

July 20, 2010 at 6:45 pm

My first thought, of course, is that KoveeBabee is TOTALLY SCREWED!

Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy!

–PRICELESS!

I smell Mikus…

[Reply]
King John Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 1:23 am
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

Priceless? $102,000,000 is not priceless!
It’s obscene.

[Reply]
RJC76 says:

July 20, 2010 at 6:47 pm

site wasn’t refreshing fast enough. I almost fell out of bed when i read that.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
@RJC76,

Can you imagine being KoveeBabee’s agent?

There are quotes out there about how he couldn’t imagine going anywhere else but NJ.

The key concept is that:

A: The total dollar figure must come down;
or,
B: The NJ Devils will have to destroy their club to close this deal.

There are some very very unhappy NJ Devils executives tonight, say, at 10:00 p.m. their time…

This is absolutely BF CLASSIC!!!!!
HeHeHeHeHeHeHeHeHeHeHeHeHeHeHeHeHeHeHeHeHeHeHeHe!

I can’t stop laughing…
Somebody help me…

[Reply]
wavesinair says:

July 20, 2010 at 6:48 pm

Kings back in the Kovalchuk sweepstakes… details at 11! LMFAO! Unbelievable if the rejection holds. Doubt that anything will come of it though.

[Reply]
Pumpernicholl says:

July 20, 2010 at 6:50 pm

WOW — this is a whole new ballgame if NJ’s contract has indeed been rejected.

That would also be a serious smackdown of a guy who is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in the “Builder” category

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
@Pumpernicholl,

That’s the best part! And from the press conference yesterday it sounded like he didn’t want this deal, it was his owners. Comedy!

[Reply]
josh says:

July 20, 2010 at 6:50 pm

LOL!!!! I love it! This will make me sleep well tonight!!!!

[Reply]
lv is the way says:

July 20, 2010 at 6:50 pm

Read all about on TSN.ca Kovi’s contract rejected by the nhl……HA HA could have been a Kings..

[Reply]
dMan says:

July 20, 2010 at 6:51 pm

Wow, TSN is reporting the NHL rejects Kovalchuck’s contract!

here we go again!

[Reply]
dMan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
This puts Grossman and Kovalchuck in a really awkward position!

[Reply]
variable says:

July 20, 2010 at 6:51 pm

it’s like a fox promo…:

“see what develops…”

and how…!

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
@V,

Kovalchuk is TOTALLY SCREWED!
There is no chance in Hell that he gets anywhere near 102 million from the Devils, but he’s burned bridges in L.A.

I’m still laughing…
Bettman’s got some ‘splaining to do in the a.m.!

I bet he’s going to have to define the longest possible term contract, now…

[Reply]
AZ King says:

July 20, 2010 at 6:55 pm

No matter what happens there’s no way he’s not going to sign with NJ. They’ll just restructure the deal to make it fit inside the cap restriction (whatever they may be). It’ll be funny if he ends up making less than he would have if he signed here.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
@AZ King,

But the total dollar amount was the point, all along!

It will humiliate IK if he is forced to take less money… say, $80 million dollars!

It will break the Devils, if the cap hit increaases significantly, who are already over the cap!

[Reply]
AZ King Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

Oh, I totally agree Bako. There is no way that both parties are going to come out happy when this is all said and done. Either Kovi is going going to be miffed about taking less money (having to take a backseat to Ovechkin again), or the Devils are going to have to dismantle quickly in order to fit him under the cap.

Gee, wasn’t that what DL and company was worried about in the first place. Huh, maybe Dl’s not as much an idiot as most people are making him out to be.

[Reply]
Pumpernicholl says:

July 20, 2010 at 6:56 pm

The NHL does need to explain why the Hossa contract is OK in light of this decision.

[Reply]
AZ King Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
@Pumpernicholl,

It’s because Bettman wants Kovi in LA. You know he was salivating at the marketing prospects of him being here.

[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
@Pumpernicholl, Age 44 is very different from 42. Assuming someone will play until 40 it is twice as bad.

[Reply]
Vilela Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
@Pumpernicholl,

Not to mention that in the last 6 years, Kova would get only a total of $ 3.5M.
It is pretty clear that he has no intention on playing these last years.

[Reply]
John Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
@Vilela,

And some of those years at the end are BELOW the league minimum. That’s gotta be why it was rejected! Do they not understand the concept of a minimum wage?!

[Reply]
edwood2 says:

July 20, 2010 at 6:58 pm

So, I am thinking, the Kings offer was similar, with less $$$. So Lou gets the facial egg, not Dean. DL, you are like Teflon!

[Reply]
wavesinair says:

July 20, 2010 at 6:59 pm

I wonder if it was the Kings who filed a grievance with the league! Oh man, this could get good.

[Reply]
Pumpernicholl says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:00 pm

I hereby declare July 20th “Laugh of the Kings Fan Eve”

Going to go pop a Summer Ale

[Reply]
luc20rules says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:00 pm

in the immortal words of Sam Kinnison.
AUHHHH! AAUUUHHH! IT NEVER ENDS!
Well its NYI or KHL as they are the only fools that will give him a contract that trumps Ovechkins and that is what his ego demands.
If I were DL I would offer a one year deal 9 mil now. One year in LA and I think he would sign a 70 mil 14 year deal.

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:05 pm
@luc20rules,

Sam Kinnison reference. Major bonus points. (I actually laughed out loud.)

[Reply]
variable says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:03 pm

RICH…

how’s that vacation treating ya’…?

worlds are colliding…world’s are colliding…

RICH is geting very upset….!!!

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
@variable, I love how 800 comments later, the headline of this post is still right on.

[Reply]
variable Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
@wavesinair,

hehe…yep…:)

[Reply]
AZ King Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
@wavesinair,

Good call waves. It’s funny how everything comes full circle again.

[Reply]
Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
@wavesinair,

My head s’plode

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:05 pm

I have to quote this article now… Helene Elliott of the L.A. Times, earlier today…

“Ilya Kovalchuk says he never thought he’d sign anywhere but New Jersey
July 20, 2010 | 2:17 pm
Some interesting comments from Ilya Kovalchuk at a news conference Tuesday in Newark, N.J., where he signed a 17-year, $102-million contract to stay with the New Jersey Devils.

Kovalchuk turned down a 15-year, $80-million offer from the Kings and visited Los Angeles last week, which would indicate he was taking the Kings’ proposal seriously. But asked Tuesday if he ever thought he’d sign with another team, he said, “Now, if I look back, no.” Then why was he wasting his time and the Kings’ time by engaging in a nearly three-week process, if not to use them as leverage to get a lifetime deal in New Jersey?

Also intriguing was General Manager Lou Lamoriello’s comment about the lengthy deal. While quick to say it’s legal under the collective bargaining agreement, he also said, “I would agree we shouldn’t have these,” and he hinted that the long-term commitment was made at the urging of owner Jeff Vanderbeek.”

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
I am still unable to stop laughing…

My bosses will think me INSANE!

hEhEhEhEhEhEhEhEhEhEhEhEhEhEhEhE!

[Reply]
Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

I don’t know if the Kings are back in it, likely not, but this is insane

[Reply]
King John Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 1:26 am
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

that feels good…

[Reply]
bure10 says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:07 pm

this is what we say in Hawaii..ahh hahh!! Thats what you get Lou!!

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:10 pm

Well, there goes the refresh button again…

Refresh
Refresh
REFRESH, Dammit!

[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, This is why I so like my stories(As the Kovi Squirms) these sudden plot twists. Will Kovi holdout for more money than Ovechkin without any teams still negotiating with him? Does Kovi have a twin that has never played in the NHL? Will the MIKUS clap his hands turning Kovi into a wee leaperchaun?

[Reply]
andrew says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:10 pm

If you saw the NJ press conference, there is a reference to the Devils’ owner taking the lead in the deal and getting it done. I can only imagine the Kings’ owner showing such interest on behalf of his team. Then again, I have to imagine, still never having seen the guy in public after 14 years as owner….

[Reply]
Ed says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:12 pm

So, what I’d the league rejects the 17 year contract? What happens then?

[Reply]
AZ King Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
@Ed,

Who knows. This is kind of new territory. It’ll be interesting to see what happens tomorrow.

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
@Ed, As far as I understand the CBA, nothing has been fully rejected yet. I believe the parties will meet to try to resolve the issue and if that doesn’t work, an arbitrator gets involved and decides from there. But then again, I didn’t think this contract could get rejected, so…

[Reply]
HipCheck says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:14 pm

LMFAO!

Eckland is saying that the NHL rejected IL’s deal with the devils. Too funny!

[Reply]
Mousetrap says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:14 pm

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=328025

Kovy deal rejected by NHL ?

[Reply]
sstephen17 says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:17 pm

In the back of my mind yesterday, I thought this was blatant circumvention but I doubted the NHL would do anything. Not sure what happens now but at the very least, years or money get chopped. If it’s years, it hurts the Devils since the cap hit goes up. If it’s money, it hurts Kovi. So between the Kings, Devils, and Kovi, look who looks like the winner now?

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
@sstephen17,

The thing about this is, if this deal is rejected but prior deals were not, the Commish MUST be able to make a differentiation between the NJ-IK deal and the prior deals, in some definitive way, or the league is about to be SUED. BIG TIME suits… the $100 million kind!

Bettman MUST speak out tomorrow…
Guidelines MUST BE CLEAR.

[Reply]
Darren says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:19 pm

its also says on TSN that his contract is rejected BAHAHAHA!!

[Reply]
YES on 19 says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:20 pm

Do the Kings resume the pursuit and try to lowball him now? Seems like he doesn’t have many choices left.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:21 pm

Okay, still with a wicked grin on my face…

Let’s look at this one minute.

Sweet Lou gets dragged into an illegal deal by his owner, trying hard not to lose his shirt on his new palace in the Swamp, having gone down hard with IK last year…

No matter what happens now, the NJ Cap hit MUST go up. Since it was illegally dragged down before, the hit must go up. But, by how much? And, what exactly was the illegal part of it? Was it the dropoff of salary at the end of the contract? Was it the term?

Less likely is it the term, given prior similiar length contracts with other teams and players.

That means the Devils will have to sweeten the end-year money or shorten the term, or both. The dollar figure will need to be still 102 million or so, or they’ll have to start from scratch…

The other question:
Was the Kings proposed IK deal even legal?

If it was, we may have a winner!

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

If so, why couldn’t they just spread the salary out so that the end is more money. The cap hit would stay the same.

[Reply]
DeaderFan Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
@wavesinair,
I’m sure New Jersey would be happy with that, but Kovi was most likely planning on retiring after 10 years, earning his 96 mil. If the contract is spread out enough to satisfy the cba he will earn way less than that after 10 years.

[Reply]
Shakes Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
@wavesinair,
that would work from a cashflow perspective but the present value of the contract (i.e. taking into consideration the timing of the payments an discounting appropriately) would change dramatically.

It actually makes dramatic difference

I work here in NY and discounting cashflows is my job…

Assuming a 5% discount rate (nice round number) the present value of Kovi’s current contract is $77mm

If you evened out all the cashflows the present value is “only” $68mm

**THAT’S A -$9MM DIFFERENCE ****

Real money!

(In contrast I dunno how the Kings contract would’ve structured the $80mm over 15yrs but there are some very simple permutations that would get their present value up to $61mm… not toooo far different than $68mm)

[Reply]
Who Knows? Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, You know if Kovy has signed with the Kings it probably would’ve gotten rejected, too. Beacause 80/15 is a 5.33 cap hit.

[Reply]
Dominick says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:22 pm

Maybe the NHL will take 2 years and 22 mill off of Kovi’s contract.

[Reply]
Hockey Jesus says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:24 pm

NHL rejects Kovlachuck’s contract…the plot thickens now.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=328025

[Reply]
hockeysureshot Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
@Hockey Jesus, HA HA HA HA HA HA! Good for Gary Bettman!!!! The league got this one right!

[Reply]
Traded for a Pick says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:24 pm

Wow wow wow wow wow.

And wow

[Reply]
wavesinair says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:24 pm

Apparently Kovalchuk’s lucky number 17 (years of the deal, jersey number, date he signed the contract) wasn’t so lucky after all!

[Reply]
Traded for a Pick Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
@wavesinair,

The saga continues…

I need a beer

[Reply]
Fu King Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
@wavesinair, This story totally made my day, in stark contrast to the one yesterday. From what I understand, an arbitrator will rule some sort of restructuring of the contract to make it in compliance with the leagues salary cap restrictions. Regardless, Jersey will be effed even more with their cap and Kovalchuk’s contract won’t be quite as sweet.

Though the Kings don’t appear to be back in it, I will go to sleep with the same grin Kovalchuk had during his press conference while discussing his plans to stay in shape to play until he is 44.

[Reply]
bure10 says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:24 pm

i hope this means they have to trade away their whole team. I still think they’ll get their man but at the proper cost now…

[Reply]
blugator says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:25 pm

Wow, hard to get into this thread. No way should the Kings try to get back in this.

[Reply]
luc20rules says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:27 pm

AUHHHH! Rich, why have you forsaken us!

Just kidding hope you are somewhere enjoying yourself, just bad timing that such a huge story broke now.

[Reply]
Arron says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:29 pm

I am not reading through almost 850 post so if it was already said…who cares.

NHL has rejected the Kovalchuck contract saying that it circumvents the salary cap.

I wonder if this means the Devils will be fined? Maybe lose a draft pick?

[Reply]
Fourtunato says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:31 pm

All I can say is HA, HA, HA, HA, HA…ad infinitum!!!!!!!

It is simply too delicious.

[Reply]
Lilly says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:31 pm

The rejection made my week. I’m sure in the end it will work out for IK and the Devils (evil shall prevail) but for right now, I’m laughing my butt off!

We need a new thread – this is too many posts to page down through!

[Reply]
Richard Strub says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:32 pm

The NHL has rejected Ilya Kovalchuk’s 17-year, $102 million contract on the grounds that it circumvents the NHL’s salary cap.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=328025

the saga continues….

[Reply]
variable says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:33 pm

nabakov has just signed on posthumously to write his sequel to lolita…

“kolita”…

[Reply]
DB6 says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:33 pm

Contract rejected! What do you do now kovi?

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:34 pm

The other part of this–which makes this oh so classically GREAT–is this long long long Long LONG Thread, split between those wanting the Kings/DL/AEG to go all COWBOY about KoveeBabee, and those happy for the fiscal restraint.

For all of you who have had your MAD on about not signing IK, what do you think the Kings and/or the Devils should do? If signing this guy really requires 102 million to assuage his ego, would you bust your team for him, at say, a 7 or 8 or 9 mil hit on your Cap?

–Well?–

[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

Hells to the Nos

[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, You know its odd how Carol and the others that have been blogging that DL & AEG betrayed us fans. Are not incouraging the Kings to get back into negotiations. I think if we went after him it would have to be for a 1 yr contract. I think that there is a reasonable possiblility that the next CBA will use current year salaries as the Cap Hit. Most teams have not engaged in this non-sense and the Players I think realize they are hurt by these mega contracts to the top 10-20 players in the league.

[Reply]
dwave says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:34 pm

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/hockey/nhl/wires/07/20/2040.ap.hkn.devils.kovalchuk.2nd.ld.0315/

[Reply]
demob says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:35 pm

All this means is the Bettman says you can’t do this and that and NJ says alright we will fix it like this and it’s done…when you enter new territory there are bound to be hiccups…I’m sure NJ and Kovalchuks party aren’t worried at all.

Once again the LA Kings management couldn’t get it done. All the “True” kings fans want to say, we will stay the course with our young guys…how can you be upset over Kovy, he’s greedy…They under estimated NJ and got burned…anybody would have taken NJ’s offer. Everyone is playing by the same rules and we low balled a difference maker. I
‘ve been a Kings fan since about ‘82, introduced to Hockey by my dad when I was 12 y/o. I have always supported the Kings and would NEVER consider rooting for the Ducks…NEVER. But I don’t have to believe the rhetoric given by management…when I question this it doesn’t make me less of a Fan. Look at what has happened under this regime…they can’t seem to sign anyone of significance. They had the chance to make the LA Kings significant in a City the the Lakers and Dodgers own…they couldn’t get it done and we have the same old story…we have our young players…well I remember when Frolov was young and was supposed to lead the way…now he isn’t even wanted by the Kings…what do the “Fans” say about that?? The better organization did what they had to do…Just like the Lakers with B-Ball…always seem to get the “Player”…The Kings will always be second class until management PROVEs something to us. I understand overpaying a player wouldn’t work out, I support that…but NJ didn’t overpay for Kovalchuk, they worked this out with the parameters of the Salary Cap. Who will be a better team 5-7 years from now??? Noboyd knows for sure…I know one thing, the next 3 years, I wouldn’t bet against NJ…they have the goaltending and the fire power now. With that…Go Kings…let’s hope we can trade for someone who will gel with our players this year…that will be the only way we take the next step…I don’t see anyone on this roster improving significantly. what we see now is what we will have 5 years from now (hopefully). No doubt we need a couple of more parts.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
@demob,

It’s a simple question, really…
How high a CAP HIT do you think the Kings should go?

[Reply]
demob Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

hindsight is 20/20…but the cap hit NJ is taking based on the numbers we have seen is very reasonable. I guarantee Parise will also sign with NJ whenever he is a FA. Just like alot of kings fans were forcasting…we have larger salaries coming off the books in the next couple of years so you sign someone for slightly less to make things like this work out or you bring up someone form the minors.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
@demob,

DUDE–

The NHL just cancelled the IK contract, due to circumvention of the CBA…

The Cap Hit was reasonable at 6.33/mil/yr.
It’s about to get much, much higher…

There’s not a chance in Hades that Parise will fit without a wholesale CHI-style salary dump, if the hit is 8-9 mil/yr.

Stop the Puck Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:44 pm
@demob,
exactly. while this kovy thing may not have been the right long term move, its that they have never even made a single splash. what was the gretzky line, “you miss 100% of the shots you dont take”?

[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
@Stop the Puck,

Except in this instance, we were on a breakaway, tried taking the shot and got dragged down by bald defenseman.

Sure the shot went wide, but we’re up by two in the third and a penalty shot coming right up…

[Reply]
The Kinger says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:36 pm

WOW!!! Here we go again! This time without Tawny Catain (SP?) on the hood.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
@The Kinger,

Tawny Kitaen, I do believe…

http://www.google.com/search?q=Tawny+Kitaen&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=&oe=&rlz=1I7GGLL_en

She be gettin’ old, like me…

[Reply]
xeropoint says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:36 pm

I can’t find a whole lot of instances where the NHL rejected a deal…

NHL rejected an offer sheet on Federov, by the Hurricanes in ’98 (not compliant with CBA).

NHL rejected contract to Martin Erat in 2008 (not compliant with CBA).

With Erat, they renegoatiated a shorter deal.

With Kovulchuk, I believe they have to completely restructure or renegotiate the deal depending on whats in violation.

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
@xeropoint, I don’t think it’s legal for the NHL to reject it.I’m sure the players assoc.will have something to say about it.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
@Dominick,

Yeah, but the ESCROW deal that Quispie’s been blogging about all day means the rank and file LOSE MONEY every time the real salary eclipses the CAP hit…

Betcha the NHLPA is split on this, too!

[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, if you mean 90% to void it and 10% as against voiding it as split. The cap was put in place so that the owners wouldn’t lose money so the escrow portion of the players would be returned to the players. Its deals like this that make teams lose money.

Danielle Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
@Dominick,

The CBA gives the league the power to reject contracts that circumvent the CBA.

This creates an interesting dilemma for the PA as BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy points out… On the one hand, these deals hurt the rank and file members. On the other hand, the PA may need to go to bat for its member. I am guessing that they raise a stink, the contract gets adjusted slightly, and the over all issue gets resolved at the bargaining table. I don’t entirely see the PA fighting too hard on this issue.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
@Danielle,

But the key is, where do you draw the line in the sand?

If the Cap hit has to be within a certain percentage of the highest salary (say, 66%), then that would be reasonable.

If not, or perhaps so, there will be many contracts where the Cap hit gets lessened by meaningless years at the end.

Direction by the Commish is the only answer, here…

Danielle Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:04 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

I don’t think you can draw a clear line in the sand on this. I think the issue here is not so much the cap hit vs. highest salary issue. I do think that is part of it, but that alone wouldn’t have killed this contract. This contract had so many red flags that they couldn’t ignore it – contract length, highest year vs. lowest year, highest year vs. cap hit, number of years at a minimum salary, etc. Another huge red flag, I think, was having the lowest years be for a figure that is barely above the current league minimum – I highly doubt that the league minimum will still be under $550K in 2017, let alone in 2027.

What if his total cap hit was $6MM but there was just one or two years where he was making $11.5MM? I bet that deal still goes through. Even if the highest year was $11.5MM and the lowest year was league minimum, as it is in this deal, I think it still goes through if the years between those were on more of a sliding scale and the contract was a shorter term. I think the 17 year deal could have still made it through if the last 6 years were at a higher salary.

The problem here is that you have an excessively long contract at 17 years. There is a huge disparity in salary over the life of the contract with over $98 million being paid in the first 11 years and then $3.5 million being paid in the last 6 (when the player is probably no longer playing). The highest year is 11 million dollars more than the lowest year (or, in other terms, the highest salary is 22 times higher than the lowest). And then the highest year is nearly double the cap hit.

I think the league could have overlooked the insanity of the contract length and total value if, for example, the highest year was more like $10 million and there were a couple of $2 million and $1 million years in those last 6 years (and if they had gone with a lowest salary of more like $750K – 1M).

I don’t think direction from the Commish is enough here. This is a loophole that is going to have to be closed by collective bargaining agreement. I honestly don’t think the Commish would have challenged this contract if it wasn’t so blatantly abusive (and if Lamoriello hadn’t opened his mouth). There is a part of me that almost wonders if Lou knew what he was doing and intentionally sabotaged this. But if I allowed myself to engage in that speculation, I might need to get out the tinfoil hat…

BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
@xeropoint,

Too many flash points in this deal…

–Sweet Lou was over-ridden by his owner for the FIRST ILLEGAL contract… How do you think he feels, now?

–The IK shpeal is that he wanted NJ all along…

–Was was the illegal part of the deal? Everybody knows the last seven years were bunk. Do you just get rid of them? If so, the cap hit reaches 9.7 mil/yr. Do you flatten out the salary curve? If so, that means less per year for KoveeBabee during the meat of the contract, or NJ must sell off and just become Atlanta over again…

–Everyone knows the Kings won’t negotiate again. But if their contract is the only one approved, and NJ has to bug out, do the Kings get K.B. by default?

[Reply]
Naturallawyer Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
@xeropoint,

The league nixed a trade between the Kings and Isles for Palffy. They made the Kings include Jokinen to the Isles. If the league hadn’t stepped in, we would’ve had Palffy and kept Jokinen as well.

[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
@Naturallawyer,

Ah yes, thanks. I didn’t think those were the only instances in the last 20 or so years… and dammit I should’ve remembered that one in particular!

[Reply]
sstephen17 says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:46 pm

Anyone know if the NHL has ever rejected a contract before? If so, who was it and what happened? If no, what does this mean, legally speaking? Is Kovi free to sign a different contract with another team if he wants? Does NJ have to lower the years and/or money?

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!

[Reply]
Paul From Oxnard Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
@sstephen17, I can’t think of a case of the NHL rejecting a contract, but I could be wrong.

And nobody really knows what this means yet. Everyone is assuming I guess that the Devils will just have to structure a fairer contract and get him to sign it. But what if they can’t afford to get him under the cap without those last 7 years? Does he then go back into free agency? I’d assume he would have to.

I can’t see any other outcome now then for the Devils and Kovalchuk to agree on a shorter, cheaper, more cap friendly contract. Kovalchuk’s dreams of $100M may have just vanished.

[Reply]
Paul From Oxnard Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
BTW another option is for the NHLPA to file a grievance on behalf of Kovalchuk and at that point the case would go to an arbitrator. The contract would be void until the arbitrator decides. Guys on TSN are saying they believe “Kovi likes the way his contract is structured and will ask the NHLPA to intervene”.

What a mess.

[Reply]
Danielle Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
@Paul From Oxnard,

I don’t think it is just the length of the contract. From what I have read, it was also the fact that the contract pays so little in the last few years. If thy move a few million off the middle years to the end, they may be able to still keep the contract in place and also not mess up the cap hit.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
@Danielle,

But the point of the end of the contract is to be able to walk away without losing significant money… to ‘retire’ and void out the rest of the Cap hit to the Devils.

KoveeBabee won’t want to be around to earn 2 mil/yr.. That’s why the whole thing is a sham.

stillkingly Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
@Danielle,

Ya but then Kovy has to actually play all those years to make the money, and that was NEVER the plan, he was going to retire as soon as the money dropped.

Danielle Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy & stillkingly,

That was absolutely the point on the part of Kovi and the Devils. And that is why it violates the CBA.

I don’t see any way that an arbitrator upholds this contract as it is written because it is so obvious that it is intended to allow him to walk away. It is a clear circumvention of the intent of the salary cap.

The only way they can save this deal, if they want to, and keep it within the salary cap is to shave a few million off the middle and move it to the end. I think the league would let them get away with the term (it is still possible, after all, that he could play until he is 44), but not when the total amount paid over the last 6 years of the contract is the same as the amount being paid in the 11th year of the contract. Reduce those $11.5M years to around $9.5 and spread that money over the years at the end and you have a somewhat reasonable contract, even if the length is still crazy, that has about the same cap hit. But then Kovi loses more like $12M when he wants to walk away from those last years.

Dominick Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
@sstephen17, I tried to trade Cloutier on my old X-box game,and got rejected.

[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
@Dominick, That wasn’t the NHL head office that was every GM in the NHL.

[Reply]
McDonalds says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:48 pm

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[Reply]
kingsfan4life says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:49 pm

Never make a deal with the devil, or Devils for that matter…God hates the Devil DUH!!!!

Next weeks press conference:
Kovalchuk: “I have always wanted to play in LA I was under a spell when I agreed to sign in NJ, it is a blessing that that contract got rejected.”

HAHAHAHAHA I know i am funny not gonna happen….

[Reply]
King John Reply:
July 23rd, 2010 at 5:15 pm
@kingsfan4life,

HAHAHAHAHAHA But you never know…

But you are funny!

[Reply]
kingfletch says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:51 pm

Devils and Kovalchuk im sure will rework the deal, it just might not be the best offer he could have got once its reworked. No way will he talk with another team after the press conference lol, unless he comes out and says it was only about the money. The NHL had to stop deals like this before 30 year deals started coming out with 7 years at max and 23 years at min, and make the cap a joke.

[Reply]
luc20rules says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:53 pm

Circumventing the Salary Cap was what was reported. So I am taking that to mean the final 6 years at $550,000/yr with out those the Cap Hit goes up drastically to 8.97mil/yr which I don’t think NJ can live with, so the deal may dissolve making him a free agent again. Also there may be some precident set by Hossa’s contract that 33% of the contract life is allowed at minimum at the end. If thats the case they would just have to trim 1 year at the end or maybe taper off the end, but either way the Cap Hit goes up or the frontend pay goes down.
Hossa was 7.9mil/yr for 7yrs, 4mil/yr for 1yr, 1mil/yr for 2yrs, & 0.75mil/yr for 2yrs. Another rub could be the age at the end of the contract 44. Hossa will be 42 at the end of his contract.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
@luc20rules,

Reasonable.
But, this is about IK’s Pride. Always was.

The agent will see he’s being screwed.
Less money, shorter term, or no deal.

Can’t alter the last part because the term now is 15 with 5 years at the minimum… That’s 33%. It’s not that. It’s the max 11.5 mil x 5 years with the Cap hit at only 6 mil/yr. The cap hit HAS TO GO UP SIGNIFICANTLY OR THE CONTRACT IS A SHAM.

[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, Hossa’s Cap hit was 5.275mil/yr he is paid 7.9mil/yr for 7yrs. So maybe cap hit must be 66.67% of the max yearly salary? If that is it I could just see them bumping up the first 2 years that were at 6mil/yr and having the first 10yrs flat at 9.5mil/yr.
That of course would conflict with Kovi’s EGO that demands he be paid more than Ovechkin.
Hossa’s contract was a sham and now the problem is they let that go on the books. Bettman a sleep at the wheel again.

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
@luc20rules,

There is probably a Devils reason that made the first two years at 6 million/yr.

They won’t want to change that.

BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
@luc20rules,

Betcha it’s the cap hit vs. max. salary…
Say, cap hit must be within 66% of the max. salary.

At 11.5 mil, that would be 7.67 mil/yr.
That wouldn’t kill the Devils but it would hurt them significantly… 1.3 mil more.

[Reply]
Danielle Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:18 pm
@luc20rules,

I have read it is a combination of factors – number of years, max. salary, and the amount being paid in the later years. I think if they had taken out one of those factors – i.e. made the dollars in the later years a little higher – this would have squeaked under the wire.

[Reply]
kingsrock says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:54 pm

nhl just rejected kovalchuk’s contract with nhl!

[Reply]
chuckrocks says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:54 pm

hahahahahahahahahahah, oh crap thats funny. Im sure they will still get him but what a kick in the pants, good stuff, good stuff.

[Reply]
scootty says:

July 20, 2010 at 7:55 pm

So how long until Grossman calls Lombardi?

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
@scootty,

Grossman’s next move is to sue the NHL, unless the contract can be ratified at something close to the current values.

Considering it’s all a sham after seven years, anyway, if the first seven years are altered at all, I bet the agent says, ‘No Deal!’

[Reply]
Danielle Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

How can Grossman sue the NHL? I don’t see any real legal theory that would have a reasonable chance of success. This contract is clearly designed to circumvent the CBA and Lamoriello as much as admitted it. The NHL was well within its rights to block the deal. If anything, Grossman has now put his own certification at risk by participating in it.

This is gonna be a fun train wreck to watch…

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
@Danielle,

If rules about the CBA are defined that lose his client IK money, money promised by signed contract, I see no other way.

It may never go to court, but it represents leverage on Grossman’s part to force the league to get him his $97 million.

I say 97 mil because it was clear the contract would be ended by ‘retirement’ at that point.

Danielle Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,

The NHL would laugh away his threatened lawsuit knowing it would never see the inside of a courtroom.

Agents are regulated by the NHLPA and have to abide by not just the CBA, but the rules the PA sets forth for agent certification. By becoming a certified agent, he has agreed to abide by both of those agreements. And since the league was simply exercising rights under the CBA, he has little, if any, recourse. The courts tend to give unions pretty broad latitude in regulating the activity of agents (going back to the H.A. Artists Supreme Court case).

To the contrary, actually, Grossman may have put his certification at risk by participating in an effort to circumvent the CBA (see my comment on that in the comments to Rich’s post this evening). His only hope might be a challenge if it is determined that there was a circumvention and he does lose his certification. Otherwise, no legal challenge is going to get him out of this.

luc20rules Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
@scootty, Will DL be use call blocking on Grossmans calls?

[Reply]
bear777 Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
he will be getting answering service.
Kings dont accept junk calls

[Reply]
bear777 says:

July 20, 2010 at 8:03 pm

Do you believe how stupid this people are!
Agents making millions in commissions and dont know how to structure a contract?!
Who is laughing now?!
Go Kings!

[Reply]
Norm P. says:

July 20, 2010 at 8:05 pm

Anyone else read this? From TSN:

The NHL has rejected Ilya Kovalchuk’s 17-year, $102 million contract with the New Jersey Devils on the grounds that it circumvents the NHL’s salary cap.

Don’t think it will change anything.

[Reply]
McDonalds says:

July 20, 2010 at 8:06 pm

HAHAHAHAHA

[Reply]
5thLine says:

July 20, 2010 at 8:07 pm

Kovi deal rejected by NHL

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=AurLVSl3AO60Mu7ZOobphsQ5nYcB?slug=ap-devils-kovalchuk

Will this ever end?

[Reply]
KingKovi says:

July 20, 2010 at 8:08 pm

This is just in NHL REJECTS Kovalchuk’s contract! What a joke!

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=ap-devils-kovalchuk

[Reply]
james says:

July 20, 2010 at 8:08 pm

I heard Kovy was ready to sign with the kings but Simmonds refused to give up his #17…… just kidding

[Reply]
Dominick says:

July 20, 2010 at 8:13 pm

It’s so easy.New Jersey also offers Kovi 80 mill for 15 years and the NHL will take it.Kovi rejects,moves to Russia,and is home for the olympics in 2014.It’s all clear to me now.

[Reply]
USHA#17 says:

July 20, 2010 at 8:18 pm

NO JOKE, DEAL IS OFF. NHL REJECTS NJ-IK DEAL.

WILL HAVE TO BE REWORKED.

THERES HOPE FOR YOU YET WAVESINAIR

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 1:13 am
@USHA#17,

I’ll give it 1 chance in 100 he comes here.

99% he stays in NJ.

[Reply]
Who Knows? Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 11:06 am
@wavesinair, There was a 98% chance he was coming to LA.

[Reply]
Dazed N Confused says:

July 20, 2010 at 8:31 pm

How you like DEEZNUTS now Kovi? We should stay away from this guy and I hope NJ and Kovi both get screwed for making the NHL look like dumbasses. They just picked up a pile a sh@t and tried to sell it to the NHL as peanut butter. Can I get A Hell Yah!!!!

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:29 pm
@Dazed N Confused, Hell Yah!lol

[Reply]
Miller29 Reply:
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:15 am
@Dazed N Confused,

Hell Yah!!! LOL

[Reply]
xeropoint says:

July 20, 2010 at 8:35 pm

Check this out…

If I am reading the CBA right, the actual violation in the contract might be the jump in salary from the 11-12 to the 12-13 seasons.

The salary for any given year cannot increase or decrease by more than half of the lower of the first 2 years of the deal. He makes 6M the first two years, then it jumps to 11.5M in 12-13. That’s way more than a 3M dollar swing.

[Reply]
USHA #17 says:

July 20, 2010 at 8:36 pm

NO JOKE: JUST OUT AP REPORTS:

NHL WILL VOID THE NJ-IK CONTRACT ACCORDING TO AP REPORTS.

You listening Wavesinair?

Looks like NHL is rejecting the contract for the very reason Quisp stated earlier, IK is not likely to play at age 40 for $515K per year.

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 1:11 am
@USHA #17, lol. where you been? we were on this like white on rice as soon as it hit.

let’s push this thread up to a thousand…

[Reply]
Miller29 Reply:
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:17 am
@wavesinair,

Two threads closing in on 1,000—who would have ever guessed? lol

[Reply]
dMan says:

July 20, 2010 at 10:37 pm

Don’t expect the Kings to get back on board this train wreck.

[Reply]
Miller29 Reply:
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:18 am
@dMan,

Don’t be so sure…

[Reply]
dMan says:

July 20, 2010 at 10:39 pm

To those critical of Kings mgmt, this pretty much validates the numbers Lombardi had offered.

[Reply]
Daniel says:

July 21, 2010 at 9:45 am

Wondering if we can get this one to 1000.

[Reply]
Deadmarsh Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 12:58 pm
@Daniel, was thinking the same thing. LOL. just doing my part.

[Reply]
Blake says:

July 21, 2010 at 10:38 am

we want 1000!!

[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 1:52 pm
@Blake, @Deadmarsh,

Sixty posts is a long, long way off…

[Reply]
Peter says:

July 21, 2010 at 10:52 am

If NJ is dead, do we have a shot? How about this one:
If you want to make a deal with a Kovalchuk that flies, give him a floor and for every year he is active and scores at least __, give him an end-of-season bonus of the difference between his floor and the salary cap.

[Reply]
luckyluc13 says:

July 21, 2010 at 2:17 pm

@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, 59..

[Reply]
What's the frequency, Kenneth says:

July 21, 2010 at 3:04 pm

Something tells me the difference between the NJ contract total dollars and the Kings’ offer of total dollars keeps the Kings out of it anyway.

[Reply]
MtlKingsFan says:

July 21, 2010 at 6:10 pm

Post # 945

[Reply]
HBshakes says:

July 21, 2010 at 6:48 pm

sooo clooose to 1000…

[Reply]
LBlocal Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 7:09 pm
@HBshakes, If I may ask, are you related to “disgruntled” Shakes?

He was soooo out of sorts recently.. Hope he’s OK. (And, has not crossed over to the quack side.. If he wasn’t there already)

gKg!

[Reply]
HBshakes Reply:
July 22nd, 2010 at 6:33 am
@LBlocal,

no no no! i’m definitely not disgruntled and would never turn to the Quacks side! on the contrary i’m generally happy with our team and i think people forget that we were a bounce or two + a few minutes from actually winning 2 games more vs. the Canucks in the playoffs!

[Reply]
luckylou says:

July 21, 2010 at 7:08 pm

what’s the record for this site?

[Reply]
MtlKingsFan Reply:
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:42 am
@luckylou,

I think this is the record, I have never seen it go over 600-700

[Reply]
Miller29 Reply:
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:20 am
@MtlKingsFan,

Records are meant to be broken. I have a feeling if we get involved in a lopsided trade for someone nobody likes we can count on 2,000

[Reply]
Dazed N Confused says:

July 21, 2010 at 7:10 pm

So any predictions on what will happen here? I feel that NJ is going to be able to keep him, but they will have a much higher cap hit. The amount of years will have to be changed and some of the dollar amounts per year.

[Reply]
MtlKingsFan says:

July 22, 2010 at 8:42 am

I think he stays in Jersey. Unfortunately after that press conference I think his options are down to Jersey or the KHL. Even though I believe he was used in all this and was even handed a letter to read at the conference, the damage is done.

[Reply]
Miller29 says:

July 23, 2010 at 12:24 am

Why doesn’t the guy man up and stand up for himself? What kind of “leadership qualities” does this show? Grotesqueman has got him by the pair. He met Kovi as a teen and has brainwashed him over these last 9+ years to do whatever he says. These looser agents are overbearing to the extreme.

[Reply]
Bingram says:

July 23, 2010 at 7:18 am

I agree with most of the contributors that believe Kovi will stay in NJ. Serves him right choosing Newark over Manhattan Beach, CA.

Meanwhile, the consequences to NJ could turn very harsh. If the league cuts the years off Kovi’s contract pushing his cap hit up to $7.5 to $8M per year and Bettman were to fine them $2.5M in cash, that could also be a cap hit for a like amount. That would push the current NJ roster to about $7M over the cap.

How do you think the Devils fans would feel about losing Zack Parise because they didn’t have enough cap space to make him a sufficient enough offer?

Just wondering.

Go Kings go!

[Reply]
King John says:

July 23, 2010 at 5:11 pm

Yes, Money Matters…

Being greedy eventually catches up to you.

[Reply]
Esh says:

July 25, 2010 at 2:24 am

Difference between being greedy and being lowballed $20mill.

[Reply]

Money matters

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