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Post by Boston_Habs on Feb 5, 2010 13:47:22 GMT -5
If I were Atlanta, I would have taken the following approach last summer: Let's deal with this as if August is OUR deadline and if we can't agree on a new contract, then lets trade him NOW. I mean, if the guy doesn't want to sign for 100 millions 10 months away from free agency, what makes you think he will change his mind in the next 6 months.... Agree 100%. The best time to move Kovalchuk was last summer when you would have gotten a better price. Waddel should have learned his lesson with the Hossa deal where all he has to show for it is Colby Armstrong. They should have set a deadline with Kovalchuk and his agent last summer.... when was the last time a player like Kovalchuk decided to sign a long-term deal just before the deadline on the season he was going UFA? Atlanta knew he was gone when he turned down them down in the summer. Waddel should be fired. But man-o-man, what a great deal for NJ. A solid but not special dman, a decent but not special forward, a solid but not special prospect, and a pick for one of the top 5 pure goal scorers in the league. NJ can pull of a deal like this and not even worry too much if they fail to sign Kovalchuk, because they are a GREAT ORGANIZATION that just keeps on winning. Heck, they may not even offer him a long term deal if he helps them win the Cup. |
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Post by Skilly on Feb 5, 2010 15:53:33 GMT -5
Just for arguments sake... Looking at what New Jersey gave up, what would the Habs equivalent be? Gorges, S.Kosty, Leblanc, and a first rounder |
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Post by franko on Feb 5, 2010 16:19:12 GMT -5
Just for arguments sake... Looking at what New Jersey gave up, what would the Habs equivalent be? Gorges, S.Kosty, Leblanc, and a first rounder uh-uh. not enough. |
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Post by Boston_Habs on Feb 5, 2010 16:55:23 GMT -5
Just for arguments sake... Looking at what New Jersey gave up, what would the Habs equivalent be? Gorges, S.Kosty, Leblanc, and a first rounder That's about right. A young mid-last pair dman, a decent young NHL forward, a top prospect, and a pick. I don't think Jersey's package is much better than this. Of course, the deal made no sense for us since Kovalchuk wouldn't turn us into a Cup team and we would probably lose him in the end anyway. But it makes a ton of sense for Jersey who gets a last piece of the puzzle for a major Cup run this spring without really compromising the current roster, with manageable downside if it doesn't work out. |
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Post by franko on Feb 5, 2010 23:24:59 GMT -5
I think Oduya > Gorges [as much as I like Josh] and Bergfors > SK [of course, Bergfors hasn't thrown a fit yet so that's in his favour, though he has gone cold]
I guess our pick is better than theirs.
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Post by seventeen on Feb 6, 2010 1:49:39 GMT -5
I'd rather have one Louis Leblanc over 4 Patrice Cormiers. Big edge in that one if you're looking for a top 6 forward.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Feb 6, 2010 9:11:43 GMT -5
I was watching Sportsdesk and heard an interview with Kovalchuk.
"It's the first time in my career I'm playing for a first-class organization."
Very ungrateful young man. Just as well he's not in Montreal.
Cheers.
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Post by franko on Feb 6, 2010 9:17:29 GMT -5
don't know much about Leblanc, 17, so I defer to you, though with the exception of hte punkiish move [was there more than 1?] Cormier plays ont he edge, and who do we have that does that?
Dis . . . maybe Kovulchuk is just being honest [and done't we want that?] . . . and let's face it -- he's right.
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Post by ValkyrieNS on Feb 6, 2010 10:29:34 GMT -5
I was watching Sportsdesk and heard an interview with Kovalchuk. "It's the first time in my career I'm playing for a first-class organization." Very ungrateful young man. Just as well he's not in Montreal. Cheers. He seriously said that? What a punk! See, I told you guys we didn't want him playing for us, but you all went "Val's a girl what does she know?" Well, people, for the tenth time, I have an "in" with Atlanta and we didn't want Kovalchuk. And I'm still happy we DON'T have him ;D don't know much about Leblanc, 17, so I defer to you, though with the exception of hte punkiish move [was there more than 1?] Yes, there was more than one incident. The WJ this year (a Swedish kid, IIRC) and the one on Tam. Precedent --- Cormier's a punk too  |
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Post by jkr on May 28, 2010 7:23:14 GMT -5
Heard yesterday on Leafs Lunch.....Dregger/Watters talking about reports that Kovalchuk has been offered $30 million for a 3-year contract in the KHL. Watters says any team in the NHL who pays him over $7 mill is out of their minds. Sounds as if he has no use for Kovalchuk at all. I'm sure you know CH, that Watters has his prejudices towrds certain players (Heatley, even before the trade,) comes to mind. Sometimes he's on the mark & other times he's just out there. As far as his estimate on Kovulchuk's price tag though, I have to agree. |
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Post by CentreHice on May 28, 2010 7:37:58 GMT -5
Ha! I removed my post....thinking I should start a new thread about it....then I see you replied quickly, jkr. So I'm putting my original post back....but now it's under your reply. Heard yesterday on Leafs Lunch.....Dregger/Watters talking about reports that Kovalchuk has been offered $30 million for a 3-year contract in the KHL.
Watters says any team in the NHL who pays him over $7 mill is out of their minds.
Sounds as if he has no use for Kovalchuk at all. Here's the TSN story link. Frolov has been offered a KHL contract as well, according to this report. |
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Post by Skilly on May 28, 2010 15:13:28 GMT -5
I think Bill Watters is out of his mind ....
Kovalchuck's cap hit was 6.4 million ... but he was making 7.5 million for the last 2 years. So it is going to take at least 7.5 million for anyone to get him and his guaranteed 40 -50 goals. Well worth the money.
To get him to sign, it is going to take a 6 year deal structured something like 10,10,10, 5, 5, 5 ... for a 7.5 million cap hit.
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on May 28, 2010 15:22:35 GMT -5
I think Bill Watters is out of his mind .... Kovalchuck's cap hit was 6.4 million ... but he was making 7.5 million for the last 2 years. So it is going to take at least 7.5 million for anyone to get him and his guaranteed 40 -50 goals. Well worth the money. To get him to sign, it is going to take a 6 year deal structured something like 10,10,10, 5, 5, 5 ... for a 7.5 million cap hit. If I can get Kovalchouk for Lecavalier money and for fewer years it's a no brainer. Younger, faster, stronger, better production............(did I mention younger) |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 28, 2010 22:14:39 GMT -5
I would pay it. Clear the deck afterwards. The cap is going up and PG only needs to have things sorted out by October.
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Post by Forum Ghost on May 31, 2010 19:14:40 GMT -5
I would like the Habs to stay as far away from Kovalchuk as possible. This guy seems like he's all "me" and no "we".
We could use that cap money towards much better things.
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Post by clear observer on Jun 3, 2010 10:47:11 GMT -5
If I'm calling the shots in "Hab Land" and this guy was both interested and available - he and his perennial 40-50 goals are in Hab colours.
After Crosby and Ovechkin, the NHL has no-one more explosive, IMO.
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Post by clear observer on Jun 3, 2010 10:54:52 GMT -5
I was watching Sportsdesk and heard an interview with Kovalchuk. "It's the first time in my career I'm playing for a first-class organization." Very ungrateful young man. Just as well he's not in Montreal. Cheers. Perhaps, and I'm certain of this, the message he was trying to convey was more along the lines of, "...I've never played for as classy an organization..." ? In fact, trying to be complimentary and grateful as opposed to taking a cheapshot at his previous employer. Hey, but I could be wrong though! (i'm a big Kovalchuk fan) |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 3, 2010 11:39:55 GMT -5
I was watching Sportsdesk and heard an interview with Kovalchuk. "It's the first time in my career I'm playing for a first-class organization." Very ungrateful young man. Just as well he's not in Montreal. Cheers. Perhaps, and I'm certain of this, the message he was trying to convey was more along the lines of, "...I've never played for as classy an organization..." ? In fact, trying to be complimentary and grateful as opposed to taking a cheapshot at his previous employer. Hey, but I could be wrong though! (i'm a big Kovalchuk fan)Could be an English language issue too. When asked why he never participated in trash-talking, GSP simply told Michael Lansberg, "... English is my second language. Sometimes I don't get my words right and I can be misunderstood. So rather than say the wrong thing, I just (makes zipping-the-mouth-gesture) ..." That's just a paraphrase, but the gist is there. Could be Kovalchuck meant as you suggested. Cheers. |
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Post by BadCompany on Jun 3, 2010 12:45:59 GMT -5
Or it could be he was taking a shot at Atlanta. It is Atlanta after all, not an organization anybody considers to be a model franchise by any stretch of the imagination. Considering the amount of money they were willing to throw at him, and his refusal to accept it you gotta figure he just wanted out, and no amount of cash was going to change that. After 8-9 years he was just tired of being there.
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Post by clear observer on Jun 3, 2010 13:38:16 GMT -5
Or it could be he was taking a shot at Atlanta. It is Atlanta after all, not an organization anybody considers to be a model franchise by any stretch of the imagination. Considering the amount of money they were willing to throw at him, and his refusal to accept it you gotta figure he just wanted out, and no amount of cash was going to change that. After 8-9 years he was just tired of being there. Again, could be. "Well, it's time they got their act together, folks. They're ruining the whole league. They had better stop running a Mickey Mouse organization..." - Wayne Gretzky circa 1983 in a post-game interview following a 13 - 4 drubbing of the New Jersey DevilsHmmm...no language issues here, to be sure. |
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Post by CentreHice on Jun 3, 2010 13:39:03 GMT -5
I'd take him on, IF he truly wanted to be here. Cammalleri, Gionta, Kovalchuk.....there's some top notch sniping. Getting that done ASAP would sure make it easier to say goodbye to a few people. But then again...we all know he wants to go to Toronto.  |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 3, 2010 16:51:29 GMT -5
I'd take him on, IF he truly wanted to be here. Cammalleri, Gionta, Kovalchuk.....there's some top notch sniping. Getting that done ASAP would sure make it easier to say goodbye to a few people. But then again...we all know he wants to go to Toronto. You're right about the offence part for sure. Acquiring Kovalchuk would make the rest of the conference GMs sit up straight me thinks. Still, how much would he want? I don't know, man ... if folks were concerned about Vinny's salary on the books ... would we be in a similar situation Chicago is in with Hossa if Kovalchuk were to come on board? As far as TO is concerned ... I know, I know ... me too ... Burke will at least ask about him (hopefully Gauthier will too). But, it's possible that they might go after a play-making centre for Kessel. He has a strong bargaining chip in Kaberle. Not sure what else he has left, though. Cheers. |
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Post by CentreHice on Jul 5, 2010 14:44:08 GMT -5
Heard on the Fan 590 this afternoon that Kovalchuk is rumoured to be ready to sign with the Devils....7 years/$60 million.
That's under $9 million per....less than he's turned down elsewhere, isn't it? But it's likely front-loaded.
What does that do to the Devils Cap space?
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Post by franko on Jul 5, 2010 15:13:54 GMT -5
turned down playing on an offensive-type LA team to play on an offensively-challenged Devil team?
not as much pressure to score I guess
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Post by CrocRob on Jul 5, 2010 16:32:54 GMT -5
If that's the deal he's signing, it's hard to believe that a $100M offer was actually out there during this UFA period. I don't care who you are, $40M is a lot of money to turn aside. And there's a very small chance he'll get a $40M payday when he's 35 and a UFA again.
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Post by franko on Jul 5, 2010 22:11:03 GMT -5
supposedly offered $11M a year for 7 [or more] in Atlanta last year
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Post by seventeen on Jul 6, 2010 1:35:46 GMT -5
Heard on the Fan 590 this afternoon that Kovalchuk is rumoured to be ready to sign with the Devils....7 years/$60 million. That's under $9 million per....less than he's turned down elsewhere, isn't it? But it's likely front-loaded. What does that do to the Devils Cap space? |
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Post by franko on Jul 6, 2010 6:13:30 GMT -5
does them in totally. they have 3.7M available as of right now [per nhlnumbers.com], 19 players signed |
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Post by blny on Jul 6, 2010 6:53:42 GMT -5
TSN reporting the contract would put them over their cap limit by $3.8 million (per Gino Reda). Looks like at least one pretty good player is going to be available for peanuts.
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Post by CrocRob on Jul 6, 2010 7:40:33 GMT -5
supposedly offered $11M a year for 7 [or more] in Atlanta last year I can understand turning that offer down. Kovalchuk had little reason to believe a similar offer -- perhaps from a more competitive team -- wouldn't be out there when his value peaked as an UFA. However, turning $40M down NOW is a little brash. Perhaps in 7 years he'll be able to bank a decent 4-5 year deal as a 34-year old, but I can't see it having that kind of substantial value. Call me a money grabber or what have you, but for $40M I can play hockey on a team which might not have an immediate chance of winning. Odds are that within a decade that team will be good enough to compete. I'd rather set my kids and grandkids up than win a Stanley Cup. |
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