Comments on: Devils' talks with Ilya Kovalchuk turn cold as deal with L.A. Kings heats u

By: reinjosh

reinjosh — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:39:30 +0000

I would switch Bozak and Kadri. Bozak seems to be more of the two-way player and would just fit on a line with Versteeg and Kulemin better. Kadri seems to fit the dynamics of a first line center better than Bozak does. I know it wouldn't be the greatest fit putting a rookie on the top line but to me that way works a whole lot better.

By: reinjosh

reinjosh — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:37:18 +0000

Yeah good point. I actually though you meant Kyle McLaren so…

By: MystifoLeafs

MystifoLeafs — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:53:18 +0000

I love how theres players out there who can do exactly what this guy can do but yet their not in the mindset that they need some contract that is valued at 10 mill a season, case and point the Phil Kessel signing he is a 5 mill and he is able to do exactly what Kovy can at only HALF the price (and yes I know he cost th leafs more then 5 mill to get him.) Kovy if someone is offering your 6 – 7 mill a season just take it because personally I would only offer you somewhere in the price range of 4 – 5 mill a season because only the 2 way guys like backstrom and pavel datzyuk deserve the massive contracts.

By: cam7777

cam7777 — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:33:45 +0000

Apparently they would trade Thornton. So let's say they did this:

To NYR: Thornton
To SJS: Dubinsky, Kreider, 1st in 2011*
*conditional on a resign or the pick drops to a 2nd

To TOR: Clowe, 2nd in 2011
To SJS: Kaberle

-sign Ilya Kovalchuk, 8 years, 64 million

Kovalchuk - Marleau - Setoguchi
Heatley - Pavelski - Kreider
McGinn - Dubinsky - Couture
McLaren - Mitchell - Nichol

Boyle - Vlasic
Kaberle - Murray
Wallin - Huskins
(Leach, Demers)

Nittymaki - Greiss

That's just over the cap at 60 milion, so they could definitely get under with that team. The thinking would be this: if they don't win the Cup, they aren't going to want to resign Thornton, but after the season, they'll be in a position where they'd have to lose him for nothing if they don't want to resign him. THey could trade his rights, but that trade would be minimal. So, why not trade him now and eliminate the risk, and sign Kovalchuk to be his replacement. Also, the team could use a new look - the fans are growing ever more impatient.

The reason it is potentially problematic though, is that Heatley is a *****, and he only came to SJS to play with Thornton. Who knows how trading Thornton could backfire on them in regards to Heatley.

By: cam7777

cam7777 — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:23:18 +0000

I like this Frazer McLaren kid. He's nothing flashy, but he's another big Canadian from the WHL. He's actually a monster at six-four 235. Hes from Winnipeg too, so I endorse him whole-heartedly. Better than a late 2nd round pick in a weak draft? I dunno, but at least he'd be contributing sooner rather than later.

By: leafmeister

leafmeister — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:46:16 +0000

Clowe-Bozak-Kessel
Kulemin-Kadri-Versteeg
Caputi-Grabovski-Armstrong
Brown-Mitchell-Orr
Sjostrom

Phaneuf-Schenn
Komisarek-Gunnarson
Lebda-Beauchemin

Giguere
Gustovsson

Playoffs? Getting there.

By: Kramer

Kramer — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:33:52 +0000

I heard from my secret insider sources that Kovalchuk is gonna sign somewhere before the season starts.

By: hockey_lover

hockey_lover — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:27:18 +0000

how could SJ possibly be interested with:

$7.5mil Heater - 4 years
$7.2mil Thornton - this season only
$6.9mil Marleau - 4 years
$6.6mil Boyle - 4 years
$4.0mil Pavelski - 4 years

Yes, they could trade one of those guys to make up the difference but if most teams cant afford Kovy, they probably arent going to want one of those top 4 guys either (Pavelski being the 5th).

SJ has $32.2mil tied up in 5 players. They only have to sign 3 more forwards, 1 dman ... and their goalie is Niittymaki .. all with only $7 mil cap space .. and they want Kovy?

Just seems fishy to me.

By: reinjosh

reinjosh — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:16:41 +0000

Yeah its a solid deal. I still think Burke might hold out a little longer but you never know. He might push for Clowe and a pick. The cap relief would be mighty nice though.

By: cam7777

cam7777 — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 01:33:22 +0000

Clowe (big scoring winger) + McLaren (secondary toughness) for Kaberle? Pretty fair trade I'd say. My gut tells me though, that Burke would rather hold onto Kaberle and try to add assets together to get a better winger. Still, at this point, the cap relief would be nice, and we need the scoring help. Also, with Thornton up for renewal next year, we'd probably get a shot at resigning Kabs – which Burke could maybe hint to him could be an option. I'd love to have Clowe, and then a year from now also have Kabs.