Report: Kovalchuk To Montreal Or Toronto?

[fourtrax]

No thanks.

He has been a minus in every year that he's been playing in the NHL.

This proves nothing. He's played on nothing but terrible Atlanta teams, no kidding he's a minus player.

He's off to a slow start this year. Never a good idea to aquire a player who is in a slump.

Actually, it's almost always a good idea, because then that player won't be as expensive to acquire.

[jl-1]

No.

If you remove 3 roster players for one guy, you'll probably need to call up some $850, 000 guys from Hamilton, at which point the math stops working with Steve Begin if you call up even one guy, and stops working with Dandeneault if you call up 2 guys.

So you'd have to throw in something else, like Francis Bouillon, which means calling up 3 850, 000 guys assuming a roster of constant size.

We have about $1.9 million in cap space, right?

Kovalchuk: $6.4M

minus

A.Kostitsyn: -$3.25M

S.Kostitsyn: -$0.817M

M.Dandenault: -$1.75M

Equals: $0.583M additional we're taking on.

Then add two more players:

D'Agostini: $0.5M

Stewart: $0.491M

So you're adding $1.574M and you had $1.9M, so yes it does work!

Your new lines are:

Kovalchuk - Plekanec - Kovalev

Latendresse - Koivu - Tanguay

Higgins - Lang - D'Agostini

Stewart - Begin - Lapierre - Laraque

[mortwinkler]

This proves nothing. He's played on nothing but terrible Atlanta teams, no kidding he's a minus player.

Actually, it's almost always a good idea, because then that player won't be as expensive to acquire.

Actually it proves that he's on the ice for more goals against, than more goals for. Also, the 2006 Thrashers was a good team and he was still in the minus column.

As for price wise - no matter what Ilya is going to cost more than he's worth.

[DA_Champion]

Ok, my mistake, I didn't know the minimum salary was ~500, 000.

[brysonom27]

i have really mixed thoughts about that proposal!

[Scott92]

I would have mixed feelings about this if it goes through.

No kidding, I'd love to have Kovalchuk. But I wouldn't want to have to give up 3+ roster players for him.

[ChitownHabby]

Weep, brings up some good points. My question is: If Kovalchuk comes to the habs and we deal the K bros for him, are we confident that he re-signs? If we win a cup it is irrelevant but if not, we are KO-less in 2 years!

Personally, I would risk it if we could ice a team of lets say:

Kovalchuk - Koivu - Tanguay

Higgins - Plekanec - Kovalev

Lats - Lang - D'Agostini

Kosto - Lapierre - Laraque

Markov - Komi

Hamrlik - Brisebois

Gorges - O'Byrne

Price

Halak

So, I'm thinking we'd have to give up The Kostitsyn bros, Bouillon and Dandenault + 1st Rounder

For Ilya Kovalchuk and a 4th rounder.

Is the above team better than:

Higgins - Koivu - Tanguay

Kostitsyn - Plekanec - Kovalev

Sergei - Lang - Lats

Kosto - Lapierre - Laraque

Markov - Komi

Gorges - Hamrlik

Bouillon - Brisebois

Price

Halak

The above teams defence looks shaky especially considering the KO bros are responsible and Ilya is not and that O'Byrne/Brisebois would likely both have to play every night but I think you still make that trade if it's out there.

Those top 2 lines would rival any 2 lines in Hockey including the wings and pens. Maybe Weber could come up from the farm.

Hey, we are 8-1-1, but it's still exciting to dream and think that the team hasnt even played well so far!

[fourtrax]

Actually it proves that he's on the ice for more goals against, than more goals for.

Nope, because plus-minus doesn't factor in power-play goals. Also, plus-minus is an irrelevant statistic unless you benchmark it against the whole team.

Also, the 2006 Thrashers was a good team and he was still in the minus column.

I suppose if your definition of 'good' is selling the farm at the trade deadline to go out in four games in the first round of the playoffs, then yes, the 2006-07 Thrashers were 'good'.

As for price wise - no matter what Ilya is going to cost more than he's worth.

Why make any trade at all? That logic could apply to any player we're trying to acquire. Better to get a sniper when he's in a slump and will thus cost less than when he's tearing up the league and will cost more.

[jl-1]

Actually it proves that he's on the ice for more goals against, than more goals for. Also, the 2006 Thrashers was a good team and he was still in the minus column.

As for price wise - no matter what Ilya is going to cost more than he's worth.

Kovalchuk is at -5 this year. In order to compare, you have to look at the whole team. Only one player is over 0 on the team and that's Bryan Little who's at +1. With his scoring ability, Kovalchuk can catch him in one game!

Two years ago, Koivu was at -21. Is he that bad defensively? No, it reflected the TEAM's inability at even strength right? Same difference, with the exception that Kovalchuk is a 50 goals' scorer!

[flamesgal1]

Kovalchuck is one of the slickest individual players in the game today. He is still young and if he were to come to a team like the Habs with our depth righ now. I could see him easily lighting the lamp sixty times.

Unlike some I do not wish to move the Kostysyns. Some other package...because I would certainly like to See Kovaklchuck play with Pleks and AK for the next four or five years.

[animerules1x3]

Kovalchuck is one of the slickest individual players in the game today. He is still young and if he were to come to a team like the Habs with our depth righ now. I could see him easily lighting the lamp sixty times.

Unlike some I do not wish to move the Kostysyns. Some other package...because I would certainly like to See Kovaklchuck play with Pleks and AK for the next four or five years.

I don't think anyone want to trade the brothers, but it is just what it would likely take. Dandenault, O'Byrne, Halak and a 1st wouldn't do it, you know ?

That's why I don't want to add Kovalchuk. We don't need him, it would be only a luxury to trade for him. We are on pace for 300 goals (I predicted 275), we do not exactly need goalscorers.

[displacedeasterner]

We have about $1.9 million in cap space, right?

Kovalchuk: $6.4M

minus

A.Kostitsyn: -$3.25M

S.Kostitsyn: -$0.817M

M.Dandenault: -$1.75M

Equals: $0.583M additional we're taking on.

Then add two more players:

D'Agostini: $0.5M

Stewart: $0.491M

So you're adding $1.574M and you had $1.9M, so yes it does work!

Your new lines are:

Kovalchuk - Plekanec - Kovalev

Latendresse - Koivu - Tanguay

Higgins - Lang - D'Agostini

Stewart - Begin - Lapierre - Laraque

I beleive Kovalchuk played with Kovalev (please correct me if I'm wrong) on the same line in AKbars during the lockout. It wasn't a good experience.

[jl-1]

I beleive Kovalchuk played with Kovalev (please correct me if I'm wrong) on the same line in AKbars during the lockout. It wasn't a good experience.

I thought he played with Samsonov and that's why we went and got him a couple of years ago. I could be wrong on that though.

Regardless though, he could easily fit on Koivu's line as well.

[ohboy]

Not that I wouldnt love the idea of Kovalchuck. And personally I think the two Kostitsyns for Kovalchuck would be a steal for the habs. I dont think this is a realistic trade due to the system our team plays, the quality of play we have already showed this season, and the desire to role three scoring lines. You simply cannot play this way with an all-star player on your team.

[babinator77]

Kovalchuck is one of the slickest individual players in the game today. He is still young and if he were to come to a team like the Habs with our depth righ now. I could see him easily lighting the lamp sixty times.

Unlike some I do not wish to move the Kostysyns. Some other package...because I would certainly like to See Kovaklchuck play with Pleks and AK for the next four or five years.

i'm with you.

kovalchuk is one of my favourite players and i've been whining for a sniper for some years now but arghhhh the kostitsyns? i'd have a really hard time swallowing that trade. they are our future.

i recognize that you have to give to get but when a team is trying to move a player shouldn't their leverage drop? jokinen went for a lot less than i would have offered...can't i dream that the same would happen here (considering how unlikely it seems that kovalchuk will be shipped out in the first place)?

[Guest]

i'm with you.

kovalchuk is one of my favourite players and i've been whining for a sniper for some years now but arghhhh the kostitsyns? i'd have a really hard time swallowing that trade. they are our future.

i recognize that you have to give to get but when a team is trying to move a player shouldn't their leverage drop? jokinen went for a lot less than i would have offered...can't i dream that the same would happen here (considering how unlikely it seems that kovalchuk will be shipped out in the first place)?

Hey,,,we can all dream.

I'd hate to see the bro's gone too,but if it meant Chucky in return, i think my pain would ease quickly. We can all wish to unload our whole 4th line for a sniper of his quality, but in the real NHL world,,,,let's not hold our breath, or we'll be as blue as a Leafs jersey

[357908_1475251331]

this deal that's going to happen is probably going to happen because atlanta is going to "deport" kovalchuk to montreal as he becomes ufa, or when atlanta knows they will be out of the playoffs this year.

now i'm not too sure about how many deals we have had with atlanta, but the wolves- their ahl team is awesome, so it seems to me if we want atlanta's help in this we have to offer back some pretty taut leadership, whether it be in goal, or in some other form, and after 10 games i don't see a heck of a lot of that so that we could make a deal and []acquire him before the trade deadline with a firm verbal commitment for a couple of ongoing years.

if this goes all the way to ufa he's going to sign with another team.

[Habsology]

Could call him Chucky.

Again i find it difficult to fanthom that Atlanta would actually try to trade Kovalchuk away.The only possible reason would be because they dont have the money in Atlanta. If indeed that is the reason, then i certainly couldnt see them taking on an equal amount of salary ( or more,, as some trade proposals indicate above) in return. That would lead one to conclude that the only thing Atlanta would consider, is some cheaper players with big upside or,,,,prospects and a ton of picks or,,,a combination of both.

I feel that Atlanta is in a rebuilding state. The only piece that they have that can could bring in a fresh set of players is Kovalchuk. They would get a whole new change of scenery in return for him. Kovalchuk is great for bringing in the fans, but the fans will only come for so long if they're team isn't winning. What they need to do is build a winning team again, and they only way I can see them doing that is if they happen to draft another Kovalchuk this upcoming draft, or if they trade for a good number of players and prospects, which seems the most likely course IMO...

[j2c]

I do like Kovalchuk....very very much!! But I do not want to give our Kostitsyn brothers, they are good now and will only get better.

[HabsAlways]

Waddell has denied any rumours he is discussing Kovalchuk

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/atl081103.html

Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell denied a report suggesting he has been entertaining offers for superstar sniper Ilya Kovalchuk.

Russian newspaper Sport-Express reported last week that the Thrashers have received inquiries about Kovalchuk's availability, claiming the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs have spoken to Waddell.

Waddell said he was aware of the report but told the Toronto Star it was "a wild rumor. I have no interest in trading Ilya."

Leafs GM Cliff Fletcher also denied pursuing Kovalchuk.

"I can absolutely tell you there has been no conversations about any player with Atlanta, let alone the player you mentioned," Fletcher told the Star.

Kovalchuk, who has indicated his discontent with the Thrashers' small crowds, has two-years remaining on his contract and can become an unrestricted free agent after the 2009-10 season.

Fletcher, meanwhile, indicated that trade talk around the league is relatively minimal and he doesn't expect discussions to heat up until December.

"It's not like trades are happening around us," he said. "Usually you get to the 20-, 25-game mark before trades start happening."

[flames4eva]

this deal that's going to happen is probably going to happen because atlanta is going to "deport" kovalchuk to montreal as he becomes ufa, or when atlanta knows they will be out of the playoffs this year.

now i'm not too sure about how many deals we have had with atlanta, but the wolves- their ahl team is awesome, so it seems to me if we want atlanta's help in this we have to offer back some pretty taut leadership, whether it be in goal, or in some other form, and after 10 games i don't see a heck of a lot of that so that we could make a deal and []acquire him before the trade deadline with a firm verbal commitment for a couple of ongoing years.

if this goes all the way to ufa he's going to sign with another team.

It will be a long wait for him to be UFA as he is signed through 2009-2010.

[Rocket-1]

The only thing i would give for Kovalchuk is Dandenault, Begin and either Latendresse or the guy whos always involve in trade rumors lol.

We have the most pricey (or one of the most pricey) 4th line in the NHL (most probably, i didn't look out but were hard to beat) so we just have to get rid of at least one of these players right away this year during a transaction.

Kostopolos (900,000$) Lapierre (688,000$) Begin (1,057,000$)

Dandenault (1,725,000$) Laraque (1,500,000$) for a grand total of 5,870,000$ on the 4th line.

So that means theres a big chunk of change on the bench for the entire season.

[WTA]

I do like Kovalchuk....very very much!! But I do not want to give our Kostitsyn brothers, they are good now and will only get better.

Same here, as much as I'd like to pick up a player like Kovalchuk or Gaborik, people tend to forget that either one would come at a pretty steep price, a Higgins or quite possibly one or both of the Kostitsyns......and I think all three are great players none of whome have hit their peek as far as I'm concered.......also too Montreal is 9-1-1 they've been scoring about four goals a game on a consistant basis....and from what I saw on Saturday night the Kovalev Plekanec Andrei Kostitsyn line is starting to get it into high gear..so why the heck do we need another scorer when we have three pretty decent scoring lines, and anyways a guy like Kovalchuk (as good as he is) might come in and ruin our team chemistry anyways, also a player like Kovalchuk might not always make a team better IMO.....

By the way everyone talks about us needing a elite goal scorer....wasn't it Atlanta who had two elite goal scorers in Hossa and Kovalchuk for like two seasons in a row (including last season for the most part)......did it make a difference for them?? no it did not, and would it for us? I doubt it....I am very happy for the most part with the team we have...atleast until the trade deadline I say put these trade rumors to rest

[RicochetII]

Well the Kovalchuk on the block rumor has been quelled, but honestly, the talk will not stop, nor should it. We have to kill off these ridiculously long down times somehow!

As for a bona fide goal scorer. Not that Umberger is one, but he turned out to be a key factor in eliminating one of the best teams from the playoffs last season. That is why we need one for the cup run. One person who can put the puck in the net consistently can change or control a series by having a big impact on a couple of games. We went into the playoffs last year with a potent top line and we know how that ended. You have to consider whether Tanguay is enough of a difference to avoid a repeat of last year's run.

[mortwinkler]

Hasn't it also been said in the past that he has a bad attitude?