Kovalchuk to the Devils

[FlamesGM]

Might as well start another trade discussion thread here.

To New Jersey:
Ilya Kovalchuk

To Atlanta:
Jon Oduya
Niclas Bergfors
Patrice Cormier
1st Round Pick

Doubtful the Devils will be able to re-sign, or even try that hard to be honest, all-or-nothing year for the Devils now. And I think this might just put them over the top as the team to be in the East (arguable, yes), but although the Devils are far from an offensive powerhouse, the talent around him (Elias, Langenbrunner, Parise) may help Kovy produce even greater numbers than he already is. A dominant player on a sub-par team, I'm afraid to see what he'll do on a Cup contender like the Devils... and also scared what he might do in his debut (if he plays) versus the Leafs on Friday. Russian players seem to have a knack for "prime time" performances, Bure seemed to always show up when the spot light was on him, and the Russian habit has seemed to continue ever since then, so we'll see what Kovalchuk can do.

Discuss!

[Jungle Cats]

Gotta like the Devils' chances.

Does he line-up on the second line and take the point on the powerplay?

[Virtual Jarmo]

Absolutely love this deal for the Devils. They keep their best prospect in Tedenby, get rid of a future (and current) headache in Cormier, and instantly vault to the favorite to represent the East. Bergfors is a tough loss, and I think he'll be a 70-80 point player one day, but it's worth it to take a shot.

That said, look for a full-fledged rebuild around Tedenby once Marty retires.

[FlamesGM]

We'll find out Friday vs. Toronto or Saturday vs. the Rangers I suppose. I assume he will line up at the point on the PP, such an unbelievable shot and point threat on the power play. They do have a surplus of talented left wingers, I wouldn't be surprised if they moved one of them (maybe Elias since he's coming back from the concussion, try and work him in practice to the right wing) and try and move him up to the first line. I can't see Kovy being a 2nd line winger (personally). In practice today Elias was skating with Rolston and Zubrus. So we could see Parise, Kovy and Langenbrunner as the other line? I don't know the Devils that well this year, Langenbrunner is often listed as a winger but I know he has played centre in the past. Any help?

Either way, I see Kovy being worked into the first line in some respect.

[Virtual Jarmo]

Or just load up and go Parise-Zajac-Kovalchuk.

[FlamesGM]

Yea, that's very true. Might for a replication of the Ovy - Backstrom - Semin line in Washington. Goddamn, who can compete with those two teams this year? (I think Pittsburgh still has the potential to compete with them, playoffs anything can happen) But wow... Parise - Zajac - Kovalchuk. That's a dangerous line right there.

[Virtual Jarmo]

Yea, that's very true. Might for a replication of the Ovy - Backstrom - Semin line in Washington. Goddamn, who can compete with those two teams this year? (I think Pittsburgh still has the potential to compete with them, playoffs anything can happen) But wow... Parise - Zajac - Kovalchuk. That's a dangerous line right there.

Washington has to answer by getting a big shutdown defenseman, or maybe a strong two-way guy. If they can find a way to swing a Kaberle deal by moving some salary, they're in good shape.

Souray's willing to waive his NTC to go there. Talk about some bombs on the PP. Ovechkin, Semin, Green, Souray.

They need to answer at the deadline to have a chance at beating NJ. Right now, the only team that beats NJ in the East is themselves. Don't forget, they get a well-rested Paul Martin back in mid-March.

[FlamesGM]

No, definitely. Without a doubt I would consider Jersey the "favourite". But, we all know that anything can happen in the playoffs. Unbelievable individual efforts, clutch playoff performances. It's one of the big reasons why I find the NHL playoffs outdo any other sport in the post-season... NFL is a close second, but some of the great playoff matchups and individual performances I've seen over the years (a lot of them watching after the fact that my dad taped considering I'm only 21) are outstanding.

[Virtual Jarmo]

I'd consider March Madness a playoff, so that's my second favorite. But you Canucks don't give a rat's ass about NCAA sports. March Madness is amazing. It almost trumps the NHL playoffs. It probably will when I can go to Vegas for the first four days of March Madness and watch all the shenanigans in the sportsbooks.

But I agree, anything can happen. A hot goaltender can take you places. If Ryan Miller gets unreal, Buffalo could upset WSH or NJ. Same with Fleury.

[FlamesGM]

I actually love March Madness, always crazy parties here on campus (granted we have a very multicultural campus at Laurier University), but March Madness is definitely one of the bigger sporting events of the year (even in Canada). I've watched it ever since I was about 9 with my dad. You may have guessed I come from a largely sports-oriented family.

In that case March Madness would sneak into second place ahead of the NFL playoffs... some years it may contest the NHL (we have had some "meh" years in hockey). I don't follow the teams at all really during the year, but I read up on them all a little bit before March Madness and choose "my team". I don't hop on the bandwagons, I almost always cheer for the underdogs, lol.

But yes, March Madness is insane. I know very few sports fan who don't love March Madness up here... but I'm also from Southern Ontario where there's a little bit of interest in everything.

[Penguin]

He's asking for more than 10M a year. What a greedy bastard!

[FlamesGM]

Maybe that's just his way of 'demanding' a trade without actually demanding a trade, lol. Or he does want to go play in the KHL next year, we'll see. Obviously greed has something to do with it (listed at 114 Greed in EHM, haha - that might need to be upped a few points now ) But I doubt his agent told him "you can get more than this", obviously that's a massive offer, there's more to it than it wasn't enough money, I don't buy that for a second.

[Penguin]

Good way of seeing it. Proves once again how much sports have turned into businesses.

[FlamesGM]

It is a shame, truly. However (hard to believe, I know... salaries did go down, lol)

1999 - 2000 season:
Jaromir Jagr: 17.4 million
Paul Kariya: 10 million
Peter Forsberg: 9 million

However, since the CBA that established the salary cap, it has steadily increased every year allowing players salaries to inflate as well, which I find disgusting.

Players argue that they "need" these salaries due to the risk involved in the sport (this argument is more common in football players though), but maybe if there was some benefit/pension program or something like that involved, salaries could be lowered to something a little more reasonable. Making only 1 million dollars when you get pretty much everything paid for is a pretty sweet deal. Or christ, NHLers, put like 25% of your million into an RRSP or something equivalent RSP (I don't know how it works outside Canada)

Woo... sorry for that rant.

[Bruins]

It is a shame, truly. However (hard to believe, I know... salaries did go down, lol)

1999 - 2000 season:
Jaromir Jagr: 17.4 million
Paul Kariya: 10 million
Peter Forsberg: 9 million

However, since the CBA that established the salary cap, it has steadily increased every year allowing players salaries to inflate as well, which I find disgusting.

Players argue that they "need" these salaries due to the risk involved in the sport (this argument is more common in football players though), but maybe if there was some benefit/pension program or something like that involved, salaries could be lowered to something a little more reasonable. Making only 1 million dollars when you get pretty much everything paid for is a pretty sweet deal. Or christ, NHLers, put like 25% of your million into an RRSP or something equivalent RSP (I don't know how it works outside Canada)

Woo... sorry for that rant.

This is my 2 cents when it comes to profession sports salaries:
-They had to work a full time job from the age of 5-17 without receiving a dime.
-It's not an 8-hour a day job, it's a 24-hour a day job.
-Supply/Demand.

[Penguin]

Full time job from 5 to 17 years old?
Kids that play good hockey are mostly all spoiled.

[FlamesGM]

... and hockey's fun as hell to play. I had to quit playing hockey, I was playing at a fairly high level until I was 16 when I had to step down from AAA to AA and then eventually to A because I was working a part-time job plus school. My parents couldn't afford to pay for my hockey anymore so I started to pay for it, it's not cheap. All of the kids I knew from the high levels came from very well off families.

Either way, the argument that they didn't get "paid" to play until they turned pro... Jonathan Toews is the same age as me and he's making a hell of a lot more than I am. My bank account is empty because I'm a university student, that work from 16 - 18 didn't really help me financially.

[Montreal Canadiens]

You do know that Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Semin don't play on the same line.

[FlamesGM]

Don't watch Washington at all, I just assumed the NHL 10 lines were relatively accurate Or maybe that sneaky guy online adjusted them to stack his 1st line.