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Kings (Not) Out Of Kovalchuk Race

Started by Guest_Taco_* , Jul 04 2010 07:31 PM

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#1 Guest_Taco_*

 
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Posted 04 July 2010 - 07:31 PM

Are the Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes now down to two teams?

The Los Angeles Times says the Los Angeles Kings will not be signing Ilya Kovalchuk, which potentially leaves the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders in the race to sign the high-scoring sniper.

Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi told the Times' Helene Elliott Sunday afternoon that talks between Kovalchuk and the team are over.

Full story


#2 Guest_RobAvs33_*

 
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Posted 04 July 2010 - 08:18 PM

He's going to end up in the KHL..

This point has been edited by RobAvs33: 04 July 2010 - 08:27 PM

#3 Guest_TML4ever_*

 
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Posted 04 July 2010 - 10:04 PM

He's going to end up in the KHL..


I think he will go to the Islanders if money is what he is after besides wanting out of Atlanta.

#4 OFFLINE   Tashimojo

 
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Posted 04 July 2010 - 10:36 PM

Yeah, I'm betting he ends up an Islander now.

#5 Guest_Taco_*

 
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Posted 04 July 2010 - 10:40 PM

Still want him in NJ.... Remember he said he enjoyed playing there.

#6 OFFLINE   Tashimojo

 
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Posted 04 July 2010 - 10:47 PM

If I were a Devils fan I'd sure as hell want him back in NJ too after giving up that huge package to get him there in the first place. But if he's flat out done negotiating with the Kings it looks like all he wants is money. The Kings are certainly in a much better position to battle for the Cup than the Isles currently, and declining them makes it look like he's not as interested in going to a contender as he was rumored to be.

#7 Guest_Taco_*

 
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Posted 04 July 2010 - 11:02 PM

I can't imagine Kovy feels as if the Kings aren't the system he wants to be in. I also think about the climate Kovy would live in, maybe he's gone to California and didn't feel a good vibe. It sure is a possibility as easy as it is to say that isn't the case. Not saying he likes the NJ/NY area and wants to live here forever, maybe he's just trying to find a place that makes him comfortable.

#8 OFFLINE   Tashimojo

 
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Posted 04 July 2010 - 11:34 PM

Aw c'mon, who wouldn't want to live in Cali? Earthquakes, fires, power outages... California means excitement!


Disclaimer: I'm just pokin a little fun, don't get all bent out of shape Cali people. I was born in San Fran and still :heart: California.

#9 Guest_cityhockeyfever_*

 
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Posted 04 July 2010 - 11:45 PM

Seriously, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if this is NOT over for the Kings. Don't be shocked if there is another offer on the table and Los Angeles is still in play here.

#10 Guest_Taco_*

 
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Posted 04 July 2010 - 11:50 PM

Seriously, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if this is NOT over for the Kings. Don't be shocked if there is another offer on the table and Los Angeles is still in play here.

I do have to agree partially. The thing is Kovalchuk HAS given this a lot of thought, it's not like this is all happening in one day. There's still a shot, but I doubt it'll get resolved before Kovy inevitably chooses a team.

#11 Guest_RobAvs33_*

 
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Posted 05 July 2010 - 12:32 AM

I can see him staying with NJ before going to the Isles. But boy I wish he'd hurry up and decide already! :dontgetit:

#12 OFFLINE   Chris TMC

 
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Posted 05 July 2010 - 12:55 AM

If I were a Devils fan I'd sure as hell want him back in NJ too after giving up that huge package to get him there in the first place. But if he's flat out done negotiating with the Kings it looks like all he wants is money. The Kings are certainly in a much better position to battle for the Cup than the Isles currently, and declining them makes it look like he's not as interested in going to a contender as he was rumored to be.


"MUCH better position"? The Kings are what- maybe like a year or two ahead of the Islanders in doing the same thing- rebuilding! Why is going to the Kings lumped in with going to a contender? Thats what I dont get. They are NOT already contenders and have NOT earned the title people keep putting on them. Might they be contenders soon? Sure, why not? They are a young and talented team who is getting better and better. But they arent contenders yet as of right now. Come on, be fair here- the Islanders have made the playoffs more often than they have in recent years! Lets take a look at this century:
Posted Image

If anything, the Islanders have been even or better than the Kings, except for last season. That does not make one a contender.
And like I said, the Kings are a young and talented team who is getting better and better. But what some of you might not realize is, so are the Islanders. They are going to be a lot better a lot sooner than most people think.

You want to say the Kings are in a somewhat better position than the Isles, just insofar as they ahve been going with youth and rebuilding a bit longer? OK, that sounds fine... but lets not make the 2y difference in their rebuilding process into some gigantic chasm, because it isnt.

Fact is, the only actual contender that is known to be in this Kovalchuk thing is the Devils. The Flyers would be as well, except I cannot for the life of me fathom how they would possibly afford him.

BTW- as far as the Kings being out of it goes, Im sure that means "You have our offer... balls in your court" it does not mean they are taking their offer back or that they suddenly do not want him. IMO they are still as much "in" this as ever.

This point has been edited by Chris TMC: 05 July 2010 - 01:44 AM

#13 OFFLINE   Tashimojo

 
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Posted 05 July 2010 - 02:48 AM

Yeah, a year or two sorta makes a big difference in where they would go next year with Kovalchuck. I never said the Isles were bad, but the reality the Kings are in a better position now. I'd be making the same argument if the Avs were in the Isles place.

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Posted 05 July 2010 - 03:46 AM

I believe the comment "the Knigs are in a better position" is true. Currently, the Kings are very close to being a serious contender next year. One key piece should do it. Hopefully the stories are true and it WON'T be Ilya!!

Hoping he gives the Devs a discount for the cup potential in the very near future.

The $$ the Isles have scares me a bit since I do not know where Ilya's loyalties lie yet. Does he want the payday or the cup?
He has and will earn plenty of money, but there is only ONE CUP!!!

Come back Ilya, and I too hope he decides SOON so Lou can work it all out with all the restructuring he'll have to do with some others.

#15 OFFLINE   Chris TMC

 
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Posted 05 July 2010 - 09:15 AM

Like I said, saying they are in a somewhat better posiiton seems fair. Even saying they are somewhat closer to BEING a contender is also fair. But they are not contenders YET, and the difference between these two teams until the Kings DO take that next step is marginal at best. It is just not right to lump choosing the Kings in with choosing "a contender"- that title goes to the Devils (and if they were in, the Flyers) and NOT the Kings, Isles, or Avs.

This point has been edited by Chris TMC: 05 July 2010 - 09:20 AM

#16 OFFLINE   Tashimojo

 
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Posted 05 July 2010 - 09:38 AM

Like I said, saying they are in a somewhat better posiiton seems fair. Even saying they are somewhat closer to BEING a contender is also fair. But they are not contenders YET, and the difference between these two teams until the Kings DO take that next step is marginal at best. It is just not right to lump choosing the Kings in with choosing "a contender"- that title goes to the Devils (and if they were in, the Flyers) and NOT the Kings, Isles, or Avs.

You're making mountains out of molehills. The phrase much better is subjective. Same with somewhat better. There's no absolute definition of either.

#17 OFFLINE   K9Jeeper

 
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Posted 05 July 2010 - 09:39 AM

Either IK's agent is smoking crack or IK has a bigger ego than Ovechkin - or both. IK may be a good player, but he is NO WAY better than Ovechkin or Crosby. So why would IK's camp think he's worth more than the best players in the league? I have more respect for Dean now that he isn't buying into IK's money game. Let IK go back to Russia and play if it's only about the money. I bet Dean has a "Plan B" and will surprise us all. Still would have been great to have Kopi and Kovy on the same line. Could have called it the "Hot KoKo line :munch_h4h:

This point has been edited by K9Jeeper: 05 July 2010 - 09:41 AM

#18 Guest_Taco_*

 
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Posted 05 July 2010 - 10:00 AM

Look you can't use the decade to judge who is a better team. It's all about "What have you done for me lately?" Lately, the Kings have had noticeable improvement and have made the jump into the playoffs in the tougher conference in the regular season. The Islanders, I can agree, are a young team getting better, but there are key differences. Even with Kovalchuk, the Islanders are still not a contender right now. As optimistic as I can be about the team, the defense is too instable and they don't have the depth LA has. You think about the Kings, they have Kopitar, Brown, Smyth, Williams, Simmonds, Stoll, which is good enough depth on the first 2 or 3 lines with Kovalchuk to compete deep in the playoffs. On the Islanders, remember just last year they were using over 40 players on their pro team. They still aren't completely sure who's ready to fit and impact the team. They're too immature, this group of Kings players have been playing for a few years now. The Kings now have an obvious top d-man now. The Isles don't. Outside of Tavares, Okposo, and Moulson, the Isles fall off. Not a huge drop-off, but the depth is pretty slim. It's not full of guys ready to make the playoffs. Nielsen is a pretty serviceable guy and I think he has the best star potential out of the 9 other forwards. But the team is too inconsistent still. The Kings will be competing for years I think and they have the better shot now to win. The Devils in this whole mix.. I don't think the Devils are sure what they want for next year. It was assumed that they would switch to more of an offensive strategy, but they just got Volchenkov and Tallinder. I'm not sure what that means quite yet, even though I like it. They dumped Pandolfo, so they're trying to clear as much salary as they can for Kovy. If Kovy re-signs, I expect another trade for the Devils to dump salary, preferably in the person of Rolston or White. The fact of the matter, the Islanders are the least likely to contend in the near future out of these 3 teams. Los Angeles is one of those rising teams in the West like St. Louis and Phoenix. I expect them back in the playoffs next year with this group of guys they got, especially if Kovy and the Kings agree on something. I think the Islanders would be better off not getting Kovalchuk for this money. Sure they're under the floor of the cap, but $10 million a year will come back to bite them in the ass over a 10 year period. They have Tavares and Okposo to eventually sign long-term, and then Neiderreiter if all works out, and then the DiPietro contract... The Islanders are still feeling pain from all the early decade blunders. This is why you can't say they were better earlier in the decade. The Islanders still had talent earlier in the decade, but they were pretty old. They could've been a powerhouse in this league. It's shown they eventually paid the price. 2007 I consider a near miracle that they even made the playoffs whereas the Kings this year earned it with 101 points. The Kings are definitely, no question, in the better position than the Islanders right now.

#19 OFFLINE   Chris TMC

 
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Posted 05 July 2010 - 10:21 AM

You're making mountains out of molehills. The phrase much better is subjective. Same with somewhat better. There's no absolute definition of either.

Saying a player is "good" or "tough" is subjective, too. Everything is subjective to an extent, we just all have to agree to particular criteria that fulfill a term. The Kings are not a contender. That is the term that bothers me. If they ARE a contender right now, then so is any other team that goes half a decade without making the playoffs and then has one good season.

The Islanders, I can agree, are a young team getting better, but there are key differences. Even with Kovalchuk, the Islanders are still not a contender right now.

I know Taco, I made that point myself.

remember just last year they were using over 40 players on their pro team. They still aren't completely sure who's ready to fit and impact the team.

No team has been as injured as the Islanders over the last 3 seasons, it is not even close. The amount of injuries the Islanders have dealt with have been unprecedented.

Outside of Tavares, Okposo, and Moulson, the Isles fall off. Not a huge drop-off, but the depth is pretty slim. It's not full of guys ready to make the playoffs. Nielsen is a pretty serviceable guy and I think he has the best star potential out of the 9 other forwards.

If you think that Fransie, a nice defensive forward 3rd line center, has the "best star potential" compared to the potential of all the other top 9 forwards in the Isles organization, I dont even know what to say- other than making it clear that is the first (and likely, last) time I have ever read anyone say such a thing.
Wow.

This point has been edited by Chris TMC: 05 July 2010 - 10:26 AM

#20 OFFLINE   Tashimojo

 
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Posted 05 July 2010 - 11:01 AM

I didn't say the Kings are a contender, but the fact remains that they are still more of a contender with Kovalchuk for next few seasons than the Isles are. 4, 5 years down the road, no one knows what moves these clubs will make and who will be a contender or not.
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