Is Ilya Kovalchuk Los Angeles-bound?
Fred Poulin | Jun 16, 2010 | Comments 15
With the 2010 free agent period set to begin in two weeks from today on July 1st, rumors are rampant that Ilya Kovalchuk will most surely test free agency as he will become an unrestricted free agent. Kovalchuk, who was acquired by the New Jersey Devils a week before the 2010 NHL trade deadline in exchange for a pick, Johnny Oduya and youngster Nicklas Bergfors, has not had any contract talks with GM Lou Lamoriello in the recent weeks.
Kovalchuk will easily be to most coveted player for an unrestricted free-agent pool that isn’t quite as deep in quality talent as in recent years. The 27-year-old Russian is a scoring machine just entering his prime. With already 338 goals in 621 career regular-season NHL games, Kovalchuk has now posted 40+ goal seasons for the past six seasons. Kovalchuk is right there with Alexander Ovechkin when it comes to goal-scoring abilities and electrifying plays. Kovalchuk is also a natural leader in the locker room, as he was the Thrashers captain before he got traded.
Ilya Kovalchuk will likely test free agency on July 1st
Other prized free agents such as Patrick Marleau and Tomas Plekanec might also be available on July 1st, but they don’t bring as much razzle-dazzle to the table as Kovalchuk does. And despite the continuous reports coming out Russia surrounding the KHL and potential offers, don’t expect the Russian sniper to move east before next season.
But rumors have Kovalchuk asking for upwards of $10 million per season, especially after he turned down $101 million over 12 years ($8.4 million/season) and $70 million over seven years ($10 million/year) from the Thrashers before the trade deadline. So would Ilya be willing to sign a long term (10 to 12 years) for about $8 million/per season with a team of his choosing?
That possibility can certainly materialize, but few teams have the necessary salary cap space to afford Kovalchuk over the long term. Teams like Columbus, Toronto, Edmonton, Carolina and NYIslanders all have sufficient cap space to sign the former Thrasher, but I highly doubt they interest him. On the contrary, a budding team like the Los Angeles Kings might prove very interesting for a talented player like Kovalchuk. Rising stars such as Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Jack Johnson have improved a lot over the last season, helping the Kings clinch a playoff berth. We could very well see a Marian-Hossa type signing by the Kings who were reportedly in the Kessel sweepstakes, a bidding-war GM Dean Lombardi ended up losing against Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke.
With Justin Williams (3.5) and Michal Handzus (4.0) both slated to depart via UFA in 2011, Lombardi will likely have enough money to re-sign youngsters Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson who are to become RFAs after next season. The Kings have about $47.8 million tied up for next year, and the salary cap next season will very likely be around $58 million, which leaves around $10 million to sign Kovalchuk and a few depth players for the upcoming season. Forwards Fredrik Modin, Alexander Frolov and Jeff Halpern are not expected to be re-signed by Lombardi and will most likely become UFAs on July 1st.
Los Angeles also makes sense as Ilya’s wife, Nicola, who is a professional dancer, would certainly consider LA as a place of choice to pursue her professional career. The Kovalchuks have three children, the youngest was born in New Jersey during the short period Ilya played for the Devils.
The timing is perfect for the kings to bolster their team by signing the best player available on the free agent market to a longer deal and GM Dean Lombardi knows that. The question now is: will he make it happen?
This blog was inspired by Pierre Lebrun, Puck Daddy and Matthew Barry.
Filed Under: Featured • Featured Rumors • Los Angeles Kings • New Jersey Devils • NHL • Winnipeg Jets
Fred, très beau travail, monsieur.
Certainly, from a fiscal perspective and a major market perspective, the Kings and Kovalchuk have a logical connection.
Are the Kings ready to make a Cup run in the next few years? Hard to say.
They’ve made incremental progress both last season and previously, and the talent base there is impressive.
But is Kovalchuk the ‘impact guy’ that takes them to the next level? Arguments can be made for and against.
Both Bob Hartley and Jacques Lemaire have said good things about Kovalchuk, but they’ve also conceded he pretty much ‘does his thing’ on the ice.
How does that work with the system put in place by Terry Murray?
One could submit that the Kings can continue on their path without Kovalchuk and add some veteran players instead whose playoff and/or Cup experience would benefit the rest of the squad.
And, if conditions are right, why wouldn’t he want to stay in New Jersey, with its access to the New York metro market?
Add to that, it’s a much shorter flight home for Ilya, and there is a major Russian community in NY/NJ.
Hollywood being what it is, Nicola Kovalchuk’s career ambitions, if she has any (being a former pop singer) are not necessarily guaranteed by being in LA. The talent competition in that world is positively brutal.
In any case, as you say, ‘The IK Dossier’ is shaping up to be one of the keys to this summer’s UFA market.
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PS if the Capitals are thinking of unloading Aleksandr Semin as rumored, they might just have the idea that Ilya Kovalchuk would look good alonside a certain Mr. Ovechkin.
And who knows, Mr. Kovalchuk might see that as a ‘fit’…
Dave with the acquisition of Arnott we can cross the Devils from Kovalchuk’s wish list. As for Kovalchuk with Backstrom and Ovechkin they would be lethal, but who can eat up Semin contract and has a defenseman they would be willing to part with in exchange of the Russian sniper?? Toronto would be a logical choice, but Burke is anti-Euro so we don’t know!?
Fred, as we have seen, the universe of NHL trades is full of surprises.
I went down the list of possible teams for Kovy, and the Capitals came up as being one of more logical destinations (potential Cup winner, bold ownership, fit with the team style, etc.)…
Now how George McPhee might unload Semin (if he is indeed about to be unloaded)…Semin is on a one-year deal, which is not a huge committment.
As for Toronto, Burke has repeatedly said he’s not interested, which may mean the opposite.
>PS> I meant to say Burke’s stated he’s not interested in Kovalchuk. Semin, on the other hand…definitely an upgrade for the Leafs.
Now if McPhee uses Semin to get himself a backup/starting goalie, or as you say starting d-man…who has those kind of assets?
Minnesota, for one. Josh Harding (who was offered to the Blues) and Brent Burns/Nick Schultz, respectively.
Rumors are swirling that the Kings have tried to acquire Kovalchuk’s rights from the Devils, but Lamoriello won’t trade him. Expect the Kings to make a pitch at Kovy on July 1st.
Fred, interesting item today from Elliote Friedman at CBC Sports.
He believes the Capitals will pitch a deal to Kovalchuk similar to the one the Wings used to snag Hossa for their Cup run two years ago.
If Washington makes a pitch for Kovalchuk, that means Alex Semin is likely out of DC this summer, they would not need him.
As a Cap fan, I would like this move, but I doubt it happens.
Fred, if you think about how tight Kovy and Ovie were as Russian National Team mates, it makes sense.
And Ted Leonsis is committed to winning a Cup. He might just tell McPhee to get it done with Ilya.
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