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The Rock, NJ • United States • 35 Years Old • Male

KOVI SAGA GOES ON

Posted 7:55 AM ET | Comments 0
Article from LA Times By Derrick Lightfoot

The World Cup is over, and I'm not that big into baseball, so the only thing I can cling to sports wise right now is the Kovalchuk saga—but it's safe to say most want this story to end (the New York Post even reported a Canadian national TV outlet has proposed a LeBron-esque one-hour special as to where he will play, but this is the same post that reported Kovalchuk signed with the Devils a few days ago).

Apparently though, once the Kovalchuk signing concludes, a lot of trades will fall into place.

There were reports earlier that Kovalchuk was going to sign with his off-again, on-again girlfriend the Los Angeles Kings tomorrow, but those have been squashed by Kings GM Dean Lombardi.

Don't expect a signing tomorrow, but there will be talks between Lombardi and Kovalchuk. Lombardi told TSN, "Ilya is coming to LA for face-to-face discussions, just like any free agent would. We are long way from agreeing on contract." Kovalchuk is expected to arrive in Los Angeles tonight and to meet with the Kings tomorrow.

Right when it seems there are no updates, we get tidbits like this on the Kovalchuk front. Earlier, there were people saying that the Devils had a whopping 17-year deal worth over $100 million on the table, and the Kings had put forward a similar deal.

These are likely false as now we know the Kings are meeting with Kovy soon, so its doubtful a deal was proposed recently and it is not characteristic of Devils GM Lou Lamoriello to hand out such lucrative deals. Plus, the Devils don't have the cap for such a deal (though it seems Lamoriello is trying to move some bodies, Brian Rolston's name being thrown around).

I'm not sure how productive the talks will be between the Kings and Kovalchuk. Who knows if he will budge on his dislike of a front-loaded contract. That will most likely be the giving point—the Kings want and need to save all the cap space they can on this deal.

Drew Doughty is only 20 years old, was one of Team Canada's best defenseman at the 2010 Winter Olympics and was a Norris Trophy (league's best defenseman) candidate (I and others think he should have won it over the Blackhawk's Duncan Keith—can you tell I love this kid?).

The only problem is he is a restricted free agent next summer, and the Kings will look to tie him down for a long time, but they won't get that done giving him $2 million a year. I doubt he leaves (he bought a house in Los Angeles with another of my favorite players, Wayne Simmonds—also an RFA this year) but it would indeed be a devastating loss for the Kings. They also have the 23-year-old Jack Johnson to sign.

Needless to say, Kovalchuk would be a huge addition for the up-and-coming Kings, and as a Kings admirer, I would love to see him suit up for the team, although I will question his desire to win. He seemed to coast a bit in the playoffs with New Jersey and there is always the worry he will not be the player we are accustomed to once he gets the fat paycheck.

But for a young team like this in need of a top-six forward, Kovalchuk could do wonders, especially with a guy like Anze Kopitar feeding him the puck. Some say the Kings overpaid for Ryan Smyth, and they did a bit, but a top line of Kovalchuk-Kopitar-Smyth would be fantastic, in my opinion.

They're perfect chemistry types with Kopitar passing the puck, Kovalchuk shooting, and Smyth opening up space for them with his physical play and crashing the net for rebounds.

If the duo of Jonathan Quick and Jonathan Bernier can play at an elite level like they've showed they can at points, and Doughty can lead the defense like he did last year, the Kings could be a very serious cup contender next year.
Filed Under:   kovalchuck   kings   devils   NHL  
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Blog Archive

10 On Kovi free agency
11 KOVI IN LA
12 KOVI SAGA GOES ON
12 IS KOVI USING THE DEVILS TO UP HIS PURSE????
12 WOW The Devils Make A Great Move!!!!
12 John MacLean is hands on as Devils open prospects camp
12 Is Ilya Kovalchuk moving closer to signing with Los Angeles?
13 Has Kovalchuck lost his footing with New Jersey Devils Fans?
13 Elias understands Kovalchuk's dilemma
14 Elias excited for what future holds
15 Lots of talk but nothing to announce yet on Kovalchuk
15 Kovalchuk Looking Less and Less Likely for New Jersey Devils
15 Kovalchuk desperately wants to be the highest paid Russian!!
15 Devils don't offer veteran center Eric Chouinard a contract
15 Anton Volchenkov: Devils were my second choice
15 MacLean meets the A-Train
16 Are Ilya Kovalchuk's salary demands tied to Alex Ovechkin?
16 Newly-signed Tyler Eckford wants to play his way into a job
16 Devils' World Won't End if Kovy Bypasses Newark
18 Kings believed they had a 50-50 chance of signing Kovinuts
19 Brian Rolston knows that changes are coming for Devils
19 Devils' signing of Ilya Kovalchuk puts a smile on John Mac!!
19 Dainius Zubrus: signing Ilya Kovalchuk was to shake up the Devils
19 What might happen next?????
20 Who Will Go???
20 Which Contracts Will Lou Dump Now?
20 Left winger Ilya Kovalchuk, there is significance to #17
21 Once Kovalchuk's deal is settled, attention to Zach!!!
21 NHL doesn't believe Ilya Kovalchuk will stay untill Age 44
21 contracts similar to Ilya Kovalchuk's deal with Devils
21 NHL Players' Assocation issues statement On Kovi
21 Lamoriello statement on Kovalchuk signing
21 ’t win Ilya Kovalchuk contract showdown
22 It's in hands of Ilya Kovalchuk and union
22 NHL might have picked wrong fight
22 LA Kings Dean Lombardi backs up Kovalchuck Contract
24 NHLPA to file grievance
25 The Kovi Saga
25 NHL prosecution merely a temper tantrum
26 Devils wait for players' union to file grievance
26 contract could trigger a war between Devils and NHL
27 Decision on Kovalchuk is expected nexty week
28 Kovalchuk contract could be restructured by arbitrator
28 Yann Danis Going to KHL
28 Mark Fraser Signed....
29 Newly-signed Mark Fraser vows to be 'mean, physical Player
30 Arbitrator has been agreed upon
30 Kovalchuck Hearing?????
31 Arbitrator - Richard Bloch a NEw Jersey Native
31 Association agree on arbitrator to rule on Ilya Kovalchuk
03 Kovalchuk will attend contract hearing
03 Devils will wear retro jerseys March 18 vs. Washington
04 D day for Kovi and the Devils
05 Roller Hockey at the Jersey Shore
06 Jim Dowd Shore High School Hockey Game set for Sunday
06 Is this is a set-up between Lou and Gary???
09 The arbitration decision coming today
11 Translated article from soviet sports kovalchuck
11 Devils name Rick Kowalsky head coach at Albany
12 HEATS ON!!!!
12 Where do the Devils stand in the market???
16 Today might be the day
16 90 million over 10-13 for kovi?
16 Russian News Paper Reports Devs and Kovi....
17 Contract submitted???
18 Another Quiet day in the Kovi Front
19 Devils still waiting to see what happens with Kovy
19 “Status Quo” On Ilya Kovalchuk And Devils
20 Devils After Marc-Andre Bergeron???
20 Kovi wants nothing to do with the KHL
20 Elias on the Move???
21 ELIAS TO THE ATLANTA TRASHERS????
21 Questions Surround Devils in Wake of Kovalchuck saga
22 Brian Burke Testified Against Ilya Kovalchuk Contract???
22 Devils Bringing Hockey Back To Atlantic City
23 Patrik Elias could be moved to sign fellow winger Zach Paris
23 Today could be the Day!!!
23 News 1130 out of Vancouver Reports on Kovi
23 Possible contract for Kovalchuck
23 Devils add more youth to the roster
23 EJHradek_ESPN Reports NJ Devils meet with the NHL
24 News 12 New Jersey Reports on Kovi Contract...
24 Bryce Salvador to Stars...
25 NHL 2 Devils 0.....
25 Lamoriello not frustrated by Kovalchuk process
25 Commish denies report of deal rejection
26 – NYPOST.com
26 Looks Like KHL is out of the question
27 Could this be finalyy over???
30 Devils could part with Zajac if Kovalchuk stays
30 ’ contract, but Kovalchuk retires
31 ’s official decision on Kovalchuk’s TODAY!!!!!
31 Niemi a Devil?????