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"NJ DEVILS BUZZ"
The Rock, NJ • United States • 35 Years Old • Male
source MSG

By: StanFischler

The poet Robert Browning once wrote something akin to, "Your reach should exceed your grasp; or what's a Heaven for?"

In terms of the New Jersey Devils, boss Lou Lamoriello certainly has reached out to Ilya Kovalchuk.

Nobody knows the true details, but you can assume that the contract offer was -- is! -- long and fat.

Just 10 days ago that deal looked so alluring to some observers it was freely predicted that Kovy would resume and perhaps even finish his career at Prudential Center.

But when push came to shove, Ilya -- along with agent Jay Grossman -- pushed it temporarily aside for a California junket.

This was no trivial matter.

Not only did Grossman and The Man go along for the ride, but Kovy brought his wife along for the ride and -- one would suppose -- a look around the Los Angeles countryside, the shops along Rodeo Drive and whatever other tinsels the Kings had to offer.

However, for the second straight week, no deal was cut although it certainly appeared as if something about the Left Coast appealed to Madame K.

This hardly was the scenario for which Devils devotees had been savoring.

Furthermore, the feeling lots of Garden State hockey-lovers are getting is that Kovalchuk does not really want to be a Devil after all.

And should -- the key word is should -- that be the case, there's no question in my mind that pursuing the superstar is as big a waste of time as awaiting the IRT #1 Local, uptown or downtown.

Believe me, the Devils' world will not end if Kovy signs with Los Angeles; or mistakenly takes his abundant gifts back to Mother Russia.

The addition of Jason Arnott and the fact that Kovy's exit will assure the re-signing of Zach Parise should be balm to the hearts of the New Jersey crowd.

As my Devils-loving buddy Aaron Whiteman points out, "Kovalchuk is a luxury to the Devils."

And he's right.

Whiteman: "One would assume that Parise and Patrik Elias will be left-wing flanks to Travis Zajac and Arnott, respectively; the position Kovy prefers to play. That would require one of those natural left wingers to play the right side."

We also know by numbers that Kovalchuk on the New Jersey offense appeared to be a square peg trying to get into a round hole.

His individual forays were typically dynamic and he was a good team guy, well-liked by his mates.

But, as Mathieu Schneider -- who played along side Ilya on the Atlanta power play -- told me; Kovalchuk is first and foremost an individualist with whom it's hard to play; a description corroborated by what we saw since he arrived in Newark on February 4.

Personally, I'd love to see Kovy in Devils livery for his exciting play and winning personality. That said, he didn't push New Jersey past the first round and his waiting game suggests that he really does not want to return to Devils Country.

No sweat.

Perhaps young Mattias Tedenby will mature as hoped and make the big club on the left side. Then there's Alexander Vasyunov, another portside prospect.

With Kovalchuk in the Devils lineup, those two young worthies might have their development stunted.

My gut feeling now is that Ilya will eventually sign with the Kings.

If so, good for him. It was nice knowing -- and watching -- him in that brief run as a Devil.

But, make no mistake, the club will survive very nicely if he crosses America -- or the Atlantic!
Filed Under:   kovalchuck   new jersey devils   la kings  
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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?????