[Rumour] Kovalchuk considering return to NHL

[sureLoss]

Bob McKenzie‏Verified account @TSNBobMcKenzie
Regardless, Kovalchuk is non-factor for expansion draft. Not eligible to be taken, not eligible to be exposed/protected. He's on VRL Island.

Bob McKenzie‏Verified account @TSNBobMcKenzie
So in answer to many questions, no, 2017 draft picks cannot be in play as part of any Kovalchuk trade and expansion draft total non-factor.

Bob McKenzie‏Verified account @TSNBobMcKenzie
Also reasonable to assume Kovalchuk not interested in being part of NJ rebuild; he's returning to NHL for immediate/legit chance to win Cup.

[Roof-Daddy]

It really seems odd that all these KHL guys are coming to the NHL this year, or in Radulov's case staying in the NHL, with the Olympics coming up and the NHL already saying they won't be allowing players to go.

Do these Russians not want to play for Russia in the Olympics, or are they going to cut and run when the Olympics start and abandon their teams? Or is there still a chance the NHL changes it's mind because maybe the NHLPA agrees to extend current CBA?

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

It really seems odd that all these KHL guys are coming to the NHL this year, or in Radulov's case staying in the NHL, with the Olympics coming up and the NHL already saying they won't be allowing players to go.

Do these Russians not want to play for Russia in the Olympics, or are they going to cut and run when the Olympics start and abandon their teams? Or is there still a chance the NHL changes it's mind because maybe the NHLPA agrees to extend current CBA?

Guaranteed money. The KHL is ran off the back of Russian oil companies who are teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.

[dissentowner]

I am betting on Chicago, they always find a way to do these things regardless of salary cap hell.

[OILFAN #81]

Washington would make sense.

Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, Orlov, etc are all Russian and Kovalchuk wants to go to a team that can go deep.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I am betting on Chicago, they always find a way to do these things regardless of salary cap hell.

Wasn't there already a rumor that he only wanted to go to the Rangers or the Panthers? Has anyone heard anything else about this?

[MarkGio]

A part of me thinks the Flames have a shot. They'll have some cap flexibility this off season so long as they don't do anything crazy and make some shrewd moves.

Kovalchuk wants to get paid and wants ice time on a Cup contending team. Two very hard things to acquire in this cap market. Not many contenders 1) have cap space, and 2) have weak depth.

The Flames just made the playoffs and happen to need a RW really badly.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

A part of me thinks the Flames have a shot. They'll have some cap flexibility this off season so long as they don't do anything crazy and make some shrewd moves.

Kovalchuk wants to get paid and wants ice time on a Cup contending team. Two very hard things to acquire in this cap market. Not many contenders 1) have cap space, and 2) have weak depth.

The Flames just made the playoffs and happen to need a RW really badly.

I have a feeling he's going to want to play in a US market. I don't see the Calgary as an attractive destination for him unless the Flames are willing to offer him more money than any other team.

[Roof-Daddy]

Yeah I've heard he wants to stay out east there for family reasons. Anywhere out there in the NY area keeps you close to home a ton with such a light travel schedule.

I'd be shocked if he came out west, especially in Canada.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

A part of me thinks the Flames have a shot. They'll have some cap flexibility this off season so long as they don't do anything crazy and make some shrewd moves.

Kovalchuk wants to get paid and wants ice time on a Cup contending team. Two very hard things to acquire in this cap market. Not many contenders 1) have cap space, and 2) have weak depth.

The Flames just made the playoffs and happen to need a RW really badly.

but you just said he wants ice time on a cup contending team.
that isn't Calgary right now.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I have a feeling he's going to want to play in a US market. I don't see the Calgary as an attractive destination for him unless the Flames are willing to offer him more money than any other team.

I know that's generally the mentality, but these free agents aren't always immigrating to LA or NY. There's a lot of political instability and socioeconomic struggles south of the border. People use to say that about Edmonton in terms of cold and ####ty when it came to Lucic, but ultimately players want teams on the upswing.

Calgary has never struggled in the free agent department. They were close with B. Richards. RoR accepted their offer. Bouwmeester was the cream of his free agent class. Even Wideman and Hudler were high end free agents in their class. Cervenka was widely pursued, so was Corban Knight. Even Frolik and Engelland signed after the Flames sunk to the bottom of the standings for reasonable contracts.

I don't think it's a crazy stretch. Only Kovalchuk and his agent have an idea where they want to go

[jayswin]

Lol at superstar players free to pick a destination worrying about political instability and socioeconomic struggles in the US.

[Lil Pedro]

He would look good on the right side with Johnny and Sean

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

I know that's generally the mentality, but these free agents aren't always immigrating to LA or NY. There's a lot of political instability and socioeconomic struggles south of the border.

except he's a rich Russian and they are now American royalty.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

but you just said he wants ice time on a cup contending team.
that isn't Calgary right now.

The Flames are a few pieces from being a cup contender. If all this happens after the expansion draft or free agency, Treliving could make a few moves to put the Flames in legit contender position.

Let's see the checklist:

1) Obtaining a number one goalie? Not hard in the current market where a few teams are subjected to lose their goalie to expansion.

2) Obtaining a #1RW? Well that would be Kovy right there

3) Bolster depth: not hard to do with a few tweaks. Part with Bouma and Stajan. Sign a D-man. Lots of talent in the pipes.

The Flames aren't exactly full of holes. They're poised to make the next step.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

The Flames are a few pieces from being a cup contender. If all this happens after the expansion draft or free agency, Treliving could make a few moves to put the Flames in legit contender position.

Let's see the checklist:

1) Obtaining a number one goalie? Not hard in the current market where a few teams are subjected to lose their goalie to expansion.

2) Obtaining a #1RW? Well that would be Kovy right there

3) Bolster depth: not hard to do with a few tweaks. Part with Bouma and Stajan. Sign a D-man. Lots of talent in the pipes.

The Flames aren't exactly full of holes. They're poised to make the next step.

If he wants to go to a contender I don't think "You could be part of what possibly makes us a contender" will be a successful sell.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by jayswin

If he wants to go to a contender I don't think "You could be part of what possibly makes us a contender" will be a successful sell.

Right, but what current contender has cap room? And after the expansion draft, who is still a contender? Many teams are going to lose their good talent. That sort of makes them no longer a contender, no?

The Flames will at worst lose Kulak, Brouwer or Shinkaruk. They made the playoffs and will only add this year, while most other teams get stripped down.

[Funkhouser]

What about Montreal??
With Radulov, Markov, and Emelin there is a Russian community. It is based in the East and MTL is dying for some offence.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by jayswin

If he wants to go to a contender I don't think "You could be part of what possibly makes us a contender" will be a successful sell.

And yet you see UFAs sign and use this exact same reasoning when they talk about why they signed where they did. Happens all the time, every year

[CaptainYooh]

I don't understand the fascination with Kovalchuk's return to NHL.

Obviously, he had some serious issues with the team coaches at NJ that had led to his leaving to KHL. As a superstar player, he let his team down by acting like a primadonna.

Upon return to KHL, again, he had some serious issues with coaching staff and let his team down. When a superstar player is asked not to play and is sent back home from an away game on a train, something has got to be wrong! He has not been played much in recent playoffs over there and he was not even asked to join the Russian team, which as we all know would do anything to star-stud their roster and win the world championship.

A very skillful player, indeed, but a very risky and expensive bet for any team.