[Rumour] Kovalchuk considering return to NHL

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

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

Well if they didn't answer questions like god damn robots maybe I'd listen to what they have to say once in a while.

[jg13]

Hopefully NJ will want to move him out West so we have a shot but I full on expect he wants to play in the East.

CBJ/FLA/MTL/WSH
CGY/STL/NSH/LA

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by jg13

Hopefully NJ will want to move him out West so we have a shot but I full on expect he wants to play in the East.

CBJ/FLA/MTL/WSH
CGY/STL/NSH/LA

Hes gonna sign with the oilers! Play with McDavid score 30 and get a nice 6x6 retirement contract from them.

[MarkGio]

double post

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

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.

What team is going to lose a guy that makes them less of a contender? You can lose exactly 1 person.

The best projected player LV will get is like Silfverberg.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I like to imagine the Flames finding the cap room for a #1 goalie, and #4 defencemen and somehow acquire both Kovalchuk and Dadonov. Risky, but could make for a very entertaining Flames team with a potent offence. Plus, not sure who is saying that Kovalchuk doesn't play physical, but he does. Will never happen, but boy I like to think of adding 2 quality top 6 players that are entertaining to watch.

Rumor has it that Dadonov is going to Vegas. Kovalchuk wants to win now, but I you would have to think it would be a solid plan B playing with 2 team mates and a sweet tax market. Flames were the trendsetter in Russians, but it has been a long time since they acquired one.

[ToewsFan]

34 years old. He's getting up there in age. Can he still produce like in 2012?

[nickerjones]

Didn't NJ get some sort of compensatory pick when he left the league? If they did, will they be forfeiting a future pick now that he is back?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

Didn't NJ get some sort of compensatory pick when he left the league? If they did, will they be forfeiting a future pick now that he is back?

Their penalty for cap circumvention was reduced after they lost him to the KHL.

To be fair, it was a little too punitive to begin with IMO.

[bigrangy]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

Didn't NJ get some sort of compensatory pick when he left the league? If they did, will they be forfeiting a future pick now that he is back?

No, the league made them forfeit a 1st round pick for circumventing the cap by signing a deal that they knew would never be honored.

I don't know if they ever ended up forfeiting it or if the NHL relented though.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

Didn't NJ get some sort of compensatory pick when he left the league? If they did, will they be forfeiting a future pick now that he is back?

Not that I remember. From what I recall they lost a pick because they cheated the cba the first time they signed him. Then the leagued wussed out and gave them the last pick in the first round in one draft instead of taking the pick altogether.

[MacDaddy77]

Flames 2017 1st Brett kulak, 2018 2nd Dave rittich for kovalchuk and Schneider

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

Flames 2017 1st Brett kulak, 2018 2nd Dave rittich for kovalchuk and Schneider

If Tre pulled that off he should instantly get a statue built in front of the Dome in his honour. Not happening.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

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

It's not like there's an overflow of interesting hockey news, with the Flames not playing.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Itse

It's not like there's an overflow of interesting hockey news, with the Flames not playing.

Oh, I get that part. The news by itself is definitely interesting and discussion-worthy, because of the unique situation. It's the excitement of a possibility of getting him that I don't.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Oh, I get that part. The news by itself is definitely interesting and discussion-worthy, because of the unique situation. It's the excitement of a possibility of getting him that I don't.

I'm not sure there's that much excitement, mostly speculation?

Btw this season in the KHL playoffs he played every game and averaged 19+ minutes for SKA who lost just two games on their way to the championship, so I'm not sure where you're getting that "hasn't played much in the playoffs" idea. Only put up 9 points in the playoffs, but did put up 78 regular season points which was the second best in the league and I think the NHLe of that is something like 70?

His last full season in the NHL he helped his team to the Stanley Cup finals as the leading scorer. I get what you're saying about his possible personality issues, but Kovalchuk has clearly shown he can be a part of a winning environment.

I can't say I'm excited for the idea of getting Kovalchuk, but I'm fundamentally opposed to the idea either. It COULD be a huge addition.

Gaudreau could use a creative high-skill scoring threat on his line...

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Itse

...I'm not sure where you're getting that "hasn't played much in the playoffs" idea. ...

I wrote "most recent playoffs" but the playoff problems he had were in 2016. My mistake.

Google translation

http://www.sovsport.ru/gazeta/article-item/897678

Forward SKA Ilya Kovalchuk almost did not play in the playoffs and did not qualify for the Russian national team. In one of the last working days of the season, he finally answered all questions about his suspension during the Gagarin Cup. "Ask Roman Borisovich about the suspension. He made all decisions "-
...

- What conclusions have been made, what did the team fail in the playoffs?
- As for me: I can not explain why it happened. And it happened that I practically did not play in the playoffs. ...

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

Flames 2017 1st Brett kulak, 2018 2nd Dave rittich for kovalchuk and Schneider

Intriguing, the idea of Schneider and Kovalchuk, but this is not the return, nor close.
It is first pick.
It is Gillies or Parsons.
It is more - top prospect(s)

[Itse]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

I wrote "most recent playoffs" but the playoff problems he had were in 2016. My mistake.

Happens

Google translation

I wouldn't make too much of weird stuff happening in Russia unless you have solid information on the details. They're not a normal country, lots of politics in hockey for example.

EDIT: Checked the KHL stats, Kovalchuk played 4 games in the 2015-16 playoffs with an average of 20+ minutes with no points. The team played 15 games (lost in conference finals). 2014-15 he put up 19 points in 22 playoff games (SKA won another championship).

What I'm reading from that is that last season he was benched in the playoffs for poor performance, and responded this season with a career season.

[Hot_Flatus]

I will not be surprised if he ends up in Vegas.