Value of: Kovalchuk confirms NHL return for next season-plans to play 5-6 more years

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

I'm not really sure how newsworthy this is since I think everyone assumed he'd be back when his contract was up with New Jersey anyways, this just confirms it.

Fresh off an Olympic gold medal and MVP award, rumored destinations have usually been with the Rangers, Florida's been mentioned too. Any guesses?

5 years out of the league, age 35.

“I congratulate Pasha, he deserved that. It is very honourable to be a member of the Triple Gold Club He is a real captain of the team, I am incredibly happy for him,” said 34-year-old Kovalchuk. “He will be 40 soon, and I still have five or six years, so I will be trying hard
Ilya Kovalchuk: The Quest For The Ultimate Goal Begins - Last Word on Hockey

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[WingsMJN2965]

You've gotta wonder when players are gonna stop doing this. If the league was any good, they wouldn't keep coming back to the NHL.

 

[Samuel Culper III]

Rangers. Sound investment. Free high quality veteran to add to a depleted forward core. Cap shouldn’t be an issue next few seasons. Mentor Buchnevich, ensure Rykov and Shestyorkin come over from SKA as well.

 

[CaliforniaBlues310]

Depending on what we do today, I wouldn’t mind him in STL. I think he’d be attracted to playing on a line with Tarasenko.

 

[Bubba88]

He won't be as good as he was when he left, but he'll still be a good Top6 Winger for whoever picks him up. Look for a Team that has a friend of his and can contend.

 

[BPD Habs Fan]

Based on his age I don't see him getting a big contract, have to wonder why he is going to bother when he would likely be able to get more money in the KHL.

If I'm a GM I'm not giving a large deal on a 35+ contract

 

[SlimCharles]

What would he get? 3 year deal? 4?

 

[CaliforniaBlues310]

What would he get? 3 year deal? 4?

2, maybe 3 years at most.

 

[Seanaconda]

2, maybe 3 years at most.

Why not a prove me contract on some garbage team like montreal and then once he proves hes still amazing a decent contract on a decent team

 

[jetsforever]

Vegas should pursue him (and so should NY Rangers of course)

 

[Esko6]

You've gotta wonder when players are gonna stop doing this. If the league was any good, they wouldn't keep coming back to the NHL.

It is a good league that plays a very different style, but you can make more money in the NHL.

KHL is also economically unsustainable because it is mostly a hobby and political tool for filthy rich oligarchs who do not care much about making a profit.

 

[Bubba88]

Why not a prove me contract on some garbage team like montreal and then once he proves hes still amazing a decent contract on a decent team

why should he sign it?

It'll be more like the right Situation with Money and term.

 

[Seanaconda]

why should he sign it?

It'll be more like the right Situation with Money and term.

Oilers should sign him tbh we need a shot like that. But I was just making fun of how montreal messed up the radulov situation

 

[Bounces R Way]

Happy to hear. Hell of a player and whoever signs him will be making a worthy investment.

Gotta be a sour taste for the Devils tho

 

[Vlad The Impaler]

An ageing player but still has the mindset of a teenager and a rotten attitude. There will be some teams interested but he's really not worth it.

 

[FameFlame069]

Imagine if he signs with the Flames, that shot would surely make us contenders, or if he goes back to NJ cause they're actually looking pretty set up for the future.

 

[Hostile Offer]

Oilers should sign him tbh we need a shot like that. But I was just making fun of how montreal messed up the radulov situation

You think Radulov alone lifted Montreal from garbage to division winners?

 

[Mestaruus]

why should he sign it?

It'll be more like the right Situation with Money and term.

Other factors are a strong playoff team and he might want to join to play with some other Russian NHL star this time.

Apparently he said something along the lines that money is not why he is coming back. He wants to win the cup (source: Finnish media).

You can probably narrow the list of teams he would join to a pretty low number if the factors I mentioned above are what he is after or is willing to do.

I'm going to guess that he takes a big salary cut and goes to some already super stacked team. For example he could take a 50% cut of his worth and go to Pittsburgh to join Malkin. With 3.5-4mil salary they can make cap space for him right?

 

[pb1300]

Kovalchuk - Barkov - Dadonov

 

[Jayan]

Kovy should come to the Rangers.

Gets to live in NY
Gets probably more money than he deserves
Gets to mentor the kids on our rebuild

Will really be good for Rykov and Shestyorkin to have Ilya around to show them the ways in NY.
If only we could get the rights to Gusev we would be golden.

Buch, Rykov, Shestyorking, Kovy, Gusev

SKA Rangers

 

[TheNumber4]

Kovy should come to the Rangers.

Gets to mentor the kids on our rebuild

"Hey kids, when the rebuild happens make sure to ditch your contract and have some fun in the KHL for awhile"

 

[SlimCharles]

I'd love him on the Kings for the right price. Tried to sign him when NJ did (glad we didn't), but he'd probably go somewhere else. It would be fun to see him on the Panthers with Dadonov and Barkov as mentioned above.

 

[ScottyK]

Happy to hear. Hell of a player and whoever signs him will be making a worthy investment.

Gotta be a sour taste for the Devils tho

Nah. He ultimately saved us from a horrible contract. He's a complete and self centered douche but he did us a favor.

 

[LightningStrikes]

Exciting news, he has always been one of my favorite players.

 

[canuckslover10]

Oilers should give this a shot but idk if kovy wants to live in the cold