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

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Will his wife let him come over?

It is the other way around. Wifey spends a lot of time living in Miami while Kovy plays in Russia.

 

[Mikeyg]

This screams leafs.

 

[Bleedred]

Probably whoever offers him the most money, even if it's the Honolulu Hula Hoops.

 

[Scott Stevens]

He comes off as selfish and will probably be an overpaid locker room cancer

More like man with no sources.

 

[biturbo19]

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

Yeah. Always loved watching him play. I'd welcome him on the Canucks, though it would do very little good for anyone at this point. Watching him at the Olympics though, he's just not the same player anymore. The wheels are going. He's still got that lethal shot, and he's still a big guy and an extremely talented player...just not sure how it's really going to go for a guy coming back to the NHL game at that age, and slowing down noticeably. There's not so much room to operate in the NHL.

 

[Bizz]

Zero chance Kovy signs with the NYR seeing as their cup window is beyond closed and will not be a good team for at least another decade minimum.

 

[kesboss]

Oilers would offer $6.5M x 3 years.

Ilya said he wants to win, so why Oilers?

 

[Reality Czech]

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.

I don't wonder about it. Some Russian guys want to live and work in their home country instead of living in a foreign land halfway around the world. Plus, they are embraced like heroes back home. Not everyone cares about money all the time. It's not really that hard to figure out. Obviously the KHL is much lower level than the NHL, but no one is denying it's the 2nd best league in the world. I guess it's not surprising that some North American fans wouldn't get it.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Would guess he signs with Tampa, but hard to say because they can't afford him unless he decides to take a cut.

If he wants money he'll sign with the Rangers or Leafs.

 

[5cotland]

Zero chance Kovy signs with the NYR seeing as their cup window is beyond closed and will not be a good team for at least another decade minimum.

A decade? Seriously!

I'd say we will need to see who they pick up in free agency and the draft before anyone has an idea of how long the re-build will take.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

Russia is cold

No! Is plus - plus seven; raining....

 

[Dr Pepper]

If he can bring Nichushkin back with him I wouldn't mind Dallas making an offer. Depth on the wing is.....lacking.

 

[Marlowe Syn]

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.

Maybe one of them oligarchs(great word) would be interested in buying the Senators.
Funny that Kovy looks like he would be leaning more toward the Rangers over the Devils. Devils are now a rising team while Rangers are about one week into their rebuild.

 

[OrangeAndBlackMetal]

Would love to see him in Philly.

Giroux-Couturier-Konecny
Kovalchuk-Patrick-Voracek
Lindblom-Frost-Simmonds
Weal-Laughton-Weise

Hell yeah.

 

[Morlu]

Leafs could offer him some coin short team. Would replace JvR. Depends how much he’s trying to make. Or if he’ll sign cheap, to try and win the cup.

Can move Nylander to Centre and have him play on Matthews or Nylanders wing. Would be awesome.

 

[Fonzieleaf]

He'll sign with the team that offers him the most money. Dude is a greedy SOB, he's a skilled player but he's all about the dough.

 

[LeonDraisaitl]

Ilya said he wants to win, so why Oilers?

Not saying he would turn us into a contender but an elite sniper with McDavid would be a major team upgrade. Have watched literally 0 KHL games so he might have broken down.

 

[LeonDraisaitl]

I’m pretty petty and I’m not a devils fan about this whole situation. Don’t want him back in the NHL even if he magically turned ovechkin tier. f***ing stay in Russia you greedy dick

 

[Acallabeth]

I’m pretty petty and I’m not a devils fan about this whole situation. Don’t want him back in the NHL even if he magically turned ovechkin tier. ****ing stay in Russia you greedy dick

Judging from comments like that, you'd think other players play for free or something like that.

 

[LeapOnOver]

Don't really get the Kovy hate. Lou came out and said that Kovalchuk had discussed leaving several times with him in the seasons leading up to his departure. It wasn't a shock or surprise to the front office. He said he wanted to get his kids back to Russia so they could experience it like he did. He's not the first expat to say that and won't be the last. I don't know how worrying about your family suddenly makes you greedy and selfish. Seems like quite the opposite. If he was greedy and selfish he probably would have told his wife to suck it up or go back to Russia by herself.

 

[Ori]

He might end up with us Rangers with Buch and Vlad.

 

[CanuckGame39]

Don't really get the Kovy hate. Lou came out and said that Kovalchuk had discussed leaving several times with him in the seasons leading up to his departure. It wasn't a shock or surprise to the front office. He said he wanted to get his kids back to Russia so they could experience it like he did. He's not the first expat to say that and won't be the last. I don't know how worrying about your family suddenly makes you greedy and selfish. Seems like quite the opposite. If he was greedy and selfish he probably would have told his wife to suck it up or go back to Russia by herself.

Agreed 100%

 

[buud]

so, can i ask a favour of the OP? i am guessing that you are following this thread closely, and probably have some sort of vested interest. can you give me (us) your opinion on who has the best chance of landing him? top 3, maybe? thx.

 

[The S5]

Zero chance Kovy signs with the NYR seeing as their cup window is beyond closed and will not be a good team for at least another decade minimum.

Hot take right there.

 

[SLAPSHOT723]

Is he still good?

I wonder if he goes to Boston.