Rumor: Rumors and Proposals Thread: Can Anyone That Can Win Faceoffs Please Contact Chia?

[Mr Positive]

I bet our current group of centers can improve on faceoffs enough. They are still young. There's some good options this summer though

 

[joestevens29]

Kovalchuk is a 34 year old LW(read: not right) that hasn't played in the NHL for I think 4 seasons now. He also comes with an asset price attached and apparently wants a multi year deal. Maybe it's just me but I'm not really that interested, and Kovy was one of my favorites when he was younger.

His numbers do look like they've remained pretty strong though FWIW.

Kovalchuk was a 70 point man when he left.

Last year in the KHL he had his best season since leaving. Something tells me at worse you still get 60 out of the guy.

Now whether or not he'd come here is one thing, but if he would come here you should be making the call to him and Shero to see what it would cost.

 

[McFlyingV]

Kovalchuk is a 34 year old LW(read: not right) that hasn't played in the NHL for I think 4 seasons now. He also comes with an asset price attached and apparently wants a multi year deal. Maybe it's just me but I'm not really that interested, and Kovy was one of my favorites when he was younger.

His numbers do look like they've remained pretty strong though FWIW.

Really doesn't matter if he stays on his regular LW or not. Maroon can slide over to the RW, he's done it before. Kovy takes the Left point/left circle on our PP and instantly gives you probably 10 more PP goals throughout the season than Letestu. Guy can still skate, he's big, has the 2nd or 3rd best shot of the last decade. He would be a dream come true over Eberle as there's literally not one area where he's not significantly better than Eberle.

 

[joestevens29]

Are you from Edmonton? We are a big market city.

I'm sure Kovy is smart enough to know that once he signs with the Oilers, we could become a powerhouse

I don't think many NHLers consider us a big market in the NHL.

 

[Arpeggio]

Kovey is in an individual and not team player

we are trying to get away from those players

What does that even mean? He put New Jersey on his back and dragged that team to the Cup. He'll score 30 goals next season, no problem.

 

[Canovin]

When I say contender I mean like the Caps, Hawks, Pens, et al. We're good but we're not quite there yet.



I'm from Calgary and I don't consider here a big market either. As far as Canada goes, yes. As far as the NHL goes? Not even close. There's a number of teams that are bigger markets just in the USA alone.

Edmonton and Calgary are 2 different animals when it comes to hockey, sorry. Toronto, Montreal and Edmonton are really the only 3 cities that I can say lives, eat, breathes hockey. LA may be 10 times the population of Edmonton, but why do they have trouble selling out the arena and merchandises?

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Edmonton and Calgary are 2 different animals when it comes to hockey, sorry. Toronto, Montreal and Edmonton are really the only 3 cities that I can say lives, eat, breathes hockey. LA may be 10 times the population of Edmonton, but why do they have a problem selling out the arena and merchandises?

Because there are other sports there. Same with most major US cities. That's why hockey is king in Canada. There's nothing else here. There's no major league football, 1 basketball and 1 baseball team, and a smattering of soccer teams.

Not to stick up for Calgary but hockey is very prevalent here. At least post-2004. When the Flames were in the playoffs a few weeks ago there were lots of people here with flags and jerseys and other Flames crap.

Anyway my point is compared to the likes of Chicago, New York, Washington, Los Angeles, etc etc, Edmonton is very small-time. We have a very dedicated fanbase that loves the Oilers but when you compare it with the real heavy hitters it just doesn't add up.

Also Kovy isn't coming here unless we're overpaying him.

 

[McSuper]

Continue here.

Nick Bjugstad ? I bet you could attain him fairly easy . His FO % was trending up until there year where he took a step back in all stats . Bjugstad + for Eberle . Opens up 1.9 million in cap space

3rd line

Cagguila Bjugstad Kassian

We also add the RS C who can slot in on the PP

 

[Digger12]

When I say contender I mean like the Caps, Hawks, Pens, et al. We're good but we're not quite there yet.

I get what you're saying, but the Oilers weren't exactly chopped liver this year, finishing 7th overall with 103 points. Another 3-4 wins in a season and we're right along with those powerhouse teams.

 

[shoop]

I don't think many NHLers consider us a big market in the NHL.

It's not a big market as traditionally defined. Third/fourth smallest market by population in the league. Edmonton doesn't have as much competition for the sports fan bucks with no MLB/NBA/NFL team in town.

That being said, the big market/small market thing probably matters less in hockey than it does in any of the other big four sports in North America. That's due to a couple factors. One being the passion of NHL fans in Canadian markets (except for Ottawa apparently) and the lack of separate local broadcast deals in the NHL.

 

[Digger12]

Kovey is in an individual and not team player

we are trying to get away from those players

He had that rep in the past for sure, but is he the same person now?

It wasn't that long ago that the same was being said about Radulov, and he's turrned out OK for Montreal.

If there was any chance of bringing him in, I'd be willing to roll the dice. He's a huge talent, though there is a bit of a concern with his age. It's been 5 years since he last played in the NHL, can he still score enough to offset his defensive deficiencies?

 

[Jumptheshark]

What does that even mean? He put New Jersey on his back and dragged that team to the Cup. He'll score 30 goals next season, no problem.

I could score 30 next to mcdavid.

Kovey is not a team player.

Our prime target is a centre who can win face offs. Not a 34 year old 5 years removed from the nhl

 

[Canovin]

I could score 30 next to mcdavid.

Kovey is not a team player.

Our prime target is a centre who can win face offs. Not a 34 year old 5 years removed from the nhl

A goal scorer is more of dire need than a faceoff specialist lol

For all the folks who said we missed out on Laine, well there's Kovy

 

[Pointteen]

A faceoff specialist AND someone who can play the right side on one of the top two lines would be ideal.

Though after next game I may panic about our D depth. Who knows.
I wish we had a better skater than Gryba for our seventh, but I love his physicality when he stays composed.

 

[Stud Muffin]

Eberle is still valuable to a rebuilding team.

Kovy and a PMD will put the Oilers over the top. Think about it for a sec

I'd love Kovalchuk, right now is probably the best time to sign him since he's not 35 yet and there won't be a cap recapture penalty. I'd give as much as a 3 year deal to get him.

 

[Pointteen]

Kovalchuk for the 2018 first and Eberle has me foaming at the mouth. So it likely doesn't happen.

Try and sign Brian Boyle. I think we may end up needing Russell again. Can he switch handedness in the offseason?

Do we have any centre prospects for the third line shutdown duties?

 

[duul]

Kovalchuk also doubles as our PP quarterback. I'd go all in on him.

 

[Forgot About Drai]

Can you imagine Kovy ripping one timers in Letestu's spot on the PP? It would be ****ing disgusting.

 

[Pointteen]

Can you imagine Kovy ripping one timers in Letestu's spot on the PP? It would be ****ing disgusting.

Nah, put him on the point.

Kovalchuk would completely change our powerplay set up.

They can't cover Letestu, McDavid AND Kovalchuk. Especially if Klefbom is still there to rip it.

McDavid, Draisaitl, Lucic, Klefbom and Kovalchuk

Then Letestu, Maroon, Sekera, Nuge and Pitlick

 

[Stud Muffin]

Nah, put him on the point.

Kovalchuk would completely change our powerplay set up.

They can't cover Letestu, McDavid AND Kovalchuk. Especially if Klefbom is still there to rip it.

McDavid, Draisaitl, Lucic, Klefbom and Kovalchuk

Then Letestu, Maroon, Sekera, Nuge and Pitlick

Pitlick on a power play, What?. He has no where near the puck control skills needed to be pp guy, that's probably Caggiula's spot.

 

[Pointteen]

Pitlick on a power play, What lol. Has has no where near the puck control skills needed to be pp guy, that's probably Caggiula's spot.

Uh... Ya. Probably. Whoops.

I was thinking him in front of the net with Maroon mucking it up behind the net and in the corners.

Honestly if you load that first powerplay up, Nuge has to run the second one. Yikes.

 

[spitfire411]

Team that trades for Kovalchuk will not need to use a protection spot on him. If the Oilers were able to flip Eberle for him, they could also acquire a 3C from trade and protect them. Not going to get my hopes up though

He doesn't use a protection spot because he can't sign and trade until July 1; after the expansion draft. His agent and teams can discuss contracts before that so we will most likely know where he lands long before July 1.

 

[McPuritania]

I'm tempted by the thought of Kovy cashing in on McDavid dishes, but he's not exactly a character guy. Depends on if he's willing to buy in, and whether our room is strong enough to deal with any character issues that may come up.

 

[spitfire411]

CAD means nothing as players are paid in USD.

If you live in Canada, your money is "worth more" if you're paid in USD. (1MM USD is roughly 1.4MM CAD) You could argue it's better for NHL players living in Canada when the CAD is performing poorly. Canadian taxes and cost of living is generally higher than in the USA though.

 

[Asiaoil]

Eberle for Kovy.......nothing else interests me at all unless they take Pouliot and Reinhart.