Friedman: Kovalchuk Done Playing with the Kings

[Homesick]

If they don't want to pay the bonus that a question of doing a trade before it's due...

They cant force him to accept a trade nor can they refuse to pay his bonus. It's a legal contract.
No team will trade for him until December 15th

 

[boredmale]

They cant force him to accept a trade nor can they refuse to pay his bonus. It's a legal contract.
No team will trade for him until December 15th

I am guessing most teams would rather have the kings eat half his salary and trade for him on Dec 14 then have the Kings pay the bonus but accept the full caphit on Dec 15

 

[madhi19]

They cant force him to accept a trade nor can they refuse to pay his bonus. It's a legal contract.
No team will trade for him until December 15th

What they can do is tell the guy he's never playing for them regardless. That's a pressure tactic. "If you force us to keep paying you we waste the rest of your career in the press box." So he either okay a trade or he can spend the next two years not playing.

 

[BonMorrison]

 

[MXD]

Humm... That's interesting.

 

[Smartguy]

Humm... That's interesting.

I don’t think there’s literally any scenario where they aren’t on the hook for that cap hit correct?

 

[tony d]

I think he's done in the NHL. Kovy's best days seem to be behind him.

 

[Homesick]

I don’t think there’s literally any scenario where they aren’t on the hook for that cap hit correct?

I dont believe so. If there was anything nefarious going on off the ice they wouldn't allow him to keep practicing with the team

 

[TheGoldenGod]

 

[SlapshotTheMovie]

Is there something going on off ice? Dude is bad but he isnt close to the worst on that team.

 

[YP44]

Is there something going on off ice? Dude is bad but he isnt close to the worst on that team.

Kopitar and Todd had good things to say about him

 

[boredmale]

Is there something going on off ice? Dude is bad but he isnt close to the worst on that team.

One of 2 things(maybe a combination of both)

1. He doesn't play the teams system, therefore even though he is doing decently offensively he hurts the team overall

2. Kings want to trade him and are trying to force his hand

 

[SlapshotTheMovie]

Kopitar and Todd had good things to say about him

Honestly i blame the coach for most of his bad play....


"You are an offense only superstar with 15+ years of footage showing you are not a two way player... well your going on the 4th line to learn even though our team cant score goals and you are 35"

 

[SlapshotTheMovie]

One of 2 things(maybe a combination of both)

1. He doesn't play the teams system, therefore even though he is doing decently offensively he hurts the team overall

2. Kings want to trade him and are trying to force his hand

I can see number 2 being true but it just hurts his already low value. And no one fits the kings system. Its a bad system from a bad coach he has no place in the nhl.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Random fact: Kovalchuk has been a minus player in 12 of his 13 NHL seasons: Ilya Kovalchuk Stats | Hockey-Reference.com

 

[YP44]

I can see number 2 being true but it just hurts his already low value. And no one fits the kings system. Its a bad system from a bad coach he has no place in the nhl.

unless given he has a NMC maybe he becomes more open to different teams

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[SlapshotTheMovie]

This just in... team doesnt want bad contracts anymore in salary cap era.

 

[Riptide]

Bjugstad and a 5th for Kovalchuk at 50% please

f*** no. At least Bjugstad is a useful player for us. Kovy at 3m would be a waste of cap space and a roster spot.

 

[Kranix]

Good on Rob Blake for signing a big contract when the team was already bottoming out, and then doing a 180 that of course won't work either. Good smart genius. Former NHL payers are the some of the smartest people in sports.

 

[BigFatCat999]

Kovy + pick to Ottawa

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

I guess the wife was done shopping in LA

 

[YP44]

Good on Rob Blake for signing a big contract when the team was already bottoming out, and then doing a 180 that of course won't work either. Good smart genius. Former NHL payers are the some of the smartest people in sports.

I was not a fan of the signing but the above is just not true.

When he was signed LA was coming off one of the most successful regular seasons in franchise history, lead the league in GAA, and the biggest glaring weakness was goal production and powerplay. Kovalchuk was brought in to fix that and has not.

Again I did not like the signing, I do not like Rob Blake, but I at least understood the thought process.

 

[Dialamo]

New Jersey will welcome him back with open arms!