Sens sign Kovalev!!

We'll see I guess... I'll remain a skeptic for now... need to see some of these interviews etc...

yea it is a risk but kovelev can at least replace some of the goals we lose if/when we get rid of heatley

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:yea it is a risk but kovelev can at least replace some of the goals we lose if/when we get rid of heatley

For sure. And I guess the best situation would be if we can move Heatley for a "bunch of stuff" that will allow us to add depth.

Hopefully Kovalev will stuff the crap out of the Hab's net with pucks when we play them.

Heh heh.

shabbs wrote:Hey all! Been a while since I've been around... on the East Coast Road Trip! Heard about this and thought I was having a nightmare... I see most of you love this signing... I gotta say, I'm surprised... I do remember a lot of criticism being sent Kovalev's way when he was a Hab with giving up on the team, disappearing for weeks. You think that will all change?

I'm surprised to hear all this praise about Kovalev...

I'm not sure how I feel about this signing yet... I am worried though... hopefully Clouston can get through to him and get him to buy in to the system.

You cannot deny he has skill and experience. We need both. He had a good couple of years in Montreal before the wheels started coming off the team. If he plays with the likes of Spezza and Alfredsson (Alfie playing the off wing) he could certainly get 60+ points, probably more. He may not be as good of a pure one-timer artist as Heatley, but he does bring so much, much more in other areas. He will boost both Spezza's and Alfie's goal production, and probably make the line more dangerous. He will also make our PP much better. And since it's only a 2-year deal the risk has a relatively short window.

shabbs wrote:Hey all! Been a while since I've been around... on the East Coast Road Trip! Heard about this and thought I was having a nightmare... I see most of you love this signing... I gotta say, I'm surprised... I do remember a lot of criticism being sent Kovalev's way when he was a Hab with giving up on the team, disappearing for weeks. You think that will all change?

I'm surprised to hear all this praise about Kovalev...

I'm not sure how I feel about this signing yet... I am worried though... hopefully Clouston can get through to him and get him to buy in to the system.

Yo Shabbs, welcome back bro...

I was actually very surprised to see the Senators dole out $5 million for two years to Alexei L'Artiste.

Kovalev at his best is a very entertaining player, and there's no question he has unique skill. Watching him in person (as I did twice this year), you see how truly electrifying he can be... when he's at his best. There's no question he has the potential to bring that skill and excitement to the Senators.

I'm also curious to see how Sens fans will react to him once AK27 hits the ice.

The question that arises--even for the most objective observer--is, how wise it will be to have committed this amount, even short term, to a performer who, even his advocates will confess, has a tendency to be erratic.

More pointedly, with budget and cap supposedly an issue, what's the rationale behind this, and the other UFA signing? Seven million bucks next year, for Kovalev and Neil. Hm.

DTR,

I'm not sure why you don't see the rationale behind signing Kovie. It's obvious that Heatley will not be in Ottawa next year if he's still here at the start of this season. In order to replace him Murray had to get someone who could score, and with all the UFA's out there Kovie has as much if not more ability than anyone else.

Looking at Ottawa's players, the only major FA they need to get under contract next year is Volchenkov so I'm not sure where the issue is.

Not to be a Wing Dang Doodle but contrast that with Chicago, where you spent almost the same amount (6.3 million) on Bolland and Versteeg, and you still have to sign Toews, Kane, and Keith next year. Chicago has 14 million and Ottawa has 10 million to spend next year.

I like Ottawa's chances of getting their FA's signed much more than Chicago at this point. In both cases the teams need to make room by moving salaries, but we all know who is leaving Ottawa. The question is who are you willing to part with in Chicago.

Dawg's Wife wrote:DTR,

I'm not sure why you don't see the rationale behind signing Kovie. It's obvious that Heatley will not be in Ottawa next year if he's still here at the start of this season. In order to replace him Murray had to get someone who could score, and with all the UFA's out there Kovie has as much if not more ability than anyone else.

Looking at Ottawa's players, the only major FA they need to get under contract next year is Volchenkov so I'm not sure where the issue is.

Not to be a Wing Dang Doodle but contrast that with Chicago, where you spent almost the same amount (6.3 million) on Bolland and Versteeg, and you still have to sign Toews, Kane, and Keith next year. Chicago has 14 million and Ottawa has 10 million to spend next year.

I like Ottawa's chances of getting their FA's signed much more than Chicago at this point. In both cases the teams need to make room by moving salaries, but we all know who is leaving Ottawa. The question is who are you willing to part with in Chicago.

Well, to be quite frank, Kovalev in Ottawa has zero to do with Chicago, or any other team for that matter, did...with all due respect, totally irrelevant to this discussion.

It has to do about whether spending $5MM on Kovalev was the right decision for the Senators and what they need.

I enjoy watching Kovalev, but I don't know whether or not he was the best choice to 'replace' Heatley. They are completely different types of players.

Maybe things will work out for Alex as a Senator...but given his history, who knows.

Ok, Well with all due respect Kovie signing in Ottawa does releate in the sense that you questioned Ottawa's cap room for next year and wondered why they would sign Neil and Kovie to a total of 7 million

"More pointedly, with budget and cap supposedly an issue, what's the rationale behind this, and the other UFA signing? Seven million bucks next year, for Kovalev and Neil. Hm."

All I was trying to point out that at least in Ottawa's case it makes sense as they need to replace the loss of Heatley which is going to happen at some point in the next 365 days.

I only bring up Chicago as it's a team I know you follow, and if cap issues are a concern in Ottawa with really only Volchenkov and maybe Foligno, then they are absolutely a huge concern for you in Chicago. They should be as I know there are many people in Chicago who are being asked to evaluate a certain group of people to determine who they are willing to trade/do without next year. There just isn't room for everyone considering the cap will come down, and initial impressions are that there isn't a huge demand for Campbell at this point.

I guess no one should question any other team at this point. I remember a time when this board was about expressing opinions and discussing hocke, but now it seems like it's turned into a I'm right and you're all wrong forum filled with insults.

I may just go back to reading this board and posting infrequently as I always seem to hurt someones feelings

DW>don't take it personally.

But I don't know why you want to compare the Versteeg-Bolland signings, two 23 year old players who combined for 100 points last year (+15 and +19 ratings respectively) for 6.3MM; with the signing of 36-year old Alex Kovalev and 30 year-old Chris Neil, whose combined point total was 75, and both of them with negative plus/minus ratings (-5 and -13 respectively), for a combined $7MM.

Two teams, two different situations. What Chicago does vis a vis what Ottawa does...and you start talking about the cap next year, who'll keep who, etc. etc. That has nothing to do with this discussion.

You don't have to defend Alex, as I'm not attacking him.

As I said, I like watching Kovalev, and I respect his abilities. My question was, was he the best choice for the Senators for that kind of money.

You're the hardcore Sens fan. You tell me.

davetherave wrote:DW>don't take it personally.

But I don't know why you want to compare the Versteeg-Bolland signings, two 23 year old players who combined for 100 points last year (+15 and +19 ratings respectively) for 6.3MM; with the signing of 36-year old Alex Kovalev and 30 year-old Chris Neil, whose combined point total was 75, and both of them with negative plus/minus ratings (-5 and -13 respectively), for a combined $7MM.

Two teams, two different situations. What Chicago does vis a vis what Ottawa does...and you start talking about the cap next year, who'll keep who, etc. etc. That has nothing to do with this discussion.

You don't have to defend Alex, as I'm not attacking him.

As I said, I like watching Kovalev, and I respect his abilities. My question was, was he the best choice for the Senators for that kind of money.

You're the hardcore Sens fan. You tell me.

With what Heatley has done Dave, Kovy was 100% the best short term solution for Ottawa. Thats all it is, a short term solution.

Yeah, Kovalev was a great addition. We need secondary scoring as it is. If Heatley goes and we get a 2nd line winger in return, we can bump up Kovalev to line one and he'd fit right in on the top line. In the meantime, we'll need to try to pursue drafting and trading for an elite forward prospect. That's, IMO, what the Sens need the most right now.

rooneypoo wrote:

jamvan wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:

For reals?

Oh yea, she came out here over a year ago to saty with him and hated the city and the limelight that Dany fell under. Hence the reason for the list containing mainly California teams, cause they can walk around freely there.

Dany needs to negotiate a new deal to get his penis back.

Sucker.

Best. Post. Ever.

God, I've missed this place.

Neely4Life wrote:

davetherave wrote:You don't have to defend Alex, as I'm not attacking him.

As I said, I like watching Kovalev, and I respect his abilities. My question was, was he the best choice for the Senators for that kind of money.

You're the hardcore Sens fan. You tell me.

With what Heatley has done Dave, Kovy was 100% the best short term solution for Ottawa. Thats all it is, a short term solution.

Neely, I totally get it...I just wonder why if BM had $7Mm to spend, he went out and paid Kovalev $5MM and Neil $2MM when the same money might have bought Cammalleri or even (if he had the seven large to play with) Hossa.

For less dough, there were more than a few other shooters around Murray could have signed, and probably even on one year deals.

But hopefully Alex works out for you all. He's certainly fun to watch.

davetherave wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:

davetherave wrote:You don't have to defend Alex, as I'm not attacking him.

As I said, I like watching Kovalev, and I respect his abilities. My question was, was he the best choice for the Senators for that kind of money.

You're the hardcore Sens fan. You tell me.

With what Heatley has done Dave, Kovy was 100% the best short term solution for Ottawa. Thats all it is, a short term solution.

Neely, I totally get it...I just wonder why if BM had $7Mm to spend, he went out and paid Kovalev $5MM and Neil $2MM when the same money might have bought Cammalleri or even (if he had the seven large to play with) Hossa.

For less dough, there were more than a few other shooters around Murray could have signed, and probably even on one year deals.

But hopefully Alex works out for you all. He's certainly fun to watch.

He lost out on guys like Hossa and Cammalleri, plain and simple. The Heatley situation really messed up Murray's July 1st. Considering the players who were still unsigned when Murray signed Kovalev, he made a great choice.

Mojo wrote:

davetherave wrote:For less dough, there were more than a few other shooters around Murray could have signed, and probably even on one year deals.

But hopefully Alex works out for you all. He's certainly fun to watch.

He lost out on guys like Hossa and Cammalleri, plain and simple. The Heatley situation really messed up Murray's July 1st. Considering the players who were still unsigned when Murray signed Kovalev, he made a great choice.

Well, if Kovalev has a good season, the money won't really matter. Like I said, hopefully it works out.

Dave, don't forget that Neil, although overpaid, is only overpaid by about $500K. So it's $5M for Kovalev, plus the $500K overpayment for Neil. Or best case we replace Neil with a younger, less-experienced player for a savings of $1M or so.

Point is, we had $6M to spend, not $7M, and even so, Hossa was not coming back here for a 1-2 year deal; the contract he signed pretty much confirms what he was looking for.

Cammalleri signed for 6x5 years. Again, there is no indication tat he would have signed on for the same money for a 2 year term.

davetherave wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:

davetherave wrote:You don't have to defend Alex, as I'm not attacking him.

As I said, I like watching Kovalev, and I respect his abilities. My question was, was he the best choice for the Senators for that kind of money.

You're the hardcore Sens fan. You tell me.

With what Heatley has done Dave, Kovy was 100% the best short term solution for Ottawa. Thats all it is, a short term solution.

Neely, I totally get it...I just wonder why if BM had $7Mm to spend, he went out and paid Kovalev $5MM and Neil $2MM when the same money might have bought Cammalleri or even (if he had the seven large to play with) Hossa.

For less dough, there were more than a few other shooters around Murray could have signed, and probably even on one year deals.

But hopefully Alex works out for you all. He's certainly fun to watch.

Murray has mentioned he was in on some players but had to back out. I suspect Cammie was one of them. Hossa wanted the cap hit and I dont think Murray was willing to go that long. I am happy that Murray signed someone but I am sitting on the fence until I see which Kovie plays. I do like the term though. The only other player out there that I think could have been a good fit for out top 6 would be Tanguay and the longer he goes unsigned the cheaper I think he becomes and it might make him an another option depending on what Murray gets back in a heatley trade.

I don't think there is much risk associated with Kovalev at $5-million for two years. Considering the circumstances, Heatley WILL be moved at some point. There are just too many scenarios that prevent him from staying -- attitude towards the coach, perception amongst teammates, rift with management, Ottawa sports media's panache for beating the proverbial dead horse, etc.

What Kovalev brings is a well-known quantity of elite NHL skill. That is without question. And it was also evident, that when put in a position to succeed [2007-08 season] that he can excel and be a premier player in the league. To get that known skill quantity for an amount that would seem to be just slightly under market value compared to other players of his scoring and skill calibre is justifiable in my mind.

As for Neil, well I'm one of the few who doesn't agree with the signing. I don't think he brings anything to the table for this team anymore to be honest, and find it absolutely absurd that for someone who posted such low numbers and brought such dismal play all year that he could in fact double his previous salary.

I outlined in another thread several comparable players who all brought the same dimension, as well as other facets, and who were making less.

However, given the landscape of the division -- the toughness of the Leafs and Bruins and the energy line players in Buffalo -- that it was potentially necessary to retain Neil simply due to his familiarity with the system in Ottawa and for his service to the organization over the years. And I hope that he can prove me wrong by improving his play and bringing some of the scoring dimension back this year.