rumours of the week

SDH89 wrote:Are you guys kidding around when talking about if you want Sykora?

I'd def take a stab at him, it would probably cost very little and you could plug him into a scoring role. If it doesn't work out you let him walk in the summer -- only a one year deal correct?

A low-risk and potential high reward move, why not?

He's a UFA after this year on a $1.6M cap hit. A good move at the deadline for a team wanting some depth... not sure if it's the right move for us at this time. I am intrigued though...

SpezDispenser wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:
the other day i was mentoning that the only time i talked of trading spezza was part of a package for a re-sign kovalchuk. so i agree with you on that one, but i doubt those type of players come up often and it todays NHL they get traded at the deadline with a new contract in hand.

Pfft. Spezza for Kovalchuk? Where the heck do I sign? No takebacks either, once it's done you can kiss my arse.

unfortunetly a re-signed kova would cost more then spezza. i meant in a package....

Flo The Action wrote:unfortunetly a re-signed kova would cost more then spezza. i meant in a package....

Diddle that then, we'll take our chances getting someone like him on the open market. Although, I know where you're coming from, Kovalchuk might be top 5 league-wide in terms of raw talent. Crosby, Malkin, Ovechkin...4th even.

Kovalchuk is gonna get $9M+ long term. Think Murray will bite on that?

shabbs wrote:Kovalchuk is gonna get $9M+ long term. Think Murray will bite on that?

Not a chance and keep in mind Kovalchuk and Heatley are still close friends. That would probably work to our disadvantage.

Plus we aren't exactly known for going after the best UFA's over the last 10 years or so and Murray would probably balk at 9 million. We need to add talent through the draft and make sensible moves anyway. Adding Kovalchuk wouldn't be sensible imo.

shabbs wrote:Kovalchuk is gonna get $9M+ long term. Think Murray will bite on that?

He'll try for sure, he won't win the bidding, but he owes it to Melnyk to try to get him.

Think of a club who doesn't have the huge burden of contracts - or has a lot of them expiring and you'll see one of the teams in the hunt.

Actually, there's not many now that I quickly think about it. Colorado? I dunno. Instant credibility to whatever franchise he goes to. Except Atlanta. I'll always take them lightly.

Urkie wrote:
Not a chance and keep in mind Kovalchuk and Heatley are still close friends. That would probably work to our disadvantage.

Plus we aren't exactly known for going after the best UFA's over the last 10 years or so and Murray would probably balk at 9 million. We need to add talent through the draft and make sensible moves anyway. Adding Kovalchuk wouldn't be sensible imo.

Take all those shots in the dark and throw them out the window - with Kovalchuk you're getting the best of the best, already farmed and ready, in the absolute prime of his life/career. It's a no-brainer, with the D we have coming up and the complimentary players we already have, we'd be back to top of the weak East right away.

SpezDispenser wrote:

shabbs wrote:Kovalchuk is gonna get $9M+ long term. Think Murray will bite on that?

He'll try for sure, he won't win the bidding, but he owes it to Melnyk to try to get him.

Think of a club who doesn't have the huge burden of contracts - or has a lot of them expiring and you'll see one of the teams in the hunt.

Actually, there's not many now that I quickly think about it. Colorado? I dunno. Instant credibility to whatever franchise he goes to. Except Atlanta. I'll always take them lightly.

I think the Kings will get Kovalchuk. They have the cap space and lots of assets. Watch out for them imo.

That's my opinion anyway I should add...

He's top 4 forwards in the entire league...having him on the team when Alfie isn't yet ready to ride into the sunset is a dream.

There's no way we're biting on Kovalchuck... no way at all. What about the Islanders? Wang would love to make a splash like that... holy hell.

Urkie wrote:I think the Kings will get Kovalchuk. They have the cap space and lots of assets. Watch out for them imo.

Do they have the cap space to add that kind of player? I'm not sure - and don't forget Doughty will need to be re-signed. Actually...they might. Diddle, that's a scary thought.

shabbs wrote:There's no way we're biting on Kovalchuck... no way at all. What about the Islanders? Wang would love to make a splash like that... holy hell.

Why not us? Melnyk okayed paying 5 million per season to a washed up Russian, how about the 2nd best Russian forward in the universe? Dammit, why not us this time?

SpezDispenser wrote:Take all those shots in the dark and throw them out the window - with Kovalchuk you're getting the best of the best, already farmed and ready, in the absolute prime of his life/career. It's a no-brainer, with the D we have coming up and the complimentary players we already have, we'd be back to top of the weak East right away.

I'm not against it but I just don't think it will happen. First of all, we don't have enough assets to acquire him via trade and secondly, we need to rid ourselves of some contracts first if he does become available on July 1st. Sure, it would be nice to add him but it's probably not going to happen.

If we finish around the same spot and draft around 8, 9 or 10 this year then I really hope we can get Granlund. He's a little small but he'll grow to about 6 feet and he's got a ton of skill. He'd be the most talented winger we've drafted since Havlat if we did end up with him that is.

SpezDispenser wrote:

shabbs wrote:There's no way we're biting on Kovalchuck... no way at all. What about the Islanders? Wang would love to make a splash like that... holy hell.

Why not us? Melnyk okayed paying 5 million per season to a washed up Russian, how about the 2nd best Russian forward in the universe? Dammit, why not us this time?

How many times have we heard "too much, for too long" from the Sens? It's gonna be $9M+ for 10 years, I just don't see us getting in on that.

SpezDispenser wrote:Do they have the cap space to add that kind of player? I'm not sure - and don't forget Doughty will need to be re-signed. Actually...they might. Diddle, that's a scary thought.

If they don't resign Frolov (which is likely) then they have plenty of cap space. Then they can let a couple more players walk next summer to give Doughty a huge contract. They could easily make it work.

Urkie wrote:I'm not against it but I just don't think it will happen. First of all, we don't have enough assets to acquire him via trade and secondly, we need to rid ourselves of some contracts first if he does become available on July 1st. Sure, it would be nice to add him but it's probably not going to happen.

If we finish around the same spot and draft around 8, 9 or 10 this year then I really hope we can get Granlund. He's a little small but he'll grow to about 6 feet and he's got a ton of skill. He'd be the most talented winger we've drafted since Havlat if we did end up with him that is.

It's likely not gonna happen, but if it meant ditching Kovalev and Kuba, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

shabbs wrote:How many times have we heard "too much, for too long" from the Sens? It's gonna be $9M+ for 10 years, I just don't see us getting in on that.

There's certainly an argument both ways. Too much for too long applies to guys who aren't even in the same discussion as Kovalchuk. Spezza, Heatley, they're nothing compared to him. But...he can't seem to propel his team to the playoffs even though they play in the worst division and they have ample amounts of talent now.

Don't know. I guess I needn't worry, because the odds are stacked against us getting him.

Whoever brought up Sykora has an excellent plug for our injury problem/lack of NHL depth wingers. The more I think about it, the more I'm intrigued - depending on the price of course - I would hardly want to pay anything.