Sporting Observations: Привет Илюша, Привет Стэнли? (Hello Ilya, Hello Cup?)
I know Caps usually does all of the Sporting Observations, but I wanted a chance to be a Homer here and do this one in particular. Anyone who obsessively gets hockey updates all day long on their mobile devices (i.e. Me) should already know the big news… The Eastern Conference was leveled a game changer named Ilya Kovalchuk to the Devils.
As a New Yorker, I’ve been an unabashed NJ Devils fan for well over 20 years now. Never in the history of this world class franchise have they ever aggressively went after and landed a player of Kovalchuk’s magnitude. They’ve never even drafted or iced a player of Kovalchuk’s magnitude! And this team has won 3 cups in the past 15 years, all done so without a true offensive superstar (all stars plenty, but no superstars). No knock on Zach Parise who is still the Devils best forward, but he’s not the offensive dynamo Kovalchuk is. And for those of you unfamiliar with my man Ilya, here are some highlight reels of him not only scoring goals but basically creating each and every opportunity for them by his lonesome.
The ramifications of this trade will be felt hard and wide within the NHL and not only because the Devils (who were already a strong team) just became Cup favorites. This trade is going to force one or more of the other elite teams in the NHL to make a move and try and catch up… a move that they will be doing from a position of weakness. The Carolina Hurricanes stand as the team (outside the Devils of course) to benefit the most short-term from this trade. I’m sure Carolina GM Jim Rutherford is licking his lips right now knowing that the price for Ray Whitney just got a bit steeper.
For the Thrashers, or rather Hockey in Atlanta this was a huge blow and could eventually lead to the team relocating. They were a long shot to make the playoffs with Kovy on the team, but without him lets just say “Taylor Hall sweepstakes here we come!”. They no longer have a gate attraction for their meager fan base and basically have to start from square one once again to reassure fans that they are committed to building a winning team.
Did the Thrashers get fair value back for Kovalchuk? In short no. But there is no such thing as fair value for a player of his caliber unless Ovechkin, Malkin or Crosby are going back the other way. Did the Thrashers get robbed? Absolutely not. The team was going to lose Kovalchuk regardless and they not only took the best deal on the table, they took one without any toxic contracts.
As a Devils fan I can tell you the value of what Atlanta got, and assure Thrasher fans that while I understand they are upset, they shouldn’t throw in the towel. Johnny Oduya is a very talented defenseman who just was not fitting in with the Devils new system and having a poor year. He is and very much will be a top 4 d-man for some time to come. Niclas Bergfors, while mired in a (expected) mid-season rookie slump is a young and talented goal scorer who will only get better, especially given the minutes and opportunity to play in Atlanta with someone like Evander Kane and Rich Peverley. Patrice Cormier, whose reputation might be forever tarnished by his dirty elbow, is still a solid prospect who will develop into a good NHL ready two-way center sooner than later. And another first round pick, albeit probably in the bottom ten, is still another first round pick.
For the Devils, they basically have put everything on the table this year for a run at the Cup. Martin Brodeur is not getting any younger and this is as good of a squad as the team has had in years to make a legitimate run with. Kovalchuk only enhances those odds exponentially. Did they mortgage their future for the present? Hardly. I know this team inside and out, and while all of the traded players will be missed this trade in many ways not only set up the team for a run at the Cup now, but actually helped solve some problems in the off season. the emergence of Andy Greene made Oduya expendable. And with his contract off the books, NJ now can retain their #1 D-man, Paul Martin this off season. Bergfors while talented didn’t have as high of a ceiling as some of their other almost-ready offensive prospects like Vladimir Zharkov, Alexander Vasyunov & Matt Halischuk. All of whom will be in the mix for spots on the team, possibly even in the top 6 forwards next year. Patrice Cormier’s unfortunate actions and tarnishing of his image made himself very expendable to an organization like NJ. And while talented he still he wasn’t the organization’s top junior prospect. Those would be Jacob Josefson and Mattias Tedenby. And lets be realistic here, the Devils have never had any trouble drafting and developing solid two-way centers… these dudes just seem to grow like weeds for NJ. Plus the Devils somehow also managed to get back Anssi Salmela, the defensive prospect they traded to Atlanta last year tin return with Kovalchuk.
In all likelihood, Kovalchuk will be a rental for the Devils. I highly doubt the team will retain Kovalchuk after this season. Kovy turned down $101 million dollars from Atlanta, and there is no way the Devils put that much on the table for any one player especially with Parise as an impending restricted free agent. But then again, I’m sure no one expected that the Devils would even trade for Kovalchuk and yet here he is. So maybe a taste of winning will make Kovy lower his asking price and stay in the Garden State? Stranger things have happened.
GM, Lou Lamoriello has been trying to rekindle the old magic for the past few years in the hopes of getting one last Cup before Marty joins him in the Hall of Fame. He brought back Jacques Lemaire as coach, and then gave second tours of duty to Brian Rolston, Bobby Holik and Brendan Shanahan. But the trade for Kovalchuk echos the move Lou made in 2000 for Alexander Mogilny. That team is actually very similar to this one… A squad full of young players, with a few veteran stand-bys, spare-parts, a solid overall defensive ethic and of course the greatest goaltender to ever play the game. No one expected much from them at the start of that season, yet they eventually went on to win the Cup. And if this is Lou and Marty’s last hurrah, it is totally worth it and win or lose, they’ll be going out in style!
- My Pal the Crook
February 5th, 2010 at 11:55 am
I love the new NHL.
February 5th, 2010 at 11:59 am
Hahaha I was hoping you were gonna take this to the Bloglin. I’m jealous, man – although I didn’t want the Sabres to go after Kovy, the mood among the Buffalo fan base is definitely envious and shaky this morning as a result of this bombshell. Couple things in response:
1) Devils-Caps ECF? My loyalties aside, that’d be fun.
2) Did my research on Tedenby last night. He looks like a good one.
3) Totally agree about the possibility of this trade killing hockey in ATL. Evander Kane does not a franchise make. If I was an ATL native trying to be a Thrashers fan – you know, one of the 7,000 or so who seem to be making an effort – I’d be pretty goddamn dispirited today. To that end, here’s an interesting set of observations on attendance in Atlanta this year.
4) Excellent point about Whitney’s value…
I wonder what other moves are in the works. Fun trades so far.
February 5th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
crooks, going to Leafs home game tonight or MSG game tomorrow night? tickets getting snatched up everywhere to see the newest Devil.
February 5th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
I had a chance for tix for tonight’s game, but because of the impending blizzard and uncertainty of if Kovy would play tonight I passed. I have tix to see them play the Predators next Friday however. I’ll just have to watch tonight and tomorrow’s games on TV.
Good to see you back Rob!
February 5th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
As a Canadian I get frustrated with the NHL’s attempt to keep hockey in peculiar hockey markets such as Atlanta and Phoneix where attendance and enthusiasm seems lacking. No disrespect to the true fans or players. All while cities such as Winnipeg and Hamilton yearn for the opportunity to have an NHL team.
I find a problem with rent-a-player scenarios where the player is brought in for only half of a season. These moves seem short sighted and usually don’t work unless the team shows it by winning the cup or by going deep into the playoffs. Last year the Canucks picked up Sundin and he was a frustrating flop to watch and screwed with the team chemistry.
Oh how I miss Pavel.
me+bloglin=addictive interests
February 5th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
While I also am not a big fan of the whole rent-a-player practice AND that Lou goes back to the well all too often for the same thing… he has atrack record of making it work.
I also think of ANY team that Kovy could have gone to, the Devils actually stand somewhat of a realistic chance if he comes down on his price of keeping him for at least until the end of Marty’s contract. Because it gives Kovy 2 more years to play for a contender while still leaving him in his prime (age 28) to then seek max money elsewhere.
But I’m also a very optimistic Devils fan.
February 5th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
It would be rad to see him tear it up in Jersey, better than Atlanta.
February 5th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
“…if he comes down on his price”
He just walked away from $101 Million dollars! No way he comes down in price. Maybe looking for Ovie type money. Assuming no injuries, he’s the UFA of summer 2010. I would expect a few teams to clear cap space just to have a realistic chance to sign him. I’m skeptical the Devils would offer more money than Marty’s contract… for now. Still he’s a worthy rental – even tho he’s weak on defense, but the Devils have Brodeur so not much to fear there.
whatever happened to Caps’ pix from his Sabres day at the Coliseum? Looks like Isles are gonna nose-dive and take run at Hall/Fowler sweepstakes.
February 5th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Kovy didn’t turn down $101 Million dollars because it wasn’t enough… I truly think he just didn’t want to be …
February 5th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Good point. It’s nice to see someone playing to win instead of playing just for the money.
February 5th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
i’m sure his agent is advising him differently than you two. Agree he wasn’t going to call Atlanta home for the next 11 years, but his starting negotiating figure will be around $100M for a long term contract. I’m going to bookmark this page, come early July we’ll see who was thinking with the heart and who wasn’t.
February 5th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
rn:
My bad. I ended up forgetting the camera at my spot, which meant that the only real picture I got from my excursion to the Coliseum is this iPhone pic. I had a good time, though. I actually really enjoyed the Coliseum, which I guess is rare for a visiting fan – I liked the smallness of it, the way the crowd felt right on top of the ice. In that way, it reminded me a little bit of the old Aud in Buffalo.
I totally agree with Crook – Kovy just didn’t want to be a Thrasher anymore, all happy talk bullshit from Waddell aside.
I’ll be very interested to see how he plays out in Lemaire’s system. He is a career -84, although I’ll spot him 50 off those for being a Thrasher, and he was pretty quiet in his sole playoff appearance… Of course, all that can be thrown out the window to some extent, given that he was playing for Atlanta. But like the rest of the league, I’m very curious to see how dangerous he can be on a contender.
Word is he’s being paired with Zubrus and Langenbrunner…
February 5th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
rn: I’m very realistic about Kovy’s odds of staying a Devil past this season. All I’m saying of all the places where he could have landed as a rental, the Devils have one of the best Cap vs. Contender status situations in the NHL and I’m sure that it will be a consideration in what he’s seeking.
February 5th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
I read the sporting observations regularly, and only realized right now that Caps is the same Caps from the death adders fantasy league.
on to the trade…. from being able to see first hand what was accomplished when they picked up Mogilny, and i really like this deal for both sides.
ATL: Although it sort of dooms hockey in ATL, they really had no choice, Kovy talked about how he really wanted to stay there, but when he turned down that kind of money, it’s obvious he wanted to move to contender after only being in the playoffs once in his career. They got decent young talent back and the main thing NO TOXIC CONTRACTS!! but it’s gonna be tough to put asses in seats, and Evander Kane (Stop facebooking/textin my girl asshole!) or anyone else on the roster can’t do it, cities like ATL need offensive superstars to get people in the arena, and those are hard to come by.
NJ: They are a legit contender and I honestly think they have the best chance to take the East this year simply because of how much better their goaltending is than other contending teams. And they didn’t give away any players that would make a real impact in this season. It always stuns me how ridiculously good the devil’s are on the drafting and development side, it’s insane.
I’d be stoked on a Canucks/Devil’s final…. Lou Vs Marty!
February 5th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
I bet Kovy ends up playing w/ Zubrus and Elias. Zubrus has experience playing with a player of his style and skill, and neither Elias nor Kovy need a playmaking center as they both create their own scoring opportunities.
Zubes can do what he does best, go after the puck around the boards and get it back in front of the net while picking up those secondary assists that will quiet down all those box score fans who think he’s a bust because he isn’t scoring 60+ pts a season.
February 5th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
Capper: Myers this, Myers that. defensemen are boring. when Tavares awakes from his mid-winter hibernation, i still expect greater things from him – whether or not he contends for a rookie award this year doesn’t make me drive to Uniondale, NY. tho the Coliseum is old, it’s still charming in a way. I don’t need the fancy fast food, exotic beer stand and big concession stands to enjoy a game on the ice. The seats could use some reupholstering, but overall, the Old Barn serves its purpose well. A better team will fill the seats faster than any remodeling job that’s currently proposed. If anything, i enjoy showing up 20 minutes before a game and paying $20 cash for a good seats from my pick of scalpers. New arena, no nostalgia, but big ticket prices = regular fans lose.
MPtC: if i googled correct, is Marty 6 yrs/$31M? I can’t believe Kovy goes anywhere near-that/twice-that number. My guess is a big bank account is more important than a Stanley Cup to the russian. If he excels in Jersey, he’ll want big bucks. If he fails to impress in playoffs, he can shrug off a bad series on a poor team effort. No matter what, he’s an offensive juggernaut who will help sell a lot of season tickets in a bigger hocker market than ATL and he’ll want a big cut of that. Brodeur doesn’t sell seats no matter how many records he breaks this year – which is a lot.
February 5th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Goalies never sell seats ANYWHERE.
And a 1 or 2-year deal for 7-8 mill per is not unfathomable from where I’m sitting as something the Devils offering and Kovalchuk accepting.
February 5th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
I don’t like the rental thing either (Islanders – Ryan Smyth)…but this is a totally different situation. We got Smyth to sneak into the 8th spot… Devils are definitely even more so a Cup contender then they already were.
I think it’s an awesome move…like MPTC said, the Devils…NEVER do this type of thing.
I have no idea where he’ll end up – I read about his gf and child in NY. And I do like Oduya and Bergfors, but this is a deal I’m def. happy with if I’m a Devils fan. I can’t wait for the playoffs…and the Kovalchuk 3rd jersey. (messaging reebok rep now!)
February 5th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
final 4 minutes of the 3rd period = WOW!
buy your Kovalchuk jersey now, Crook, you’ve got 4 months to wear it before another team overspends Jersey to sign him.
just for kicks: what would be your reaction be to:
Brendan Witt to Rangers for Michal Rozsival (big bad contract) + prospects Derek Stepan and Ryan Bourque/Or/David Krejci. Rangers clear lotsa cap space and Isles pick up 2 good prospects to move the youth movement along as they dump a few UFA (weight, sim, park, jackman, meyer, biron) and fall far below cap minimum.
February 6th, 2010 at 6:41 am
Crook don’t wanna be a dick here but as a fan of Russian players you should know that Kovy is Kovalev. Ilya is an amazing player but i’ve only ever seen or heard Kovy be used to describe Kovalev. I got to sneak in the Caps v Rangers game at MSG last Thursday and a lot of people on the last deck still had Kovy jerseys. But I found out about this trade in the stands and I couldn’t fucking believe it. Oduya and a shitty first round pick (who’s the other kid they gave up?) plus a legit prospect who just got suspended indefinitely for nasty fucking elbow in the Q. I hope Cormier’s career doesn’t die in a crappy org like ATL. Lou Lamoriello has been known to give a real chance to french players on the come up (which is hard to do in English Canada if your coach or GM isn’t Québécois).
Kovalchuk is a player who cheats a lot (not breaking the rules but rarely does anything on the defensive site of the puck and only thinks of the break away). This type of play is risky but not really that risky when you have BRODEUR behind you. The devils were already in the eastern conference picture now they get a HUGE offensive shot in the arm. Now let’s hope he doesn’t take it easy during the playoffs or just plays hard for the Olympics.
Who else is stoked for Phaneuf in the same conference as Avery? I sure am.
February 6th, 2010 at 9:52 am
BBC: I know Kovy is used for Kovolov, but it’s also used for Kovalchuk. Just how Ovechkin is magically Alexander the Great, when Mogilny was also Alexander the Great. No one said the Hockey media was imaginative, but it’s easier than typing Kovalchuk each and every time.
February 6th, 2010 at 10:06 am
As a District rez who never gave two shits about hockey, I gotta say, these last few seasons have been allright in getting me glued to the set on game nights.
As an admitted Caps bandwagon jumper, all I can say is Geen, Laich, Backstrom, Semin, Ovie, and the goalie triumverate got something for some Devils ass.
February 6th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
the same devils that chocked against carolina in the quarterfinals last year? do you really think kovalchuck will fit in with devils trap anti-hockey? even for the 3 months tops this carpetbagger will stay with nj?
go pens
February 6th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Do you actually watch games or just repeat antiquated adage? The Devils haven’t played a trap in over 4 years and they sure weren’t playing a trap “anti-hockey” (whatever that means) in their season series with the Penguins. You know that season series they currently are 4-0 on with two shutouts and a combined goal to/against of 14-2 in the Devils favor… And that’s all before Kovalchuk (who fit in perfectly well last night), good try though.
February 6th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
I left last night when it was 3-1 Leafs… that’s crazy!
rn: agreed with what you said about Old Barn…i love it there and will always. i was a big fan of the Aud too…hated that by the time I was in college it was gone.
As for that trade…I can’t stand Rosival, but wouldn’t mind prospects. I feel bad for Witt, used to be one of my fave players. I’d do anything to get rid of Bruno though.