If this is all that was offered, I'd have to call Kovy and give him the bad news... that he's staying in Russia for another year because nobody wants him.
- archromat

Why? It's a free 2nd round pick.

Kovalchuk is literally just giving you free assets here.

Like I seriously don't think gms offer the same deal and go "thats what team so and so offered so thats all I am offering". If anything they are going to say that gm is stupid and offer more.
- blizzzard

But your forgetting he will have to have a deal worked out first with a team, so it may only be one team negotiating a trade. You are right though that you nor I know for sure, I'm just writing what I think he will be traded for, if I'm wrong I'll be happy to come back and admit it.

Both Freidman and McKenzie said the interest in Kovy is very high. All these people saying we're going to accept some middling return because of fears about his age or returning to Russia are pretty much wrong.
- rmdevil313

I know some people just want us to never have anything. We cheated to get him we cheated to get rid of him we are cheating for getting something for him. Like (frank) right off he should owe his damn life to the Devils for what he did to us. Who has ever done that before ? And Datsyuk was not comparable at all. The people blatantly ignore the facts like Kovalchuks contract was the only ridiculous one.

Why? It's a free 2nd round pick.

Kovalchuk is literally just giving you free assets here.
- BINGO!

Because there's little reason for us to do Kovy and another team a favor for a small return. If another team wants him before he's a free agent then they'll have to make it worth it for us.

Kovy becomes a UFA next year and the Devils will get nothing if he waits one more year. They will not push this. They will take a second rounder and be happy
- Ross77

Teams will want to sign Kovy this Year instead of waiting for him to be UFA next Year. If they wait until next year then they have to deal with the whole guaranteed contract for a player 35+. Kovy's best chance at getting a multi year deal is to sign this Year.

Why? It's a free 2nd round pick.

Kovalchuk is literally just giving you free assets here.
- BINGO!

Yeah but you can't understand lol He roasted us. I know it sounds silly and I would take the second but I understand 100% how that just doesn't seem like enough after what he did to us.

Teams will want to sign Kovy this Year instead of waiting for him to be UFA next Year. If they wait until next year then they have to deal with the whole guaranteed contract for a player 35+. Kovy's best chance at getting a multi year deal is to sign this Year.
- mcjags

PLus every team has a shot once he hits free agency and after sitting out another year his list of teams likely grows a lot larger. Every team who wants him will have a chance to offer him a contract and why risk that when you can have him a year earlier and not have him on an over 35 contract ? Like I said before the first three picks of any team expected to make the conference finals Should be well worth it when you consider they are likely the bottom five picks of each of the first three rounds. I'm not saying that what he fetches either this is going to be interesting but thats my starting point and maybe I come down or maybe I am on to something and the price climbs. Picks are really nothing to a team chasing a cup with a closing window.

Why? It's a free 2nd round pick.

Kovalchuk is literally just giving you free assets here.
- BINGO!

Canadian Tire money?! Where do I sign up?

PLus every team has a shot once he hits free agency and after sitting out another year his list of teams likely grows a lot larger. Every team who wants him will have a chance to offer him a contract and why risk that when you can have him a year earlier and not have him on an over 35 contract ? Like I said before the first three picks of any team expected to make the conference finals Should be well worth it when you consider they are likely the bottom five picks of each of the first three rounds. I'm not saying that what he fetches either this is going to be interesting but thats my starting point and maybe I come down or maybe I am on to something and the price climbs. Picks are really nothing to a team chasing a cup with a closing window.
- blizzzard

Totally agree with this, my point was towards the people that keep saying, why get in a bidding war when he's UFA next Year. Waiting until next Year has a lot of downfalls. I honestly believe the minimum we can get for him is a 3-4 D-man and a mid-round pick.

My gut says Montreal. Beaulieu and a pick, or a larger trade the revolves around Beaulieu, Galchenyuk for Kovalchuk +.

Yeah but you can't understand lol He roasted us. I know it sounds silly and I would take the second but I understand 100% how that just doesn't seem like enough after what he did to us.
- blizzzard

I kind of hope Shero doesn't run his team like a mafia boss.

Why? It's a free 2nd round pick.

Kovalchuk is literally just giving you free assets here.
- BINGO!

A second round pick for kovy is poop, especially because it will likely be a high one.

I kind of hope Shero doesn't run his team like a mafia boss.
- archromat

You mean like Lou did

I kind of hope Shero doesn't run his team like a mafia boss.
- archromat

I just hope he doesn't run it like a Penguin refugee camp, one Lovejoy is one too many.

I just hope he doesn't run it like a Penguin refugee camp, one Lovejoy is one too many.
- smellmyfinger

Yeah I am getting tired of him acting like we are lucky to have the penguins sloppy seconds and spare parts.

Trade him to the Blues. We could use some scoring.

Them, knowing our luck, the NHL would transfer the cap penalty and give you guys an extra draft pick or 4.

You mean like Lou did
- shvingter88

... he had his faults

Was he not pretty close with Marty during his time as a Devil ? Wouldn't be shocked to see Marty talk to Armstrong about bringing in Kovalchuk and I am not sure if they are friends or not but I'm sure being on the same team as Tarasenko couldn't hurt either. Could we get Paryako for him ? Not sure if he is pegged as a top 4 guy or someone who is going to be elite.
- blizzzard

I would do a defensive prospect and a pick personally. We have several good offensive defenseman protects close to NHL ready.

Dunn, Schmaltz, Walman, etc.

Schmaltz and a pick. We are stronger on the right side and he is expendable.

Yeah but you can't understand lol He roasted us. I know it sounds silly and I would take the second but I understand 100% how that just doesn't seem like enough after what he did to us.
- blizzzard

I dunno. You can't look at it like that. Either you trade him now and get something of value, or you say "(frank) that guy" and he signs wherever he wants next year and you get nothing.

Might as well get whatever you can for the guy.

I dunno. You can't look at it like that. Either you trade him now and get something of value, or you say "(frank) that guy" and he signs wherever he wants next year and you get nothing.

Might as well get whatever you can for the guy.
- BINGO!

Or we sign him and tell other teams to let us know when they are ready to talk fair value.

Or we sign him and tell other teams to let us know when they are ready to talk fair value.
- rmdevil313

Can do that too. But then risk losing him for nothing again anyway. That's a really poopty way to do business.

Or we sign him and tell other teams to let us know when they are ready to talk fair value.
- rmdevil313

What kind of rules are there in place to protect the player and teams from getting (frank)ed ? Is it more then a verbal agreement ? I wuold love to tell kovy we are trading him to team x and get him signed then say HA SUCKA hahaha but I imagine there are laws in place to keep that from happening ?

Have you guys been on the Devils subreddit? Someone suggested we trade Kovy and next years first for Fowler LOL they got super mad when I said that was just outlandish

Can do that too. But then risk losing him for nothing again anyway. That's a really poopty way to do business.
- BINGO!

If we sign him for say 3 years then we get 3 years of a top 6 RW which we need. Hell even if its a 1 year deal Kovy would definitely get more than (frank)in Martin Hanzal at the deadline. Also, I'd love to know how this hypothetical team is going to turn a 2nd round pick into a good top 6 forward if we don't give them kovy.

Have you guys been on the Devils subreddit? Someone suggested we trade Kovy and next years first for Fowler LOL they got super mad when I said that was just outlandish
- sendingSTRENGTH

Kind of a large price to pay for a top two defender who is soft and doesn't bring intangibles like grit. Fowler is a solid defender but come on we have to be getting something serious to be giving up a lotto ticket in next years draft plus kovalchuk....

What kind of rules are there in place to protect the player and teams from getting (frank)ed ? Is it more then a verbal agreement ? I wuold love to tell kovy we are trading him to team x and get him signed then say HA SUCKA hahaha but I imagine there are laws in place to keep that from happening ?
- blizzzard

I don't think there's anything in the rules against this but Kovy's agent is never talking to you again, neither is the GM you screwed over, and probably a few other GMs.