Todd Cordell: Report: Ilya Kovalchuk wants to return to the NHL

https://www.google.ca/amp...out-approval-in-2018/amp/

He can come back next year without NJ's approval...NJ dosnt have a whole lot of
Control in this.

Never thought of the sign and trade route

https://www.google.ca/amp/www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/ilya-kovalchuk-could-return-to-nhl-without-approval-in-2018/amp/

He can come back next year without NJ's approval...NJ dosnt have a whole lot of
Control in this.
- Santo_44

Yeah sign a guy that is 35 and has "retired" once to Russia

Never thought of the sign and trade route
- shvingter88

Would be smart for the Devils to do this.

F him, let him rot in the KHL. Selfish worthless Bolshevik.

Would be smart for the Devils to do this.
- tomburton99

Trade him to Winnipeg

Trade him to Winnipeg
- shvingter88

He'd think he'd be back in the Motherland.

I'd do a sign and trade. If he were 27, I'd be ok with bringing him back despite him quitting. At 34, what's the point? So we'd have 37 year-old winger by the time the Devils are ready to compete? As for the waiting until next year thing. Kovalchuk is at an age where he could start to decline very quickly. Every year matters for him at this stage.

It could just be a negotiating tactic to get him more money in the KHL, but if he really does want to return, NJ should sign him and trade him to the highest bidder.

I'd do a sign and trade. If he were 27, I'd be ok with bringing him back despite him quitting. At 34, what's the point? So we'd have 37 year-old winger by the time the Devils are ready to compete? As for the waiting until next year thing. Kovalchuk is at an age where he could start to decline very quickly. Every year matters for him at this stage.

It could just be a negotiating tactic to get him more money in the KHL, but if he really does want to return, NJ should sign him and trade him to the highest bidder.
- CaptCrankypants

I'm not saying they'd be serious contenders but if they get Kovalchuk and a top-4 D as free agents, basically, then make a trade for someone like Vatanen the team wouldn't be looking half bad.

Trade him to Winnipeg
- shvingter88

Great idea, he is our franchise leader in many categories.

(frank) that guy

I'd do a sign and trade. If he were 27, I'd be ok with bringing him back despite him quitting. At 34, what's the point? So we'd have 37 year-old winger by the time the Devils are ready to compete? As for the waiting until next year thing. Kovalchuk is at an age where he could start to decline very quickly. Every year matters for him at this stage.

It could just be a negotiating tactic to get him more money in the KHL, but if he really does want to return, NJ should sign him and trade him to the highest bidder.
- CaptCrankypants

Why would NHL teams want to bid? Just accept him into the league and all that NJ sign and trade bs is over. Everyone gets a free shot. Makes a lot of sense for all 30 other teams to do that....

I'm not saying they'd be serious contenders but if they get Kovalchuk and a top-4 D as free agents, basically, then make a trade for someone like Vatanen the team wouldn't be looking half bad.
- ToddCordellCGY

Kovalchuk could be a part of a deal to get a top-4 dman. Or he could be traded for other assets used to get that dman.

They really need to pick a direction and stick with it. He's obviously not part of the future long-term, so what's the point in a stop-gap? Objectively, I'd go after Oshie before I'd sign Kovalchuk with the intent on him playing in NJ. Less objectively, I say sign him and send him to the desert.

Why would NHL teams want to bid? Just accept him into the league and all that NJ sign and trade bs is over. Everyone gets a free shot. Makes a lot of sense for all 30 other teams to do that....
- Santo_44

Either he signs with the Devils or EVERY team has to say yes to him returning. What possible reason would the Devils have to say yes when they can get assets in return for him if they tell him either sign with us or wait another year?

why are they not bound to his absurd contract. doesnt he have like forty years left on it?

Either he signs with the Devils or EVERY team has to say yes to him returning. What possible reason would the Devils have to say yes when they can get assets in return for him if they tell him either sign with us or wait another year?
- CaptCrankypants

Meh, in the end he will go where he wants to go...only a select few teams can offer him a one year contract worth a poop ton and offer him playoff hockey. And no team is supid enough to give up anything more than a B prospect and maybe a pick for a 35 KHL UFA free agent that can wait a year anyways.

We already got in hot water with the commish when we circumvented league rules to sign this guy years ago. We learned our lesson then, or so I thought. It's bad juju to drink from the the same tainted waterhole. Getting embarrassed like that in front of the league and getting our pee pee slapped again? No thanks.

We already got in hot water with the commish when we circumvented league rules to sign this guy years ago. We learned our lesson then, or so I thought. It's bad juju to drink from the the same tainted waterhole. Getting embarrassed like that in front of the league and getting our pee pee slapped again? No thanks.
- jackzack87

I wonder what jack eichel thinks

I wonder what jack eichel thinks
- K-dizzle

Don't let him back. He upset a lot of people by signing that huge contract and just walking away

I wonder what jack eichel thinks
- K-dizzle

He probably wants Kovalchuk on his wing.

Bringing Kovy back is a hard pill to swallow with how things played out...but...

1) The contract we would have had otherwise would have been worse long term...

2) We weren't a cup team with him otherwise in the way Lou was running things, filling gaps (granted I know one way left by Kovy)

3) To the same note, we'd only have worse picks if we were only slightly better

4) What "contending team" has cap room, assets, and willingness to take him on?

With all that in mind.... Hall-Zajac-Kovy, Zacha/Cam-Henrique-Palmieri will be better than pretty much any other option as of two days ago going into next season...

He's an asset... if he comes back, good for NJ. They have more options to try to get somebody that can replace Larsson's huge void. The Severson project failed miserably, so Shero's still got his work cut out for him.

I'm not saying they'd be serious contenders but if they get Kovalchuk and a top-4 D as free agents, basically, then make a trade for someone like Vatanen the team wouldn't be looking half bad.
- ToddCordellCGY

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