Todd Cordell: Kovalchuk still planning NHL return, drawing plenty of interest

It's funny, that return on any non rival team I think we'd all agree would be a home run and we'd take all day, but to the Rangers? No way, Skjei +Lindberg for Kovy Merrill and a 2nd, if Kovy is gonna be a rag it's gonna be for a kings ransom. While that potentially could be a great deal, I think Holden is a bit risky, one really good year on a very good rangers team isn't enough for me, feel like he would play more like the Holden who got traded for a fourth rounder on this current Devils team.

Lindberg and Holden do not interest me at all. I'd prefer picks

It's funny, that return on any non rival team I think we'd all agree would be a home run and we'd take all day, but to the Rangers? No way, Skjei +Lindberg for Kovy Merrill and a 2nd, if Kovy is gonna be a rag it's gonna be for a kings ransom. While that potentially could be a great deal, I think Holden is a bit risky, one really good year on a very good rangers team isn't enough for me, feel like he would play more like the Holden who got traded for a fourth rounder on this current Devils team.
- sendingSTRENGTH

This is not a home run on any team. Would you trade Kovalchuk for Bennett and Lovejoy? It's not perfect but it is comparable.

Lindberg and Holden do not interest me at all. I'd prefer picks
- willschulme

Rangers don't have many of those, would have to looks elsewhere. Holden stinks, Lindberg is good. Had a very good playoff run. Was the Rangers best center.

Rangers don't have many of those, would have to looks elsewhere. Holden stinks, Lindberg is good. Had a very good playoff run. Was the Rangers best center.
- tomburton99

So I've heard, but if there's one thing we don't need, it is more pretty good centers. We need right wingers and dmen.

They don't excite me either and I would have to imagine the price tag for the Rangers would have to be the largest of the three teams interested. I can't even imagine what would happen if he was given away to the Rangers and it was the piece that helped them win the cup. That just wouldn't sit well. I get its a completely different gm But Ray has to ask for a lot more from the Rangers then any other team or he will be in very hot water with the fans. I really have to imagine that the Rangers are the last place Ray wants to send Kovy to.

Hey, you guys hear Kovy wants to come back?

So I've heard, but if there's one thing we don't need, it is more pretty good centers. We need right wingers and dmen.
- willschulme

our center's have to be amongst the very bottom of the league from line one to four. I would still be very very open to upgrading center position as I have said millions of times that Mikey superstar Mcleod and whoever else you want to list at C are not enough to keep me from going after centers if better ones are available via trade or draft. Henrique and Zajac are 2/3rd line centers on any play off caliber team and just because we have drafted a few recently ( non of which peg to be elite.... Yay ) doesn't mean If we are in the position to take the best center in nexts years draft that I wouldn't do it. Move down the pecking order and trade off the lowest man.

our center's have to be amongst the very bottom of the league from line one to four. I would still be very very open to upgrading center position as I have said millions of times that Mikey superstar Mcleod and whoever else you want to list at C are not enough to keep me from going after centers if better ones are available via trade or draft. Henrique and Zajac are 2/3rd line centers on any play off caliber team and just because we have drafted a few recently ( non of which peg to be elite.... Yay ) doesn't mean If we are in the position to take the best center in nexts years draft that I wouldn't do it. Move down the pecking order and trade off the lowest man.
- blizzzard

I'm including Patrick/Hischier in that thought. So, after them you're looking at Zajac, Henrique, Zacha, McLeod, Bastian, Q, and I think Speers right off the bat. Do you really really peg Lindberg above more than one or two of those?

Hey, you guys hear Kovy wants to come back?
- smellmyfinger

Big if true

They don't excite me either and I would have to imagine the price tag for the Rangers would have to be the largest of the three teams interested. I can't even imagine what would happen if he was given away to the Rangers and it was the piece that helped them win the cup. That just wouldn't sit well. I get its a completely different gm But Ray has to ask for a lot more from the Rangers then any other team or he will be in very hot water with the fans. I really have to imagine that the Rangers are the last place Ray wants to send Kovy to.
- blizzzard

I'll be absolutely shocked if we trade him to the Rangers. They have very few picks and the only player I really want from them is Skjei, but they won't trade him so easily if at all. Taking Nash off their conscience would help but we'd have to add way more on our side. Buchnevich is nice. Lindberg is nice, but I'd take a crisp second rounder from another team in place of them any day.

who cares what team he goes to. it would be nice to get something for him but it doesn't matter. his retirement saved this franchise. I'm thinking kovy sits the season out plays in the Olympics then we sign and trade him at the deadline to whoever. we need to focus on getting 2 top d men. I have no answers to that other than maybe getting lucky in a trade. I also think we are ok at c with patrick and mcloed coming in and Zajac and henrique locked up. I mean it's nothing sexy but our d is a disgrace. I think greene is done playing top mins in this league.

I'm including Patrick/Hischier in that thought. So, after them you're looking at Zajac, Henrique, Zacha, McLeod, Bastian, Q, and I think Speers right off the bat. Do you really really peg Lindberg above more than one or two of those?
- willschulme

How bad was Stepan last season ? I think I have seen them mention him being made available to vegas ? Is LIndberg better then him at this point ?

How bad was Stepan last season ? I think I have seen them mention him being made available to vegas ? Is LIndberg better then him at this point ?
- blizzzard

I only saw him against Ottawa and he didn't look like anything. I couldn't even find him half the time.

How bad was Stepan last season ? I think I have seen them mention him being made available to vegas ? Is LIndberg better then him at this point ?
- blizzzard

Rangers aren't going to let Stepan walk for nothing. Would be like letting Kovy come back and not getting anything for him. But he was inconsistent last year and was worse in the playoffs.

I'll be absolutely shocked if we trade him to the Rangers. They have very few picks and the only player I really want from them is Skjei, but they won't trade him so easily if at all. Taking Nash off their conscience would help but we'd have to add way more on our side. Buchnevich is nice. Lindberg is nice, but I'd take a crisp second rounder from another team in place of them any day.
- willschulme

If we could get Skjei I would definitely consider it, but the rangers wouldn't.

Todd Cordell: Kovalchuk still planning NHL return, drawing plenty of interest
- Todd.Cordell

Also Todd, you must be mistaken. I've been hearing this whole time from posters that there will be little interest in Kovy. We'll be lucky to get a 2nd round pick.

Also Todd, you must be mistaken. I've been hearing this whole time from posters that there will be little interest in Kovy. We'll be lucky to get a 2nd round pick.
- rmdevil313

A 4th and a salary dump TBH, because Russia.

A 4th and a salary dump TBH, because Russia.
- smellmyfinger

Yeah, there's always the risk this is a giant joke and he signs a contract only to retire again.

I don't understand where they come up with San Jose as a possibility for Kovy. They don't have the young defense men the Devils are looking for unless they like Mirco Mueller? Also I noticed Cap-friendly has Schlemko with 3 yrs left at 2.1 m per, whoever approved that contract should be demoted to porta potty duty outside the rink. JC.

I don't understand where they come up with San Jose as a possibility for Kovy. They don't have the young defense men the Devils are looking for unless they like Mirco Mueller? Also I noticed Cap-friendly has Schlemko with 3 yrs left at 2.1 m per, whoever approved that contract should be demoted to porta potty duty outside the rink. JC.
- Relentless

Kovy will decide where he goes and it's up to the Devils to make a trade after that, he's in the driver seat. That's what Shero said in the interview I saw.

Kovy will decide where he goes and it's up to the Devils to make a trade after that, he's in the driver seat. That's what Shero said in the interview I saw.
- Symba007

Ray also said the deal has to make sense for the devils so I'm not sure he's going to let kovy force his hand unless that team is willing to offer something useful.

I'd say Shero is probably asking at least a 2nd and A dman plus possibly a prospect? So many variables! It could be a late 1st? Who knows but he's not the same guy that left the nhl, but he can still possibly be a game changer? And he's built like a tank! And it probably won't happen til after the expansion draft imho

Lindberg and Holden do not interest me at all. I'd prefer picks
- willschulme

Or players from another team