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[Rumor] Kovalchuk done in LA?


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12 hours ago, MoneypuckOverlord said:

dude wasted 6 years in the KHL.  Just like Raduolov. I don't know why these guys would do that, now he is washed up

Money, home cooking, being around family and friends.  

As much as Canadian fans exclaim about how important the Stanley Cup is or playing in the NHL.... there's way more important things in life than hockey.  

Plus he did win an Olympic Gold, something he wouldn't have been able to if he was playing in the NHL a couple of years back.  

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From Friedman's 31 thoughts:

 

1. Wanted to get to Los Angeles and Ilya Kovalchuk next. GM Rob Blake and JP Barry, who represents the Russian veteran, declined to comment in the process of reporting on this, but prior to last night’s 3-1 victory over Minnesota, Blake threw some cold water on the idea that Kovalchuk was done playing for them. He’s never lied to me about anything, so I wanted to throw everything out there. According to multiple sources, the Kings met with Kovalchuk Tuesday morning and told him they were going to remove him from the lineup. He left the arena and did not take the morning skate. There were several options that came up, including: working on a trade; leaving the team; staying until his bonus is paid in December, then leaving; mutually terminate (although I can’t imagine Kovalchuk walking away from the money unless it is coming from somewhere else); and, apparently, some pushback that he shouldn’t be forced to leave if he doesn’t want to. 

 

During Blake’s availability, he repeatedly referred to Kovalchuk as “a healthy scratch.” Asked specifically if the winger could dress Thursday against Detroit, the GM replied, “Yeah, he’s a healthy scratch. I don’t know – there’s not much else I can say.” (Thank you to Jon Rosen for the transcript.) Post-game, head coach Todd McLellan added, “Just like the rest of the players, he’ll get his opportunity to come back in. We have to treat him like any other player.” 

 

Captain Anze Kopitar: “Obviously not a great situation. (Kovalchuk) is a good guy. There’s nothing that’s wrong with the attitude or anything…. It’s just for whatever reason, it’s not working on the ice, and that’s about all I can say.” 

 

So, there are a few moving parts.

 

2. The Kings have tried to move Kovalchuk for awhile, so they know the market. Maybe it gets easier after the December bonus, as his salary for the remainder of the season is a pro-rated $700,000. Maybe it gets easier in the summer, when he’s heading into the last year of his contract at a bonus-free $4.25 million for a club needing to get to the floor. Who knows? Because he signed as a 35-plus contract, the hit stays on the cap of whoever owns his rights until the end of next season. Even if he decides to play in Russia, it sticks. “He could get abducted and probed by aliens….still counts,” texted one helpful capologist.

 

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22 hours ago, D-Money said:

They probably want to make 100% sure he's injury-free so they can buy him out at the end of the season.

 

The last year of his deal is zero signing bonuses, and $4.25M salary. Very manageable to buy out.

not really

he is 35+ buyout proof contract

and nmc to boot

good luck with your theory though

la gets not salary cap relief no matter what they do with him

Edited by coastal.view
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2 minutes ago, coastal.view said:

not really

he is 35+ buyout proof contract

and nmc to boot

good luck with your theory though

la gets not salary cap relief no matter what they do with him

Oh yeah, you're right - forgot all about the 35+ thing.

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Eriksson and Goldobin

LA gets a much younger (and cheaper) Russian player they can work with, plus a defensive PK specialist.

VAN finally figures out what to do with those guys, and adds an older skilled player to give the Top 6 another weapon.

How desperate would LA be to trade Kovy?

 

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21 hours ago, apollo said:

Hopefully... but LA has got out of deals in very shady manner in the past. 

 

Like Mike Richards... they somehow vetod the 5 years at $5,750,000 the year he had 16 points in 53 games. He was an extremely negative asset that they somehow just got full off the books.... because he crossed the border with pills?! 

 

They have his recapture penalty as well as a termination penalty on their books.  They were in trade talks when he got caught so they stopped discussions and voided the contract.  The NHL/NHLPA then negotiated a special termination agreement.

 

CapFriendly has the penalties: https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/kings

 

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1 hour ago, NUCKER67 said:

Eriksson and Goldobin

LA gets a much younger (and cheaper) Russian player they can work with, plus a defensive PK specialist.

VAN finally figures out what to do with those guys, and adds an older skilled player to give the Top 6 another weapon.

How desperate would LA be to trade Kovy?

 

Don't you mean how desperate would Vancouver be to trade for Kovy?

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2 hours ago, coastal.view said:

not really

he is 35+ buyout proof contract

and nmc to boot

good luck with your theory though

la gets not salary cap relief no matter what they do with him

Not sure it bothers them.  They were apparently in trade talks with Toronto where they were willing to take on Marleau if they could send Toronto a lower cap hit but with longer term.  Friedman/McKenzie were explaining that LA felt they wouldn't need the cap space in the immediate as they are rebuilding but wanted flexibility for down the road.

 

A Kovalchuk buyout is a 6.25M cap hit next season and then he is completely off their books.  Don't think LA will be in immediate use of the cap space next season.  They probably won't spend much in free agency and they don't seem to have any key RFA/UFA to sign for next season.  

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But won't this make it nearly impossible for the LA Kings to ever sign a free agent again.  They won't want to go there now....... :o

 

This is how it should be.  Earn the contract or get released.  However, this guaranteed money really handcuffs teams when players don't perform.  There must be a better system.  Maybe more like the NFL.  Certain amounts guaranteed the rest is performance/results based etc.

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10 hours ago, HKSR said:

Don't you mean how desperate would Vancouver be to trade for Kovy?

 

9 hours ago, NUCKER67 said:

Perhaps you have a good point. They really don't need Kovalchuk. I was just thinking of ways to get Loui in a new uniform.

Only benefit to trading Kovalchuk for Eriksson is he has one less year of term and is easier to buy out.

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21 hours ago, Borvat said:

But won't this make it nearly impossible for the LA Kings to ever sign a free agent again.  They won't want to go there now....... :o

 

This is how it should be.  Earn the contract or get released.  However, this guaranteed money really handcuffs teams when players don't perform.  There must be a better system.  Maybe more like the NFL.  Certain amounts guaranteed the rest is performance/results based etc.

Just make it that buyout doesn't cap towards the cap.

Players can get the money they signed up for... and the team can continue to do whatever with minimal repercussions.  

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On 11/14/2019 at 2:45 AM, wexcar said:

 

Only benefit to trading Kovalchuk for Eriksson is he has one less year of term and is easier to buy out.

I'm not convinced of the benefits of this type of move, even in a financial realm. 

 

I'm even wondering how they thought he'd be a fit on LA or anywhere at this point.

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On 11/12/2019 at 6:26 PM, Alflives said:

No way are we trading for the Kovi contract.  It’s far worse than Loui’s or even Lucic’s.  

Louis's contract is way worse. Money and term. Kovys could be bought out for 3 miil in December. He'll be owed 700k rest of this year 4.25 mill next season. So 3 mill and he's gone. Doesn't matter he 35+ LA don't need cap space. They are rebuilding and have cap plenty of extra cap space..

 

Louis contract is a year longer and  4 more mill in signing bonuses. It's a horrendous contract even if bought out most of money will have to be paid. 4 mill signing bonuses plus 2/3 of salary. So total around 6.5 mill ..

 

LA would never trade those contracts not unless we pay a very nice sweetener. 

 

 

 

 

Edited by WHL rocks
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2 minutes ago, WHL rocks said:

Louis's contract is way worse. Money and term. Kovys could be bought out for 3 miil in December. He'll be owed 700k rest of this year 4.25 mill next season. So 3 mill and he's gone. Doesn't matter he 35+ LA don't need cap space. They are rebuilding and have cap plenty of extra cap space..

 

Louis contract is a year longer and  4 more mill in signing bonuses. It's a horrendous contract even if bought out most of money will have to be paid. 4 mill signing bonuses plus 2/3 of salary. So total around 6.5 mill ..

 

LA would never trade those contracts not unless we pay a very nice sweetener. 

 

 

 

 

LE is going to retire after his bonus July 2020.  No way do we want to trade him for something worse, like Kovi's

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