Rumor: Ilya Kovalchuk will be signing a 2-3 year deal with NYR

[Tawnos]

It wouldn't surprise me if he had a few more seasons in him. It also wouldn't surprise me if he gets a 3 year deal and we're complaining about his contract halfway into year one. Years 28-32 are still prime years for a lot of players but years 35-37 can be really rough.

Some of you are acting like a free agent signing can't backfire because it doesn't involve trading assets. It can backfire real bad and whatever he ends up being paid represents money that could have gone somewhere else.

The impact of a backfiring UFA contract at this stage of the Rangers process, which will be for the next couple of years, is not all that significant. This isn’t the same as when you’re trying to contend and the wasted cap can’t be used on someone who would put you over the top.

So it’s not that we’re acting like a free agent signing can’t backfire. It’s that we’re evaluating the prospect that it could and weighing it against the potential for positives in the other direction. Given the diminished impact at this point, the chances of those positives end up outweighing the risk.

 

[Tawnos]

As a 37 year old, I find myself struggling with this notion.

Some days, I feel like I’m 22. And on other days, 74.

I ate egg whites for breakfast today. And for some reason I took bayer, hoping it would prevent a heart attack... Why? Cause I’m **** old, dude.

I then countered those good deeds by passing on the avocado salad I was eying on Grubhub today for a good 45 minutes, and ironically opted for a 5 guys bacon cheeseburger and small fries. (Which is enough to feed a small country in Africa).

35 is old. But it’s not, molasses old. Kovy has good hockey left in him. Personally, I would pass on him. But, Gorts has a plan and thus far, I trust what he’s doing.

Yawn. I’m 34 and am still likely a decade from the midpoint of my life. How can I be old if I’m not even halfway there?

Of course, for athletes old does have a different meaning. Still, stop fooling yourself.

 

[NYR]

As a 37 year old, I find myself struggling with this notion.

Some days, I feel like I’m 22. And on other days, 74.

I ate egg whites for breakfast today. And for some reason I took bayer, hoping it would prevent a heart attack... Why? Cause I’m **** old, dude.

I then countered those good deeds by passing on the avocado salad I was eying on Grubhub today for a good 45 minutes, and ironically opted for a 5 guys bacon cheeseburger and small fries. (Which is enough to feed a small country in Africa).

35 is old. But it’s not, molasses old. Kovy has good hockey left in him. Personally, I would pass on him. But, Gorts has a plan and thus far, I trust what he’s doing.

Haha..I felt invincible and still do actually
but we're talking about an original 6 franchise that has failed over and over again through the years with making moves exactly like this..

 

[RGY]

There is zero downside to sign Kovalchuk. Its a low risk high reward signing.

Its not like they are locking themselves into a 7 year deal with Tavares, although they have the cap space

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Exactly!!

Way less term and probably money than either of those guys

 

[GAGLine]

It wouldn't surprise me if he had a few more seasons in him. It also wouldn't surprise me if he gets a 3 year deal and we're complaining about his contract halfway into year one. Years 28-32 are still prime years for a lot of players but years 35-37 can be really rough.

Some of you are acting like a free agent signing can't backfire because it doesn't involve trading assets. It can backfire real bad and whatever he ends up being paid represents money that could have gone somewhere else.

It can absolutely backfire, but at 2 years (I don't think he will get 3 from Gorton), the risk is minimal. And if he doesn't play well while we are in the middle of a rebuild, so #*$&! what? That just means we end up with a better pick.

This move isn't about competing, it's about not being a completely awful and having some veterans to insulate the kids.

 

[NYR]

Believe me, I get it, but I don't see this as management thinking Kovalchuk is going to be the answer to things

Honest question..Who do you think management's answer is to things?

I'd be willing to bet JG has no clue himself as to where this is going yet..

 

[Siddi]

Kovalchuk wants a cup, Hank wants a Cup....does Karlsson?

If Karlsson wants to win here, he would do us a hugggeee solid by not signing anywhere until July 2019 so we don't have to give up assets to bring him in.

While accepting less then market value.

 

[Samuel Culper III]

I’m not going to nitpick over the difference between 2/3 years. Two would be ideal. Three is fine. Four+ would obviously be a problem but since that isn’t even being discussed, I’m content. Obviously AAV matters here as well, but 2-3 years is fine by me. He can help Buch and get Shestyorkin and Rykov over.

 

[Raspewtin]

sick

hope it's two years tho

 

[NYR]

Way less term and probably money than either of those guys

You can't pay the players that have actually produced for this team better than anyone since 94 (WHILE STILL IN THEIR 20's) but you're going to pay for over aged UFA replacements?
Makes no sense to me..

 

[haohmaru]

The thing about this move, if it's accurate, is why spend $6 million on yet another vet that's riding off into the sunset. If you're going to go this route, then a younger guy that you can build around would be money better spent. I'd rather go all in on JT @ 7 x 10 then dabble with Kovy at 3 x 6. At least JT would be part of the future when the future is here.

I hate this move if it's accurate.

 

[Tawnos]

The thing about this move, if it's accurate, is why spend $6 million on yet another vet that's riding off into the sunset. If you're going to go this route, then a younger guy that you can build around would be money better spent. I'd rather go all in on JT @ 7 x 10 then dabble with Kovy at 3 x 6. At least JT would be part of the future when the future is here.

I hate this move if it's accurate.

You don’t have the assets to build around JT right now. And by the time we do, JT might not be JT anymore.

 

[Nopuckluck]

I really thought we had moved past the giving older declining guys huge contracts to retire on. This clown would become our highest paid forward. This would be a Rangers old school move. Someone shoot me if it happens

 

[stan the caddy]

It can absolutely backfire, but at 2 years (I don't think he will get 3 from Gorton), the risk is minimal. And if he doesn't play well while we are in the middle of a rebuild, so #*$&! what? That just means we end up with a better pick.

This move isn't about competing, it's about not being a completely awful and having some veterans to insulate the kids.

The move is about getting a "star" to create some hype in the building imo. Name value.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

The move is about getting a "star" to create some hype in the building imo. Name value.

Is there anything inherently wrong with that?

If this is the type of move we make for “fans” while rebuilding, what’s the big issue?

I just don’t see the fuss some are making. It’s a short term contract to fill the role of traded players, the guy we’re signing just happens to be a former superstar. That’s all.

I bet some of you were pissed off about getting Jagr. Look how that turned out.

 

[NYR]

Another thing to keep in mind..

Kovalchuk hasn't been in the league for 5 years now.

The game has taken a complete 180 in terms of how it's played along with systems deployed.

He's a complete stranger to the new NHL.

 

[Tawnos]

Here’s something that’s been bugging me lately

$6m is not a huge contract anymore. For UFAs, it’s a 2nd liner and 2nd pairing number.

When the Rangers signed Scott Gomez for $7.5m, a mere $1.5m over the number we’re talking about, was like 15% of the Cap. That’s first liner money. $6m isn’t even 10% now.

 

[Ghost of jas]

The thing about this move, if it's accurate, is why spend $6 million on yet another vet that's riding off into the sunset. If you're going to go this route, then a younger guy that you can build around would be money better spent. I'd rather go all in on JT @ 7 x 10 then dabble with Kovy at 3 x 6. At least JT would be part of the future when the future is here.

I hate this move if it's accurate.

I think a long term deal for Tavares is a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[Thirty One]

This is what boggles my mind. People didn't wanna bring back Miller because he'd cost too much to re-sign. People didn't like the idea of having to give McDonagh a big contract at the end of next year. But when it comes to Kovalchuk it's free money apparently.

If McDonagh would take a 2 year deal, I think there would have been a lot less hesitation. But he was in that range where you were going to have to make a longer decision on them. By trading McDonagh and Miller, the Rangers were able to bring the type of assets into the organization they were looking to build on. No such option is there with going without Kovalchuk.

 

[NYR]

Here’s something that’s been bugging me lately

$6m is not a huge contract anymore. For UFAs, it’s a 2nd liner and 2nd pairing number.

When the Rangers signed Scott Gomez for $7.5m, a mere $1.5m over the number we’re talking about, was like 15% of the Cap. That’s first liner money. $6m isn’t even 10% now.

Add to that the Smith, Shattenkirk, Giradi buyout and Staal contracts to that.
Plus there's also a question if JG is going to waste even more money in medicre talents in Spooner and Names.
Then it becomes a problem..

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

This is what boggles my mind. People didn't wanna bring back Miller because he'd cost too much to re-sign. People didn't like the idea of having to give McDonagh a big contract at the end of next year. But when it comes to Kovalchuk it's free money apparently.

Are McDonagh and Miller signing two year contracts?

 

[Ghost of jas]

Are McDonagh and Miller signing two year contracts?

Also, it’s not whether the fans were against signing them to long term deals. It’s that the organization wasn’t prepared to invest long term in either player. For McDonagh, it was about declining play and health, and then maximizing his trade value (which, IMO, they did). In Miller’s case, they clearly did not feel comfortable with him in a rebuilding situation.

 

[stan the caddy]

So basically what I'm hearing is that there can be no downside to this deal because the Rangers are gonna suck for the next 2-3 years anyway and when they're good again it'll be over...

I honestly think if they spent some of that cash on a dman or two we could be a playoff team next year.

 

[bl02]

Give him the 6 million but at 2 years please. I'm sure he wants to sign with NY because he wants to live in this area. Gorton knows that so he can use as leverage regarding term. One thing that could happen is IK may ask for some kind of a NMC.