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

[IamNotADancer]

A bit off topic but I love the vitriol the Rangers create with almost every single move they make.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Kovalchuk wants to play in the NHL and loves NYC. Rangers have cap space and still have to ice a team not to mention they’ll be trading off some possible wingers in Spooner, Namestnikov, Zucc, etc. Even though they’re rebuilding, they still have to try and ice a competitive team so why not sign a guy like him who can still clearly play for nothing but cap space?

I'd rather have Spooner, Zucc, et al than an over the hill Kovalchuk. If he loves NYC so much he should be willing to sign a 1-year deal.

Makes no sense for the Rangers.

 

[Irishguy42]

I'd rather have Spooner, Zucchini, et al than an over the hill Kovalchuk. If he loves NYC so much he should be willing to sign a 1-year deal.

Makes no sense for the Rangers.

During a rebuild, I'd rather have Kovalchuck plus the assets that trading the likes of Zuccarello will bring back.

Makes perfect sense for the Rangers.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Cool, i’m down. We got the cap room and we arent giving anything up

 

[Kovalev27]

6 mil a year for 3 years is crazy. Guy is 35 hasn’t played in the nhl in years. This would be nuts.

 

[RGY]

$6 million is a lot for a guy who has not played in the NHL in years and is about to turn 35. He was making $6 mil AAV when he was last in the NHL in ‘12-‘13. $3-4 million is what is fair with bonus incentives.

Still interested in having him but I really hope it is for less.

 

[FireGerardGallant]

I'd rather have Spooner, Zucchini, et al than an over the hill Kovalchuk. If he loves NYC so much he should be willing to sign a 1-year deal.

Makes no sense for the Rangers.

Could aid in the development of the young kids. In particular I see Chytil and Buch benefiting the most from this.
It'll help Chytil’s development because it would be nice for him to have a sniper to pass the puck to.
As for Buch this could help him off the ice. Kovy gives him a mentor to look up too and another Russian in the lockeroom. Rangers made a bit of a mistake in 2016 in not bringing in any other russians to help make the transition easier for Buch. Imagine Buch getting in an offseasons work with kovy. This and improved ice time next season can really make buch have a breakout season.

 

[Irishguy42]

Can't wait for his first game against the Devils. Hope he scores the GWG.

 

[aufheben]

The rebuild is over. We did it!

That wasn't so bad!

 

[FireGerardGallant]

The Underrated part of this. This will help shesty and rykov come over, but Nikitia Gusev is a ufa come next year. I wonder if this helps us acquire him.

 

[Irishguy42]

This is fine.

 

[mrmovies779]

This is a Sather type move.Surprised Gorton would do it.

 

[Ail]

Awesome.

If they have the free cap space I don’t see the issue. Two to three years is the sweet spot. Shatty is signed for as long, the team will likely still be in transition, and it helps them stay competitive during the rebuild, that’s fine too. As much as a full on tank sounds good for high draft picks, that’s going to be real tough to watch.

I don’t see the problem here. I’d rather have young talented kids watch an elite goal scorer and learn from him even if he is on the backside of his career than have cap space for nothing at all.

 

[aufheben]

The 'Red Army' Rangers are underway.

 

[RangerBoy]

 

[nyr2k2]

I never believed this was a true rebuild and have been saying so for months. They want to get generally younger and restock the cupboard but remain competitive.

 

[RGY]

Awesome.

If they have the free cap space I don’t see the issue. Two to three years is the sweet spot. Shatty is signed for as long, the team will likely still be in transition, and it helps them stay competitive during the rebuild, that’s fine too. As much as a full on tank sounds good for high draft picks, that’s going to be real tough to watch.

I don’t see the problem here. I’d rather have young talented kids watch an elite goal scorer and learn from him even if he is on the backside of his career than have cap space for nothing at all.

A full tank doesnt guarantee anything.

They already have pieces on the current roster to build off and be competitive.

 

[Placid]

Not sure i liked the length of that contract, but hey...

 

[Mikos87]

Totally good with the signing. It fills a bunch of needs for the team.

Scorer, leader, RH shot, size, speed, skill.

Would prefer a 2 year deal over three but at $6 he's a good value.

There were two years in the KHL where he was a bit out of it, but he's been excellent the last two years.

Guy can skate.

 

[NYRFAN218]

As noted earlier, hope there’s no NTC/NMC aspect and if there is its extremely limited. Would make the 3rd year easier to swallow.

 

[Chytilmania]

I hope he rubs off on Buch and teaches him to be a more aggressive shooter.
Kovalchuk-Zib-Kreider could be a dangerous line. And that gives us flexibility to trade Spooner/Names/Zucc and could push Vesey or Fast down to the 4th line.

 

[FireGerardGallant]

The 'Red Army' Rangers are underway.

But Red Army are SKA’s biggest rivals

 

[JohnC]

Makes sense. By my estimate Jesper Fast was due for a new number anyway.

 

[EpicDing]

If true and 3 years, another contract that ends when Hank's does. Team clearly sees that year as a turning point.

 

[Inferno]

2 years is meh...3 years is awful.