Contract Termination: Ilya Kovalchuk

[smitty10]

I've said this in multiple threads regarding Kovy and I'll say it again: he should sign in Edmonton. With how poor their offense is outside of the big 2, he would be a welcome addition.

He still has the ability to be a good secondary scorer in the league. If he signs for a minimum/low contract he would bring a new dimension to that offense and could possibly ignite some production from their 3rd line. He would also be an option for their #2 PP unit.

 

[kilowatt]

Why are they allowed to terminate his contract? Why didn't teams terminate Erikson/Lucic/etc contract?

As other people have said, it's mutual. He's only scheduled to make approximately $500,000 left this season, plus his base salary next year of $4,250,000. The reason for the Kings to terminate the contract is obvious: they don't have to pay almost $5,000,000 to Kovalchuk this year and next, even if they're stuck with the cap hit. The reason for Kovalchuk is that he's betting on himself. He wasn't getting playing time with LA, so if he can sign another contract and prove he's still capable of playing in the NHL this year, he could potentially earn more money over the next few years. If not, he can head back to Russia and probably make more than that $4,250,000 anyway. It's a lot to leave on the table, but he's probably smart to do it no matter what.

He made about $14,000,000 in 81 games over one and a half seasons with LA.

 

[Hughes86Hischier13]

pens should take a chance on him

 

[Leafs87]

He’ll make more than 500K this year. Just doubt anyone gives him more than 4.25 next year

 

[kilowatt]

He’ll make more than 500K this year. Just doubt anyone gives him more than 4.25 next year

Well a two-year, $5 million contract would be a net win for him.

 

[lawrence]

a coaches nightmare. .5 points a game as a top 6 winger is nothing to be proud of for a 6 million dollar guy. He's probably ignoring the coaches system. I will be surprised if any tea is dumb enough to take a shot on Kovy.

 

[ViD]

a coaches nightmare. .5 points a game as a top 6 winger is nothing to be proud of for a 6 million dollar guy. He's probably ignoring the coaches system. I will be surprised if any tea is dumb enough to take a shot on Kovy.

0.5 pts per game for $1m is great though

 

[AlphaBravo]

Kovy was a good player on the Kings. He still has that scoring touch. It was a situation of bad timing and circumstances. The Kings are in the middle of a rebuild, need roster space for young players to come up, and the team needs to commit to a system that is going to be followed religiously. Kovy didn't fit with this plan. A team like Edmonton, Boston, Yotes etc. should look into signing Kovy at league minimum. He will round out the top 6 and still has that one-timer for the pp.

 

[Jeune Poulet]

Despite bitter comments that Kovalchuk was misused by the Kings, the fact is that he is done. No team is going to touch this, it was already obvious last season.

Kovalchuk used to be a headcase who could get by with some impressive natural talent and some drive.

But this is 2019. Every facet of his play has lost a step or two. The league has gotten faster while he has gotten slower. He's still a nightmare to coach and the hunger and passion he had for the game seems gone.

 

[thadd]

Can someone please explain to me how you can waive a player who has a NMC? I thought that made you immune to being waived or traded.
Were the rules changed last night or am I missing the point here?

 

[Pyrophorus]

Can someone please explain to me how you can waive a player who has a NMC? I thought that made you immune to being waived or traded.
Were the rules changed last night or am I missing the point here?

The contract is terminated-there is no NMC, not anymore.

 

[thadd]

The contract is terminated-there is no NMC, not anymore.

OK, then I'm further confused.
What was the justification behind the termination of his contract?

 

[Ctrain2k]

Anyone know when he’s officially a free agent and can sign with someone?

 

[Reaper45]

OK, then I'm further confused.
What was the justification behind the termination of his contract?

Both parties wanted to out.

 

[Tender Rip]

If Kovy is ready to sign with a contender on the cheap, someone is going to bite.
I doubt anyone has a bigger hole for his favorite PP spot than the Pens. Outside of injuries, that exact position has been our biggest problem this season.

Whether he actually has something to give I just don’t know. But if the cap-hit is low enough I’d love to find out.

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

OK, then I'm further confused.
What was the justification behind the termination of his contract?

without having any proof of what im saying... its pretty obvious to me

kings tell kovalchuk your contract is untradable
they tell him he wont ever play another game unless that contract goes away

he says... wait until i get my bonus... and then I will agree to a termination... I do want to play again

kings say... at least we dont have to pay you next year... it sucks but its the best we can do since we are committed to never playing you again.

kovalchuk says... I had a reason for coming back to the nhl… it was not to destroy my legacy. I still want to win a cup. I will convince a contending team im willing to play the remainder of this season for a minimum contract as long as they give me a chance to be a star player. im going to promise to do everything possible to be a star player because this is about my legacy.

id handicap the options like...

1/boston… we know they were hot for him last year... they cant afford a huge contract and kovalchuk offers a no-risk potential tryout at a very affordable price. if he fails, just get rid of him.

2/Edmonton... desperate for wingers who can score and 2 world class centers to play with

3/st louis... farmilar with dealing with taresenko… who btw is hurt

4/devils... a long shot because not a contender this year... but might be the only team willing to sign him next year too. have a whole to fill after hall moves. have gusev there needing a compatible linemate. and obviously have some history with kovalchuk.

the boston option to me just makes way too much sense for everyone involved... so im betting 80% odds he gets a chance there. boston kept lee stempniak with the team all last year so they dont mind bringing a guy in… letting him practice... letting him prove himself... and they already gave chara a contract full of playoff bonus money

I expect kovalchuk to be hanging out with the bruins shortly after Christmas... and probably earn himself a contract by mid January... and honestly I think if he scored 40 points in last 80 games in LA in that toxic enviroment, then on a good team he will definitely earn a regular spot with krejci/debrusk on a second line.

 

[thadd]

Both parties wanted to out.

I honestly didn't know they could do that.
L.A should be penalized.

 

[thadd]

2/Edmonton... desperate for wingers who can score and 2 world class centers to play with

5 on 5 Kovy is going be stuck to the 3rd line with Hopkins. He can't keep up with Drai or McDavid.
Doesn't make a lot of sense for Edmonton or Kovy.

 

[AlphaBravo]

I honestly didn't know they could do that.
L.A should be penalized.

We are still stuck with his cap hit. Why should we be penalized? Both parties want out of the contract and got out.

 

[TrufleShufle]

We are still stuck with his cap hit. Why should we be penalized? Both parties want out of the contract and got out.

Interesting, didn't know this was legal.
LA should be punished.

 

[Whaddagoal]

without having any proof of what im saying... its pretty obvious to me

kings tell kovalchuk your contract is untradable
they tell him he wont ever play another game unless that contract goes away

he says... wait until i get my bonus... and then I will agree to a termination... I do want to play again

kings say... at least we dont have to pay you next year... it sucks but its the best we can do since we are committed to never playing you again.

kovalchuk says... I had a reason for coming back to the nhl… it was not to destroy my legacy. I still want to win a cup. I will convince a contending team im willing to play the remainder of this season for a minimum contract as long as they give me a chance to be a star player. im going to promise to do everything possible to be a star player because this is about my legacy.

id handicap the options like...

1/boston… we know they were hot for him last year... they cant afford a huge contract and kovalchuk offers a no-risk potential tryout at a very affordable price. if he fails, just get rid of him.

2/Edmonton... desperate for wingers who can score and 2 world class centers to play with

3/st louis... farmilar with dealing with taresenko… who btw is hurt

4/devils... a long shot because not a contender this year... but might be the only team willing to sign him next year too. have a whole to fill after hall moves. have gusev there needing a compatible linemate. and obviously have some history with kovalchuk.

the boston option to me just makes way too much sense for everyone involved... so im betting 80% odds he gets a chance there. boston kept lee stempniak with the team all last year so they dont mind bringing a guy in… letting him practice... letting him prove himself... and they already gave chara a contract full of playoff bonus money

I expect kovalchuk to be hanging out with the bruins shortly after Christmas... and probably earn himself a contract by mid January... and honestly I think if he scored 40 points in last 80 games in LA in that toxic enviroment, then on a good team he will definitely earn a regular spot with krejci/debrusk on a second line.

No way he comes back to NJ, i miss the elite kovy we saw in NJ during, 2010-2011, 2011-2012, and parts of 2013 although he bagged it at the very end. Ive got no ill will, but i have to say it is a bit surprising how his game fell. He was such dynamite force back then, sometimes so clutch when needed. His speed, skating, hands, and shot selection, durability, were world class for long time. Then he lost his speed a bit....and i guess some other things dropped a bit as he aged....

but kudos for your improvised dialog behind the scenes, it probably was something along those lines.

Strange times...

 

[Natey]

I've said this in multiple threads regarding Kovy and I'll say it again: he should sign in Edmonton. With how poor their offense is outside of the big 2, he would be a welcome addition.

He still has the ability to be a good secondary scorer in the league. If he signs for a minimum/low contract he would bring a new dimension to that offense and could possibly ignite some production from their 3rd line. He would also be an option for their #2 PP unit.

If he's smart, he'd sign in Montreal. We don't know what defense is, so if he doesn't play it, we won't even notice.

 

[TopT]

I honestly didn't know they could do that.
L.A should be penalized.

he he , why ?

 

[SotasicA]

Kovalchuk is lazy and terrible.

Nothing to do with coaching misuse.

How do you properly use a guy you expect to get scored on every time he steps on the ice?

You can't play him with your best players because you can't possibly put him up against top talent.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

We are still stuck with his cap hit. Why should we be penalized? Both parties want out of the contract and got out.

Because your team outbid every other team a year and a half ago accepting the risk that he would not perform to the contract offered. That’s the risk you take.

Wiping it clean might be fair between LA and the NHL, but it wouldn’t be fair to the other 30 teams.