Confirmed with Link: Kings announce signing kovalchuk to 3 year contract.

[StDevs]

Consider that the Thrashers had him AND Hossa and did nothing with them.

And a healthy Marc Savard. The hope was high, but nothing came out of it.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Not sure how far any team can go with Kari Lehtonen in net.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Not sure how far any team can go with Kari Lehtonen in net.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

Not sure how far any team can go with Kari Lehtonen in net.

Unless....their game plan is to get a shot at drafting Jack Hughes in the 2019 draft.

 

[mrkolice]

i'm so excited. ilya, he's both an animal and an artist. good old russian school, nhl proven. a crown jewel. simply a topshit player. can't wait to see him play and deliver. imho it's a huge trade for lak. i predict that a lot of fans here will start adoring him once they see what he is made of. gkg!

 

[damacles1156]

It's better than trying to turn Iafallo or Pearson into a top six producing player. The Kids can play a more proper role now.

Hopefully Iafallo/Pearson/Kempe/Toffoli one of these guys has a huge season with reduced responsibility.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

i'm so excited. ilya, he's both an animal and an artist. good old russian school, nhl proven. a crown jewel. simply a top**** player. can't wait to see him play and deliver. imho it's a huge trade for lak. i predict that a lot of fans here will start adoring him once they see what he is made of. gkg!

I agree. I think I'm getting a Kovalchuk jersey. I personally would rather have signed him than trading a #1 + one of: JAD, Vilardi or Clague for Pacioretty or Skinner. Keep assets
and get a legend without giving any assets up. You can say he's 35, but that image catching a shark...not many in that kind of shape at 35 in the world. I look forward to seeing the PP
and Kovalchuk, Kopitar and Brown together. Would be interesting to see other combos during the season. Kovy, Kopitar. Carter ? Kovy, Kopitar Vilardi? If Vilardi proves to
be able to excel, could be interesting.

 

[Steve Zissou]

You can say he's 35, but that image catching a shark...not many in that kind of shape at 35 in the world.

Out of all the images of his chiseled man physique with his guns out or the video of him pulling those heavy ass weights across the road in the burning sun, you go with him catching A SHARK!? Nicely played.

 

[Rorschach]

Out of all the images of his chiseled man physique with his guns out or the video of him pulling those heavy ass weights across the road in the burning sun, you go with him catching A SHARK!? Nicely played.

He went full Putin on that shark??

 

[The Tikkanen]

Out of all the images of his chiseled man physique with his guns out or the video of him pulling those heavy ass weights across the road in the burning sun, you go with him catching A SHARK!? Nicely played.

He was glistening.

 

[mrkolice]

I agree. I think I'm getting a Kovalchuk jersey. I personally would rather have signed him than trading a #1 + one of: JAD, Vilardi or Clague for Pacioretty or Skinner. Keep assets and get a legend without giving any assets up. You can say he's 35, but that image catching a shark...not many in that kind of shape at 35 in the world. I look forward to seeing the PP and Kovalchuk, Kopitar and Brown together. Would be interesting to see other combos during the season. Kovy, Kopitar. Carter ? Kovy, Kopitar Vilardi? If Vilardi proves to be able to excel, could be interesting.

from what i read i got the impression that kovy will be cemented with kopi and in pp, while other options aren't so clear. on the other hand, kovy spoke with high praise about carter so i guess that line will be checked as well. but these are sweet worries for the coach, that's a damn good top 6 right now.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Not sure how far any team can go with Kari Lehtonen in net.

I'm actually a big fan of Kari; I think he could be a good back-up for a team needing an experienced goalie.

 

[Minor Boarding]

Seeing how Bozak makes 5mio, we paid Handzus 4mio I have a hard time understanding people that would rather trade our prospects for players we probably won't afford in the future (Pacioretty, Skinner) then accept that the third year allows us to keep stocking up also for the future...

I mean sure Kovalchuk could be a dud but what if he turns up being in great shape and still has his elite level IQ and shoot?

The other thing is that I'm really excited about Vilardi. He should be a good player for the 2nd PP squad and for some scoring from the bottom six..

 

[KingsOfCali25]

I don't get why everyone is bitching about the Kovy contract before he has had a chance to show where he's at. I understand he's 35 and signed for a big dollar amount but let him prove that he is worth or not worth the contract.

The contract also sets up well to come off the books for Vilardi and Pearson's next contracts. That's 6m open for their raises.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I don't get why everyone is *****ing about the Kovy contract before he has had a chance to show where he's at. I understand he's 35 and signed for a big dollar amount but let him prove that he is worth or not worth the contract.

The contract also sets up well to come off the books for Vilardi and Pearson's next contracts. That's 6m open for their raises.

I think people have had mostly fair concerns about it. As @Minor Boarding alludes to above, he COULD be a dud or show up amazing, and I think those questions make 3 years with an NTC at the end fair to critique.

It certainly doesn't make or break us imo and I'm optimistic but I can see why people aren't.

He's also 35, he's basically got one foot in the grave! Source: am 37.

 

[mrkolice]

a vibe from slovenian hockey forums: fans are delighted to see kopi and kovy together. anze gave an interview for local media a few days ago saying that both guys will "very likely" play together in the first line. i guess it was obvious, but still. plus, the guys here would like to see voynov back, no hard feelings. and croatia will play against belgium in the finals.

 

[KINGS17]

Dude, it's going to a remake of the 100 years war between England and France.

 

[mrkolice]

kings17, my bet is on belgium here. they are like poetry in motion, and they can't even play defense properly. good old romantic stuff.

 

[Reclamation Project]

3:41 - "I think he'll score 35 goals, at least, I really do."

 

[Sol]

3:41 - "I think he'll score 35 goals, at least, I really do."

Glad to see Savard doing some YouTube content. He seems a natural at it. Surprised how naturally he carried himself through the video.

Hope Kovalchuk scores 35

 

[Little Psycho]

We have a betting pool at my work place and I ended up drawing last and I picked Belgium. Now I'm one of the top 3 left! C'mon darkhorse pull through!

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Seeing how Bozak makes 5mio, we paid Handzus 4mio I have a hard time understanding people that would rather trade our prospects for players we probably won't afford in the future (Pacioretty, Skinner) then accept that the third year allows us to keep stocking up also for the future...

Well said

Complete mystery to me as well and i really questioning some posters after reading that. No sorry, i dont understand some of these fair concerns at all.

We got a 30 goal scorer for free, for FREE and some rather waste assets.

 

[KINGS17]

Belgium is lucky Germany didn't make it this far. If Belgium was up against Germany the game would be over in 18 minutes.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Belgium is lucky Germany didn't make it this far. If Belgium was up against Germany the game would be over in 18 minutes.

Probably.

I just hope they will get eliminated this semi final.

It would be horrible if they become worldchampion before us after three lost finals.

 

[Martyros]

Belgium is lucky Germany didn't make it this far. If Belgium was up against Germany the game would be over in 18 minutes.

like how the games were over against Mexico, Sweden, South Korea in the group stages in 18 minutes?