Team better off without Kovalchuk?

[NHL Fanatik*]

In terms of the overall feel for the team, does anyone else agree NJ is better off with the retirement of Kovalchuk?

Up for discussion.

I personally feel the cap space we gained from this is a huge help, on top of the additions we made so far this off-season, and the big name added in net; I feel we are better. Add one more free agent ( BRUNNER! ) and we are a better team than we were with Kovalchuk.

Mainly made this for the poll, to see what others feel about the situation NJ seems to be handling so well.

Click to read more...

 

[Cowbell232]

Short-term is kind of a coin flip.

Long term? Definitely.

 

[apice3*]

I honestly think it's for the best if we just stop acknowledging him, good or bad.

 

[NHL Fanatik*]

Short-term is kind of a coin flip.

Long term? Definitely.

I agree on the coin flip, depends on how we finish out this off-season.

I honestly think it's for the best if we just stop acknowledging him, good or bad.

And it's not merely talking about Kovalchuk, more talking about the team's current status and future without Kovalchuk. We could refer to him as the one who shall not be named.

 

[DevilChuk*]

Short-term is kind of a coin flip.

Long term? Definitely.

This.

Though most likely will hurt us short-term.

 

[NHL Fanatik*]

This.

Though most likely will hurt us short-term.

When Kovalchuk was injured last season, we were close to rock-bottom horrible. Atrocious is a fitting word. Now, the team doesn't need to rely on that big name because there is none anymore. Sure, Brodeur and Schneider, Elias and Jagr, but to be honest we all were expecting Kovalchuk to carry us to the promise land. Now, we expect the team to take us there. (And goaltending lol)

 

[Devilswede]

Simply put: short team It's a big NO. The guy is a world class player and one of the best. Of course it hurts us.

Long run: yes. The team gains cap space and doesn't get burdened by a huge contract and more penalties. Because let's face it, he wasn't going to keep playing until he was 42.

 

[DevilChuk*]

When Kovalchuk was injured last season, we were close to rock-bottom horrible. Atrocious is a fitting word. Now, the team doesn't need to rely on that big name because there is none anymore. Sure, Brodeur and Schneider, Elias and Jagr, but to be honest we all were expecting Kovalchuk to carry us to the promise land. Now, we expect the team to take us there. (And goaltending lol)

Right.. but at the same time, without Kovalchuk last year we were close to rock-bottom horrible.. so without Kovalchuk next year, I don't think we're going to be close to the top.

I think we compete for the playoffs and if Zajac/Henrique bounce back, we're easily in.

 

[glenwo2]

Poll is a bit premature but I'm also going to say that Long-term, the TEAM(and I emphasize that word) will be fine without the Traitorchuk.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Short-term is kind of a coin flip.

Long term? Definitely.

I agree with this, there is the potential for the short term we are equal or better.

 

[NHL Fanatik*]

Our scoring should be better, with the PP not being horrid anymore due to Jagr-Elias-Zidlicky chemistry. Our D will always be solid, with the style of play and decent line up on the blue line. And our goaltending has the best duo in the NHL, I'd say.

We may lose that one world class player, but we gained so much back that it is almost... moot. Not saying losing him means nothing, but it damn well feels like it.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

Agree with the short/long term analysis above. Therefore, since there is long term benefit, I voted yes.

 

[Rhodes 81]

short term, how in the world are you supposed to get better losing one of the best wingers in the game for free?

long term, probably. but right now, everyone on the team has to be better than they were last year just for us to make up for his loss, much less become a better team.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Short-term as defined by next season: Yes

Short-term as defined by 2 or 3 seasons: I dont know

Long-term: Yes

 

[BenedictGomez]

short term, how in the world are you supposed to get better losing one of the best wingers in the game

Did you see Kovalchuk's 2012/13?

Not really "one of the best wingers in the game" material.

 

[JerryGigantic]

I agree on the coin flip, depends on how we finish out this off-season.



And it's not merely talking about Kovalchuk, more talking about the team's current status and future without Kovalchuk. We could refer to him as the one who shall not be named.

Problem is I already had someone who shall not be named from the last offseason.

They are stacking up now.

 

[Pattysaurus]

Short term: No. Long term: Yes.

 

[Emperoreddy]

The whole short term argument depends on what you think he was going to bring to the table this year.

If he played like he did last year, which wasn't close to any sort of "world's best" type play then ya you could say we might be better off. IF he returned to his form from two years ago then the answer is no.

Have to consider how he actually was going to play...not how he SHOULD of.

 

[NJDevilsZG]

This year he was a shadow of a player we had backstopping us to finals. I'm relieved to say this is not our concern any longer ...

 

[apice3*]

he wasn't going to keep playing until he was 42.

Disagree. I'm pretty confident he will be playing somewhere even beyond 42. Whether it's the NHL, KHL, or whatever. He's going to be one of those Jagr, Chelios, Brodeur type players that just keeps playing until his body renders him physically incapable.

 

[DEVILS ALL THE WAY*]

I've said this several times since his departure, so here goes...

We just avoided a massive train wreck in terms of cap penalties because Kovy was earning just a bit more then his cap hit. We were going to hand him something in the area of 11M$/year as soon as next year and if he would've bolted in, let's say, 2 years... we would've been screwed beyond belief.

That was the business part of it, now regarding our team. I don't think I'm wrong when I say that the majority of this fanbase wasn't in love with the fact that we had to give Kovy 25+ minutes per game and that our entire offense would revolve around one single player. We've been at our best when our lineup is deep and we can roll 4 lines pretty much equaly. Now, with the departure of Kovalchuk, we won't have any other choice but to dish out his minutes threw our entire lineup and that's something I wanted for the past couple of years now. Our PP will probably be more "boring" (if that's even possible) but we'll stop forcing the one-timer to Kovy and we'll create alot more "down low" with the arrival of Jagr and Ryder.

All in all, Kovalchuk was and still is a world class player but when you look at our team, I honestly feel like this move (financial and team wise) is a blessing in disguise more then anything else.

 

[Andre Palot]

I agree on the coin flip, depends on how we finish out this off-season.



And it's not merely talking about Kovalchuk, more talking about the team's current status and future without Kovalchuk. We could refer to him as the one who shall not be named.

I thought that was ZP...

I like calling him 17 for now. Traitorchuk is pretty good as well or just quitter.

 

[Bleedred]

Did you see Kovalchuk's 2012/13?

Not really "one of the best wingers in the game" material.

Nope he wasn't. I will take it to the grave that he was dogging it. He rarely ever scored a clutch goal to help his buddy Moose out either. I can't remember him taking over a game at all in that span. Unless you wanna count the Flyers game when the whole team had a scoring eruption. On paper he was above average last year, but by his standards he was not. Now the Kovalchuk a week after the season ended over in the world championships. That was one of the best wingers in the game.

Having Kovalchuk makes us a better team for sure. I still like the projected lineup we have now more than early last season. Like when CBGB was the 3rd line.

 

[NHL Fanatik*]

I thought that was ZP...

I like calling him 17 for now. Traitorchuk is pretty good as well...

Who gets 17 this year? Or is that number added to Lou's shamed numbers?

And crap I forgot about ZP...

 

[Nick0930]

I'unno. Ask me in December.