Kings Fans - Do You Want Kovy?

[gretzky99]

Non-Kings fans can chime in as well...

I've been thinking quite a bit about this. The cap has gone up almost $2M this year which gives DL some room.

As of this second, here's what I think. This may change before I actually get this posted, but here goes....

IF...

1. DL can sign Kovalchuk for $7.5M cap hit or less
2. One of our young d-men can play NHL minutes this year (Fransson?)
3. DL can make a deal for a top 4 d-man with an expiring contract
4. DL can either trade Stoll or Williams or Schenn plays in the minors one more year.

2010-11 Team?

Kovalchuk-Kopitar-Simmonds $15M
Smyth-Schenn-Brown $12M
Parse-Handzus-Williams $8.5
Moller-Richardson-Westgarth $3

Doughty-Scuderi - $7
Johnson-Kaberle - $5.5
Fransson-Greene $3.5

Quick-Bernier $2.5

Total - $57M - includes trading Stoll + 1st in 2011 for Kaberle (or someone else)

2011-12 Team?

Kovalchuk-Kopitar-Simmonds $17
Smyth-Schenn-Brown $12
Parse-Loktionov-Clifford $3
Moller-Richardson-Westgarth $3

Doughty-Scuderi - $10
Johnson-Hickey - $5.5
Fransson-Greene $4

Quick-Bernier $2.5

Total - $57M

I have heard talk of signing Hamhuis or another d-man but I just don't like the idea of investing another long-term deal on a d-man with so much depth in the system.

Thoughts? Other than Kaberle, who could DL target with an expiring deal? Markov?

[gokingsgo24]

Yes Please.

Im tired of all these so called kings fans saying they dont want him. I guess they didnt watch the playoffs when we couldnt score 5 on 5. Im pretty sure kovi would help with that. Not to mention brown will taken off the #1 pp which is a gift from god.

[Qwikflipz]

Yes please for Kings say. You guys need another offensive threat. He may be the piece to get you into that top 4 in the West.

[gokingsgo24]

Not to mention how mad i was last year when all these kings fans were saying they didnt want gaborik. No lets dont go after one of the best scorers in the game. The kings need to sign Kovalchuk if you notice all the teams are locking down there kids now so every year there is less & less good free agents to choose from.

Why trade some of your core when you can sign Kovi and give up nothing.

[gretzky99]

the argument against signing Kovalchuk is as follows...

1. too much money for him means we lose Johnson/Simmonds and maybe more in 2011-12
2. money could be used to get 2-3 players that we could use
3. kings aren't "one player away" so why make a splash for one player?
4. if you're going to spend that much money, why spend it on a wing?

i'm not necessarily saying DL shouldn't sign him, but i think every reason stated above is valid.

[gokingsgo24]

1. too much money for him means we lose Johnson/Simmonds and maybe more in 2011-12 - A: johnson will walk 1st chance he gets he wants to play with sid B: simmonds isnt going to make tha much more than he is now.


2. money could be used to get 2-3 players that we could use - like who? hell plekanec just got 5 mil


3. kings aren't "one player away" so why make a splash for one player? - cause players likr kovi dont fall of trees

4. if you're going to spend that much money, why spend it on a wing? - because that is the position the kings are the weakkest at.


Its time to take a stand and go get a great player. how much better well kopitar be with kovi on his wing?

[Prime B]

I have been driving this wagon for 2 years now so you know my answer...................

Microcosm of it all right here:

(insert Bob Miller's voice)

Kopitar across the line, pulls up, cross ice feed to Kovalchuk, one-time and........HE SCORES! (insert Staples train horn)

Beautiful pass from Anze Kopitar to Ilya Kovalchuk for the one timer and Kovlachuk buries it.

The Kings lead 4-0 on Kovalchuk's 2nd of the night and 37th of the year. (insert Randy Newman song now)

(Jim Fox)

Bob, Kovalchuk trails the play here and as soon as he senses Kopitar is gaining the zone, he finds the open ice, sets up and rips Kopitar's cross ice feed by Hiller.

The left handed Kopitar is able to open his body on the off wing and set up the right handed Kovalchuk on his off wing perfectly, putting the pass right between his skates in his wheelhouse. This is where that off wing is so dangerous when you have players of this caliber, a supremely talented set up man like Kopitar and a pure sniper like Kovalchuk.

Kovalchuk is now on pace for about 50 right now Bob, it's a match made in heaven by Dean Lombardi and CO. The K Brothers do it again and the Kings lead Anaheim 4-0 in the 2nd.

[gilp11]

Also hamhuis has been singed by the pens since they weren't able to come to a deal with dear old gonchar so it seems the pens will be losing there number 1 blueline patroler I'm not happy at all but now someone elses team will have a top d man that thay will love

[gretzky99]

did Hamhuis get signed today? last i heard they just traded for his rights.

Simmonds will get $2-$3M/year after this year. that's the going rate for guys that can score 20 goals. he scored 16 last year and he'll get at least that this year.

Not so sure about Johnson. I think he'll still be restricted so he can't just walk wherever he wants.

DL could try and make a deal for a wing and a d-man. Maybe Brunette or Langenbrunner on the wing and Kaberle or Markov on defense. About the same cost but adds two players instead of one.

I like that Kovalchuk scores goals but that's about all he does. Frankly, the Kings didn't have a lot of problem scoring goals last year. They were top 10 in the league. They did have trouble in the playoffs but Kovalchuk doesn't really score playoff type goals.

There are just the other side of the argument. Honestly, I've gone back and forth on this quite a bit. With the cap going up we have a little more wiggle room.

At this point, if DL can sign him for $7.5 or less cap hit then i think the positives outweigh the negatives. Any more than that and we'll have cap issues which will cause our core to have to break up. I'd rather keep the core together than have Kovalchuk.

[Qwikflipz]

The Kings aren't there yet in the top 4 of the West. SJ, Van, Chi, Det. A Kovy would put them right there. They need a top scorer. Who cares if you don't have a problem scoring? Yea, he may JUST score, but he scores well, and can help out the PP and 5 on 5.