Kovalchuk get the maximum salary, 11,36M$ / season

[Guest ZetterbergFourty]

Lots of players are overpaid.

Gee maybe the NHL should look into communism! $1 million per player per season. Doesnt matter how good or awful they play. :deal:

[Drake_Marcus 890]

If you've watched any of the international tournaments Kovalchuk has played in, he's right up in Ovechkin/Malkin territory when he's got a couple decent pieces around him and some motivation. Atlanta's been god-awful ... well.. basically since they came into the league. Personally, I place him right up at the top of the league in terms of skill and ability, but can you blame him for not investing himself into every little shift in a place like Atlanta? He's been consistently netting 40-50 goals a season for a while now without ever having anyone feeding him the puck, and without having much of a goal to work towards since they are usually out of any realistic playoff contention early on. Not to mention he's on a team with one offensive threat (unless you consider Kozlov)... It makes a big different to be an Ovechkin, Crosby, or Zetterberg who has some of the attention diverted to the Semins, Greens, Malkins, Franzens and Datsyuks on your team.

That being said, that's the kind of cap hit that will make it hard for Atlanta to accomplish much in the future... Going to be hard to sign in much talent with that kind of money invested in one guy.

While I agree that Kovy is one of the top players in the league in terms of skill and ability, you're overselling him a bit. He's not as good as Ovechkin. Malkin? Sure, I can see that if he were to play on a non-garbage team, but Ovi? Ovechkin's best numbers came without the stronger supporting cast he had last year. Semin wasn't anything to write home about two seasons ago (aside from a strong stretch) and Green was still a offensive d-man with upside and terrible defensive skills (now he's a very good offensive d-man with terrible defensive skills!).

And for the record- Kovy had Hossa/Heatly on his line for a few seasons and still wasn't as good as Ovechkin.

[sibiriak 84]

And for the record- Kovy had Hossa/Heatly on his line for a few seasons and still wasn't as good as Ovechkin.

I don't remember about Heatley's time in Atlanta, but Hossa usually played with Slava Kozlov on Atlanta's 2nd line, with Kovalchuk on the 1st line. Even on PP.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I don't remember about Heatley's time in Atlanta, but Hossa usually played with Slava Kozlov on Atlanta's 2nd line, with Kovalchuk on the 1st line. Even on PP.

Really? Oh. I thought they played together sometimes.

[Z and D for the C 712]

Lots of players are overpaid.

Gee maybe the NHL should look into communism! $1 million per player per season. Doesnt matter how good or awful they play. :deal:

If the nhl went to communism, players would play would rotate on different teams.

[Hankanator 0]

Kovalchuk is going to be wearing a winged wheel next season. It was bound to happen.. Datsyuk paired with Ovechkin or Kovalchuk.

[Wingseroo 0]

When Kovalchuk puts a franchise on his shoulders like Ovechkin and takes them from basement to elite with his presence... Then he will be worth Ovechkin numbers...

BTW yes if I were a GM and could have any one player to build a franchise around Ovechkin would be my guy...

Edited July 24, 2009 by Wingseroo

[Hankanator 0]

When Kovalchuk puts a franchise on his shoulders like Ovechkin and takes them from basement to elite with his presence... Then he will be worth Ovechkin numbers...

BTW yes if I were a GM and could have any one player to build a franchise around Ovechkin would be my guy...

50-60 goals, actually plays something that resembles defense and the team went on a massive run at the end of the year when he was named Captain.

Do you realize just how bad Atlanta has been over the last decade?

Remove Gonchar and Malkin and you could say the same about Crosby.

Remove Backstrom and Green.. the same.

Very few players, in completely terrible teams score 100 points.

[BeeRYCE 2]

A team like Atlanta needs to take Kovalchuk for all they can... He IS worth it. Wait until he gets to play with Evander Kane in a couple years... Them two will be nuts. I'd build a franchise around Kovalchuk, he's a great player.

[Guest ZetterbergFourty]

If the nhl went to communism, players would play would rotate on different teams.

That could work!!

[Majsheppard 203]

I say BS. Why would anyone sign anyone to a huge contract with no idea what the cap is going to look like next year???

I could definately see them sign him for the maximum amount, but what is that amount going to be?