Kovalchuk will not be a Red Wing

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

You don't value your life very much, do you?

Have you seen him play?He drove Randy Carlyle insane when he was in Anaheim.He was a healthy scratch half the time in Anaheim,thats why they didnt mind trading him away to Atlanta.

[mikl657 2]

I think we need to look at this realisticly, lid isn't retiring this year so if we are talking about new defenseman we should look whos a free agent a year or 2 from now

look at hossa, he took less to contend, kovalchuk might be the same, not saying he'd want to come but if the wings can somehow get 5-6 million in free cap space I could see them going for him offering him a long term deal

it really all depends on a few things, does hudler return? do we trade him?, how much does lid return for? how much are raises going to cost

cause realisticly we could clear cap space and offer him 5-6 mil a year if the right things happen

[Mitchmac33 103]

I say keep the offense at it is and focus on some D men. Stuart is amazing but his +/- for some reason in the regular season is horrible, Kroner's is good, I like Ericsson, but Listrom only have a couple seasons left I am afraid. This year a big UFA is Sergei Gonchar... I am pretty sure the pens are going to do anything they can to keep him but I like the thought of that.

Ken Daniels said that when they got Brad Stuart they knew that they weren't getting the strongest regular season defenseman but rather someone built and geared for teh playoffs.

[Hutts11 3]

I thought the rule in Detroit was that NO ONE makes more than the Captain?

[mikl657 2]

when lid retires and zetterburg becomes the captain he'll make less then dats

[stevkrause 1,247]

I still don't think it's happening, but with preliminary reports coming out that it's getting more likely that Lids will retire... I still don't see Ilya taking less and giving us a discount to come here, but stranger things have happened... you can't help but think...

Ilya Kovalchuk ($6.500m) / Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Tomas Holmstrom ($1.800m)

Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / Johan Franzen ($3.955m)

Drew Miller ($0.750m) / Daniel Cleary ($2.800m) / Jiri Hudler ($2.875m)

Justin Abdelkader ($0.850m) / Darren Helm ($0.900m) / Patrick Eaves ($0.900m)

Kris Draper ($1.583m)

Brad Stuart ($3.750m) / Brian Rafalski ($6.000m)

Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m) / Jakub Kindl ($0.883m)

Jonathan Ericsson ($0.900m) / Andreas Lilja ($1.000m)

Derek Meech ($0.500m)

Jimmy Howard ($0.717m)

Chris Osgood ($1.417m)

ROSTER: 22; PAYROLL: $56.863m; CAP ROOM: $0.137m BONUSES: $0.000m

PP1

Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Franzen

Kovalchuk-Kronwall

PP2

Filppula-Zetterberg-Hudler

Rafalski-Kindl

PK1

Helm-Eaves

Lilja-Ericsson

PK2

Miller-Cleary

Stuart-Kronwall

[wingsownnhl43 14]

I still don't think it's happening, but with preliminary reports coming out that it's getting more likely that Lids will retire... I still don't see Ilya taking less and giving us a discount to come here, but stranger things have happened... you can't help but think...

Ilya Kovalchuk ($6.500m) / Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Tomas Holmstrom ($1.800m)

Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / Johan Franzen ($3.955m)

Drew Miller ($0.750m) / Daniel Cleary ($2.800m) / Jiri Hudler ($2.875m)

Justin Abdelkader ($0.850m) / Darren Helm ($0.900m) / Patrick Eaves ($0.900m)

Kris Draper ($1.583m)

Brad Stuart ($3.750m) / Brian Rafalski ($6.000m)

Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m) / Jakub Kindl ($0.883m)

Jonathan Ericsson ($0.900m) / Andreas Lilja ($1.000m)

Derek Meech ($0.500m)

Jimmy Howard ($0.717m)

Chris Osgood ($1.417m)

ROSTER: 22; PAYROLL: $56.863m; CAP ROOM: $0.137m BONUSES: $0.000m

PP1

Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Franzen

Kovalchuk-Kronwall

PP2

Filppula-Zetterberg-Hudler

Rafalski-Kindl

PK1

Helm-Eaves

Lilja-Ericsson

PK2

Miller-Cleary

Stuart-Kronwall

That offense is scary good. However, that defense scares the out of me.

[titanium2 867]

I still don't think it's happening, but with preliminary reports coming out that it's getting more likely that Lids will retire.

Which reports? I've actually gotten the impression of the opposite these past few days.

[wingsownnhl43 14]

FORWARDS

Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / * Ilya Kovalchuk ($6.500m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m)

Johan Franzen ($3.955m) / Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Jiri Hudler ($2.875m)

Daniel Cleary ($2.800m) / Kris Draper ($1.583m) / * Justin Abdelkader ($0.850m)

* Darren Helm ($0.750m) / * Patrick Eaves ($0.650m) / * Mattias Ritola ($0.511m)

* Riley Armstrong ($0.500m)

DEFENSEMEN

Brian Rafalski ($6.000m) / Brad Stuart ($3.750m)

* Nicklas Lidstrom ($3.000m) / Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m)

Jonathan Ericsson ($0.900m) / Jakub Kindl ($0.883m)

* Doug Janik ($0.500m)

GOALTENDERS

Chris Osgood ($1.417m) / Jimmy Howard ($0.717m)

CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS

ROSTER: 22; PAYROLL: $56.924m; CAP ROOM: $-0.124m BONUSES: $0.000m

Right now, I cant get it to fit but if the cap goes up..... just saying... We might be able to make a good pitch.

Its possible Lidstrom might take a hefty discount if it would allow us to obtain Kovalchuk.

[stevkrause 1,247]

Which reports? I've actually gotten the impression of the opposite these past few days.

I'm going off of all hearsay and his body language... hopefully he just needs a summer off to re-charge the batteries... I just felt like I was watching his last game Saturday night...

[AtomicPunk 296]

So you are going off your gut instinct, not a "report".

[13dangledangle 968]

f*** KOVALCHUCK. HES TOO OLD! Honest to god why do we want a player who is almost 30? We have way to any "old" people now, time to start getting a little younger talent. (Though I am a little anti Kovalchuck so this may be bias lol)

[rbkhockey43 52]

f*** KOVALCHUCK. HES TOO OLD! Honest to god why do we want a player who is almost 30? We have way to any "old" people now, time to start getting a little younger talent. (Though I am a little anti Kovalchuck so this may be bias lol)

What do you have against Kovy? I'd love it if he came on the team.

[dallas27 7]

FORWARDS

Ilya Kovalchuk ($7.000m) / Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Jiri Hudler ($2.875m)

Johan Franzen ($3.955m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / Todd Bertuzzi ($1.000m)

Kris Draper ($1.583m) / Darren Helm ($0.850m) / Daniel Cleary ($2.800m)

Justin Abdelkader ($0.850m) / Drew Miller ($0.525m) / Patrick Eaves ($0.500m)

FWD ($0.500m)

DEFENSEMEN

Brian Rafalski ($6.000m) / Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m)

Brad Stuart ($3.750m) / Anton Volchenkov ($3.750m)

Andreas Lilja ($1.000m) / Jonathan Ericsson ($0.900m)

Jakub Kindl ($0.883m)

GOALTENDERS

Chris Osgood ($1.417m) / Jimmy Howard ($0.717m)

CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS

ROSTER: 22; PAYROLL: $56.638m; CAP ROOM: $0.162m BONUSES: $0.000m

Without the cap going up. If it does bump Kovy up to 7.5 million. Yea, I trade Filppula (enter Flip lovers) but in this pipe dream I get Kovalchuk and Volchenkov in return. Sorry, I'm taking the latter and not the former on this one. But even so, Howard will be an UFA after next season. He's going to be getting more than 0.800m...as much as I want Kovy here, Howard will be due for a somewhat hefty raise.

Edited May 10, 2010 by dallas27

[Bannedforlife 403]

FORWARDS

Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / * Ilya Kovalchuk ($6.500m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m)

Johan Franzen ($3.955m) / Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Jiri Hudler ($2.875m)

Daniel Cleary ($2.800m) / Kris Draper ($1.583m) / * Justin Abdelkader ($0.850m)

* Darren Helm ($0.750m) / * Patrick Eaves ($0.650m) / * Mattias Ritola ($0.511m)

* Riley Armstrong ($0.500m)

DEFENSEMEN

Brian Rafalski ($6.000m) / Brad Stuart ($3.750m)

* Nicklas Lidstrom ($3.000m) / Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m)

Jonathan Ericsson ($0.900m) / Jakub Kindl ($0.883m)

* Doug Janik ($0.500m)

GOALTENDERS

Chris Osgood ($1.417m) / Jimmy Howard ($0.717m)

CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS

ROSTER: 22; PAYROLL: $56.924m; CAP ROOM: $-0.124m BONUSES: $0.000m

Right now, I cant get it to fit but if the cap goes up..... just saying... We might be able to make a good pitch.

Its possible Lidstrom might take a hefty discount if it would allow us to obtain Kovalchuk.

Ive heard that the cap is going up by $1.1 million. Also, didnt Ray Farraro say in an interview that he was under the impression Lidstrom was coming back and at a significant pay decrease? Both of those things would help.

I'd be less surprised to see Angelina Jolie play for Detroit than Ilya Kovalchuk, but its fun to think about.

[stevkrause 1,247]

So you are going off your gut instinct, not a "report".

yes, sorry... I meant various interviews, not various reports... brain fart there... but looks like my gut is probably wrong anyway (and I hope it is) after reading the interview with Babs stating that he is confident he'll be back

[dropkickshanahans 463]

Let's assume we do get Kovy and resign Lids. Just for fun, how do our powerplay units look? Do we keep #1 the same with Lidstrom and Rafalski at the point, Kovy and Kronwall on #2 with Huds? Or do we see something different, say Kovy and Lidstrom on #1, Kronwall and Rafalski on #2?

[titanium2 867]

If we're going after another Russian then I'd like to get Alexander Radulov. He did pretty well in the Olympics.

[Broken 16 381]

I thought the rule in Detroit was that NO ONE makes more than the Captain?

Unless said captain is in the last year or two of his tenure.

Edited May 11, 2010 by Broken 16

[stevkrause 1,247]

Unless said captain is in the last year or two of his tenure.

I'm pretty sure that rule went away anyways with the cap... after Lids retires, Datsyuk will make more than Zetterberg and I think it's already pretty much a given that Z will be the next captain

Edited May 11, 2010 by stevkrause

[irishtemper14+25 11]

If we're going after another Russian then I'd like to get Alexander Radulov. He did pretty well in the Olympics.

well we'd have to wait for him to play out the remainder of his Nashville contract that he left for the KHL, or we could trade for him. But I would rather not give up anyone and sign frolov...if we re-sign lids + bert + helm + abs + eaves + miller time I think our lineup would have great depth (scoring on the top three lines just like 08).

if frolov is signed:

huds - Z - mule

fil - dats - frolov

bert- helm - eaves

cleary - abs - miller/ritola

draper

otherwise:

huds - Z - mule

fil - dats - bert

cleary- helm - eaves

ritola- abs - miller

draper

lids - raffi

big rig - krons

kindl - stuart

lilja

howie

oz

[wingsownnhl43 14]

If we were to get Kovalchuk this is how I'd set up the PP units

1.

ZDH

Kovalchuk-Lidstrom

2.

Hudler-Filppula-Franzen

Rafalski-Kronwall

That would be sooo sick. PUHLEASE Nick, take a hefty discount and get on the phone with Pav and Hank to sway Ilya over here!!

[Guest Heaten]

Do.Not.Want Kovalchuk in a salary cap world!

Do.Not.Want a one and a half line team!

Do.Not.Want a team with weak defense! (see Capitals)

Kovalchuk will make the team worse, not better. - This is a salary cap world. Good teams have two solid top line, which we do; good teams have solid defense, which we do; good teams have solid depth on the bottom 6 that can chip in on the score sheet; which we need! - That's where the money needs to be spent - the bottom six (after Lidstrom is re-signed)

Thanks, but no thanks to Kavalchuk!

[wingsownnhl43 14]

Do.Not.Want Kovalchuk in a salary cap world!

Do.Not.Want a one and a half line team!

Do.Not.Want a team with weak defense! (see Capitals)

Kovalchuk will make the team worse, not better. - This is a salary cap world. Good teams have two solid top line, which we do; good teams have solid defense, which we do; good teams have solid depth on the bottom 6 that can chip in on the score sheet; which we need! - That's where the money needs to be spent - the bottom six (after Lidstrom is re-signed)

Thanks, but no thanks to Kavalchuk!

Do you honestly believe Kovulchuk wouldnt help this team? Kovalchuk, if he were to take around $6 million per year, would be GREAT in the cap world, considering the cap is probably going to keep on growing. The guy will be 28 next year so I would have no concerns if we signed him to a 8-10 year deal. He's a right handed shot, would be wonderful on the powerplays. Pure goal scorer, would be awesome with Pavel Datsyuk.

He would also help our bottom six considerably.

Kovalchuk-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Cleary-Zetterberg-Franzen

Helm-Filppula-Hudler

Eaves-Abdelkader-Miller

Pretty damn solid if you ask me.

Edited May 11, 2010 by wingsownnhl43

[Guest Lidstromboli]

lol