Ilya Kovalchuk
Ilya Kovalchuk
A tidbit for those bleachercoaches hockey fans out there.
Nearing the trading deadline last season, the Atlanta Thrashers offered winger Ilya Kovalchuk a 12 year, 101 million dollar extension to make him the face of the franchise for the foreseeable future. Kovalchuk rejected the offer and was traded to the New Jersey Devils the following day. This was a move that was suppose to make New Jersey one of the teams to beat in the Eastern Conference. The result: A 1st round exit from the playoffs for New Jersey and Atlanta finished the season 11-11-5 and nearly grabbed the final playoff spot. Let's now flash forward to the offseason. Ilya Kovalchuk tests the free agent waters but eventually signs a 17 year, 102 million dollar deal with the Devils that would last until he was 44 years old. The NHL rightfully rejected this deal and forced him back into the free agency waters. This resulted in Kovalchuk and the Devils eventually reaching a 15 year, 100 million dollar contract. This is less money for 3 more years than the Thrashers deal offered to him a year earlier. With the money left from not giving Kovalchuk a ridiculous contract, the Thrashers have acquired Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien and are now sitting in 7th in the East holding a 7 point advantage over the last playoff spot. The New Jersey Devils now sit 14th in the East already 15 points out of the playoffs.
This season Ilya Kovalchuk has 5 goals and 11 points. He is a minus 17 and earlier this month missed the puck on a penalty shot. This is a great lesson to all GM's in sports. Do not let one player become bigger than the team. Kovalchuk has never been a winner and he has torn apart one the most successful hockey clubs over the past few decades. For the Thrashers, they have 8 players with 5 or more goals, 10 players with 11 or more points, and most importantly are playing winning hockey and looking like they may keep the franchise in Atlanta. They Devils now rank 24th in the league in average attendance. If there is a player that deserved to have misfortunes, it is this guy. He tried to ruin a franchise but he may have saved it. The Devils, however, he may have ruined.
Nearing the trading deadline last season, the Atlanta Thrashers offered winger Ilya Kovalchuk a 12 year, 101 million dollar extension to make him the face of the franchise for the foreseeable future. Kovalchuk rejected the offer and was traded to the New Jersey Devils the following day. This was a move that was suppose to make New Jersey one of the teams to beat in the Eastern Conference. The result: A 1st round exit from the playoffs for New Jersey and Atlanta finished the season 11-11-5 and nearly grabbed the final playoff spot. Let's now flash forward to the offseason. Ilya Kovalchuk tests the free agent waters but eventually signs a 17 year, 102 million dollar deal with the Devils that would last until he was 44 years old. The NHL rightfully rejected this deal and forced him back into the free agency waters. This resulted in Kovalchuk and the Devils eventually reaching a 15 year, 100 million dollar contract. This is less money for 3 more years than the Thrashers deal offered to him a year earlier. With the money left from not giving Kovalchuk a ridiculous contract, the Thrashers have acquired Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien and are now sitting in 7th in the East holding a 7 point advantage over the last playoff spot. The New Jersey Devils now sit 14th in the East already 15 points out of the playoffs.
This season Ilya Kovalchuk has 5 goals and 11 points. He is a minus 17 and earlier this month missed the puck on a penalty shot. This is a great lesson to all GM's in sports. Do not let one player become bigger than the team. Kovalchuk has never been a winner and he has torn apart one the most successful hockey clubs over the past few decades. For the Thrashers, they have 8 players with 5 or more goals, 10 players with 11 or more points, and most importantly are playing winning hockey and looking like they may keep the franchise in Atlanta. They Devils now rank 24th in the league in average attendance. If there is a player that deserved to have misfortunes, it is this guy. He tried to ruin a franchise but he may have saved it. The Devils, however, he may have ruined.
Last edited by abpk2903 on September 20th, 2011, 12:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
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jack daniel
- Official BleacherCoach
- Posts: 2615
- Joined: August 13th, 2010, 2:49 pm
- Location: point stadium
Re: Ilya Kovalchuk
this was the worst signing in hockey history, you failed to mention how he was a healthy scratch a few times this year which just makes things that much worse. i cant believe lou lamoriello still has his job
"some may say you just got lucky, i personally believe you make your own luck by being good."