Score one for Lou Lamoriello and the New Jersey Devils with the acquisition of Ilya Kovalchuk on Thursday night. My first thought: O boy, the 2010 Stanley Cup run just got tougher for the Sabres. New Jersey traded John Oduya, Niclas Bergfors, prospect Patrice Cormier and a 2010 1st round pick for the 26-year-old left winger and Anssi Salmela.
When I first heard the Devils were in the Kovy sweepstakes on Wednesday night I thought it could not be true, but obviously I was totally wrong. The rumor did not make sense; Ilya is a dynamic power forward in the league, how could coach Jacques Lemaire rein his speed into the slow, plodding defensive system he runs? Now the bench boss has 27 games in the regular season to acclimate his new star to the trap system.
It is no secret the Devils win by playing sound defensively and rely on one of the greatest goaltenders of all time, Martin Brodeur. New Jersey has only scored 140 goals in 55 games this season, which is tied for 24th best in the NHL. Their 2.55 goals per game puts the Devils in a tie for 20th in the league as well. Kovalchuk has netted 31 goals in 49 games this season, and is on target to score more this season than last.
We've seen in recent games that the superstars have been having their way with the Sabres offensively. Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza accounted for all 4 goals in the Senators 4-2 win Tuesday. The Sedin twins combined for 1 goal and 3 assists in Vancouver's 3-2 win over Buffalo at the end of January. This is a startling trend that has to worry even the most hardcore Sabres fans, me included. Now New Jersey has Kovalchuk added to a lineup with Zach Parise (25G, 32A), Travis Zajak (16G, 29A) and Jamie Langenbrunner (14G, 31A), all of whom have 45 points or more this season.
I spoke with Brian Koziol just minutes after the deal went down, and he made a great point for fans to remember: in a 7-game series Ryan Miller matches up equally with Brodeur in the goaltending category, but will the Sabres offense keep up with that of the Devils? Tim Connolly (14G, 38A) is the only Sabre with more than 45 points, and only Thomas Vanek is the team's leading goal scorer with 17.
If the Sabres want to keep up with the Devils and the rest of the Eastern Conference they need to add 1 or 2 veteran forwards with Stanley Cup experience. A guy like Mark Recchi would fit in well with Lindy Ruff's system and has been a quality locker room presence wherever he has gone. If Darcy Regier can work a deal for Recchi while giving up a 2nd or 3rd round pick I think it is a no-brainer. If the price for Ray Whitney goes down closer to the March 3rd trading deadline then he would be a good pickup as well, but a rental player of his caliber is not a worth a 1st round pick.
Brodeur won't be manning the New Jersey crease for much longer, Lamoriello has gone all-in with the acquisition of Kovalchuk this year. Just as Marian Hossa was a catalyst for the Penguins on their way to a Stanley Cup Finals loss in 2008, Ilya will be expected to produce in the playoffs and bring one more ring to Marty's finger. While Ilya's production won't be as high as it was in the free wheeling Thrasher's system; Lamoriello has rocked the boat in the past with great success.
MALACARO: Lamoriello Changes The Landscape With Kovy
comment below...
02/05/2010 1:16AM
Whitney will be too expensive...
...not to mention giving an extension to a 38-year old makes less sense. I'd rather add Cup experience with younger options like Cullen, Tanguay and/or Ladd.
02/05/2010 6:53AM
Our Landscape.
We need a couple experienced players... ones that put out every night, unlike types such as Stafford and MacArther. If nothing else, at least Recchi and/or Whitney would react when Miller gets run at. ...Time to do something, Darcy!
02/05/2010 7:18AM
Time of Year I Hate...
...nothings going to get done. and another sinking ship is waiting. The sabres are good but honestly we need somthing more. With the attitude the front office has i know it will not happen at all and thast honestly upseting. I didnt want Kovy but its just the point we dont go for players like this when we should once in a blue moon.
02/05/2010 7:42AM
Darcy
The trouble with Darcy is that he waits and waits while the other GM's make their moves then Darcy finds no one is left to trade for and then he says "no trades were available". He should for once in his life take the initiative and show some boldness.
02/05/2010 11:36AM
Darcy the joke
Darcy won't make a move unless he 100% feels he is fleecing that team. How many GM's are that dumb? Sometimes in life you roll the dice.
02/05/2010 12:34PM
SCORE ON FOR LOU???
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
SCORE ONE? HOW MANY CUPS HAS HE WON?
SCORE ONE?
Oh and ask Koziol that 7 games series ONLY HAPPEN in the PLAYOFFS! Goalies play a little TOUGHER then. BYE BYE CRYAN MELTING RYAN!
WHAT AN IDIOT!
02/05/2010 5:06PM
Re: score on for lou
Me fail inglish? That unpossible! At least spell and punctuate when you rant. You're making Buffalo look stupid.
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