(WGR 550) -- My first thought when I heard that Atlanta had shipped Ilya Kovalchuk (and Anssi Salmela) to New Jersey for Niclas Bergfors, Johnny Oduya, Patrice Cormier and a first-round pick was that the Thrashers had either gotten just enough for their star, or perhaps a little too much.
Atlanta GM Don Waddell certainly did better than the Marian Hossa deal of two deadlines ago, when he picked up Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, enigmatic prospect Angelo Esposito and a first-rounder, but did he get enough for a star who shines a little brighter than the best Hossa in the National Hockey League?
Do I make the deal if I'm New Jersey? I'd need to know the answers to several questions? Is Matt Corrente ready to jump into an NHL defense, or can journeyman Cory Murphy fill the gap left by Oduya? Is there a top-four defenseman on the market that I have the arsenal to acquire? Bergfors -- who has 27 points in his first year -- and Cormier -- who was suspended for the year in his junior league -- are Day One picks, and they've set loose next year's first, too.
It's a very steep price to pay for Kovalchuk, who was swept in his only playoff appearance, putting up a goal and a helper. He is, however, better than a point-per-game player for the Thrashers during his seven-plus NHL seasons, including two fifty-goal campaigns. Can he work in the Devils system? Will they allow him more freedom than the rest of the team? New Jersey isn't exactly the trap machine they were in years past, and the Kovalchuk/Zach Parise power play unit should be filthy (Good filthy).
Also, as I did with the Phaneuf to the Leafs trade, I tried to think of a Sabres equivalent for those who were hoping Buffalo won the "Kovalchuk sweepstakes." It'd have to be a solid player, a first-roundish pick having a solid enough season, a top prospect in the system and a first-round pick.
So, in Buffalo's case, you're probably talking Drew Stafford, Chris Butler, Tyler Ennis and a first-round pick, and we're not talking a locked-up guy like Phaneuf -- Kovalchuk's a rental who just turned down a 12-year, $101 million deal from the Thrashers. I don't make that move.
Perhaps more important, Kovalchuk wasn't coming to Buffalo. It isn't a Darcy Regier move, and it wouldn't matter if it was. Kovalchuk has dissed Lindy Ruff on behalf of Maxim Afinogenov, and if that wasn't enough to deter Kovalchuk, Slava Kozlov probably wasn't signing "Buffalo Girls" to him.
Lastly, if Kovalchuk gets hurt in the Olympics, this deal explodes in the face of New Jersey. Credit where it's due, Eklund of Hockey Buzz brought this salient point up first. Perhaps, New Jersey would've been better served waiting, but patience isn't always a virtue in this market, and we've seen that before in Buffalo.
EDIT NOTE (6:12 a.m.): It was late last night, so I neglected to put out my opinion on the deal. I think it's okay for Atlanta -- considering they are losing their franchise player in every sense of the word -- but New Jersey's made a foolish move. Kovalchuk is an elite offensive talent, but his downsides will be exposed in Newark, where they actually get on television. He was hiding as a sort of fantasy player in Georgia. It'll be a true test for "Kovy" to prove me wrong.
Backing off the chance to get Kovalchuk just because he might get injured in the Olympics? That's not a "salient" point - it's a silly one. If he gets injured, the Devils (or any team acquiring him) would be at no more of a loss than the Sabres would be if Miller gets injured or any other team losing one of their stars to injuries in the Olympics. Who can predict when an injury can occur? Maybe someone who promotes fantasy predictions on his website thinks it's valid to make decisions on some crystal ball theories but no rationally-thinking GM operates that way.
02/05/2010 9:24AM
more excuses fro nick
Who cares if It blows up for new jersey? They are going for it. what has Darcy's "patience produced". who cares about first rounders. Beyond the top 5 maybe everyone is a question mark. Who is the face of this team Nick? Vanek? Oh we can't trade him and his 17 goals right? Franchise player? Who even knows him? He's not a leader, not tough, has no grit. 8 mil? Give me Kovy all day. Darcy is incapable of learning and ou can't give someone courage or heart to go for it. Promise me Nick youll blog when the Sabres lose in the Playoffs as usual, THEN tell me how happy you are to have guys like Stafford, Butler, Kassian or a "number one pick" around. It's a broken record with the media. Always put down everyone's "big trade" and defend Darcy, then that team wins a cup and we are on the golf course. Makes sense to me. Boy i wish i was a season ticket holder blowing 3-5k on a "exciting team" like this. Typical Buffalo loser mentaility and acceptance of mediocrity.
02/05/2010 9:27AM
"it wasn't a Regeir move"
isn't THAT the real problem here? Lindy can only do so much with what he has. I've been told that Miller is Elite, if so, who cares if you trade 2-4 players away? The Arrogance of Larry and Darcy will ALWAYS kill this team, why can't anyone see this?
02/05/2010 9:33AM
just saying
Lamoriello changes landscape of the devil's. Isn't that what it's about? You can tell me how great Hockey is the Sabres are the most boring team around. Our top 6 forwards you can put them all in a hat and they are the same guy. I give credit to Lamoriello, Burke or any GM who has guts and isnt' afraid. Those are the guys who win cups. All ive been hearing from media is our stats and games in hand...all of which is completely meaningless in the playoffs where everyone is equal. Question is do we have a team to win the cup? nobody thinks so. The Devils with Kovy and Elias coming back are as dangerous as anyone now. The Sabres fall behind them. on any given night we can play or beat anyone, well any team can say that, talk to me about a 7 game series against Washington or Pittsburgh. If you talk to me about salary cap then i ask you to address why so many players are making that kind of money for limited production. I'd have rather traded Vanek to Jersey for what they got and restock this system.
02/05/2010 10:08AM
NJ just got better...
with their eyes on this years playoff's / cup. With the proper risk assessment, sometimes you have to focus on the here and now rather than get your panties all up in a bunch about what will happen 3 5 years down the road (all the while watching the deals pass you by). NJ has always had a strong team and will continue to do so with or without the guys they gave up. They made a good deal which just made them better. How much will we focus on what NJ gave up in this deal when / if NJ knocks Buffalo out of the payoffs?
02/05/2010 12:19PM
Hot Air
Being vented by fans that have no depth in their analysis. Talk trash after a cup is achieved.
02/05/2010 12:34PM
NJ stole Kovie
1. Oduya wasn't playing very well in Lemaire's system
2. Bergfors is the future version of Al Kotalik, a ton of talent but zero consitency
3. Cormiers is at least 3 season away from any type of impact.
NJ has cap room to spare to re-signhim in the offseason.
02/05/2010 3:50PM
Disagree with Nick
the players ATL got in return are just "guys" nothing special at all.....they will never be impact players
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