Headlines

  • Blues Activate Vladimir Tarasenko From LTIR
  • Calgary Flames Fire Geoff Ward
  • Brent Seabrook Will Not Play Again
  • Claude Julien Fired By Montreal Canadiens
  • Senators Acquire Ryan Dzingel From Hurricanes
  • Pittsburgh Penguins Hire Brian Burke, Ron Hextall
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • MLB Trade Rumors
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors

Pro Hockey Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • Atlantic
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Central
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Metropolitan
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Pacific
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Partners
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Montreal Canadiens Demanding Second-Round Pick For Kovalchuk

February 1, 2020 at 7:30 pm CDT | by Holger Stolzenberg 8 Comments

The Montreal Canadiens look like they struck gold in January when they signed recently released Ilya Kovalchuk to a minimum-salary, two-way deal on Jan. 3. The former NHL and then KHL star looked like his days of making an impact at the NHL level were gone, but the team took the chance and brought him aboard.

Now it seems with their playoff chances waning, general manager Marc Bergevin might be getting ready to move the veteran winger with plenty of capped-out playoff teams likely to get into line to bring the veteran star aboard for a playoff run. However, the price is likely to be high as TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that several teams have reported that Bergevin’s asking price is no less than a second-round pick to rent him for the remainder of the season.

The cost could make sense despite the fact that Kovalchuk’s NHL career looked to be over after the Kings placed him on unconditional waivers to get rid of him. The 36-year-old has posted five goals and nine points in 11 games for Montreal and showed the team great leadership, which has been invaluable to many of the team’s younger players. That is another reason why Bergevin is also considering signing Kovalchuk to an extension before the deadline as well. Of course, any thoughts that L.A. could be garnering that pick forget that the Kings are still on the hook next season for $6.25MM when they terminated his contract. The key to Montreal’s jackpot is that Kovachuk’s new deal is worth just $700K.

It’s likely that a decision on the veteran isn’t going to be made until the final days before the trade deadline. Much will depend on whether the Canadiens feel they could get a second-rounder (or possibly even more) for Kovalchuk or the direction the team is heading down as we get into late February, although a playoff run still seems unlikely. Regardless, Kovalchuk has been a steal for the Canadiens who risked little to bring him aboard and will get rewarded for it one way or another.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email

Ilya Kovalchuk| Marc Bergevin| Montreal Canadiens

Trade Deadline Primer: San Jose Sharks
Main
Winnipeg’s Dustin Byfuglien “Most Likely” To Miss Season
8 comments
newest oldest

Comments

  1. amk3510

    1 year ago

    The Kings should be ashamed of themselves if this happens. Although I really doubt Kovy nets a 2nd round pick.

    Like
    Reply
    • Sillysundin

      1 year ago

      The way he has played in Montreal I could see him getting a 2nd, teams like Dallas,islanders,pens and Calgary could get into a bidding war! People seem to forget he is only making 700000 so no problems getting him under the cap

      Like
      Reply
    • JDGoat

      1 year ago

      They would have had trouble getting a second though with both term and salary, even if Kovalchuk played like this. Montreal probably still will have trouble getting one, but at least it’s plausible since he’s making nothing.

      Like
      Reply
    • JT19

      1 year ago

      Even if Kovalchuk was playing well with the Kings, it would’ve been extremely unlikely that the Kings would’ve gotten a second round pick back. His salary would’ve been an issue and the Kings would probably have to eat some of his contract, or take a contract back, just to get good value.

      Like
      Reply
  2. Vin Scully

    1 year ago

    Nobody is stupid enough to give up a second.

    Like
    Reply
    • Sillysundin

      1 year ago

      Lol we gave a first and 2 prospects for muzzin and a 1st just to get rid of Marleau! I’d say the chances are pretty good the Habs get a second trade deadline and July 1st gm go nuts

      Like
      Reply
  3. SuperSinker

    1 year ago

    I think it can be an achievable benchmark, provided he continues to produce. Being able to add a weapon on the wing like him for 700k is hard to find. He’s been a revelation in Montreal. Anything less than a 2nd and I’d rather Bergevin extend him for a year.

    Like
    Reply
  4. WalterNYR

    1 year ago

    You ask for a 2nd and settle for a 3rd and a 5th.

    Like
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Blues Activate Vladimir Tarasenko From LTIR

    Calgary Flames Fire Geoff Ward

    Brent Seabrook Will Not Play Again

    Claude Julien Fired By Montreal Canadiens

    Senators Acquire Ryan Dzingel From Hurricanes

    Pittsburgh Penguins Hire Brian Burke, Ron Hextall

    Mikko Koivu Announces Retirement

    Jim Rutherford Resigns As Pittsburgh Penguins GM

    Winnipeg Jets Acquire Pierre-Luc Dubois For Patrik Laine, Jack Roslovic

    Minnesota Wild Acquire Ian Cole

    Recent

    Tom Wilson Suspended Seven Games

    Buffalo Sabres “Wide Open” For Business

    Trade Deadline Primer: Arizona Coyotes

    COVID Protocol Related Absences: 03/06/21

    PHR Mailbag: Flames, DeBrusk, Devils, Trade Deadline, Sabres, Mayhew, Bednar, Goalies

    Blues Activate Vladimir Tarasenko From LTIR

    Snapshots: Canucks, Rutta, Lehner, Gardiner

    Sabres Notes: Trade Aggression, Goaltending, Hall

    Predators Place Matt Duchene On Injured Reserve

    Taxi Squad Shuffle: 03/06/21

    Rumors By Team

    Rumors By Team

    • Avalanche Rumors
    • Blackhawks Rumors
    • Blue Jackets Rumors
    • Blues Rumors
    • Bruins Rumors
    • Canadiens Rumors
    • Canucks Rumors
    • Capitals Rumors
    • Coyotes Rumors
    • Devils Rumors
    • Ducks Rumors
    • Flames Rumors
    • Flyers Rumors
    • Golden Knights Rumors
    • Hurricanes Rumors
    • Islanders Rumors
    • Jets Rumors
    • Kings Rumors
    • Lightning Rumors
    • Maple Leafs Rumors
    • Oilers Rumors
    • Panthers Rumors
    • Penguins Rumors
    • Predators Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Red Wings Rumors
    • Sabres Rumors
    • Senators Rumors
    • Sharks Rumors
    • Stars Rumors
    • Wild Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives

    PHR Info

    • About
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

    scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version