Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Ilya Kovalchuk

Offseason Keys: New Jersey Devils

at CDT | by 2 Comments

While the expansion draft is set to headline a busy NHL offseason, there are still several other storylines for each team in the months ahead. Here is a closer look at what lies ahead for the New Jersey Devils.

Last offseason, Devils GM Ray Shero took a big swing with the addition of Taylor Hall up front in the hopes that he would bolster their offense.  That didn’t exactly happen as the team managed one fewer goal scored than they did in 2015-16.  Their blueline struggled with the loss of Adam Larsson and as a result, they were near the top of the league in goals allowed.  Not surprisingly, those two issues resulted in a tie for 27th place overall meaning that it’s time to go back to the drawing board for Shero who has a few intriguing decisions to make this summer.

The Number One Pick – Keep Or Trade?

While there weren’t many good things happening on the ice in New Jersey, they did get some good news off it with their victory in the NHL Draft Lottery.  Unfortunately for them, this draft class lacks the top flight star that we’ve seen the last couple of years while there isn’t even a consensus top selection.

Accordingly, many wonder if this might be an appropriate time to deal the top pick away.  There isn’t a whole lot of precedent for doing so but with young, cheap, and controllable talent being much more valuable now in the salary cap era, the Devils could potentially land a core player that could make an impact right away.

If they decide to keep the pick, it’s likely between a pair of centers for the top spot in Nolan Patrick (Brandon, WHL) and Nico Hischier (Halifax, QMJHL).  Patrick is more of the all-around player but Hischier could certainly be enticing to a team that still needs to add some offensive punch to their lineup.

The Kovalchuk Situation

Although Ilya Kovalchuk retired from NHL action in 2013 and the team is eating a small cap hit of $250K per season through 2024-25 in salary cap recapture, the Devils are poised to facilitate a move that will allow them to get something for a player that isn’t playing for them.

Apr 25, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils right wing Ilya Kovalchuk (17) skates with the puck during the second period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY SportsKovalchuk has made it known that he would like to take himself off the Voluntary Retired List and return to NHL action next season.  He can do so and enter free agency if the 30 other teams approve.  That’s not going to happen which opens up a sign-and-trade scenario.

While the 34 year doesn’t appear to have much interest in returning to New Jersey, the team still has some leverage in that they have to get good enough value in a deal to entice them to facilitate Kovalchuk’s return, especially given the weak free agent market up front in terms of impact forwards.  It’s not likely that they’ll command a premium return but Shero should be able to at least add an asset or two which, for someone that ‘retired’ a few years ago, is still not bad.  He could opt to try to add draft picks but he could also wind up with a player in return, especially if the acquiring team needs to shed some salary to fit Kovalchuk onto their payroll.

Add Defensive Help

The Devils didn’t have the deepest of defense corps before they moved Larsson last offseason and they certainly missed his presence on the back end in 2016-17.  They’re missing a true shutdown defender that can anchor a penalty kill and be counted on in late game situations and while John Moore scored 12 goals this season, he’s far from the key offensive threat that any team with eyes on a playoff push needs.

Accordingly, expect the blueline to be something New Jersey will focus on this offseason.  If they do dangle the number one pick, they could potentially add a core defender with several years of team control which.  It’s unlikely that they’ll do the opposite of last year and trade a key forward for a defender but they could conceivably look to the trade route to upgrade their bottom half.

It also wouldn’t be surprising to see Shero take a run at the biggest fish on the back end in free agency in Kevin Shattenkirk.  The Devils have just $51.6MM committed in payroll for next season and have the cap space to make a big splash.  There are several other players who could step in and play a top four role for them so there’s a good chance that they will be look to be active on the open market in July.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Nikita Gusev Does Not Plan To Leave KHL For Lightning

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Amidst the signing of Vadim Shipachyov with the Vegas Golden Knights and rumors of Ilya Kovalchuk and Evgeni Dadonov hoping to make the move to the NHL as well, reigning KHL champion SKA St. Petersburg can at least take some solace in the fact that at least one of their star players would like to return. According to the Tampa Bay Times’ Joe Smith, Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Nikita Gusev has no plans to jump ship to North America. A current free agent, Gusev instead hopes to re-sign with SKA.

Despite the ample attention that 28-year-old Dadonov is getting from NHL team right now, it was actually the 24-year-old Gusev who finished third on the team in scoring this season behind Shipachyov and Kovalchuk. Gusev scored 71 points in 57 games to Dadonov’s 66 point in 53 games, even narrowly edging him out in points per game. The 2012 seventh-rounder additionally led the team in playoff scoring with seven goals and 16 assists in 18 postseason games en route to a title. At 5’11” and 181-lbs., Gusev is quick and elusive and possesses top end puck-handling skills. He also has a penchant for play-making, finishing third overall in the KHL with 47 assists in 2016-17.

Gusev is certaintly a promising player, but doesn’t appear to be ready to follow in Nikita Kucherov’s footsteps and take his talents to Tampa and to the best league in the world. Kucherov committed to the Lightning and to the NHL at age 20 and has developed into one of the most dangerous scorers in the world. However, Kucherov also never had the impact on a KHL team that Gusev has had. With Shipachyov, Kovalchuk, and Dadonov all likely gone, Gusev knows that if he puts off on any NHL aspirations and doesn’t join a crowded Tampa forward group, he has the chance to be the leader of SKA and knows the fame (and payday) that would bring. So, for now, Lightning fans will have to wait on adding yet another elite Russian weapon.

Latest On Ilya Kovalchuk’s Impending Return

at CDT | by 3 Comments

While it has been speculated and rumored for months, Pierre LeBrun of TSN confirmed today with New Jersey Devils GM Ray Shero that Ilya Kovalchuk does indeed plan on returning to the NHL this season. LeBrun adds that Shero has given Kovalchuk’s camp permission to talk to other teams about potential deals, but that a sign-and-trade would have to be beneficial to the Devils before agreeing to it.

Kovalchuk can sign with New Jersey as soon as July 1st, but could only sign a contract directly with another team should every GM in the league sign off on it. That is almost certainly not going to happen, meaning a sign-and-trade is the only option for the Russian winger (outside of playing in New Jersey next season). The former 50-goal man may not have the immediate impact of his youth, but still scored 32 goals and 78 points in the KHL last season. The Devils are in a win-win scenario, allowing them to either get another scoring winger on their club or an asset for a contract that was signed a very long time ago.

LeBrun for what it’s worth said on TSN 1050 Leafs Lunch right after breaking the news that he doesn’t believe that Kovalchuk is going to play for the Devils, and also teased that this is New Jersey’s last chance to get an asset for him. Next summer, Kovalchuk would become an unrestricted free agent in the NHL able to sign with anyone.

If there is a fit somewhere in the league, Kovalchuk would be signing a brand new deal in the NHL. His old contract wouldn’t be taken into account, nor do the Devils owe him any of that money. That’s not to say that he won’t be expensive though to whoever does sign him, as the 34-year old will still likely command a big deal. One of the most dominant power wingers in his time, Kovalchuk could help anyone’s top six right now, but it is hard to see him keeping an elite level of play into his late-30s.

Ilya Kovalchuk Wants Sign-And-Trade To NYC Or Florida

at CDT | by 4 Comments

As reported last week, Russian veteran forward Ilya Kovalchuk, who has played the last four years in the KHL, wants to return to the NHL next year. The 34-year-old wing now says he would like a sign-and-trade out of New Jersey, according to the New York Post’s Larry Brooks. It was also tweeted by Russian reporter Slava Malamud that Kovalchuk would prefer to stay in New York City or move to Florida.

Kovalchuk, whose rights are still owned by the New Jersey Devils, would need a sign-and-trade deal to get him to one of those locations as he has made it clear that his family is a top priority on where he plays next season. It’s quite clear the Devils, who finished near the bottom of the NHL this past season, are not on his wishlist.

The veteran is coming off his best season in the last four years for St. Petersburg SKA, tallying 32 goals and 46 assists for 78 points in 60 games. He put up 11 goals and 20 assists for the Devils in the shortened 2012-13 season. In 2011-12, Kovalchuk put up 37 goals and 46 assists. So, while his production is not at issue, his contract is. His contract still had 12 years and $77MM remaining when he left the Devils for the KHL.

 

Metro Division Snapshots: Connolly, Kovalchuk, Rangers

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

After dropping the opener of their Eastern Conference semifinal match-up against Pittsburgh, the Washington Capitals have elected to make at least one lineup change in advance of game two. According to a tweet from Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post, Paul Carey will draw into the lineup replacing Brett Connolly. As the scribe noted prior to the start of the series, Connolly had his ATOI cut back drastically in the latter half of their six-game series win over Toronto, averaging less than six minutes per contest in games four through six so perhaps a healthy scratch shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.

Limited ice time is nothing new this season for Connolly. The six-year vet averaged just 10:41 per game yet managed to set a career-high in the goal scoring department with 15. In fact, among all NHL players who reached that threshold, Connolly saw the lowest ATOI per game. The lack of playing time, both during the regular season and playoffs, would appear to inject some doubt as to how interested the Capitals will be in renewing their working relationship beyond the current campaign with the former first-round draft pick. Connolly is scheduled to be a RFA and will likely seek a significant bump in pay over his 2016-17 salary of $850K based on his solid goal scoring ouput. With several key regulars – T.J. Oshie, Kevin Shattenkirk, Karl Alzner and Justin Williams among them – approaching unrestricted free agency and with RFA’s Andre Burakovsky and Evgeny Kuznetsov also needing new contracts, the Capitals will have a difficult time re-signing or replacing all the talent they may lose with just $20MM in projected cap space. Salary cap considerations may also prompt the team to move on from Connolly this summer, meaning he might be available via trade for any interested parties.

Elsewhere in the Metro Division:

  • It’s been reported that Ilya Kovalchuk may be preparing a return to the NHL after four years of self-exile playing in the KHL. As it stands, he is still property of the New Jersey Devils, unless all 30 NHL GM’s agree to allow Kovy to sign with another team. Of course, while the Devils could certainly use the offensive boost Kovalchuk would bring, they likely aren’t close enough to serious contention to justify committing the necessary salary cap resources to an aging, albeit still skilled winger. In fact, they would benefit more by agreeing with an interested club on a sign-and-trade, which would allow Kovalchuk to go to a contending team of his choice with the Devils picking up assets needed to further their rebuild. Whether or not Kovalchuk ultimately returns to the NHL, one thing is certain; the Russian winger will not be representing Team Russia at the upcoming World Championships. According to a report from the Russian sports site SovSport.ru (link in Russian) – H/T to TSN’s Gord Miller for retweeting the link – Kovalchuk has, or will soon undergo knee surgery and is expected to miss the next month to recover. Evidently the knee was an issue throughout the KHL playoffs though it wasn’t enough to prevent Kovalchuk from helping his SKA St. Petersburg club from winning the Gagarin Cup. While he won’t have another chance to showcase his skills for interested NHL teams, it’s unlikely this injury will do much to stunt his market, should he elect to come back.
  • Newsday’s Steve Zipay retweeted a report from the Russian Prospects website indicating that coveted young winger Vladimir Tkachyov is slated to attend prospect camp this summer with the New York Rangers. It should be noted that Zipay had yet to independently confirm the report. Tkachyov, an undrafted free agent, spent last season skating with Admiral Vladivostok in the KHL, finishing with 14 goals and 39 points in 49 contests. Prior to returning to Russia, Tkachyov appeared in 66 QMJHL games split between Moncton and Quebec, tallying a combined 26 goals and 79 points. Scouting reports describe the 5-foot-10, 154-pound LW as a dynamic offensive talent and an explosive skater. Tkachyov has been linked to Toronto and Edmonton previously but at this point it looks like the Rangers may have the first chance to convince the skilled winger to join their organization. The Blueshirts interest is understandable as they favor skill and speed in their roster construction and with the lack of high draft choices in recent seasons due to sacrificing futures in pursuit of a Stanley Cup, adding a talent like Tkachyov helps the team keep the prospect pipeline producing NHL-caliber players.

Latest On Ilya Kovalchuk’s NHL Return

at CDT | by 3 Comments

When it was reported on Saturday night’s Hockey Night In Canada broadcast by Elliotte Friedman that Ilya Kovalchuk could return to the NHL next season, it caused fans around the league to imagine the Russian winger on their team’s top line and hope he could bring some of the elite scoring ability he showed before bolting for the KHL in 2013. While it is still possible for him to play anywhere in the league, Bob McKenzie of TSN wanted to set the record straight on the requirements for Kovalchuk’s return. Ilya Kovalchuk

Since Kovalchuk is still on the Voluntary Retirement List (VRL) for New Jersey, he is able to sign a contract with only the Devils should he return, unless every single team in the NHL signs off on a contract with someone else. Though nothing is impossible, McKenzie (and we here at PHR) believe that getting the entire league to sign off is incredibly unlikely and isn’t the route for Kovalchuk into the league.

Instead, the 34-year old would need to sign with the Devils and then be traded to whichever team won the bidding, likely resulting in an asset for the Devils in return. The team cannot trade his rights while he is still on the VRL, meaning they would need to do a sign-and-trade should he expect to play for a different team. Of course, that would likely remove several teams from contention since the Devils would not want to watch Kovalchuk play on a rival squad.

Though he’s been away from the NHL for several years, Kovalchuk is still regarded as one of the top scoring wingers in the world and would draw significant interest if he was a normal free agent. Because of the New Jersey requirement however, it may sour some teams on the whole process, unsure of what exactly they’re getting and for how long. Though the NHL and KHL generally respect each other’s contracts, Kovalchuk has been involved in grey-area transactions before and likely doesn’t have all that many more elite-level years left anyway. It will be interesting to see who pursues him, or if it is the Devils themselves that bring him back into the fold. For a team that has trouble scoring goals, but has a lot of money tied up in their aging core, perhaps adding a player of Kovalchuk’s stature would be a last-ditch effort to create a contender in New Jersey with this group.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Kovalchuk Flirting With Return?

at CDT | by 6 Comments

Per Elliotte Friedman, Ilya Kovalchuk is considering his possible return to the NHL. The star Russian winger left New Jersey following the shortened 2012-13 season, officially retiring from the NHL. His contract had 12 years and $77 MM remaining, ending a contract which had caused a massive headache for both the league and the Devils franchise. The initial Kovalchuk contract was determined to be cap-circumventing, one of many deals prior to the new CBA that placed extended years onto a player’s contract in order to bring the average annual cap hit down for the team. The re-organized deal was largely guilty of the same machinations, although it was accepted by league – but not before the Devils franchise was punished by losing a first and third (the former being eventually re-awarded) round draft pick. When Kovalchuk decided to “retire” merely a year after New Jersey had made the Stanley Cup Final, the contract was essentially cancelled. This was beneficial to both Kovalchuk (who looked to earn more in the KHL) and the Devils ownership (who were struggling financially), although the move was unorthodox and generally maligned. In the post-Kovalchuk era, New Jersey’s team identity was essentially lost, accompanied by the previous loss of Zach Parise and subsequent departure of GM Lou Lamoriello.

If Kovalchuk were to return, the stigma of his faux retirement will likely linger in the minds of NHL owners. If you sign the forward to an extended contract, what guarantee is there that he will honor it? The KHL will always be looming over financial negotiations, an extra competing factor general managers would be happy to do without. Then there is the matter of Kovalchuk’s age – he is now 34, and not quite in the prime  years he was when he left North America. In his last (nearly) full season, the winger amassed a ridiculous 37 goals and 43 assists – but that was 5 seasons ago.

Nonetheless, Kovalchuk has proven overseas that he is still a very effective, dynamic star. This past season with SKA St. Petersburg, he collected 32 goals and 46 assists in only 60 games, helping to lead the squad to a Gagarin Cup title. His speed has not significantly decreased, and he looks just as deadly leading a forecheck or driving the net as he did in the States. Kovalchuk, a former Atlanta Thrasher star, had been criticized early in his career for his one-dimensional offensive play. But his greater focus on the defensive aspects of his game helped carry his underdog Devils to the Finals shortly before his departure. Although the KHL admittedly plays a game tailored more to goal-scoring and creativity, Kovalchuk has seemingly maintained some of those good two-way habits.

Regardless of your feelings on Kovalchuk as a player, he would instantaneously be in the conversation for top-5 winger in the league were he to return at anywhere near the same level. Long-term contracts may prove to be a sticking point for owners, but this is the sort of player that could inspire a sweepstakes of bidding and negotiations. He is still a game-changer with incredible offensive flair and consistent production – nearly every general manager would be wise to consider making an inquiry.

New York Rangers Recall Pavel Buchnevich

at CDT | by 2 Comments

Well that didn’t take long. After sending Pavel Buchnevich down to the Hartford Wolfpack two days ago, the New York Rangers have deemed him necessary once again. He has been recalled to the NHL ahead of their game against the Boston Bruins tonight.

Buchnevich scored two goals and recorded an assist in the Wolfpack’s 4-3 victory last night, making it five points in the four games he’s spent in the AHL this season. In his 21 NHL contests, the 21-year old Russian forward has registered 15 points.

Drafted in the third round in 2013, this is Buchnevich’s first year on North American ice. He played in the KHL the past four seasons including alongside Ilya Kovalchuk and several other former NHLers on St. Petersburg at the end of last year. The rail-thin forward has magic hands that can do pretty much anything with the puck, and like other Russian snipers that have come before him has a howitzer from the circle.

Though the adjustments are still being made to the NHL game and ice, Buchnevich should be a good player in the league for a long time. His recall comes after news that Jesper Fast will miss a few weeks after being injured in practice. The Rangers added defense at the deadline, but will use Buchnevich as their forward addition.

Snapshots: Dubinsky, Kovalchuk, Lightning

at CDT | by 2 Comments

News and notes from around the NHL this evening:

  • The Columbus Blue Jackets will be without forward Brandon Dubinsky tonight against the Boston Bruins, reports Fox Sports Ohio’s Dave Maetzgold. Dubinsky is still day-to-day with a lower body injury—first reported by Columbus Dispatch’s Aaron Portzline—that forced him to miss Wednesday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks. The American center has struggled out of the gate, posting 0G and 2A in 10 games for the Blue Jackets. The Jackets, meanwhile, have called up Markus Hannikainen from the Cleveland Monsters to replace Dubinsky in the lineup. The 23 year-old has 4G and 3A in 11 games for the Cleveland Monsters to start the season.
  • The Ilya Kovalchuk to the NHL rumors are heating up again. PHR first reported last week that Kovalchuk was mulling a return to the NHL, and the Russian confirmed that in a lengthy interview on the KHL website (link in Russian). Kovalchuk basically states that he would not foreclose the option to return, but he did not affirmatively state that he is seeking a return. Because Kovalchuk is in his final contract year, however, his statements could just be posturing to get a larger contract from SKA St. Petersburg or another KHL team. Kovalchuk is off to a great start this season, scoring 16G and 20A in 28 games, and may look to parlay that into a lucrative contract—KHL or elsewhere.
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning have scratched Nikita Nesterov tonight to make room for Valtteri Filppula against the New York Islanders tonight, reports Tampa Bay Lightning beat writer Bryan Burns. Nesterov is currently pointless in ten games for Tampa Bay, while Filppula has 4G and 5A in 12 games. Also missing from warmups is Jonathan Drouin, who suffered a head injury against the same Islanders on November 1st.

Snapshots: Kovalchuk, Sabres, Kings

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Could former NHL star Ilya Kovalchuk be looking to follow in Alexander Radulov’s footsteps next summer?

KHL analyst Aivis Kalniņš believes Kovalchuk wants to return to the NHL. The Russian sniper retired from the NHL back in 2013 in order to play in the KHL after 11 seasons in North America. He was just three seasons into a controversial 15-year, $100MM contract when he retired.

Kalniņš reported that CSKA has begun contract talks with former NHLers Kovalchuk and Viktor Tikhonov; while Tikhonov is considered close to an extension, Kovalchuk is not. It’s a similar situation to Radulov, in that CSKA attempted to sign him but he chose to leave money on the table to give the NHL another go.

Whether or not the NHL allows Kovalchuk to return is another question. Because he signed his voluntary retirement papers, all 30 NHL teams would have to approve the move. It’s unlikely that 29 teams would approve a competitor’s bid to sign a former consistent 30-plus goal scorer.

  • Brayton J. Wilson of WGR 550 in Buffalo reported a hard-to-believe stat about the Sabres. With their win over Minnesota, the Sabres are now 4-3-2, or one game over 0.500. Wilson reported that this is the first time the Sabres have been over 0.500 since the third game of the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. That’s 299 games ago, and a sign of the harsh realities of being a struggling franchise in the NHL.
  • After being shut out for the third consecutive game, Los Angeles Kings coach Darryl Sutter told reporters his message to the team was “there’s nobody coming in on a white horse to play goal for us or score goals or to come up [from the minors].” The Kings have approximately $1MM in salary cap space, despite placing the injured Jonathan Quick on LTIR. While Quick’s injury does give them some space in the interim, that would go away when he returns in three months, which rules out trading for Jaroslav Halak and likely Ondrej Pavelec too.

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

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

scroll to top