Leafs not interested in Kovalchuk

[dash]

Yesterday, ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun had a quote from Leafs GM Brian Burke basically squashing any speculation his team would be in the mix for Kovalchuk, saying simply: “We're not going to be involved in that race.”

Kovalchuk interested in Leafs; Burke says nyet - The Globe and Mail

 

[The Q stache]

Its probably mutual anyways

 

[jstewismybastardson]

IMO, outstanding comparison here

As ambiguous unfair as this might sound, Kovalchuk has a bit of the Shareef Abdur-Rahim in him. Yes, seriously. Just hear me out.

Shareef had a pretty good stint as an elite NBA scorer; from 1997 to 2002 he averaged at least 20.3 points per game and cracked the top five in scoring twice (many forget Shareef was, at one point, averaging more PPG than Allen Iverson and Tim Duncan). Of course, Shareef's numbers came with a gigantic asterisk because his teams were so unbelievably brutal, the classic good-numbers-on-bad-team kind of guy. This was pretty much his rep throughout his 14 year career. Poor 'Reef didn't even make the playoffs until he was 29 years old.

The good-numbers-bad-team tag will be a sticking point for any team thinking of investing in Kovalchuk. So will his postseason resume. He has nine playoff games to his credit and was part of two of the bigger fold jobs in recent memory

 

[davnlaguna]

I hear that Kings fans have a HUGE intrest in Kovy. I would rather the Kings spent a little less for a mid level scorer and pick up a mid level D-Man as well. I am worried that banking the next 10 years on one guy will kill the team if something goes wrong.

I would not be surprised if the Kings do sign him. LA likes big names over had work.

 

[awaz]

i'd shy away from kovalchuk.. i just dont think he has a winner's mentality and thats possibly the most important thing in a hockey player

 

[sbb122]

Sorry, i don't believe it. HBK told me he is signing on july 1st.........

 

[Comeds]

I do think he had a change of attitude and maturity in the last couple of seasons. I'd be happy to have him on my team.

 

[puckhead]

I do think he had a change of attitude and maturity in the last couple of seasons. I'd be happy to have him on my team.

agreed, he'd be a heck on an asset on any team.
but not for the $10mill he's looking for.

 

[dash]

agreed, he'd be a heck on an asset on any team.
but not for the $10mill he's looking for.

Wasn't Gillis prepared to give Sundin $10 million a couple of seasons ago? Salary cap should be just under $59 million this season.

/just asking

 

[TOX1]

Sorry, i don't believe it. HBK told me he is signing on july 1st.........

LOL

 

[puckhead]

Wasn't Gillis prepared to give Sundin $10 million a couple of seasons ago? Salary cap should be just under $59 million this season.

/just asking

yes he was - a 2 year term, too. Thank goodness Mats took 6 months to decide.
I think it ended up being about $8.5m prorated, but he only played 40ish games.
He did end up being a point-per-game player in the playoffs, though. that's all I was looking for.
I don't know how, but he was also pretty instrumental in turning Kesler from promise to realized.