.. I almost laughed out loud reading this. Sure, it's feaseble to ask for if your GM Don Waddell since you're trading your star player. But, I can't see the Rangers even entertaining this offer. Thanks, but no thanks.
UPDATE 1:41 PM: Craig Custance, writer for The Sporting News, wrote an article believing the San Jose Sharks could be involved in Kovalchuk trade talks and shouldnt be ruled out.
.. If San Jose were to acquire Kovalchuk, I'd be afraid to play against them. However, acquiring someone of Kovalchuk's calibar means parting ways with the likes of Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski and/or Devin Setoguchi, and I'm not sure San Jose would do that.
UPDATE THURSDAY 9:43 AM: Kevin Allen of USA Today tweets that Kovalchuk deal "probably" won't happen today.
UPDATE 8:53 PM: According to Craig Custance's Twitter page, the Devils have inquired about Kovalchuk and could be one of the 6 teams "seriously interested."
.. I don't see Kovalchuk going to New Jersey. In this tweet, Custance also mentions the Devils were in on the Hossa sweepstakes a couple years back before being dealt to Pittsburgh, offering Brian Gionta. So, the desire is there, however, I don't know if Kovalchuk would want to come play in Jacques Lemaire's defensive-minded system.
UPDATE 8:15 PM: Kevin Dupont of the Boston Globe tweets that Boston is NOT one of the teams considered to land Kovalchuk.
.. Cross Boston off the list.
UPDATE 7:59 PM: Kevin Allen of USA Today tweets this:
1. Kovalchuk deal won't happen tonight. 2. Surprise teams in the mix. 3. Atlanta will get better return than it got for Hossa.
.. No. 2 goes along with my speculation that Columbus could be involved in the Kovalchuk sweepstakes.
Original - Darren Dreger, who does an excellent job for TSN, had this to say on his Twitter today:
Don Waddell met with Kovalchuk today to tell him he should expect a trade. 5 or more teams still in.
Wow, this is big news for the NHL and GM's looking to make a splash. We've had 3 major deals happen this week, but this would top them all if it were to go down. Kovalchuk will demand premium, top-end talent, along with high draft picks in any deal.
Obviously, the Rangers will be inquiring. Glen Sather wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't. However, I don't know if we have the pieces GM Don Waddell & Atlanta would be looking in return for their franchise player. And, as I've said on here before, the Rangers don't have the long-term cap space to sign Kovalchuk to a deal he wants, despite moving Kotalik's contract to calgary.
Los Angeles seems to be a good fit, having young talent and the car room to sign him long term. My sleeper team is the Columbus Blue Jackets. They just made a major move today, firing head coach Ken Hitchcock, one year after taking them to the playoffs for the 1st time in franchise history. GM Scott Howson might be looking to continue rocking the foundation of Columbus by bringing in Kovalchuk. This is pure speculation on my part.
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