Several hockey sources (including Helene Elliot of the L.A. Times) are reporting that the Los Angeles Kings and Ilya Kovalchuk are talking deal.
The biggest stumbling block is, of course, money, with Kovalchuk believed to be asking for a long term deal in the $10 million per year range.
The Kings finished the 2009-10 season with a 46-27-9 record, good enough for sixth overall in the Western Conference.
While offense was not an issue for the Kings last season (averaged 2.82 goals per game—eighth best in the NHL), the addition of Kovalchuk (who has the potential to score 50 goals in any given season) would catapult the Kings into an offensive juggernaut, giving their young defense and average goaltending some much needed breathing room.
The Kings currently have $44,713,334 committed to 16 players, leaving them with a total of $17,526,666 in salary cap money with which to sign six players. The Kings are thought to be looking for Kovalchuk to come down from his $10 million demand, that said, even if the Kings did sign him for $10 million per, the Kings would have plenty of cap dollars left to shore up their lineup.
The addition of Kova ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Mark Ritter
NHL Free Agency: Ilya Kovalchuk and Los Angeles Kings Talking?
July 2nd, 2010 by Mark Ritter Leave a reply »
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