Poll: Would You Trade for Kovalchuk
With the Rangers in a 145 minute scoring drought, the desire for a bigger scoring threat becomes much greater. If the Thrashers cannot sign star forward Ilya Kovalchuk to a long-term deal, expect GM Don Waddell to trade Kovalchuk. This is probably the best bet for Atlanta, who would get some good pieces in a deal to help build a contender.
As for the Rangers, I ran down what it would take to land Kovalchuk. If the deal looked something like this:
To Rangers: Ilya Kovalchuk, 2010 5th round pick
To Thrashers: Brandon Dubinsky, Bobby Sanguinetti, 2010 1st round pick, 2011 3rd round pick, 2011 1st round pick (if Kovalchuk re-signs)
Roster Moves: Rangers waive Wade Redden, re-call Ilkka Heikkinen.
Would you take the deal? Remember, if Kovalchuk does not re-sign, then he turns into a rental that cost you Dubinsky and Sanguinetti. Is this a risk you are willing to take?
To make things interesting, assume that Glen Sather will not have a period of time to negotiate with Kovalchuk before the deal.
Poll is off to the right.
By stuart, January 15, 2010 @ 12:41 pm
no team wins them all but when you are not overly talented you need to work hard. the rangers did not and lost 2 points.
this team is not very talented, play hard and smart and they can be competitive.