Acquisition of Jason Arnott doesn't take Devils out of Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes

Acquisition of Jason Arnott doesn't take Devils out of Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes
Richard Chere The Star Ledger June 19, 2010

Jason Arnott brings size, strength, a powerful shot and experience to the Devils.

The veteran center also brings a $4.5 million salary.

But Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said Arnott’s salary doesn’t take the Devils out of the running to possibly sign both defenseman Paul Martin and winger Ilya Kovalchuk. Both can become unrestricted free agents July 1.

“No. You have to do other things to make room,” the GM said. “We didn’t win. We’re going to have to make some changes. There are going to be some changes that might surprise some people.


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The Province's UFA of the Day -- Ilya Kovalchuk

Mike Halford The Province June 15, 2010

From now until June 30, we'll be taking a daily look at this year's unrestricted free agency class. Today's UFA of the Day? Ilya Kovalchuk.

Age: 27

NHL seasons: 8

2009-10 team/salary: Atlanta Thrashers/New Jersey Devils, $6.4 million

Why teams might want him: If there's a (goalscoring) problem yo, he'll solve it.

Point blank, Kovalchuk is a consistently elite sniper. He's posted six straight 40-goal seasons (and two 50-plus goal campaigns) which, in terms of goalscoring prowess, puts him in some pretty rarefied air. Since the lockout, only Alexander Ovechkin has scored more goals -- that puts Kovy ahead of snipe shows like Dany Heatley, Sidney Crosby, Marian Gaborik, Jarome Iginla and Marian Hossa, to name a few.

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What Would You Do To Land the Most Prized UFA?

What Would You Do To Land the Most Prized UFA?
Michelle Kenneth, Michelle Kenneth's Hockey and Musings Blog, June 8, 2010


The #1 UFA approaching the market is none other than Ilya Kovalchuk.

While most people think that Kovalchuk will sign in the KHL (because who wouldn’t want to be paid an exorbitant amount of money for a short amount of time), whoever said that Kovalchuk was all about money?

There are elements that people leave out in how Kovalchuk will make his decision. The #1 factor…Kovalchuk is a family man. He wants to go to a FAMILY ORIENTED TEAM.

There are things that Kovalchuk changed about the way he played and the way he was a team member, just to fit into the dynamics of the New Jersey Devils for a few months. What makes you think he wasn’t INTERVIEWING the Devils for the job as his new workplace?

Kovalchuk can go to just about any team in the world right now. But where he ends up going has everything to do with where he wants to relocate his family. Kovalchuk is a family man, so his decisions will be purely based on what team and location will benefit his family the most.


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Inside Kovalchuk's value, where he will sign as free-agent star

Dmitry Chesnokov Yahoo! Sports Puck Daddy June 5, 2010

There is no name entering this summer's free agency bigger than Ilya Kovalchuk.

Come to think of it, there has not been a player entering the free agency bigger than Ilya Kovalchuk in the "new" salary cap NHL. Some arguments may be made about players like Marian Hossa or Brian Campbell. But they are just not on the same level.

A few things will come into play when Kovalchuk makes his career choice this summer: He is looking for commitment, which means there will be no 1-year deals for a chance at the Cup. He wants the team he chooses to be a contender throughout his stay there. Compensation is also very important. And the city is important -- Kovalchuk has three children.

What about the money? How could he have turned down $100 million with the Atlanta Thrashers? And how much is he looking to get?

First of all, all that talk about the KHL is just lunacy. There is no chance he is going back to Russia, regardless of how many oil dollars they try to throw at him.

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For Devils, Kovalchuk Means Much More than Goals and Assists

The Devil's Advocate June 4, 2010

On the evening of February 4, GM Lou Lamoriello galvanized the fanbase and his slumping team behind the explosive Russian sniper Ilya Kovalchuk, the league’s most prolific scorer since 2004; and while Kovalchuk did not deliver the astronomical offensive production the Devils hoped for and needed, he did provide flashes of brilliance and a boatload of heart, something his teammates sorely lacked during their swift playoff exit.

Kovalchuk wasn’t flawless by any means, though. He frequently turned over the puck on the powerplay, and his insistence on skating through the entire opposing team was often met by pokechecks and groans from wide-open teammates. Yet his persistence and physicality was admirable, particularly considering the rest of the team looked nauseatingly indifferent. Kovalchuk’s ten goals were not enough to revitalize the Devils’ offense, but he was a point-per-game player in twenty seven regular season games and five playoff contests.

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The Kovalchuk Effect: Examining What Ilya Kovalchuk Has Brought To New Jersey And How Much He Means To The Franchise

Will Kovalchuk Remain With Devils?
Michelle Kenneth Yardbarker.com May 27, 2010

There are a lot of dynamics that go into a successful team. For the Devils, Lou Lamoriello makes sure that the person he selects to add to his roster is an individual that he knows will fit into the locker room.

For Ilya Kovalchuk, he seemed to be a perfect fit to the roster. His passion to join a team that could win was more important than the dollars and cents in the end. He proved that by turning down the $101 Million, 12-year contract offer from the Atlanta Thrashers. He also followed it up by telling the press in New Jersey that he wanted to be part of a winning team. He would take a pay cut if that’s what it meant to remain a part of a winning team.

For Devils management, that is music to their ears.

As the rumors are currently running rampant that Kovalchuk already has two KHL offers on the table, it could be just a ploy (by announcing it in the media) to get the Russian more money from NHL teams. Just how much are the Devils willing to pay Kovalchuk to keep the superstar there?

You can look at the stats all you want. You can look at the salary cap all you want. What I’m looking at is just how valuable it is to the Devils to keep the happy Russian on their roster.

The comparison between Kovalchuk and Zach Parise has been made constantly over the past few months. In the dollars and cents category, it’s not Parise that brings the masses to Prudential Center. He never has. In Kovalchuk’s short amount of time with the Devils, the numbers at Prudential Center have skyrocketed. Sales for Kovalchuk Devils merchandise also skyrocketed. It was such a hot item, the words, “Sorry, we’re sold out,” could be heard coming from the lips of various retailers.

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Former Devils coach Jacques Lemaire defends decisions made during season

Jacques Lemaire believes the Devils could still be playing hockey this spring.

During almost a month of vacation in Florida since he announced his retirement on April 26, Lemaire has watched the Stanley Cup playoffs and feels the Devils could have been the team coming out of the Eastern Conference.

“We all tried to find the reason why we lost. That’s normal,” Lemaire told The Star-Ledger today. “But criticism shouldn’t be part of trying to find what we could have done differently. To me you have to be objective.”

Lemaire has come under criticism from several Devils players, including captain Jamie Langenbrunner, for the way he handled several team matters during the second half of the season.

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Ilya Kovalchuk's 2009-2010 GVT Suggests His Defense Is Better Than Evengi Malkin

Ilya Kovalchuk Contributed More on Defense than Evgeni Malkin - A Look at Kovalchuk's 2009-10 GVT
John Fischer In Lou We Trust May 19, 2010

Ilya Kovalchuk is a fantastic sniper, a player who has put up 338 goals and 304 assists in 621 games. Standing officially at 6'2" and 230 pounds, Kovalchuk will be one of the hottest names on the free agency market this summer. The New Jersey Devils swung a deal in early February to pick up the erstwhile face of the Atlanta Thrasher franchise and ended up having a good, but not special time in New Jersey. He led the Devils in playoff scoring, but given how the Devils got eliminated, not many are likely going to use his playoff performance as reason why he'll command big dollars this summer.

Shortly after the playoffs, I defended the deal. It was a deal that had to be made. Now Kovalchuk has the option to test the waters for himself. He's in the prime of his career and he's really a special player even beyond the fact that he leads all active NHL players under 30 in goals. Based on observation, it's noticeable that Kovalchuk's puck handling is amazing; he's probably the only Devil who can take on a defenseman and win a one-on-one more than just occasionally; and he can get a shot off from anywhere on the ice.

The advanced statistics interest me more, and not just because they remove confirmation and observation bias. They can go into depth into how well Kovalchuk performed. Maybe we'll learn something beyond the narrative around Kovalchuk. Maybe it can provide a little suggestion into why Lou has begun talks with Kovalchuk's agent, Jay Grossman, about a contract before Paul Martin and his people were contacted, as per Tom Gulitti's article at NorthJersey.com. (Thanks to ILWT reader Bill for the heads-up via e-mail.) Maybe we'll find something about him that we won't particularly miss should he go elsewhere.

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A Reason to Support Ilya Kovalchuk - The 2009-10 New Jersey Devils Roster by PDO

One of the big reasons I'm so interested in advanced statistics is because they provide a different perspective into a player's performance. For example, we know that Ilya Kovalchuk is a goal scorer. He's scored 338 goals in 631 games in his NHL career. This is simple. But how impressive has been his performances? What can help explain his exceptional results?

Well, here's one way: his PDO is quite impressive.

What's PDO? Well, it doesn't stand for anything in particular, as far as I know; but it's meaning is real. PDO is the summation of a team's or a player's on-ice shooting percentage and on-ice save percentage at even strength (5-on-5) play. What makes PDO stand out is that it can quickly show whether a team or player is above the base value of 1. Higher is better, lower is worse, and that's simple. More importantly, as Tyler Dellow found way back in 2008, is that it's usually an unsustainable value. A team's or player's PDO will regress towards their true mean over time. The exceptionally talented player will be able to maintain a PDO above 1 consistently.

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Russian streak continues at Worlds: Kovalchuk tied for team lead with five points in five games

Ilya Kovalchuk's line with Pavel Datsyuk and Evgeni Malkin has Russia on a roll at the 2010 IIHF World Championship in Germany.

Led by Datsyuk's hat trick, the trio collected 10 points in Sunday's 6-1 win over Denmark. Kovalchuk, the Russian captain, tallied three assists and is tied with Alex Ovechkin for the team points lead with two goals and three assists in five games.

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Anssi Salemela Helps Lead Finland to 4-1 Victory Over Czech Republic

Finland 4 – Czech Rep 1 : Three-Goal Third For Finns
Goironpigs.com

Three unanswered goals in the third period carried the day for FINLAND in the 4-1 victory over the CZECH REPUBLIC at the LG Hockey Games tournament from the Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.

The Czechs took an early lead five and a half minutes into the match via Columbus Blue Jackets forward JAKUB VORACEK but the Finns answered with just under seven minutes to go in the second period with a goal from 20-year-old junior international TEEMU HARTIKAINEN of Kalpa Kuopio, a sixth round selection of the Edmonton Oilers (2008, # 163 overall).

New Jersey Devils defenseman ANSSI SALMELA fired Finland to the lead 7:12 into the final period.

Florida Panthers goaltender TOMAS VOKOUN (25 saves) absorbed the loss for the Czech Republic while Tappara Tampere’s 20-year-old HARRI SATERI (22 saves) was successful for Finland.

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Chatting with Ilya Kovalchuk about his future with Devils, NHL

Dmitry Chesnokov Puck Daddy, Yahoo! Sports April 24, 2010

As soon as the series against the Philadelphia Flyers was over, the talk of where the New Jersey Forward Ilya Kovalchuk(notes) may end up. For Kovalchuk, the thought of signing a new contract is not the most important thing in the world right now. Ilya welcomed his third child, a son, in March. And ever since being traded from the Atlanta Thrashers, he hasn't been able to spend a lot of time with his family.

That is why the morning after losing the quarterfinal series, he was packing his bags to catch an afternoon flight to Florida. Oddly enough, he was watching the KHL finals online when SovSport's Pavel Lysenkov called him.

"Wow, Ak Bars just scored," Ilya said right after he answered his phone. "I am watching the KHL finals, rooting for Ak Bars."

Here's Pavel's chat with Kovalchuk:

Q. What can you say about New Jersey?

KOVALCHUK: We didn't get what we really wanted. And we wanted the Stanley Cup.
I am very upset right now.

Are you going to the World Championships?

We'll see. I will talk to [the coaches] about it and we will decide what we'll do. But right now I am flying to Florida where my family lives right now. At least I will see my children. They have been living away from me since the beginning of February when I was traded to New Jersey. We only spent a couple of days together since then.

Going to the World Championships this time is a huge risk because you don't have a contract. You may get injured.

No one is safe from injuries. If you keep thinking about them, you will most certainly get injured. So, I am chasing these kinds of thoughts away. It will be decided soon. But I have to talk to [the coaches].

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Ilya Kovalchuk, "We have to just focus on ourselves"

Devils host must-win Game 5 against Flyers, who are expected to be without Carter, Gagne
Ira Podell Associated Press April 21, 2010

“We have to just focus on ourselves,” Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuk said. “It doesn’t matter who we’re going to play against, who is going to play who. You just have to be better than the other guy in front of you. Everybody has to take that challenge. We can’t lose anymore.”

This is exactly the situation the Devils faced 10 years ago in the Eastern Conference finals against Philadelphia and then rookie goalie Brian Boucher, who again is the Flyers goalie this series.

Brodeur and the Devils erased that 3-1 deficit en route to winning the Stanley Cup. That was the only New Jersey team to accomplish the feat. It has been done 20 times on 229 occasions, including twice by Minnesota Wild teams coached by Lemaire in 2003.

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Ilya Kovalchuk finds game

The Bergen Record April 21, 2010

Ilya Kovalchuk’s adjustment to playoff hockey took a significant turn for the better Wednesday night, though the Devils may have precious little time to enjoy his improved play...

"I felt good all four games," Kovalchuk said. "Sometimes, my [linemates] are in a better position and I have to pass it to them. Sometimes I get good passes from the guys and I take a shot. Again, tonight [Brian Boucher] made some big saves for them at the right time. But we all know we have to do better."

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Kovalchuk hits, scores -- and wins

Please excuse Ilya Kovalchuk if his emotions sometimes get in the way of his spectacular moves and blistering shot.

"I'm an emotional guy and I should stay away from some of that stuff in front of the net, but you have to play tough so sometimes things happen out there," Kovalchuk said.

Players and fans of the New Jersey Devils saw another side of their prized midseason acquisition on Friday night in a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Round at Prudential Center.

Kovalchuk not only produced an empty-net goal, a pair of assists and a plus-2 rating, he also took a game-high six minutes in penalties on the way to earning his first Stanley Cup Playoff victory in six career games.

"It's nice," Kovalchuk said of leaving a playoff game as a winner for the first time. "That's what the playoffs are about. I knew I was going to win at some point. When we come to the rink tonight, we had no doubt in our minds we were going to win. We battled hard; we were down a goal twice and came back to win. It was great teamwork and everyone battled so hard and Marty (Brodeur) made unbelievable save in the third period and (Dainius Zubrus) scored a great goal.


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Devils' Ilya Kovalchuk: I was too emotional in Game 1 vs. Flyers

It was evident in the Devils' dressing room before Game 1 of their playoff series against the Flyers.
Ilya Kovalchuk was not exactly himself.
"He hasn't been in the playoffs that much. With that first game it's just good to get back into it," Dainius Zubrus said. "He had a lot of emotions going on."
Kovalchuk, who has only played in one other playoff series, did not deny that he may have been too fired-up in Game 1 Wednesday night.
"I felt very good physically. Maybe I was a little too emotional, so I overplayed on some plays," Kovalchuk said this morning. "You just have to try your best all the time and good things will happen."


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Ilya Kovalchuk and Devils Will Bring "A Game" Tonight

Devils rather calm despite Game 1 loss to Flyers
Associated Press April 16, 2010

Ilya Kovalchuk, who probably was the Devils’ best player in the game, took a simple approach. He wants the Devils to shoot more, especially on the power play.

The Russian also knows the Devils can’t lose the opening two games at home.

“We just have to bring our A-game, our double A game,” Kovalchuk said. “We have to bring a lot of energy and be focused right from the first second.”

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Kovalchuk Prepared To Perform In The Playoffs

Ilya Kovalchuk gets shot at performing under pressure as New Jersey Devils face Flyers in playoffs
Kristie Ackert New York Daily News April 14, 2010


Kovalchuk, who had five seasons with at least 41 goals (including two with career-best 52) for Atlanta, will try to win his first playoff game in his eighth NHL campaign.

"I am excited," said Kovalchuk, 26. "to play with guys who have won a (Stanley) Cup already and a lot of young guys like me who just want to win one.

"This is when you show who you really are as a player."

A lot of people are waiting to see what kind of player Kovalchuk is when he is under playoff pressure. Even though Kovalchuk struggled in his first playoff appearance, a four-game sweep at the hands of the Rangers in 2007, the Devils felt the change of scenery would do Kovalchuk well.

With the window of opportunity to win Stanley Cups on the back of 37-year-old future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur closing, the Devils gambled that Kovalchuk's offense would put them over the top. With Kovalchuk set to become a free agent on July 1, many general managers will be watching, willing to throw millions his way if he comes through for the Devils.

In the 2007 playoffs, Kovalchuk had a goal and an assist but was so frustrated by the Rangers, he dropped his gloves and attempted to fight Sean Avery.

"I don't like to think what happened before, but I was only (23) years old, there is a big difference," said Kovalchuk, the first pick of the 2001 draft. "I am more mature, I have played more games, I have played World Championships. I have played Olympics. So I know now what it is to win the big games."

According to Kovalchuk, no game is bigger than tonight's as the Devils attempt to set the tone for the playoffs. Kovalchuk is determined to come through in the clutch.

"You want to be the winner, don't want to be the loser," Kovalchuk said. "Always being done by middle of April, it was not fun. Winning the World Championships, it's good. but all the best players were still here and that's where the real good hockey is."

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Ilya Kovalchuk Adds New Dimension To Cup Hopeful Devils

Devils ride surge into playoffs
Tom Gulitti The Record April 13, 2010

The biggest difference, however, is the presence of Ilya Kovalchuk, the two-time 50-goal scorer who Lamoriello acquired in a Feb. 4 trade with Atlanta. The addition of Kovalchuk, who scored 41 regular-season goals, has given the Devils a potent one-two punch with Zach Parise, who scored 38.

They also now have one of the game’s most dynamic and talented players.

"He certainly brings a different dimension to a team and brings you someone capable of breaking a game open at any given time," Lamoriello said of Kovalchuk. "More importantly, how he’s fit in with the team, how he’s accepted the team, how the team has accepted him with the abilities that he brings, all of that is a factor going into the playoffs."

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The Top 10 NHL Playoff Storylines To Watch, #5 New Jersey's added dimension of Ilya Kovalchuk

The Top 10 NHL playoff storylines to watch
Sean Leahy SportsShizle.com April 11, 2010

5. New Jersey's added dimension of Ilya Kovalchuk

Since being dealt from the Atlanta Thrashers on February 4th, Kovalchuk has posted 10 goals and 15 assists in 27 games with the Devils. He brings a dimension to the New Jersey lineup that could make fans forget about their early departure last season against Carolina. Having played just four playoff games in his eight-year career, Kovalchuk is entering new territory being part of a team that has a reasonable chance to win a Stanley Cup. Devils head coach Jacques Lemaire is still working to find the right fit for Kovalchuk in the lineup, but since he's been almost a point-per-game player as a Devil, the line tinkering hasn't affected his production.

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