Garth Snow is on the record as being in the Kovy Sweepstakes. Rumor has it he's offering 10 years at $10M per. Cap space isn't even close to an issue because the Islanders are $9M under the cap FLOOR. Signing Kovalchuk would give them a top line of Kovalchuk/Tavares/Okposo - a pretty solid line. The rest of the team is considerably fucked, though - 21 players under contract (without Moulson, Weight, Sim, Bergenheim, and Shremp among them) and only $36M committed. That to me says two things: Kovalchuk would be brought into bring the team up to league minimum for now and that after extending Okposo, Bailey, and Gervais in 10/11, Snow would blow the team right the fuck up when 14 contracts (13 roster players and Brendan Witt) expire and re-build it with the newfound $30M in cap space.

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mechaphil

Giving him 10 million a year is way too much, he's not worth a penny over 6.5 but 8 maximum, if you're REALLY desperate. 10 is just folly, that's like throwing 2-3 million in cap space away just for shits and giggle. Their owner is a bit of a unique personality, if anybody would give that kind of contract out it would be him.

For a short time he was the hottest thing in hockey, but he's just another one-dimensional 40 goal scorer now. Not that 40 goal scorer aren't awesome, he is. But he's not Ovechkin and he shouldn't be paid like he is. Having said that, I think it would be great for those fans and it would help start a bigger buzz in that area. On the ice, he and Taveras could click, but what if they don't?

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

Kovalchuk doesn't deserve what Ovechkin makes or what Crosby makes, same can be said with Malkin.

Kovalchuk is not a player with their capabilities and game. He should not make 10 million and if Garth Snow gives it to him, well he is truly an idiot and only trying to get above the cap floor.

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It wouldn't surprise me but the Isles should learn their lesson after the Yashin AND DiPietro deals. Be wary of contract length

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"...they came down into the stands and asked if I knew how to do play by play. I said...No. But. I'll take a shot at it if you want".- Rick Jeanneret

Apparently, the Isles spiel was completely false.

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mechaphil

I think that the Isles may have been kicking the tires on a short term, big money deal like say $10M per for the next two years until Tavares hits RFA.

If Kovy wants a long term deal, he's likely going to have to go for a Hossa-esque deal that has a much lower cap hit than $10M per.

Well, if he wants to stay in the NHL that is......

Now if Larry Quinn is going to twist Regier's arm into something, I could live with Kovy for a 12-year contract averaging $5.2 million a season.

Hossa's contract is front-loaded with about $59.3 million paid out over the first eight years, and $3.5 million total for the final four years.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

I have a feeling that style of contract is going to be squashed in the future.

Who cares what happens with the next CBA this summer?

They'll likely just grandfather them along like they have in the past.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity