New Jersey Devils player dump
With the Kovalchuk deal finalized for a second time, the Devils General Manager Lou Lamoriello can get back to business as usual. The whole saga revolves around the salary cap and a look at the Devils Cap shows what the whole fuss is all about. With Ilya Kovalchuk’s $100 million-15 year deal signed, the Devils are now $2,943,333 over the $59.4 million cap with 21 players on their roster.
The Devils would have to lose weight before the season starts. They would have to trade at least one player if not more to fit Kovalchuk. The Sniper would cost the Devils more than just $6.66 million in cap space.
“It¹s kind of bittersweet, I guess is the way to put it,” New Jersey defenseman Andy Greene said. “It’s tough, but that’s part of the business. It’s tough because you never know who it’s going to be who is going to get moved.” But someone would have to and it of course won’t be Kovalchuk. Another 8 players on the Devils roster are protected by no trade or no move clauses making things a little complicated for the team to fix their cap woes. Forward Dainius Zubrus with his $3.4 million cap hit and defenseman Bryce Salvador’s $2.9 million are the more likely cuts that Lamoriello could make.
Salvador could prove to be a difficult trade. If the skilled defenseman can’t find a team he could be bumped down to the minors. Winger Zubrus would be comparatively easier to trade. There are still teams in the NHL well under the cap limit and looking for talent wherever they can find it and Zubrus is certainly a talented player. Coming off 38 and 40 points seasons, Zubrus has been going through a dry spell with just 27 points (10 goals) in the 2009-2010 season. Still, that makes him well worth his cost.
Any team that trades with the Devils of Salvador or Zubrus would see it for what it is – a salary dump. In that case, Lou could have to add draft picks or something else to the dump. Something he probably won’t be comfortable with. If he can’t find trades to his liking, he could end up dumping both the players and taking on inexpensive players to fill up spots. Lou could be forced into that situation anyway. He does not need to just lose $2.9 million; the Devils are still working with only 21 players on their roster.
Lou is considered one of the shrewdest managers in the league and would have surely anticipated the cap troubles. The deal that eventually came through the league costs $600,000 more than what the original Kovalchuk contract would have costs. Whatever Lou had planned before the Kovalchuk deal went awry could almost still work. Though at this point, Lou might very well be wondering if Kovalchuk was worth it or not?
Kovalchuk is a strong forward and almost a sure bet for 40 goals a season. The fewest goals for Kovalchuk in a season were 29 in his rookie season. The Russian will continue to score for the Devils the way he did for the thrashers. But a team can’t be built around one player. The Devils are a much different monster than the Thrashers were. While the Devil’s offence was no better than average, their defence was spectacular. They were the only team last season to concede less than 200 goals. That’s how the Devils play hockey. With the Devils, Kovalchuk can’t just simply ignore defence. The question is would Kovalchuk be as impressive as he has been if his attention is split between the two nets. Alternatively, if he can’t play defence how much would it cost the Devils in terms of goals allowed?
Kovalchuk could cost the Devils in defence, in the loss of Zubrus and Salvador and even Penalties. The salary cap circumvention thing isn’t strictly over. There have been reports that suggest the league could still penalize the Devils for their attempted cap circumvention with a fine (which would also count against the cap) or by confiscating the Devil’s draft picks.
Kovalchuk should really be feeling the pressure to measure up to the hype and more considering his cost.
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