Let's Not Forget Ilya

Lost in all the talk about where LeBron and Chris Bosh are going is the talk centered around NHL free agent Ilya Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk continues to take his time and no one really seems to know where he is going.

In the past he turned down both a 12 year $101 million deal and a 7 year $70 million deal to continue playing for the lowly Atlanta Thrashers (which led to the trade to New Jersey) as well as a 3 year $12 million deal to play for a talent rich LA Kings team [Update - note sure where those figures came from, but now hearing LA offered him 13 years at $6.5 million]. Apparently the Devils are offering him $8.5 million over the course of a few years to remain in Newark and team with Zach Parise to make the Devils potentially an offensive juggernaut.

The wild card in this whole thing is the reports that the Russian KHL is courting Kovalchuk and offering more money than any of the NHL teams can offer. The lure of the Russian money is tough to turn down. First, more money is never a bad thing. Second, he would be able to play in his native country in front of family and friends. Third, if he was to sign a four year deal, then he could play in the 2014 Sochi Olympics, which the NHL is thinking about not sending their pros to.

Some have questioned his leadership. Some have questioned his desire to be on a winner. I think both are a little strong at this point. Sure, he has only played in 9 career playoff games, but let's not forget that he had no one playing around him. It wasn't like he was in NJ for all those years. And in turning down the big deal from the Thrashers, many questioned his leadership, declaring he was out for more money. Here's the thing I don't understand - is Kovalchuk that dumb that he doesn't understand that no team can offer him more than that with the salary cap? Is he dumb enough to think that he will be anything more than an island if he was to have taken those deals? I can't see how the answer is yes. I would like to think he is looking for the right situation. LA may have been, but while playing for an up and coming team would have been great, he still was only being offered $4 million a year which is well well well below market value.

Maybe the Devils do have the inside track for signing him: Good money. Great franchise. Not a one-man island. but then again, the opportunity to play in Russia may be too good to turn down. Until he makes a decision I will be holding out hope that he comes back to NJ.