I have no idea where to put this discussion but if a mod has a better idea, go ahead and move it where it belongs.

Anyway, it seems the hype around Kovalchuk is reaching outrageous levels... He's a 35-years-old hence he will be a 35+ contract which means the team signing him will carry his cap hit no matter what happens. Kovalchuk has a history of reneging on contracts (at least with New Jersey) but it appears there are at least 10 teams "in on him" and rumors have it that Kovalchuk wants a 3-year deal worth upwards of 7 per a season, and to be honest this is reaching hysteria and any GM that signs him will regret it immediately... I just read via Eklund (so it can be taken with a grain of salt, but none the less) that Toronto is prepared to "go BIG" for one year of Kovalchuk if negotiations with other teams fall through.... When I hear "go BIG" that means a 1-year $10,000,000 deal.......

Are GM's out of their mind? are they really that competitive among themselves that they're willing to screw up their cap situation just to "win" Kovalchuk?.... Sure I could see this type of hype for Tavares or Karlsson and to a lesser extent Carlsson, but Kovalchuk??? c'mon...

Kovalchuk deserves nothing more than a 1-year deal (he has to prove he can still play in the NHL), if I was a GM a 2-year deal would be possible at a reduced salary per season but 3-years would be totally out of the question, but it appears there are some GM's out there considering giving him a 3-year-deal and there is something wrong there - especially with his 3-year-deal demand...... Kovalchuk damn well know's GM's will figure out really quick he's not worth what they're getting in him but he wants to get paid like he's 30-years-old regardless, and that speaks volumes to his character and intent - his demands alone are disingenuous right off the bat..

With that said, I wouldn't be shocked to see a GM give Kovalchuk a 3-year $7,500,000 per contract (22.5M total), Kovalchuk plays 1 season, puts up 45 points, realizes he's not NHL material and he could get "paid" In Russia (again) then splits back to Russia leaving the team that signed him with a 7.5M cap hit for 2 more seasons.. That or Kovalchuk stays and his contact becomes cancer like Bobby Ryan's contract.....

I suppose my point is I really think GM's are treating Kovalchuk like the 30-year-old Kovalchuk and not the 35+ Kovalchuk he is and the 35+ contract he will be signing...

If GM's were smart, they would offer him $5,000,000 1-year contract or perhaps a 2 year contract with a catch - year 1 pays $2,000,000 but year 2 pays $8,000,000 just to make sure he doesn't split back to the KHL after playing 1 year.... Because those 35+ contracts are tricky - no matter what happens the team that signs him (or trades for him) will be stuck with the cap hit and I would say there is a 50/50 chance that if Kovalchuk signs a 3-year-deal - he won't play it out......

Besides, we all know he's coming back to the NHL for the $$$$$ regardless of what he says..... 80% for the money 20% to pad his stats.

Those are just my thoughts on this Kovalchuk madness. I figured there would be a few teams out there kicking tires on him but I didn't foresee him being a premiere UFA at the age of 35 (and GM's knowing he will be on a 35+ contract), especially when Tavares and Carlson are UFA's and Erik Karlsson is on the market....

I mean a free player is a free player and with the cap going most teams in the NHL could afford him, but that doesn't mean signing him isn't a MAJOR risk.....

I hope I'm wrong and he comes back and puts up 70+ points but I don't see that, I see him taking the most lucrative contract he can get regardless of what team it is, it will probably be a bottom feeder, he will put up 45 points, then say "screw this I'm done", he retires - the team that signed him will be stuck with a 7.5M cap hit for 2 more seasons and of course Kovalchuk really doesn't care because he's getting paid more in Russia...

As a Blackhawks fan, I would have no issue with Bowman giving him a 1-year deal for $5,500,000 playing LW along side Schmaltz & Kane, but I wouldn't go a penny or a year more - but I know some GM will and I know they will regret their decision before the season even starts..

Just my .02cents on this Kovalchuk madness.

Considering he scored 63 points in 53 games in the second best league in the world, I have no problem with teams giving him 2-yr, 6-8mil contracts. He's clearly still productive, and will immediately fill into any teams top six. Obviously, that number might be a tad high, but considering it's just a two year deal, there are definitely worse contracts a GM could imagine.

Did you look at the scoring leaders in the KHL. It reeks of an AHL B league. Top scores. Kovi, Gusev, Dawes, Omark, Ley. Maybe one team will pay him a lot, but it's still a big chance. Don't see Omark and Ley even being offered NHL contract.