The Kovalchuk Problem
Any sports fan would want their team to acquire a player considered to be among the best in the league. That is a given. The only means of acquisition are through the entry draft, a trade with another franchise, or through free agency.
Kopitar $6.8 million
Smyth $6.25 million
Handzus $4 million
Stoll $3.6 million
Williams $3.5 million
Doughty $3.475 million
Scuderi $3.4 million
Brown $3.175 million
Greene $2.95 million
Quick $1.8 million
Johnson $1.425 million
Parse $900,000
Clifford $900,000
Cliche $900,000
Bernier $843,333
Simmonds $821,666
Ersberg $750,000
Drewiske $616,667
Harrold $583,333
Westgarth $525,000
That’s 20 players at just over $47 million, and of those 20, the players who were on the big club’s roster at the end of the season are comprised of 9 forwards, 4 defensemen, and 1 goalie. That means there are 9 positions to fill with under $10 million to do so.
Of course, there are capable candidates whom are already under contract in the system. The only player that is obviously ready for the NHL is Bernier, and look for a future article breaking down the options the Kings have at the goalie position for next season.
So clearly, saying that the Kings have the cap room is not quite that simple. Some significant salary would have to be dumped, and of those listed above, I’m not sure which one I’d want to move. The contracts are all pretty reasonable, and again, Doughty’s will likely be at least twice what it currently stands after this season.
Though the financial situation is the main concern, there are other issues to address.
This type of metaphor is accidentally becoming the theme of Crowned Royal, but the Kovalchuk problem is much like that of dating. Everyone wants to woo the hottest girl, but often times it is not worth the headaches that come with it. Sure she’ll look good on your arm and impress your friends, but with that may come demands for lavish gifts and constant attention. Worse yet, when it counts most, she may not be there to support you. (see Heatley, Dany)
Stay the course.
Oh Ilya. I would love to see him in a Kings jersey. I would rejoice upon hearing the news, I would bring a sign to the first game and I would probably even buy said jersey.
But the only way this would be good for more than just next season is if it was for the right terms: Dean’s terms. DL has never been one to back up the Brinks truck, and this type of conservative spending is one of the practices that has put the Kings in the favorable situation that they are in now. If he can somehow talk Kovalchuk into accepting less money for a shorter duration than other teams will be offer him, it would be nothing short of magic. Though not of nearly the same magnitude, Dean performed a similar trick with Jack Johnson, who’s $1.5 million/year contract was surprisingly low when it was announced, so perhaps anything is possible.
The reality of this is that it would be a miracle, and though the last miracle on ice did involve Russians on American soil, it took place on the other end of the country and that is perhaps where Ilya will remain.
Maybe I am getting old, because even a year ago I can’t imagine NOT doing anything in my power to go after the hot chick, regardless of the consequences. I guess with maturity comes the willingness to pass on an opportunity to take home a swimsuit model if it could jeopardize the future.
In Dean we trust.
Sources - lakingsinsider.com, nhlnumbers.com
Your math is bad.
You say…
That’s 20 players at just over $47 million, and of those 20, the players who were on the big club’s roster at the end of the season are comprised of 9 forwards, 4 defensemen, and 1 goalie. That means there are 9 positions to fill with under $10 million to do so.
you were talking about 20 players costing $47m which would leave a little more than $9m for 3 roster spots. If you take only roster players from last year that are still under contract, there are 16 for a total of $44,713,000 leaving $14,926,666 in CAP space (that includes bonus cushion) for 7 players not $10m for 9 spots.
Now if you include Doughty’s don’t use Doughty’s bonus (we’ll assume he’ll hit it), deduct $2.6m from the $14.9 in CAP space and that leaves $12.3m for 7 players. It isn’t as dire as you are making it sound.
That is assuming that all of those roster players will make the big club. There are still going to be some in limbo that are rostered but not getting too much playing time. Do we really want another year of utility man Harrold hanging around? I agree he is on the cheap, but the point is let’s not assume there is plenty of space because even with $15 mil available, according your math, spending $10 mil on 1 would only leave $5 mil for 6 players. Sure it’s possible, but that would require putting some pressure on some of the younger players under contract to fill roles on the big club immediately, and that is just not DL’s style.
Thanks for reading.