kovalev re-signs with the habs, penguins nab gonchar

[WestcoastCanuck 0]

I put this in it's own topic because (like Naslund) they are big names with a lot of teams showing interest.Kovalev's deal is reportedly for 4 years, at 4.5 million a year.Gonchar got 5 years at 5 million a year from the Pens.I wonder how much the Penguins offered to Kovalev, and if he picked Montrael over Pittsburgh because of the money or other reasons. Do the Pens now take a run at someone like Palffy or Satan?

[ajs510 122]

In the Pens situation, I would spend some money on 3-4 quality free agents that can give me some offensive help, rather than blow the wad on Palffy or Forsberg or someone from the First Tier. Besides Lemieux and Gonchar, the Pens really have no proven scoring threats (sorry, but I can't consider the Next One as a proven scoring threat until he actually scores an NHL goal). The have more work to do, but if they spend some more money in the right places, they'll have a great team this year.

[MarionSauce 0]

Oh wow, that is surprising. Gonchar will be good on the pens, and we all know about Kovalev's mess up in the playoffs. That seems a little low- I thought Gonchar got paid over 4 million a year?? Who else would be in the running for Satan? What does Mario pay himself; Pens have a lot of room under the cap right?

[WestcoastCanuck 0]

Well the Penguins do have Rechi, if he is anything left. They also have Malone, who is a good up and coming player (I think he had 20 goals last year).And Gonchar is getting 5 million per year for 5 years, ie a 5 year, 25 million dollar contract.Marion, Kovalev did screw up in game 4 (and heard about it from the media and even his own team), but he had 10 points in 11 games and was probably the main reason they escaped the first round. If he can continue to click with Kouivu and Zednick, lookout for the Habs.

[MarionSauce 0]

I agree that Kovalev had a lot of chemistry on the top line with Koivu and Zednik. The game 4 situation is just a hilarious memory I have with him. 5 million/year sounds more accurate for Gonchar.

[ajs510 122]

I think Gonchar's last contract with the Caps gave him about 8 million per year, so that's a little bit less than dead-on the salary rollback.

[WestcoastCanuck 0]

I didn't want to start a new thread for each signing, so I am putting this here. Leetch just agreed to a one year contract with the Bruins. This would appear to be (somewhat) in reaction to losing Gonchar.

[woodsy 0]

Their offense is looking pretty solid, but what about D? I'm sure they're going to be fun to watch, but will they be able to win 6-5 every night?

[InsanityCubed 0]

Satan just signed with the Isles, so he won't be joining Mario and Sid. I wish the Devs had taken a run at him, just for the marketing gimmick.

[vonteego3 0]

Their offense is looking pretty solid, but what about D?  I'm sure they're going to be fun to watch, but will they be able to win 6-5 every night?

did you have a specific team in mind with this, or just throwing it out generally?

[woodsy 0]

Their offense is looking pretty solid, but what about D?  I'm sure they're going to be fun to watch, but will they be able to win 6-5 every night?

did you have a specific team in mind with this, or just throwing it out generally?

Sorry, talking about the Pens.

[WestcoastCanuck 0]

Satan just signed with the Isles, so he won't be joining Mario and Sid. I wish the Devs had taken a run at him, just for the marketing gimmick.

, me and my friends have been saying he must go there for years.

[krup24 0]

Oh wow, that is surprising. Gonchar will be good on the pens, and we all know about Kovalev's mess up in the playoffs. That seems a little low- I thought Gonchar got paid over 4 million a year?? Who else would be in the running for Satan? What does Mario pay himself; Pens have a lot of room under the cap right?

Mario paid himself league average last 2 yrs (around 3 mil or so)Pens have around 10 mil under cap but will NOT use it all.Kovalev was overed way more money than the Pens were willing to offer him.

[chester97 0]

anyone else thinkin 4.5 million/year for 4 years is absolutely ridiculous for kovalev? i know he had a good playoff run after the slash, but cmon. i am willing to bet that the habs were offering a good million bucks more per season and probably another year on the contract more then any other team. ridiculous signing.