Your 2010 UFA/RFA Rumor Chart Update
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It's still a holiday down in the states today, but to those of you in Canada..welcome back to work! :)
Anyway, I will be updating throughout today as UFA and trade rumors never take a vacation....hooray...
On Kovalchuk...
Jay Grossman has just tweeted , " Ilya Kovalchuk is looking to make his decision today..."
My guess is NJ.
Last night Kovalchuk said "no" to LA, and usually that means he has said "yes" to someone else.... Kovalchuk is still in the midst of decision making and don't fully count LA out of this quite yet. Talking to sources last night (as they like me left their families and backyard parties) the one area which appears clear now is Kovalchuk really does want to play in New Jersey. Many saw this move as a move to buy time for Lamoriello to clear the space. That being said, I would be shocked if Lou went higher than 6 on a single player, unless the memo came from up top to do so.
The Wife Factor...
Much is being made of Kovalchuk's wife Nicole and her wanting to return to her pop music career following the birth of their third child. People are saying she would prefer to live in LA and Ilya would prefer to live in NY. I just want to say how much I hate this kind of stuff. If this is the case, it is non of our business and the Ilya Kovalchuk's should get her out of it by publicly saying something. I have always hated when wives are dragged into business for two reasons. 1. It's not fair to them at all, and 2. They are often used as lame excuses when men are trying to get something they just don't have the guts to ask for themselves. ex: I'd love to, but my wife is really against it. When you are in a couple, you are a team. You both make a decision together, and that becomes the decision you both support. (sorry for the rant...)
On Zherdev....
Rumors are flying today that the erstwhile Nik Zherdev may be about to return to the NHL. I am hearing the Leafs and Rangers are big on this, but watch out for the Stars..
On Kaberle...
This is just your official Kaberle announcement declaring this week, "Tomas Kaberle" trade week. I am almost certain. Again, look to the kings, stars, devils, and caps...of course, the Kovalchuk domino is not to be discounted...
On the Flyers...
They are out of the Kovalchuk sweeps....but this wasn't always the case. Tim Panaccio and I were discussing this two days ago, and comparing notes on the high level people who believed they were in on it. It also appears the Flyers are not going to be trading Gagne to the Kings, as a possible deal fell apart sources tell me. Are the Flyers using the money to get a goalie? I continue to get mixed signals on that one.... some say yes, but I don't believe it will be a big money goalie (Nabokov or Thomas) and I don't believe it will be Turco...There are a few early rumors out there the Flyers are looking at Jose Theodore...While Thomas would still be my #1 choice, Theodore would be my second. I still feel Boudreau really screwed Jose in last year's playoffs.
On the Senators...
They are VERY high on Willie Mitchell...makes sense as well.
On Kariya...
I keep hearing the Penguins are deciding between Guerin and Kariya...I would go with Guerin, but it is a really tough choice. Don't count the Predators or Sabres out on Kariya as well...
More to come...
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