I want more than a guy who can't get a starting position on 2 teams now and a pick

Prepare to be disappointed. It's been reported multiple times that Kovalchuk decides which team he goes to or else he goes back to the KHL/Olympics. Whichever team gets him, be prepared for spare parts plus picks.

Be prepared to not get Kovy for rychel!
Kovy can't get back to this league without NJ, Shero won't cave unless he's making his team better
We've lost nothing, can't be disappointed, he's playing games trying to get the best return for his services.

IMO the Leafs (and probably. all teams) can spend 5.5m better than taking on 34 year old Kovalchuk, who may or may not want to play in the NHL. I want a guy committed to the league and the team. He's an easy pass from the Leafs and I would think the majority teams in the NHL.

Probably means nothing, and 6 is not a MAJORITY of the league, but your Leaves are mentioned.
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports people who knew Kovalchuk as a teammate or member of their teams before he left for the KHL are interested in acquiring him. According to Brooks, “the Blues (with assistant general manager Martin Brodeur), Maple Leafs (with general manager Lou Lamoriello) and Sharks (with coach Pete DeBoer and assistant Johan Hedberg) are among more than a half-dozen clubs who have expressed interest in Kovalchuk.”

More than enough for me.

Smitty426. Oh, that tricky Lou. Saying he's interested so other teams think it's a good idea to get in the bidding war to acquire and sign Kovalchuk.

First things first as a leaf fan I don't want him especially at 5.5 second from a Devils point of view take what you can get for him worse case scenario for him is he'll just say screw it I'm going back to the KHL next year then come back next summer when the Devils don't own his rights anymore and the Devils wouldn't get anything when they could of gotten something

Who said anything about Lou other than Brooks?



Sure I get it if you don't want him. The talk here has been that Shero would retain on salary to make it worth while with assets coming back. So Kovy at 2 yrs $5.5/6M per and Devs retaining up to half, is certainly better than scenario you suggest.
Your second point, although true comes with a cost to teams signing him in 2 yrs. He's a 35+ contract and any team signing him for more than a yr has to worry about him bolting AGAIN! Then being on the hook for that recapture
Next, Kovy had a great year in the KHL and would have to repeat it, losing one of his linemates to Vegas already
Also, KHL teams appear to be having problems making payments to players.

Will Kovy yield Crosby? Of course not, and yeah is a second better than nothing absolutely. But Kovy would be a first line player on 20+ teams in this league. So let's see.

the leafs are so closed mouthed, i doubt if anyone has got an inkling of Lou says or thinks. Lou probably doesn't even acknowledge who they are going to pick in the 2016 entry draft.

although lou never said anything publicly , he hated (allegedly ) the Kovalchuk signing with the devils years ago. it was the owner who wanted to "land a big fish". lou would've preferred to stay with his guys instead of overpaying one player.

Zero chance the Blue can afford Kovalchuk he wants around $5.5 million to $6 million per for 4 years no way they can afford that without moving out major salary here.