On Ilya Kovalchuk, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets …
Slava Malamud: It is looking less likely that Ilya Kovalchuk remains in the KHL. The Columbus Blue Jackets are a very intriguing possibility.
Slava Malamud: The Blue Jackets would be a perfect fit for Kovalchuk from the hockey side of things. The biggest issue is likely the family as Columbus is not the most “glamorous” of towns.
Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star: There have been reports tying Ilya Kovalchuk to the Toronto Maple Leafs. At 34 years old, Kovalchuk seems to be of the wrong age group for the Leafs, but they do have the salary cap space to take on a $6-7 million cap hit on a short-term deal.
Bringing in Kovalchuk would allow them to trade left winger James van Riemsdyk for a much needed defenseman.
It was Lou Lamoriello who signed him to the $100 million contract in New Jersey, the one he walked away from after two years.
“His reputation takes a beating — that’s fine. I put zero stock in that,” said Ferraro. “Do people really know why he quit? Maybe it was more money. Maybe it was something else. There’s more to it than any of us would know.”
Other teams mentioned as possibilities include the St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers.
On the Edmonton Oilers …
David Staples of the Edmonton Journal: One of the agents, Michael Kay, who deals with college free agent Spencer Foo was on Bob Stauffer’s CHED radio show and said the following:
“What I can tell you is obviously Spencer Foo is a really good player. I mean, lots of interest from teams. But what they have done I know is narrow it down to a very short list of which Edmonton is certainly on it. I don’t know exactly where they’re at in that process…But it seems to be proceeding. I certainly know Edmonton is right there.”
The 23-year old right handed shot recorded 62 points in 38 games last season for Union College.
