On Ilya Kovalchuk …
Leafs Lunch: Devils GM Ray Shero on TSN 1050 on Ilya Kovalchuk.
“I’ve met with Jay Grossman, his agent a couple times – there have been some reports out of Russia but Jay has assured me, and I’m sure other teams that his goal is to come back to play in the NHL next year. I don’t control that, and if he does not play for the Devils, I don’t really control where he’s going to potentially try to play, so for me to call 30 other teams at this point doesn’t really make any sense.”
TSN: Shero added that the week after the NHL draft is when things could heat up as teams are focused on the expansion draft. Kovalchuk can’t sign until July 1st, and therefore not traded before then. The New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks are reportedly among the teams interested.
On the New York Islanders …
Brian Compton of NHL.com: Islanders coach Doug Weight on if they don’t sign John Tavares to an extension on July 1st.
“I would just say don’t panic,” Weight said. “You come to this situation maybe twice in your career if you have a long career that works out where you’re really in control of the situation. John wants to win Stanley Cups. He wants to be a Hall of Fame player. He wants to do it as an Islander. I would want nothing more, as our organization, than to see him lift the Stanley Cup with the ‘C’ on his chest with the New York Islander logo. It’s where he belongs.
“Make no mistake, John loves it here. I’ll speak for him, I don’t mind. But he’s earned the right to come and make a decision, an intelligent decision. He’s a thinker. He’s not a PR guy that wants to drag it out. But he’s going to do what he sees fit. I believe we have an unbelievable opportunity to sign John. We have things to prove to him. But it’s not going to affect our hockey club. I hope to sign him on July 1, but if it doesn’t happen, I’m not changing my mindset or anything of that nature, and neither is he. That’s the most refreshing thing. We have a big year ahead of us here and we’re not going to let those things affect us personally or as a team.”