On Ilya Kovalchuk …
Mike Morreale of NHL: GM Ray Shero isn’t holding his breath while waiting on Ilya Kovalchuk to make a decision.
“As far as I know, that’s still the plan,” Shero told NHL.com at the NHL Scouting Combine on Thursday. “Kovalchuk kind of drives the bus on this in terms of talking to teams or where he could want to play.”
The Devils still hold Kovalchuk’s rights.
“I can’t go out calling teams because that’s a waste of my time,” Shero said. “He’s going to tell where he wants to play and in the end, if that does work out and it’s not the Devils, then I’ve got to see if that makes sense for us to do that.”
Shero has spoken with Jay Grossman, Kovalchuk’s agent, who said that nothing as changed and he’d like to play in the NHL.
Jared Clinton of the Hockey News: Speculation of where Kovalchuck could end up – New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights and the New Jersey Devils.
Devils GM Ray Shero when talking with Pierre LeBrun.
“I haven’t ruled out anything but they’ve got to do the due diligence and find out where they want to play, the team that might make the most sense both financially and otherwise with his family,” Shero told LeBrun. “Then, compare that with the Devils and then, at the end of the day, he can’t sign a contract until July 1 or after, so there’s some time there.”
The Devils could definitely use a player like Kovalchuk, but it’s hard seeing Kovalchuk wanting to play for the Devils.
Luke Fox of Sportsnet: If the Devils don’t make a sign-and-trade (or agree to sign-and-remain with the Devils), Kovalchuk could wait another year and become an unrestricted free agent. He’d be 35-years old and the Devils wouldn’t have his rights.