The signing of Ilya Kovalchuk by the Montreal Canadiens was a Hail Mary, no question about it. It was one with minimal risk as the once prolific Russian signed on at the league minimum for salary and had a two-way clause in his contract that could have seen him sent to the AHL for one-tenth of the money. All that said, TSN Insider Pierre LeBrun states Kovalchuk could very well end up as trade bait sooner rather than later.
"I'm looking at the week of January 20th, that's when the Habs have a bye week followed by the All-Star break," said LeBrun on Insider Trading. "I believe that's when they're really going to decide their game plan for the rest of the season. Have they made hay in the six games between now and then so far as getting back into the playoff race? If not, then it will be time to start selling pieces. And, by the way, one interesting piece could be Ilya Kovalchuk who they just got off the scrap heap for $700,000. He's looked ok so far, it's been early returns. If he keeps it up, he could be a player they flip, along with a few others, before the trade deadline."
LeBrun's assessment of Kovalchuk being "ok" is pretty accurate. In three games with the Canadiens, he has three assists. Nothing spectacular but at league minimum expectations should be tempered. It's doubtful either side saw a relationship past this current season, so a flip at the deadline if the Habs aren't in a playoff spot makes sense.
With Montreal in the midst of their second eight-game winless streak this season, it's looking more and more like the team will be selling at the deadline rather than buying. A player like Kovalchuk won't get a huge return (unless he really turns on the jets between now and then) but even a late round pick is better than nothing for a player who was, for all intents and purposes, a rental, even if the team was looking at competing for a playoff spot. Simply put, Kovalchuk is far removed from the player he once was (he's 37 after all, not young by hockey standards) but he could still provide some depth for a team looking at making a run in the post season. Any potential asset that could be acquired for his services would be a win for Montreal, a team that will most likely miss the playoffs for the third season in a row.
-
