Could Ilya really tie the room together? Make an offer.

Umm… would he at least think about it if we said “Please?”
Of the ones that they would be willing to take, I’m not sure that giving them up is best for the team. Conversely, of the ones I have no problem giving up, I don’t think they are going to be willing to take.
/sigh

Alright here we go….
Roster player: Josh Bailey
Pick: This year’s 1st rounder
Prospect: Aaron Ness and Cory Trivino

This would not totally F*** things up long term. While, yes, we lose a great young player in Bailey, let’s be honest, he is not going to ever be as good as Kovalchuk. We do have a nice little crop of centers, especially if Schremp continues to develop. This years first round pick, which as this pace could be around the 7 to 15 range will also not be as good as Kovalchuk either. And Ness and Trivino, while very good young prospects, would not kill our prospect pool by losing them.

Just imagine a first line of Kovalchuk, Tavares and Okposo for the next 10 years…. tasty!

This would get the deal done. But Garth, if your are reading this. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS. Kovalchuk wouldn’t sign here long term

personally, if i’m DW, i start by saying KO or JT, which one are you going to give up? if you wont move 1 of those 2, then we are done talking… then i call back Kovi’s agent

Id throw a big offer at this one…

First I would throw Moulson on there who isn’t too old and has pretty good numbers this year but honestly I wouldn’t mind losing him

Next I’d throw Douggie Weight in there and try to convince Atlanta that Doug could replace Ilya on the PP and give them veteran leadership for a playoff run.

Then put in one of those Goalies that we took in the draft.. I know they have a couple of solid tendies but teams can never get enough inexpensive 6’3-6’5 tendies taken high in the draft with loads of potential.

Finally I would throw in our number one pick for next years draft and if at all possible put in a condition that if Ilya Re-signs they get our 2011 number 1 pick also.

That being said im sure Atlanta is recieving offers for much better players with equal draft picks and its difficult because you can’t get that extension so you can’t throw everything you want at this deal.. I think there is No way this deal or any other deal works that the Islanders get Kovalchuk. I would love to see it , not to mention that if he came i gaurentee Petrov would be here in a matter of days to create a nasty tandem with Ilya. if we were able to negotiate an extension pretrade I would put everything we had up for grabs for this guy… Im talkin JT + KO + #1 pick…. this guy has better hands than JT better skating than KO better shot than just about everyone in the league. Hes got the kind of talent not even Kate Murray can ignore. True he is rather uninterested in Defense but id still trade the whole roster for him

A smart move would be to hold on to what you have and then try to sign him in the offseason if you are so interested in him. Chances are he is not going to get a great feel for the place that trades for him. Plus Garth already has one Smyth on his resume he does not need another for a team that is barely making the playoffs if at all. There would be no purpose in the Isles trading for him.

Jon Sim and Andy Sutton and a case of tape to hold each of them together….lol! How do you like them apples? Actually I guess given our last years injury record that isn’t so funny.

I’d offer a 2nd with something along the lines of if the Islanders get to the 2nd round of the playoffs it becomes a first. Throw in one or two prospects along the lines Krill Petrov, especially if they were a low pick and had a good run at the World JRs, one of the Bridgeport goalies and one of our 3 or 4th line grinders (or Hunter).

I don’t know, its not a trade I’d make for a multitude of reasons. These type of players never seem to make the impact you hope, just look at the Penguins and Hossa. They lose Hossa, Red Wings gain Hossa and the Penguins win the rematch of the finals.

Honestly, I would consider that the Hossa trade (two players, a blue chip prospect and a 1st for Hossa and a roster player) is where you would start as a template for a successful bid for Kovalchuk.

The first prospect I would choose (like WebBard said) is Kirill Petrov.

Why? Because he is Russian, plain and simple. There is a similar risk-reward dynamic by offering him as there was when Esposito was put in the Hossa trade. The risk is that as he is Russian, he will stay in the KHL and they will lose him for nothing. The reward is that he is considered a blue chip prospect and has a lot of potential if he comes over.

As far as the second player goes – I don’t know who it should be. Obviously, as we are not getting additional players back (as the hypothetical is just for Kovalchuk), the Isles don’t need to offer a third player as with the Hossa trade.

Possibly Comeau or Tambellini and second tier prospect (if this were enough).

Obviously, you have to offer a 1st rounder and possibly another high-ish draft pick (although I would ideally make this conditional on him signing, making the playoffs or something like that).

I would be hesitant to offer more than this though as a serious offer – as Kovalchuk is far from being the final piece that makes the Isles perennial cup contenders. Other teams who think Kovalchuk is the final piece are more likely to be desperate for him and make better offers.Thus, I would make a low-ish offer based on these pieces and if it works then that is good, if not, no harm done.

But, that’s just my 9-10 million dollars over 5+ years (or 2 cents whatever does it for you)…

So basically Garth would need to give up equal or greater talent he did in the Smyth trade: Nilsson, O’Marra and a 1st Rounder. remember back when the trade was made in 2007 both Nilsson and O’Marra had significantly higher value then they do today.

With that in mind here’s my theoretical offer, even though I think the Isles should stay far away for Kovy.

De Haan/Hamonic (Waddell’s Choice)
Jesse Joensuu
Player Rights to Kirill Petrov
1st Rounder

Another possibility to get it done would involve a three team trade with Biron and kari Lehtonen. Now Waddell will want more, but I don’t know if he’ll get it. And I think the Isles would be giving up too much for basically a rental before Kovy goes to the KHL.

to what we want Sather to give up to get Kovi and really destroy the booshirt franchise.

does Kovi kinda look like Peter Pan in that pic….you can fly, you can fly, you can fly. Probably just me…comes with getting another year older. Why do we have birthdays…somebody remind me.