Waiting gave Ilya Kovalchuk a better argument last night after the Wild gave Mikko Koivu a stunning seven-year contract extension averaging $6.75 million per season.
Koivu’s $47 million deal kicks in starting with 2011-12 for a captain who notched 71 points for the first time last season. Kovalchuk, who has twice scored 52 goals and reached 85 points five times, is the same age at 27, and was picked first overall in 2001. Koivu was sixth overall that draft year. And Kovalchuk is unrestricted now, and Koivu still was under contract at $3.7 million for the coming season.
It is still believed, 16 days into this saga, that the Devils have the inside track to sign arguably the best-ever free agent. Earlier this week, Kovalchuk took the Kings’ tour of Los Angeles, and still didn’t sign. The Koivu deal is an example why.
The Kings were said to have offered some $64 million over 12 years. The Devils were said to have been bidding $60 million over seven years, or $100 million over 17 years.
It is thought that Kovalchuk was ready to sign with the Devils on July 5, then had second thoughts and wanted to try negotiating further with the Kings.
The possibility exists that Kovalchuk might elect a one-year deal if he can’t get the offer he wants.
The five-time 40-goal man turned down Atlanta offers of $70 million over seven years, and $100 million over 12 before he was dealt to New Jersey on Feb. 4 with Anssi Salmela and a swap of seconds, for Johnny Oduya, Niclas Bergfors, prospect Patrice Cormier and a first-round pick.
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Center Adam Henrique has been among the most impressive prospects in rookie camp, but admits the need to increase “my speed, especially for the next level.”
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One surprise of camp is defenseman Brandon Burlon, a second-round pick in 2008, whose skating skills suggest he will be an NHLer soon, especially if tutored by such former players as Larry Robinson and Scott Stevens. He expects to return to Michigan this fall.
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First-round picks Jacob Josefson (2009) and Mattias Tedenby (2008) sat out with minor hip injuries. . . . Boston College winger Matt Lombardi has signed a minor-league contract.
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Defenseman Anton Volchenov, the Devils’ big free agent signing ($25.5 million over six years) thus far, said he would have liked to have remained in Ottawa, but was not offered a satisfactory deal there.
Volchenov said he has spoken to Kovalchuk “a couple of times,” but would not offer a prediction about the superstar’s future.
“It’s not my decision,” he said.