Speaking for the Panthers, what would you offer for Atlanta's UFA-to-be Ilya Kovalchuk?

If Atlanta loses Kovy they will need plastic surgery to make them look like real hockey team instead of something that will break speed records on its way out of the town. Which is likely more because of the owners and/or PR department than the players though

But since gift cards probably aren’t allowed, I’d say dman (Seidenberg maybe?), Olesz (to create cap space) and 1st round pick (conditional or no depending on how bad negotiator waddel is). if the pick is non conditional, Thrashers could pobably toss in Salmela or Popovic

then again, i’m not GM and my opinions slightly biased at the best…

But if I’m the GM, I know the team needs to make the playoffs this year no matter what. And Kovalchuk is enough to put this group into seventh or eighth place. (Top three lines: Kovalchuk-Weiss-Horton / Frolik-Reinprecht-Stillman / Oreskovich-Moore-Dvorak).

Oh, yes it is.

The Thrashers would likely not want to trade Kovy to another team in the division, but they also know he’s almost certainly a rental and would not stay in SoFla, which might take the sting off a bit. In case of, though, the Panthers would likely have to toss a conditional first round pick, or possibly two second round picks. Two to three years of Kovalchuk on the top line would take the sting away from the Panthers trading off another first-rounder. Especially if someone can convince Pete DeBoer to give Matthias more ice time (Your top two lines next year? Kovalchuk-Matthias-Horton / Frolik-Weiss-Booth).

As for players, Rostislav Olesz is the roster player of choice. No way management is trading Booth, Horton or Weiss for any rental. Frolik maybe, but the upside of Olesz to a team like Atlanta is that he’s signed for four more years. Kovalchuk is only the tip of Atlanta’s UFA iceberg.

As for prospects, I’d try pushing A.J. Jenks on them, because, quite frankly, we really need the guys coming up out of Rochester now. But, if they want a closer-to-ready player, I’d say a Mike Duco or a Keaton Ellerby might be worth losing for that ever-elusive trip to the playoffs. Matthias, Repik and Garrison are needed now and can’t be spared for a rental.

So, to sum up: Olesz, Jenks and two conditional draft picks if Kovy signs (second round 2010 and 2011). If that’s not sweet enough, a conditional first round (2010 or 2011) pick, Olesz and Mike Duco.

Of course fan favorouite Rusty Olesz is to be included in any deal like this. On top of that you would have to include conditional first round pick (provided he signs) and a second round pick. Young talent, well, If you could find it in your heart to let go of Repik and or Matthias, or Frolik and Matthias that’s where I would be looking if they don’t want Olesz. You know you’ve got to give up something to get something.

So, to summarize, Olesz, Matthias, and two conditional draft picks, a first and a second if Kovy signs. I just think Matthias need a change of scenery.

Now if that’s not sweet enough, pull back on Matthias and one of the picks and add Repik. Making proposal two Olesz, Repik and a conditional pick if Kovy signs.

The problem with all this is that it will be viewed as mortgaging the “future” for one player.
In all honesty tying up 8-10 million on one player isn’t going to work here, as much as I’d like it too.

I imagine Randy reading all of these with sweat flowing from his forehead, armpits and Cellphone!

Olesz, Matthias, and two conditional draft picks, a first and a second if Kovy signs.

PRECISELY what my initial idea was. And nice call on Matty perhaps needing a change of scenery. Intriguing, but he’s still seen as having a hell of an upside…

Actually, the Panthers are one of the few teams that could afford Kovy’s future demands (I’m reading around $10MM a season). Kovy in S. Florida provided they strike the right deal would definitely bring fans to the arena. (we might see a rebirth of the “Bure” era-Pavel, not Valeri)

The problems however, are multiple. The first one being Kovy going from one franchise that struggles to make the playoffs to another. The second is if management is willing to pony up the brinks truckload of cash to bring him in.

Of course, if I’m the Florida GM, I push really hard for this. There are few “big” name players out there that possess the sizzle that Kovy does and the guys only 26. He could be the face of the franchise for 10 years.