Kovalchuk to Chicago?

The trade deadline rumors are already swirling, and arguably the biggest name on the market, Illya Kovalchuk, is part of the discussion. Last week, Puck Daddy covered a Kovalchuk rumor that erupted from Pierre LeBrun’s article on ESPN.com – where he makes the case for the possibility of Kovalchuk being dealt to the Blackhawks.

Kovalchuk probably wants to be dealt to a contender, and Chicago would fit the bill, but would the Hawks even have the cap space for him? As it stands, they have a little over three million to play with. It would only make sense if the Blackhawks dealt a high salary player in return – like Patrik Sharp or Kris Versteeg – to clear space for at least a $6-8 million cap hit for Kovalchuk. Secondly, does a team like Chicago even need the extra offense? They’re first in the West, with a league-high 151 goals for, and a staggering 31 wins. While adding Illya would make the Hawks even more dangerous, maybe the old adage still rings true – ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!’

Atlanta is still trying quite hard to sign Illya to a long term, slow dispersal contract (ala Hossa and Pronger) that alleviates the cap hit of re-signing a superstar who commands a massive salary. Kovalchuk is likely facing a choice between facing the open market, or committing to another 7-10 years with the Thrashers – a team with only one playoff appearance in its entire history. If he decides to test the waters elsewhere, who could blame him? He’s a world-class talent, and he deserves a shot with a Stanley Cup-caliber team.