Quote:
Originally Posted by KINGS17
Answer: Contract with limited number of years. Proven leader that can show the kids how to be a pro's pro. Actual dollars paid were less than cap hit.
Leiweke needs to stay far, very far, away from personnel decisions.
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Limited contract, yes you are correct. But it was also 3 years for a guy in his mid 30's who is a 2nd liner on a championship team.
Gaborik and Kovalchuk are superstar wingers in the primes of their careers. I don't see how commiting 7-10 years to 27 year old Ilya Kovalchuk is any more risky than 3 years to 34 year old Ryan Smyth.
The Kings are in desperate need of players like this, we have an amazingly gifted 23 year old #1 center who doesn't have the kind of wingers a player of his skill should have. Kopitar is already point per game with Smyth and Williams, imagine if he had a truly elite goal-scoring winger like Kovalchuk or Gaborik.