As per PuckAgency... Kovalchuk would like to someday play

[21pro]

... under the spotlight in a big hockey market city such as Toronto. As what Jay Grossman has released today following the game between Atl and Tor. Probably just to put pressure on Waddell, but who knows. Don't most Russian 'stars' thrive on being 'the guy'?

He'd definitely be that in Toronto...

 

[21pro]

true. but he did stay there for a long time. makes me question the validity of the statement. Remember the 'Malkin on the Run' thread...? at that time, it was reported through various news outlets that Malkin was going to ask to have his rights traded from Pittsburgh to LA or New York because he stated that he liked the Big American Cities... I think it's more just our fascination with Russian personalities... we, and it includes our GM's and coaches are not really good at reading them... Filatov, Zhamnov, Zherdhev... perplexing for sure...

 

[The Oracle]

At this point he maybe sick of playing for a losing franchise and knows if he signs a 10 million contract he will eat much of the salary cap from a team who won't spend to the limit ..

Do you think they really think that way?

Most of these guys are just mercenaries.

 

[Hard Idle]

Funny I get the impression that the majority of the Russian palyers (at least the top end types with high expectations on them) detest the pressure and hysteria of a hockey-obsessed town?

I have no doubt most of them would rather play in a franchise with an actual chace to win (doesn't everyone?) But I believe they'd would prefer it to be in some place where every mini slump or back to back loss isn't put under a microscope and treated as the end of the world.

 

[mac]

... under the spotlight in a big hockey market city such as Toronto. ..

seems to me that he would be motivatefed to play somewhere that he has a good chance of winning where there may be cap space for him....maybe do a Hossa kind of deal.

 

[21pro]

funny thing is he's going to get more in return than Hossa did... and yet, i feel that Hossa is the better player. sure, Hossa will score 5-10 fewer goals a season, but he is of the best two-way players ever. and backchecking top liners in the league aren't that common.