Devils hope for Mogilny-like lift: Take 5
Written by on February 5th, 2010 in Latest News.
Ilya Kovalchuk was traded to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
1. Lamoriello hoping Kovalchuk provides a Mogilny-like lift
The last time New Jersey Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello made a go this huge was in March 2000, when he bought Alexander Mogilny from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Brendan Morrison and Denis Pederson.
The Devils went on to win the Stanley Cup, and now Lamoriello believes that Ilya Kovalchuk could have the same effect.
“The reason we got Alex Mogilny at that time was for similar reasons, what he could bring offensively with the shot he had. He could do that nearly individually at given times but still be a team player,” Lamoriello said.
“I feel Ilya can bring that sort of explosiveness. Also, I believe strongly he wants to win and he will fit in without question.”
The Devils bought Kovalchuk and defenceman Anssi Salmela for Johnny Oduya, Niclas Bergfors, Patrice Cormier and New Jersey’s first-round draft pick this June. Salmela and Kovalchuk will play for the Devils against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday.
The Devils have gone 3-6-1 in their past 10 games without star forward Patrik Elias, who has been out with concussion problems. He is back skating and could return soon.
The New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators also made overtures to the Thrashers about Kovalchuk.
Kovalchuk will return to Atlanta to play the Thrashers on April 6.
2. Ownership developments in Tampa, Dallas
The sale of the Tampa Bay Lightning to Boston financier Jeffrey Vinik was completed Friday. He was among the 13,891 fans who attended the Lightning’s 5-2 win at home against the New York Islanders on Thursday.
The Lighting buy price is believed to be much lower than the $204 million US that co-owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie bought the team for in June 2008.
Meanwhile, in Dallas, owner Tom Hicks revealed he has hired an investment group to look into selling the NHL franchise.
Hicks has owned the Stars since December 1995, but his financial problems became evident when he defaulted on more than $500 million US in loans last March.
He lowered the Stars’ payroll this season, is nearing the sale of his Texas Rangers baseball team and still owns half of English Premiership’s Liverpool FC.
3. Battle of Canada’s best
There is small doubt that the Senators and Vancouver Canucks have been the best Canadian teams in the NHL this season. The Senators matched their Western foes in points at 70 on Thursday, when theytoppled the Canucks at home with a 3-1 win.
Ottawa has extended its club-record victory string to 11 with the impressive win, while the Canucks have lost two of the first three games of their mammoth pre- and post- Olympic road trip.
Senators goalie Brian Elliott continued his fine play with his ninth win in a row, but was what was impressive about the victory over the Canucks was the job Ottawa’s shutdown defence pairing of Chris Phillips and Anton Volchenkov did on Vancouver’s top line of Henrik and Daniel Sedin, and Alex Burrows. The twins and Burrows were held off the scoresheet and only managed a combined nine shots on goal.
4. Hitchcock to stay with the Blue Jackets for now
Deposed Columbus Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock will remain with the NHL team as a senior adviser or consultant. He has two years left on his deal and will jump back into a coaching job if it’s the right situation.
For now, Hitchcock will focus his energies on his assistant’s role on the staff of Canadian Olympic team head coach Mike Babcock. Maybe it’s a excellent omen that Hitchcock was let go by Columbus. In 2002, when Canada won Olympic gold, the Dallas Stars fired him a few weeks before the Salt Lake City Winter Games.
5. Hodgson returns to action
After more than four months in recovery from a bulging disc that impinged on a nerve in his back, Vancouver Canucks prospect Cody Hodgson returned to action and played well for the Brampton Battalion of the OHL.
Hodgson was named the game’s first star and notched two assists in his team’s 4-2 win at home against the Erie Otters on Thursday.
Last year’s Canadian junior player of the year had last played on Sept. 27 in an exhibition game for the Canucks. After a hard and frustrating time, the soon-to-be 20-year-ancient centre is pain-free and relieved that is career is back on track.
