5 best fits for Ilya Kovalchuk in NHL free agency
By Nick McAdam
1. Boston Bruins
Time for the Bruins’ competitive run should have been up long ago. But a few lucky draft picks and a veteran core have kept them in the playoffs and, seemingly, Stanley Cup contenders each season.
Fans can really tell they’re going for it now. Zdeno Chara has to be close to done, and the likes of David Krejci, Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron will likely start to slow down. At the same time, the Bruins counteracted this by bringing in Rick Nash and of course, a draft pick in David Pastrnak.
The big talking point here is Nash. Signing the veteran for a hefty amount of dollars, combined with the contract of David Backes, is really eating Boston’s cap right now.
It might be hard to bring in a player like Kovalchuk, but we’ll never know. The determining point is what price the Gold Medal-winner will want to ask for.
The off-the-ice struggles have been mentioned, but if the Bruins find a way to land another scoring winger, they might just be able to lift some silverware again.
It’s all about surrounding a core for teams on this list. Kovalchuk is the guy that can do that, but it may not have that much of an impact as it would for the Bruins.
Next: 3 things we learned: Winnipeg Jets vs. Vegas Golden Knights Game 1
Thoughts on the list? Will Kovalchuk sign with any of these teams, or do you thin he’ll sign somewhere else? Let us know in the comments section below!