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New Jersey Devils Trade Partners For Ilya Kovalchuk: Tampa Bay Lightning

By Nick Villano |
Apr 7, 2016; Newark, NJ, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Jonathan Drouin (27) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. The Lightning won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2016; Newark, NJ, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Jonathan Drouin (27) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. The Lightning won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

The New Jersey Devils are less than one month away from being able to sign a former star. The team plans to move Ilya Kovalchuk to the highest bidder. The Tampa Bay Lightning have been a rumored destination.

Ilya Kovalchuk could be just weeks away from being an NHL player again. New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero says it will take until July 1st until he is eligible to come back. Despite that, this hasn’t stopped rumors from going wild for months, speculating where Kovalchuk might end up.

One of the early rumors said that Kovalchuk would be willing to go to a Florida team to appease his family. Obviously, there are two teams in the Sunshine State: Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers.

Both teams are in similar spots. Decent cores that could help them win for years to come, but future contracts could force them to make hard decisions. Being both teams missed out on the playoffs this past season, there is some urgency to get better. Kovalchuk would help make that happen.

The Lightning are just two years removed from a Stanley Cup Finals run. The team went six games with the Chicago Blackhawks before leaving without a championship.

Many believed it would be the first Cup Finals run of many for this Lightning team, but after missing the playoffs this season, the team’s mortality is in question.

The Lightning have one huge issue when it comes to acquiring a big contract; money.

While it helps that the team only has to pay its goalie $3.5 million, there are so many players that need to get paid. Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Jonathan Drouin all need new contracts this offseason. The team is already paying Steven Stamkos, Ryan Callahan and Victor Hedman a combined $22.175 million for the next three seasons. That doesn’t leave a lot of room for movement when three players make that much.

If Kovalchuk comes with a price tag of $6-7 million, then the Lightning can’t make that work without significant changes.

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If the Devils were to trade Kovy to the Lightning, it could bring the maximum return just because of the position the Lightning find themselves. There is no chance the team can sign Palat, Johnson and Drouin to long-term deals without a miracle cap maneuver. The Devils could ask for one of the three in return for Kovalchuk and maybe a 2018 draft pick. Shero could also take someone like Brayden Coburn off the Lightning’s hands to help free up some salary space.

A trade between the Devils and Lightning could work, but it would need to be the most complicated. There are some cap space issues, and the Devils may ask for a player of higher value than Kovalchuk. The player in return could also need a new contract after the trade.

While these complications exist, the Devils should go with the team who brings back the best value in return for a free asset. If that return ends up being a player like Drouin, the Devils need to pounce on that deal. Even if it means paying the majority of Kovalchuk’s salary this season.

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