Thank goodness — I was worried we might get tempted to reel in the big fish this year. As good as Kovy is, I doubt he would fit in Coach Lavy’s system.

I don’t want Kovalchuk on our team, but all this “we’re not interested” talk means nothing. We’ve given the farm away for single players in the past and Homer is so determined to win a Cup ASAP I wouldn’t put anything past him and his history of less than brilliant deals. I probably won’t breathe a sigh of relief until he’s traded to some other team, but my guess is he’ll probably end up on Chicago or somewhere else out west.

Bob McKenzie just reported everything I predicted:

Philadelphia Flyers: The Flyers are another team that likes to chase the big game, but their cap situation is extremely tight and there’s a real legitimate question whether they have the desire or the cap space going forward to sign Kovalchuk to an extension. Still, Flyers’ GM Paul Holmgren has been talking a lot to Waddell. The names that keep popping up out of Philadelphia are forward Scott Hartnell and defenceman Matt Carle, both of whom are under contract for three years and two years, respectively, but Philadelphia would have to off-load more salary than that to make it

 the Kings have not been prepared to offer the bona fide NHL players the Thrashers are seeking.

If Atlanta is going to do a deal with Los Angeles, the Thrashers want defenceman Jack Johnson as part of the package. Thus far, the Kings have rejected that notion entirely. The conventional wisdom is that the Kings could trade Johnson, centre Alexander Frolov and a prospect such as Ted Purcell (or one of their many other young prospects) for Kovalchuk and the deal would be done in the snap of the fingers.

…

Therefore, to this point, the Kings want to do this deal primarily on the back of their prospects. As long as that is the case, the fit isn’t right.

Do it, do it, DO IT! It’s fucking simple! Kovalchuk to LA. Draft picks and prospects to the Flyers. Hartnell and Carle to Atlanta.

Everybody wins.