Could Kovy Mean More Than a Cup?

Well, the torrid whirlwind of speculation surrounding the city the biggest name on the trading-block would be calling home this weekend (yes, yes, I was definitely one of the hopeless speculators) is over. Ilya Kovalchuk is a New Jersey Devil.

All week we'd heard rumors of him heading to Philadelphia, Calgary, New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago and even Washington but Lou Lamoriello was the one able to best synergise with the Atlanta GM, Don Waddell.

Reports say the sought-after star was offered contracts of $70m/7yrs to $101m/12yrs but declined. Maybe Kovalchuk thinks he can get more money, maybe he just feels like a change of scenery or maybe he wants a Cup. The events that unfold over the off-season will surely provide the answers to those questions, but what about now?

You wouldn't win much for guessing that most Devils fans are quite pleased with the transaction -- and why wouldn't they be? NJ was a contender before the deal. Now with one of the best attackers in the game, imagine the possibilities. Zajac, Parise and Kovalchuk? That could be fun!

Whichever way Kovalchuk's presence is integrated in the New Jersey roster, the impact will be quite large. I use the words "quite large" in the same way Ken Hitchcock's jock-strap says its job "Isn't great.".

But for the slightest moment, let's ignore the Devils newly attained dangerousness.

For the first. time. ever. I actually thought to myself, "I'm gonna hafta watch a bit more of the Devils." and as crazy as it sounds, I'll bet I'm not alone with this sentiment.

For the longest time, New Jersey has been home to the most boring product in the NHL. Personally, I always found it difficult to criticise because at the end of the day, it worked. But through all the years of sustained success, fans in Garden State never reached the excitement-levels you see in Washington or Pittsburgh right now.

Kovy won't change the defense-first style of Lamoriello's regime, but the fact is New Jersey has never seen a player of Kovalchuk's talent in its relatively short history. It could be said that Kovalchuk alone could put more fans in the seats this playoff season, than winning the Cup without him might have.

A new era could be dawning in NJ if Lou is able to work his magic and keep Ilya beyond 2009/10. The rare talent of a player like Kovalchuk, coupled with the enduring inherent success the team seems to eternally possess, could be the panacea for indifference the town has always shown for their hockey team.