The trip is already a success in that no matter what happens tonight in Boston or tomorrow in Jersey, they finish the trip with a winning record. They'll be without Jack Johnson tonight, and perhaps tomorrow, as well, who is suffering from the infamous "upper body injury." He's listed as day-to-day. Randy Jones gets the nod in his absence for tonight.
There had been some speculation that this Johnson injury was all just a cover-up to a possible trade with the Thrashers that could net the Kings Ilya Kovalchuk, but the injury is obviously for real. Johnson has been mentioned in trade rumors with Atlanta for Kovalchuk.
Also, with Boston, the other front-running suitor for Kovalchuk, moving on to other trade options, there's growing sentiment that a Kovalchuk deal is close. Kings beat writer/blogger Rich Hammond did confirm mid-week that the Kings did in fact make an offer to the Thrashers for Kovalchuk, but Atlanta made a counteroffer back to the Kings. So far no deal has been consummated.
Meanwhile, Atlanta's GM made it clear that teams will not be given a chance work out an extension with Kovalchuk, who will be a free agent after the season, before completing a trade, but his trade demands remain too high at this point. This has forced most suitors for Kovalchuk to look elsewhere.
If I'm Dean Lombardi and the Kings, I do what I have to to get him. I know the price is steep right now, but you gotta give up something to get something. Obviously, Lombardi is smart enough to know when too much is too much. If Atlanta is willing to grant teams a window to work out an extension, then they need to lower their demands for Kovalchuk, who would then be solely a two-month rental. If they want to keep the price where it is, you gotta give something back in return, in this case, a window to work out an extension.
Stay tuned...
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