Kovalev is on the last year of a contract with the Penguins, and having become one of the league's elite players since signing, he can easily demand upwards of 6 million dollars - a salary Pittsburgh can't afford, so it's in Pittsburgh's best interests to trade Kovalev before the trade deadline.

I've heard rumors that Toronto is interested, but they don't really have anything to offer. Pittsburgh would be looking to trade Kovalev to Los Angeles for Palffy according to an insider.

My opinion, though, is that Colorado's gonna pick him up after free agency this summer. Either them or Toronto - they can both afford it.

Maybe my Bruins can try and get a trade right now that involves McLaren, Lapointe, Kovalev and maybe someone else.

Now THAT would be awesome!

You guys really need to dump mclaren and lapointe..haha

I heard Montreal wants mcl... they'd probly have traded for him right now if it wasn't for the Zednik incident haha

Looks like Toronto & Colorado are the frontrunners for Kovalev.

Toronto wants him but doesn't appear to want to part with any of their young talent (Antropov, Colaiacovo) as usual. Ol' "Stand Pat" Quinn will likely fail to make any moves to put the Leafs into true contention and then spin it off as a plan to ensure the future of the franchise.

But riddle me this, why should the fans of a team who hasn't so much as seen the Finals in 36 years accept constant talk of a bright future that always seems to be a year or two away? When does that future become the present? When will they reap the benefits? 36 years is a long time.....37 years is longer.....38's even longer.

If you've got the chance to get an impact player who can put you over the top, why hesitate? People talk about losing prospects and youngsters as if it's the death of a franchise. Tell you what, I'll take a Stanley Cup banner over a pool of young talent that may or may not pan out.

If the Leafs fail to land an impact player (I think they need a scoring winger to play on Sundin's line myself) they'll see their season end in either the 2nd round or maybe the Conference Finals once again......and the fans will go on about the promise of a future that is sure to show itself next year. The same thing they said the year before, and the year before that, and the year before that......

As for Kovalev, if they want him, they'd better get aggressive. Pierre Lacroix has proven time and again that when he wants a player he'll do what it takes to get him.

*Note, I don't intend this to be a slam against Toronto fans, I just think they should demand more in return for the loyalty they've shown to the Leafs franchise.

The only player who's decreased in production under Granato is Sakic, and I can't possibly see Sakic ever leaving that franchise. Maybe for a heap of players like Reinprecht and Skoula.

Toronto wants Kovalev but really how can he help? Kovalev is fourth in league scoring, and he's somewhere along the lines of minus 13. Mogilny and Sundin are bad enough defensively as it is - they don't need another goal scorer on that line, and Kovalev would be almost useless (as czerkawski was in montreal) playing on a line with Tucker or Domi. Antropov, maybe.

Sundin & Mogilny only play together on the PP. They started the season together on a line with Darcy Tucker, but that line was split up long ago to spread out the scoring depth.....which is exactly what the Leafs need to add to. Kovalev could play on the top line with Sundin & Renberg, while Mogilny stays on the 2nd line with Antropov and the returning Gary Roberts.

That'd be 2 very good scoring lines if you ask me. And I think +/- is overrated anyway, especially when it comes to forwards. Have you seen Mario's +/-? +/- is a team stat more than anything, Kovalev can't help it if Pittsburgh is a weak defensive team.

Kovalev would also give the Leafs a 2nd power play QB for to go with Kaberle. He plays the point in Pittsburgh on the PP and will likely do the same wherever he goes.

But hey, I'm not pushing for Toronto to land him......I'm an Avs fan, I want to see him land right here in CO.:D

ho ho Avs fan, whats it like not being first in the Northwest! Go Canucks!

I don't watch Leaf games, the only way I know lines is from faceoff.com articles. Last one I read, earlier this week, had renberg sundin mogilny first even strength line. also had those three on the PP with mccabe and svehla.

Who do you think will win the scoring race? I'm hoping Naslund but I'm willing to bet on Thornton.

word is that kovalev is looking for the type of money that the idiots in NY and Philly regularly throw around, so hes thinking 9 million a year (USD btw).

rumors about the islanders are strong right now. supposedly they want a babysitter for alexie yashin. yet another example of mike milbury's unfettered genius. hes definetly worth 8 million a year! kovie and yashin are buddies and they hope that having kovalev on a line will spur yashin to produce. i guess his enormously inflated salary isnt enough motivation. in addition they pens like aucoin and hamerlik. look for blake as a throw in on the deal.

i really doubt he would end up in toronto. toronto does not have the type of defensive help that the pens are looking for in any trade.

I've also heard that europeans hate Toronto because of the big support Don Cherry has and how much he hates europeans. Mogilny wants trade but whats his name is saying NO DICE.

And I'm a huge fan of Milbury.. thanks for Bertuzzi!