The low down on those Kovalchuk signing with the Rangers reports, plus Tavares on Broadway?

Anthony Scultore Updated: Jan 29, 2022

Time to pump the brakes on those Kovalchuk signing reports.

Per Rick Carpiniello, formerly from MSG and now with The Atlantic:

Re: the Kovalchuk report. Not true. Could eventually happen. But they haven’t spoken, and can’t speak while he’s under contract. Hearing they can talk in mid-April. Can’t sign til 7/1, is my understanding.

— Rick Carpiniello (@RickCarpiniello) April 9, 2018

Larry Brooks of the NYPOST noted:

Kovalchuk, by the way, does not become free agent until 4/15.

— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) April 9, 2018

While I still believe the news out of Russia to be accurate based on everything we reported last summer, we will have to wait until next week to learn more. However, Ilya on Broadway looks like a show destined to happen.

UFA Target: John Tavares

So is this really a rebuild or a reload with a youth movement flare? While John Tavares said that he would like to stay with the Islanders, he left all options open come UFA season this summer.

“You don’t know how many opportunities you get to get to this point and possibly see what the landscape is. I don’t even necessarily know if that’s really what I want to do yet. I’ve always stated how much I love it here. It’s emotional either way. Great organization, great place to play. Obviously, I want it to work out here.”

Now for the plot twist with the NYR and this “rebuild”. Hockey insider Bob McKenzie was on TSN radio this morning and said the following:

“I can guarantee you this, they’ll go back into the Erik Karlsson well if he’s available at the draft. At least check in and see if there’s a way they could facilitate it. And if John Tavares goes to unrestricted free agency, I don’t doubt for a minute that the New York Rangers…Because at the end of the day, New York is New York and the Rangers are the Rangers.”

Bottom line, the Rangers are open for business and business will be booming.