Hockey world waits for Kovalchuk
Hockey Betting Lines
07/07/2010 -
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - We now know that the LeBron James
sweepstakes is set to end Thursday night in prime time, but the NHL's biggest
free agent may take a little longer to choose his next team.
It was originally expected that Ilya Kovalchuk wouldn't last long on the open
market, as is normally the case when supreme NHL talent is available via free
agency. But, here we are, nearly a week into hockey's summer shopping season
and a certain Russian sniper has still yet to make a decision on his future.
Heading into free agency it appeared the New Jersey Devils, who acquired
Kovalchuk from the Atlanta Thrashers at the last trade deadline, and the Los Angeles Kings had the best chance of signing the five-time 40-goal scorer, but
now it seems that leaving the NHL to play back home in Russia is a distinct
possibility.
At the present time, smart money says the Devils have the best chance at
signing Kovalchuk, but news reports out of Russia are suggesting that SKA St.
Petersburg of the KHL is close to locking up the superstar for $9 million a
year.
Now, the Kings, who were said to be out of the Kovi sweepstakes earlier this
week when he reportedly turned down LA's offer of 13 years, $84 million, are
said to be back in the race.
Also, depending on who you listen to, the New York Islanders are in the mix to
sign Kovalchuk, but if you believe that, then I've got a Lighthouse Project at
Long Island to sell you.
Through all these rumors, we've heard next-to-nothing from the Kovalchuk camp.
On Monday, Kovalchuk's North American agent, Jay Grossman, revealed on Twitter
that his client was "looking to make a decision on his future today," but
eight hours later we were told there would be "no announcement tonight." If
that was an elaborate plan by Grossman to increase his Twitter followers, then
it worked, but we haven't heard anything of consequence from the agent since.
If I were Kovalchuk, it wouldn't take me long to figure out that the Kings
were my best NHL option.
With the Devils, Kovalchuk would maybe have a better chance to win a Stanley
Cup next year or two seasons from now, but the Kings and their talented, young
roster are set up to compete for titles for the next decade or so. All LA
really lacks is a potent sniper, and with 338 goals in 621 career games, there
has been no one with more tallies than Kovalchuk since he entered the league
with the Thrashers back in 2001-02.
Only Alex Ovechkin is a better pure scorer and considering Kovalchuk's
countryman is signed with Washington through 2020-21, we may never see Ovie
hit the open market. So, if a goal-scorer is what you covet, there is no
better option than Kovalchuk. That being said, Kings general manager Dean
Lombardi needs to find a way to sign Kovalchuk without jeopardizing his young
team's salary cap situation in the future.
Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello also has cap issues to think about when
considering signing Kovalchuk. The team will likely need to unload money
before the start of the regular season to make the cap situation work.
As for Kovalchuk's KHL option, there is little the North American media can
offer on that subject. Kovalchuk's Russian agent suggested earlier this week
that his client was certainly leaning towards staying in the NHL, but we can't
really know how strongly the winger is considering playing professionally in
his home country.
If Kovalchuk winds up playing in the KHL, it would be a huge loss for North
American hockey. There are few players who can take over a game offensively
like Kovalchuk, and a move to Russia would rob NHL fans of a chance to witness
one of the game's greatest talents.
One hopes that Kovalchuk's ultimate decision isn't based primarily on money,
but it would be hard to blame him if it was. For all the knocks on his game,
like he doesn't play defense or the fact that has never even won a playoff
series, Kovalchuk's unique sniping ability allows him to command top dollar
and, at 27 years of age, there is no better time to capitalize on his value to
a prospective NHL or KHL team.
Kovalchuk's impending decision may have taken a back seat to LeBron's all-
consuming search for an NBA destination, but that doesn't make it of any less
interest to die-hard hockey fans. I certainly hope Kovi makes a choice soon,
but let's pray he doesn't need to take up an hour of prime time TV in order to
come that decision.
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“You play to win the game!”
Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.
The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.
The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.
Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?
Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.
New York Giants betting lines
Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.
Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.
Dallas Cowboys betting lines
Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.
The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.
Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.
Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.
Oakland Raiders betting lines
This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.
First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”
The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason.
Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.
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Bonds nearly hits HR 751, SF wins
4 and drove in
a pair of runs, and Barry Bonds nearly hit homer No. 751 as San Francisco beat
1, in the middle contest of three at AT&T Park.
6) allowed five hits and one run over 6 2/3 innings, fanning
eight and walking three.
game slide.
Bonds, who came within five homers of Hank Aaron's record on Friday, went
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