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Lou on the Kovy Schmooze


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would you do this for a player who is playing on your team for 2 months and then leaving?

http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/fireice/comments/lemaire_believes_devils_can_do_better_kovalchuk_gets_quality_time_with_fami/

As I mentioned earlier, left wing Ilya Kovalchuk flew to Florida Tuesday night in a private plane with his mother and spent the night with his family in his house, which is about 35 minutes from Fort Lauderdale.

“The schedule worked out perfect,” he said.

Kovalchuk drove to BankAtlantic Center for the Devils’ practice this afternoon and drove back to his house afterward to spend the night.

“We’ll have a family dinner, finally,” he said.

Kovalchuk has three children with his wife, Nicole. They have daughter, Carolina, who is four, a one-year-old son, Philipp, and newborn son, Artem, who is only 17 days old.

Kovalchuk said that Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello gave him child-sized Devils’ jerseys for each of his children with their names on the back. Carolina plans to wear hers to the game Thursday.

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would you do this for a player who is playing on your team for 2 months and then leaving?

http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/fireice/comments/lemaire_believes_devils_can_do_better_kovalchuk_gets_quality_time_with_fami/

As I mentioned earlier, left wing Ilya Kovalchuk flew to Florida Tuesday night in a private plane with his mother and spent the night with his family in his house, which is about 35 minutes from Fort Lauderdale.

“The schedule worked out perfect,” he said.

Kovalchuk drove to BankAtlantic Center for the Devils’ practice this afternoon and drove back to his house afterward to spend the night.

“We’ll have a family dinner, finally,” he said.

Kovalchuk has three children with his wife, Nicole. They have daughter, Carolina, who is four, a one-year-old son, Philipp, and newborn son, Artem, who is only 17 days old.

Kovalchuk said that Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello gave him child-sized Devils’ jerseys for each of his children with their names on the back. Carolina plans to wear hers to the game Thursday.

I believe Lou wants Kovy to feel comfortable as a NJ Devil. Perhaps the Devils can't throw all the money in the world at him, but maybe, just maybe if they create a friendly environment for him he makes the sacrifice to stay in NJ.

It's not all about the money. It really isn't. Kovy is rich enough as it is now. Just ask Marty about that. Marty took way less money to play in NJ, and he did it for the right reasons. Maybe Kovy does the same.

I just hope that the same treatment is extended by Lou to the other players, marginal or not, so that there's consistency. The last thing the Devils need is a "sacred cow" type on the team that creates animosity and dissent from the other guys. That could significantly hamper team chemistry.

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would you do this for a player who is playing on your team for 2 months and then leaving?

Kovalchuk has three children with his wife, Nicole. They have daughter, Carolina, who is four, a one-year-old son, Philipp, and newborn son, Artem, who is only 17 days old.

Kovalchuk said that Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello gave him child-sized Devils’ jerseys for each of his children with their names on the back. Carolina plans to wear hers to the game Thursday.

I don't know. He has a daughter named Carolina. Maybe that's where he wants to play. :P

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Mitico I dont think you can say anyone has enough money or that their motivation isnt money unless you know them...

If it was all about the money he'd still be in Atlanta

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I think Lou has done a great job of keeping Kovy happy, and sometimes that's all it takes. (e.g Elias, Marty, Rolston, White, Martin, Zajac and Salvador).

While this is all nice, it means nothing in the eyes of his agent, who ultimately will be tasked to talk Kovy into playing the UFA market for a higher commission.

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I believe Lou wants Kovy to feel comfortable as a NJ Devil. Perhaps the Devils can't throw all the money in the world at him, but maybe, just maybe if they create a friendly environment for him he makes the sacrifice to stay in NJ.

It's not all about the money. It really isn't. Kovy is rich enough as it is now. Just ask Marty about that. Marty took way less money to play in NJ, and he did it for the right reasons. Maybe Kovy does the same.

I just hope that the same treatment is extended by Lou to the other players, marginal or not, so that there's consistency. The last thing the Devils need is a "sacred cow" type on the team that creates animosity and dissent from the other guys. That could significantly hamper team chemistry.

From what I remember, he sent the team jet to pick up Salvador and his family after he was traded here. He's also allowed Skoula to miss practice to go be with his family in Pittsburgh. Lou truly cares about his players. Look no further than when Elias got the concussion in Colorado and Lou rode in the ambulance to and from the hospital.

I think Lou has done a great job of keeping Kovy happy, and sometimes that's all it takes. (e.g Elias, Marty, Rolston, White, Martin, Zajac and Salvador).

While this is all nice, it means nothing in the eyes of his agent, who ultimately will be tasked to talk Kovy into playing the UFA market for a higher commission.

Unfortunately, when Kovy was asked about re-signing with Jersey, he said he leaves contract negotiations to his agent, who is just going to look for the cash.

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Didn't Brodeur write in his book that Lou let him use the private team jet for when the twins were born? Or something like that? I wouldn't be surprised that the private jet mentioned in this Kovy story is the very same aircraft. Lou certainly knows how to return loyalty.

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Thanks for posting that video Par.

Before Kovy was a Devil, I wrote him off as a lazy cocky Russian superstar. I was obviously wrong.

He is playing great defensively and he really is a team player. And after meeting him and seeing a video like this, he's a really nice down to earth guy. I hope he stays.

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I believe Lou wants Kovy to feel comfortable as a NJ Devil. Perhaps the Devils can't throw all the money in the world at him, but maybe, just maybe if they create a friendly environment for him he makes the sacrifice to stay in NJ.

It's not all about the money. It really isn't. Kovy is rich enough as it is now. Just ask Marty about that. Marty took way less money to play in NJ, and he did it for the right reasons. Maybe Kovy does the same.

I just hope that the same treatment is extended by Lou to the other players, marginal or not, so that there's consistency. The last thing the Devils need is a "sacred cow" type on the team that creates animosity and dissent from the other guys. That could significantly hamper team chemistry.

FYI - Lou gives baby Devils jerseys with the child's name on the back to the newborn children of all Devils' employees in the front office, so I don't think there's any inconsistency. He is very thoughtful and concerned about the families of all of the Devils' employees.

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This seems to be Lou's tact:

1) We'll treat you and your family like gold and like OUR family.

2) You'll get a chance to compete for a Cup for as long as you're here.

Come July 1 we're not going to come close the very best offer you're going to get. But if you're willing to sacrifice some millions, I promise to fulfill my end of 1) and 2).

Kovy may not come back, but Lou was right to bring him in, and it won't be his fault if Kovy goes. Kovy's gotten first-class treatment.

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This seems to be Lou's tact:

1) We'll treat you and your family like gold and like OUR family.

2) You'll get a chance to compete for a Cup for as long as you're here.

Come July 1 we're not going to come close the very best offer you're going to get. But if you're willing to sacrifice some millions, I promise to fulfill my end of 1) and 2).

Kovy may not come back, but Lou was right to bring him in, and it won't be his fault if Kovy goes. Kovy's gotten first-class treatment.

These are great points. Lou isn't the type to toss a ton of money around, but what the Devils lack in money to offer they can make up in other places. Among them is the low-profile lifestyle one is afforded by playing in New Jersey. It's a plus for some (Brodeur) whereas for those who crave the spotlight it can be viewed as a minus (Gomez). I haven't gotten the attention-whore vibe from Kovalchuk, so that may work in our favor as well.

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These are great points. Lou isn't the type to toss a ton of money around, but what the Devils lack in money to offer they can make up in other places. Among them is the low-profile lifestyle one is afforded by playing in New Jersey. It's a plus for some (Brodeur) whereas for those who crave the spotlight it can be viewed as a minus (Gomez). I haven't gotten the attention-whore vibe from Kovalchuk, so that may work in our favor as well.

The non-spotlight angle I think will be huge for Kovy, especially since Parise is drawing just as much attention as he is on this team. In Atlanta, he was relied on to provide the backbone of that team and he took all the criticism when the team didn't perform. I think that weighs pretty heavily on a player after a while. Here, we have an abundance of leadership and star players (Parise, Elias) where that won't be an issue. I would imagine this would be very appealing for him.

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This seems to be Lou's tact:

1) We'll treat you and your family like gold and like OUR family.

2) You'll get a chance to compete for a Cup for as long as you're here.

Come July 1 we're not going to come close the very best offer you're going to get. But if you're willing to sacrifice some millions, I promise to fulfill my end of 1) and 2).

Kovy may not come back, but Lou was right to bring him in, and it won't be his fault if Kovy goes. Kovy's gotten first-class treatment.

This perfectly sums up what the Devils are all about.

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let's see id Lou will be able to re-sign kovy.

I'm sure he will dought.

And P.S Kovy can tell his agent if he wan'ts to stay here.

kovy WILL stay here.

And Kovy's agent will remind him why he was hired in the first place.

I doubt very much if Kovy is back next year, but I commend Lou for his efforts.

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I honestly think he will resign here if he stays in the NHL but for everyone using Brodeur as an example of someone taking a discount to play in NJ.. its really not.

Brodeur negotiated the contract by himself.. So while it was a salary cut for the team, Brodeur himself made more money in the deal

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First and foremost, Marty had already been a franchise player before the time came to negotiate a new contract - even moreso after the two Scotties said bye bye. He had been born and raised by this team, won three Stanley Cups and became the face of the franchise in the process. Kovy's history with the Devils is two months long and he is a mercenary right now. I'd love it to turn into a long Ilya Era, but comparing Brodeur's and Kovalchuk's contract negotiations is inadequate.

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Lou does give jerseys to a lot of kids. My Dad worked at a radio station in New York when I was younger back when the Rags were " THE TEAM". They were ragging on him on the air about the Rangers always beating the Devils everything. My Dad ended up going on the air and defending the Devils. Next day Lou calls him up and offered him his seats at a game. They were right behind the penalty box and I wanna say they played the Blues but I don't remember. In addition to the tickets he sent jerseys for me, my brothers and my sister with our names on the back with our birth this days as the number.

I realize this is only mildly related but I always thought it was a cool story.

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Lou does give jerseys to a lot of kids. My Dad worked at a radio station in New York when I was younger back when the Rags were " THE TEAM". They were ragging on him on the air about the Rangers always beating the Devils everything. My Dad ended up going on the air and defending the Devils. Next day Lou calls him up and offered him his seats at a game. They were right behind the penalty box and I wanna say they played the Blues but I don't remember. In addition to the tickets he sent jerseys for me, my brothers and my sister with our names on the back with our birth this days as the number.

I realize this is only mildly related but I always thought it was a cool story.

Actually thanks for sharing that's pretty much awesome

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Thanks. Looking back on it, it was really awesome. At 8 years old you don't really appreciate the fact that the General Manager of the New Jersey Devils contacted your father and gave you his seats and a free jersey. Looking back on it when I'm 25 I now realize how cool it was and how lucky I was.

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