Kovalchuk or Ovechkin

[Grapes]

I would like to target a left wing keeper.
Kovalchuk has always been a favorite of mine.
I still think of Ovechkin in his glory days.
Not sure either is available or what it would take.

Which should I pursue? Kovalchuk ?

[Bass56]

Kovalchuk is less of a gamble IMO. He will net you 80+ points for the next 5-6 years. Ovechkin is younger but he just doesn't seem to have that edge anymore...

If I had to gamble I would go with Ovechkin, just for the potential 100+ point season but if you wanted to play it safe, Kovalchuk is not a bad pick. The optimum difference in points between both players is 20 at best.

So this decision falls back on your shoulders... are you the gambling type, or do you play it safe? Either way, I don't think you can go wrong here.

If you are looking to land a deal, Ovechkin's value is at its lowest. In most leagues, he is ''worth less'' than Kovalchuk at the moment.

Since your league doesn't count FOW, try packaging J. Staal and Green for Ovy and see if his owner bites (Staal's perceived value is high and giving up Green to get Ovechkin might look like a wash on his end. I would get rid of Green if I was getting Ovechkin to avoid having too many of the same eggs in the same basket...).

[Pengwin7]

Ovechkin.
He still has Nick Backstrom to play with.
And Washington is still a club that will spend some money to surround him with talent.
I know he's slumping, but I think Washington will find a way to snap him out of his slump, surround him with talent, or (dare I say it)... trade him and rebuild.

Kovalchuk is on a talent-less New Jersey club that doesn't have money.
He's also currently playing almost 27min/game, which isn't sustainable.
At some point... I think this whole team starts stumbling.
(Yes, I know they went to the cup last year.)

Also - Kovalchuk gets some knock for his lack of defensive-game.
This lowers his trade value and his salary ($11m actual per year until about 2017) will make him difficult for New Jersey to ever move him.