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Sunday, January 26, 2003

By Dejan Kovacevic, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

How many teams are bidding for Alexei Kovalev's services? Who are they? What would they give up?

Without bugging Craig Patrick's cell phone, of course, it is impossible to know for sure.

A week ago, two sources told the Post-Gazette there were five suitors: Rangers, Islanders, Maple Leafs, Flyers and Stars. But Flyers General Manager Bob Clarke publicly denied interest, as did one official of the Maple Leafs. Also, recent word from Dallas is that the Stars are unwilling to add to their projected payroll of $55 million for next season to add Kovalev.

Still, that doesn't mean the field has whittled to two, as it did in the Jaromir Jagr bidding two years ago. Patrick has acknowledged that his phone has been ringing this week to the point he is having difficulty sleeping -- he blames that on the original Post-Gazette article about Kovalev being shopped last Sunday -- and that likely means that several additional teams have at least enough of an interest to make an inquiry.

The identity of the team that is most serious might not be known until after the trade is executed. But, by simple process of elimination based on clear criteria, it is possible to develop some outlook.

Start with money, which always dictates a deal this big.

The six teams with player payrolls topping $60 million are the Rangers, Red Wings, Blues, Stars, Avalanche and Flyers. The Maple Leafs have money, too, only they usually elect not to spend it. Of this group, scratch the Blues, who no longer are running up deficits, and the Flyers for the aforementioned lack of interest.

Then, add the Islanders. A source on Long Island this week told the Post-Gazette that team owner Charles Wang would be glad to add to his 15th-ranked payroll if the acquisition merited it.

Now, of the five teams still on the list, look for which is best able to give up a front-line defenseman. The Penguins can't absorb the public backlash of another cash-and-prospects deal, and defense is their top need. The defenseman the Penguins get must be NHL-proven, fairly young, reasonably priced and good with the puck.

In that category ...

The Rangers have Tom Poti. He has a $1.8 million salary and a team-best 35 points, but the Penguins had previous chances to get him from the Oilers and never got seriously involved. Unlikely.

The Red Wings have Maxim Kuznetsov ($525,000), who is young and talented, but also represents the future of an aging team.

The Avalanche has Derek Morris ($2.5 million) and Martin Skoula ($1.1 million).

Morris is overpaid, given his subpar defensive work, and Colorado has been trying so hard to deal Skoula for more than a year that it has raised questions as to why.

The Maple Leafs have Tomas Kaberle ($1.75 million), who is their best defenseman and thus unavailable. They also have superb prospect Carlo Colaiacovo, who briefly made the team as an 18-year-old in October. But General Manager Pat Quinn said this week he is looking to add to his defense, not subtract from it.

All of which leaves the Islanders.

They have three commodities in the Penguins' market: Roman Hamrlik ($3.5 million), Adrian Aucoin ($3.1 million) and Kenny Jonsson ($2.5 million). All three make less than Kovalev's current $4.6 million and are highly unlikely to make half of what he likely will get as soon as next season. All also are big, strong, offensively potent, relatively durable and capable of logging 30 minutes a game.

Moreover, one high-ranking team official this week confirmed that the Islanders would be interested in adding Kovalev.

Bingo?