It's rumored he (Kovalchuk) wants a 10-year deal worth $11.3 million a season -- the maximum allowable contract in accordance with the collective bargaining agreemenet -- but GM Don Waddell has said he isn't willing to give it. Of course, there are plenty of suitors willing to either "rent" Kovy for the rest of the season, or take on his potentially massive salary in a long-term deal.
According to one rumor, the pricetag for Kovalchuk in trade may have been set by the Flyers over the past week: a package of Jeff Carter, Claude Giroux and Ryan Parent was allegedly offered in exchange for the Thrashers forward.