Fair play to the Canadiens for taking Ilya Kovalchuk in on a free-agent deal after he failed to impress in his time with the Los Angeles Kings. In dishing him for a third-round pick and retained salary, they’ve made money on a player the Boston Bruins might’ve been in on.
For Boston, it’s disappointing given how cheap he eventually moved for that they didn’t go for him. If nothing else, at such a low cap hit, Ilya Kovalchuk could’ve offered star-quality as a depth player.
Instead, the Boston Bruins must face up to the fact that veterans like Kovalchuk and Joe Thornton, who they’re still reportedly interested in, won’t be coming cheap.