Where does Jan Kovar, the newest New York Islander, fit in the lineup after signing a one-year deal worth $2 million?
Signing a one-year deal with the New York Islanders, Jan Kovar is making the transition from the KHL to the NHL.
Playing the last five seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Magnitogorsk Metallurg, Kovar scored 97 goals and 286 points in 285 games.
Last season Kovar had seven goals and 35 points in 54 games.
The 28-year-old also has 91 points in 83 post-season games with Metallurg.
Wearing the ‘A’ for the Czech Republic at the Olympics in Pyeongchang this past winter, Kovar scored three goals and five points in six games.
According to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, the center will make $2 million on the one-year deal.
Don’t be mistaken, Kovar will not make up for the loss of John Tavares but he’s another center to throw into the mix.
The Islanders now have five centers signed on one-way deals: Mathew Barzal, Brock Nelson, Valtteri Filppula, Casey Cizikas, and now Kovar.
Kovar is the fourth player to be signed to a one-year, one-way deal by the Isles this summer joining goaltender Robin Lehner as well as forwards Tom Kuhnhackl and Filppula.
All these moves have been somewhat head-scratching.
One-year deals are always nice because you’re throwing a player right back into a contract year where they once again have to prove themselves but these moves are also keeping some of the Isles’ top prospects out of the lineup.
The Islanders have 13 forwards signed to one-way deals, restricted free agent Nelson (who has filed for arbitration), as well as Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier who are still on their entry-level contracts.
Where does Josh Ho-Sang fit in all of this? Kieffer Bellows deserves a look too. While on Sirius XM NHL Network, head coach Barry Trotz had nothing but praise for Ho-Sang.
Trotz on Joshua Ho-Sang:
"I've spent a couple of hours already with Josh. We talked about his game, what I expect, things that he can improve. He's a talented, talented young man. The upside is tremendous. He has NHL skill and NHL ability." #Isles
— Jon Lane (@JonLaneNHL) July 5, 2018
According to CapFriendly, the Islanders still have roughly $17.8 million available to use at their discretion, the fourth-most cap space in the League.
Kovar is a low-risk, high-reward signing especially considering the cap space the Islanders still have available.
