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The Kovy Conundrum


Z-Man

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We basically had the chance to try Kovy out in 09-10. He didn't make a difference in our offense then. A smart front office would have looked at Kovy during the off season and realized that Kovy wasn't the piece to the puzzle. That season we limped into the playoffs and almost got swept by the Flyers. The front office should have seen that and let him walk. So while I'm sure some of us would have been woulda coulda shoulda we would have gotten over it. We lost Gomer, Nieds, Rafalski, Holik etc. Sure we were disappointed but we moved forward and succeeded. We still played a team game and realized the parts weren't more than the whole. Look at the 07-08 club. Aron Asham, Karel Rachunek? We still managed to make the playoffs. Signing Kovy was the first sign that there was no sense of team effort anymore.

Well he has 27 pts in 27 that season and he was the only one who stepped up in the playoffs. He played well here during the rental period

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Well he has 27 pts in 27 that season and he was the only one who stepped up in the playoffs. He played well here during the rental period

True, but we still limped into the playoffs and lost 4-1 to Philly in the playoffs. So while Kovalchuk had 27 pts in 27 games he wasn't the game changer we expected when we traded for him, thus something else was the problem and Kovy wasn't the answer.

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People fail to deal with the facts. They look at post and see what they want instead of seeing the facts.

-Kovalchuk has tremendous talent to take the puck and make a move, but he does NOT bring anyone to the next level with him.

-Kovalchuk is a defensive liability. He might score 35-40 goals, but if you are a -25 than you were out there for a goal. Sure you can come up with excuses all you want, but the other night was no isolated incident. I'd rather have a player put up less goals and have a better plus/minus. Anyone can score lots of goals and play for a team who doesn't win (HINT -See Atlanta when he was there).

-The debate about him playing Left Wing or Right Wing is silly. He should be able to play both. Sure he might be better on one than the other, but we really haven't seen such dramatic changes that it should effect his play. Sure he is coming down his off side, but so what. Shanahan made it happen. Sykora does it. It seems like an excuse. The powerplay garbage about him not being good on the point is also garbage. For years Sykora played that point and didn't have NEARLY the same mistakes happen to himn. Why than is Kovalchuk having these issues? Isn't Kovy a better player? Don't even begin to say Sykora was a better defensively or who was his defensive partner (Ah... Brian Rafalski)? Please stop the excuses.

-Kovalchuk cannot hangle pressure. I've stated before he cannot handle being number 3 in the shootout. Being the number one shooter has zero stress, because NO MATTER what happens someone on your team will ALWAYS get a chance next. Kovalchuk cannot handle the stress of being the numnber 3 guy. Why does this matter? If he cannot handle that stress, he cannot handle the playoffs. He has already demonstrated both.

-Kovalchuk doesn't want to learn. I've heard the term "two-way player" mentioned concerning him. Well he definitely tried to chase down Mikko Koivu the other night and that might be his best two way skill (skating down with the puck and trying to come back after he screwed it up). He's a two-way player like Rod Pelley is power forward. Please stop with this term. John Madden was a two way player. Kyle Brodziak is a two way player. Dave Bolland is a two way player. Ilya Kovalchuk is not and will never be.

-Kovalchuk can't be blamed entirely for his contract. The Devils did GIVE it to him. I wonder what would've happened to him if the Devils weren't able to make it happen? I see Alexei Yashin never came back. I hope Kovalchuk leaves for the KHL sooner than later. His contract has far lasting effects (the lost draft picks due to the circumvention, the inability to sign certain players, and other intangilbes that have not yet presented themselves.

-The Devils have always been about team. Kovalchuk is about himself. Sure he'll pass, but he is more interested in controlling that puck. It is his game and he seems to be just as excited stick handling through five guys than he is when he scores. This does not help the team and Ilya won't be changing his gamne so close to thirty years of age.

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Like i say on other thread

You are all on kovalchuk but i can't see how he can control the puck on bad bounces (hedberg pass tonight etc...)

Yes he makes mistake... but saying this guys can make our team win is a non-sense to me

He have to be use correctly and at the right spot... That's all

If you dont believe in that.. Well you forgot last year second half... ( he really make us win games)

So stop being on Kovy... Yes he makes mistakes and all that stuff but the guys is a sniper and he gave us a great effort and he want to win... More importantly he can, have and will help us win!

There are so many player on the team who play like crap that i can't see how Kovy is the one everybody is against!

You can says what you want but Kovalchuk will help us to go in the playoff this year!

And if we win the stanley cup in a near future Kovalchuk name will appear on the Conn Smythe trophy.

Oh and those who said he can't handle pressure... talk to russian on how he help his team win the world championship in 2008 (tying goal and overtime winning goal) ANd who score Game winner last yaer in the third and in overtime???????

Well enough said

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Guest BelieveinBrodeur

Well, last season, second-half kovy played great under Lemaire but did everyone. His defensive game was much better, now he's misreading and handling. Second half last year with Kovy we looked like a Playoff team with kovy and without Parise and i rather it be the other way around but no one will take Kovy. Basically me soul for Lemaire. Problem is we have 2 superstar left wingers?! Kovy being a team man playing the right but is clearly uncomfortable there.

Edited by BelieveinBrodeur
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We basically had the chance to try Kovy out in 09-10. He didn't make a difference in our offense then. A smart front office would have looked at Kovy during the off season and realized that Kovy wasn't the piece to the puzzle. That season we limped into the playoffs and almost got swept by the Flyers.

Kovy got a point per game under Lemaire of all coaches and was instrumental in winning games for us. He was the only guy who showed up during the Flyers series(other than Zubrus).

We lost Gomer, Nieds, Rafalski, Holik etc. Sure we were disappointed but we moved forward and succeeded.

If succeeded means getting bounced out of early rounds by inferior teams year after year...

Look at the 07-08 club. Aron Asham, Karel Rachunek? We still managed to make the playoffs.

Only to almost get swept by the lower-seeded Rangers.

-Kovalchuk cannot handle pressure

All those OT goals in his career(especially last year) say otherwise.

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-Kovalchuk has tremendous talent to take the puck and make a move, but he does NOT bring anyone to the next level with him.

Go back and watch tonight's game and try to tell me that. Kovalchuk's passing in the offensive zone has been outstanding lately.

Kovalchuk is a defensive liability. He might score 35-40 goals, but if you are a -25 than you were out there for a goal. Sure you can come up with excuses all you want, but the other night was no isolated incident. I'd rather have a player put up less goals and have a better plus/minus. Anyone can score lots of goals and play for a team who doesn't win (HINT -See Atlanta when he was there).

Kovalchuk is a poor defensive player, but he shouldn't be -11.

The debate about him playing Left Wing or Right Wing is silly. He should be able to play both. Sure he might be better on one than the other, but we really haven't seen such dramatic changes that it should effect his play. Sure he is coming down his off side, but so what. Shanahan made it happen. Sykora does it. It seems like an excuse. The powerplay garbage about him not being good on the point is also garbage. For years Sykora played that point and didn't have NEARLY the same mistakes happen to himn. Why than is Kovalchuk having these issues? Isn't Kovy a better player? Don't even begin to say Sykora was a better defensively or who was his defensive partner (Ah... Brian Rafalski)? Please stop the excuses.

Sykora did not play the point during those years, Jason Arnott did.

Kovalchuk cannot hangle pressure. I've stated before he cannot handle being number 3 in the shootout. Being the number one shooter has zero stress, because NO MATTER what happens someone on your team will ALWAYS get a chance next. Kovalchuk cannot handle the stress of being the numnber 3 guy. Why does this matter? If he cannot handle that stress, he cannot handle the playoffs. He has already demonstrated both.

Yawn. Like Marv said, he has a billion overtime goals and will probably retire with the NHL record.

The Devils have always been about team. Kovalchuk is about himself. Sure he'll pass, but he is more interested in controlling that puck. It is his game and he seems to be just as excited stick handling through five guys than he is when he scores. This does not help the team and Ilya won't be changing his gamne so close to thirty years of age.

Remember against the Flyers in the playoffs when he stick handled through the team and then didn't score? He looked really happy after missing the net there, I can remember it well. He was laughing and joking with a Russian teammate on the bench afterwards.

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I wouldn't be adverse to trading him even if it meant acquiring Gomez to get rid of the burden of his contract. Say Kovy for Subban, Gomez and a first. That is a better package than what we got for him.

parise zajac henrique

elias gomez sykora

teddy yayo zubrus

boulton carter clarkson

greene larsson

volch subban

tallinder fayne

in my opinion that is a better team than what we ice now.

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I wouldn't be adverse to trading him even if it meant acquiring Gomez to get rid of the burden of his contract. Say Kovy for Subban, Gomez and a first. That is a better package than what we got for him.

parise zajac henrique

elias gomez sykora

teddy yayo zubrus

boulton carter clarkson

greene larsson

volch subban

tallinder fayne

in my opinion that is a better team than what we ice now.

Montreal's not going to give up one of their best D Men just to off load Gomez.

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The +/- argument is one that never made sense to me. He's been the best player on terrible teams, of course he's going to have a ton of ice time. Sure he might have some bad turnovers, but the over whelming majority probably has a lot to do with the rest of the sucky teams.

Except that Marian Hossa didn't put up the minuses like Kovalchuk did. Blame the player, too.

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It is probably very easy to score a TON of overtime goals when there is no pressure. Let's face it, when you are at the bottom (both with Atlanta and then with NJ that year) you can only go up. Only when "oh my god, we might actually make it" did the same ole' stuff come back. It was a great run, but when the team was so bad it could only go there.

I must remember it differently on the faceoff in OT when Arnott took the faceoff, Elias was the left wing, Rafalski the D, and there was Sykora NEXT to Rafalski. I might not have stated that, but... IT did happen. I came name the games as I was there.

Kovalchuk has made me NOT want to watch Devils hockey. I'm okay with losing, but some of you people make me chuckle with "Kovy this.." and "Kovy that..." Please the guy does NOT bring anyone up the next level. Sure he attracts guys to him to mark him opening up fellow players, but that is NOT bringing them to the next level. When Gomez and Elias played with Marshall during the 2003 SCF run THEY brough Marshall to the next level (you can even ask him, he said to me they were the best linemates he played with). Those OT/GW goals he scored were no fluke. I don't see Kovalchuk making anyone around him better. Clarkson hasn't transformed into a 30 goal scorer. Tedenby...I won't even go there. And Henrique has benefitted more from Parise than Kovalchuk.

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Kovy got a point per game under Lemaire of all coaches and was instrumental in winning games for us. He was the only guy who showed up during the Flyers series(other than Zubrus).

If succeeded means getting bounced out of early rounds by inferior teams year after year...

Only to almost get swept by the lower-seeded Rangers.

All those OT goals in his career(especially last year) say otherwise.

You're wasting your time. The Kovalchuk haters are not rational thinkers. If they truly believe he sucks, they should stop watching Devils hockey, as they clearly expect failure for the next decade.

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It is probably very easy to score a TON of overtime goals when there is no pressure. Let's face it, when you are at the bottom (both with Atlanta and then with NJ that year) you can only go up. Only when "oh my god, we might actually make it" did the same ole' stuff come back. It was a great run, but when the team was so bad it could only go there.

People like to say things like this, but Atlanta was in the playoff race in 2006, they made the playoffs in 2007, and they were in the race when Kovalchuk was traded in 2009-10. In addition, why would that cause less pressure? Kovalchuk scored 2 OT goals last year in October and November - was that when the pressure was off, when NJ was losing every game? There had to be no pressure at all. I mean seriously, the 'no pressure' argument is beyond dumb - sure, when the season's 'over', there's less pressure, but at the beginning of the year when the team is losing and the playoffs might be slipping away in January? That seems pretty pressure packed to me, especially on a team that rarely had scoring depth.

I must remember it differently on the faceoff in OT when Arnott took the faceoff, Elias was the left wing, Rafalski the D, and there was Sykora NEXT to Rafalski. I might not have stated that, but... IT did happen. I came name the games as I was there.

Oh, you were talking about the like, 10 times that NJ used 3 forwards in overtime.

Kovalchuk has made me NOT want to watch Devils hockey. I'm okay with losing, but some of you people make me chuckle with "Kovy this.." and "Kovy that..." Please the guy does NOT bring anyone up the next level. Sure he attracts guys to him to mark him opening up fellow players, but that is NOT bringing them to the next level. When Gomez and Elias played with Marshall during the 2003 SCF run THEY brough Marshall to the next level (you can even ask him, he said to me they were the best linemates he played with). Those OT/GW goals he scored were no fluke. I don't see Kovalchuk making anyone around him better. Clarkson hasn't transformed into a 30 goal scorer. Tedenby...I won't even go there. And Henrique has benefitted more from Parise than Kovalchuk.

Of course they were the best linemates he played with, Grant Marshall was a bottom six sort of player with a bit of offensive sense. And yeah, Kovalchuk's played a ton of time with Clarkson and Tedenby this year. Naturally Henrique's benefited more from Parise than Kovalchuk, because you say so - did you ask Grant Marshall his opinion on this?

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The Jets tied the game at 18:24. Hedberg sent a pass from behind his net to Ilya Kovalchuk off the left wing boards. The winger was unable to control the puck and that allowed Bryan Little to send a pass to Alexander Burmistrov alone in front for the tying goal.

“It’s off the boards and over my stick,” Kovakchuk said.

That’s seven short-handed goals for the season, four in seven games and six in 13.

“We work so hard, it’s unbelievable,” Kovalchuk added. “Usually those things don’t happen to you when nobody cheats and everybody plays hard.”

NJ.com

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Kovalchuk has made me NOT want to watch Devils hockey. I'm okay with losing, but some of you people make me chuckle with "Kovy this.." and "Kovy that..." Please the guy does NOT bring anyone up the next level. Sure he attracts guys to him to mark him opening up fellow players, but that is NOT bringing them to the next level. When Gomez and Elias played with Marshall during the 2003 SCF run THEY brough Marshall to the next level (you can even ask him, he said to me they were the best linemates he played with). Those OT/GW goals he scored were no fluke. I don't see Kovalchuk making anyone around him better.

Did Manta make a new account to post with? This is..hilarious. I can't believe how anyone could take you seriously.

Clarkson hasn't transformed into a 30 goal scorer.

Show me a player in this league not named Crosby who could have Clarkson sniffing 30 goals. I hope you're exaggerating intentionally to make your point.

Tedenby...I won't even go there.

Has Kovalchuk played on a line with Teddy consistently at any point this year?

I'm sorry, is his mere presence supposed to help young players develop? Because clearly Teddy's struggles are a result of Kovalchuk. Not coaching, not a typical sophomore slump or any of a thousand other reasons. Definitely Kovalchuk. And NOT blaming Kovalchuk is clearly making excuses for him, right?

And Henrique has benefitted more from Parise than Kovalchuk.

Oh yeah? How so? Please, do elaborate. I'm curious to hear your factually based explanation as to why Henrique has definitely benefited more from Parise than Kovalchuk. I've got time.

----

Listen, I don't have a problem with people hating Kovalchuk. You wanna waste your time hating a player that, like it or not, is going to be with this team for the better part of the next 10-15 years, fine. But when people come up with these bullsh!t reasons to try and show how he's 'destroying Devils hockey' or some other garbage like that, I take issue.

This team pre-Kovalchuk was stagnant. Sure, the teams had regular season success, but they accomplished literally nothing in the playoffs. The Devils were due for a change - most likely a few down years, especially with the poor decisions by management (see: Lou's UFA signings since the lockout) and the relatively insignificant draft selections. I think it's coincidental that this team has struggled since Kovalchuk's arrival.

You think the Devils would be better off with Bergfors (How's Russia treating him?), Oduya's bloated contract, the guy who tried to kill someone in the CHL and a late 1st round pick?

'No of course not, but we could've spent our resources elsewhere and acquired someone better!'

Who? I'm sorry, what other superstar-caliber player was on the market? What other talent could we have acquired with the above package? Outside of the Crosby's and Zetterberg's (who weren't available) there isn't a player I would've wanted over Kovalchuk at that point for that package.

/rant. Man this forum pisses me off sometimes. It's the same recycled sh!t every single week in a different context.

Edited by Devilsfan118
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