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What's Wrong with Kovalchuk?


mikepeluso8

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I've seen a few people express this, but I'm not sure why. If he's not much of an offensive threat at even strength because of his injury, and he's an average defensive forward to begin with, then he's of little use. I'll take the healthy body.

Maybe he'll be better. He has to be. 50% of Kovalchuk (or whatever percent yesterday was) stinks.

Because our depth stinks and that's why our fourth line was a joke for most of the season?

Yes, a Kovy who can be at worst a decoy and at best a PP specialist can contribute more than our bench forwards, who wouldn't be getting his icetime anyway - which would lead to overplaying other guys that have already been overplayed as it is this season.

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I've seen a few people express this, but I'm not sure why. If he's not much of an offensive threat at even strength because of his injury, and he's an average defensive forward to begin with, then he's of little use. I'll take the healthy body.

Maybe he'll be better. He has to be. 50% of Kovalchuk (or whatever percent yesterday was) stinks.

I tend to agree. I know folks feel that half of Kovy is better than whatever else is out there, but given how badly Kovy is struggling right now I would rather see Tedenby given some limited time, or perhaps Mills (and move someone else to wing). Yes, I admit that these guys are no replacement for Kovy, not by a mile; they aren't even a replacement for a mildly injured Kovy.... The problem is that we don't have Kovy at 100% and it is increasingly apparent that this injury is significant and possibly getting worse. So the real question is who is better: a badly injured and increasingly limited Kovalchuck or a completely healthy Tedenby?

I will go out on a limb and say that giving someone like Tedenby--a player who has show signs of being a capable NHL player--a shot to come in a be a playoff hero, not to mention redeem themselves for their previous regular season failings, could pay big dividends for the team and the player. We need to have faith in our development system. If we don't then we are well and duly screwed. We rarely sign big name free agents and usually avoid big trades for significant assets; we develop our players (and all

too often let them walk for nothing). So if Tedenby is going to be the player we hope we will be I say give him a chance to prove it when his motivation will be primed. If this doesn't do it I think nothing will.

That's my $.02.

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An example of how 50% of Kovalchuk is better than whatever else we have is Zajac's goal in Game 1. That goal doesn't happen without Kovy being able to dump in fast and hard around the boards with a simple snap of his wrist. I don't know if anyone else on the team is capable of performing that dump-in even if they had the time and space to wind up for a slapper, let alone a on quick wrister.

It's a simple thing, but it's still important. The shooting and even passing skill is still there. It's the skating that's suffering. A game can be tailored to fit that. The issue is that the Devils are still putting him in situations like the PK where his skating was what made him a threat.

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I tend to agree. I know folks feel that half of Kovy is better than whatever else is out there, but given how badly Kovy is struggling right now I would rather see Tedenby given some limited time, or perhaps Mills (and move someone else to wing). Yes, I admit that these guys are no replacement for Kovy, not by a mile; they aren't even a replacement for a mildly injured Kovy.... The problem is that we don't have Kovy at 100% and it is increasingly apparent that this injury is significant and possibly getting worse. So the real question is who is better: a badly injured and increasingly limited Kovalchuck or a completely healthy Tedenby?

I will go out on a limb and say that giving someone like Tedenby--a player who has show signs of being a capable NHL player--a shot to come in a be a playoff hero, not to mention redeem themselves for their previous regular season failings, could pay big dividends for the team and the player. We need to have faith in our development system. If we don't then we are well and duly screwed. We rarely sign big name free agents and usually avoid big trades for significant assets; we develop our players (and all

too often let them walk for nothing). So if Tedenby is going to be the player we hope we will be I say give him a chance to prove it when his motivation will be primed. If this doesn't do it I think nothing will.

That's my $.02.

lol at Tedenby being better than anyone right now, he was awful offensively 'and' defensively this season.

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I knew I started this thread for a reason, the guy is clearly BATTLING a very tough, lingering, hampering injury...it is clear as day.

I wish he would just get better already, without him at 100%, our confidence is REALLY lacking...and as is mine as a fan.

Rest this guy, do whatever it takes.

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if Kovy does feel better and obviously he'll play, Im worried because the flyers are the flyers, they will target Kovalchuk and go after him..... if they can totally knock him out of the series what a huge advantage.

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LMFAO at Tedenby being better than anyone right now, he was awful offensively 'and' defensively this season.

Fixed.

WTF were some people watching this year? Tedenby was God-awful this season.

Edited by Colorado Rockies 1976
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@TGfireandice

Lou Lamoriello confirms that Ilya Kovalchuk won't play tonight.

There you have it. I am unsure about replacing Kovy with Larsson though. It is one thing to dress seven D by taking someone off the third or fourth lines, but when you take one of the best players in the world--a player most certainly on your top line--and replace him with a Dman I worry about all those lost (ostensibly high quality) minutes that will need to be made up.

As for Tedenby, I can't argue with his poor performance earlier in the year. All I can say is that it is worth asking if/he will deserve another chance? And this seems to me a perfect opportunity to see if he has developed any since his earlier regression. Otoh, I haven't been able to follow the Devs minor leagues at all this year--house renovation, sick pregnant wife and then two newborns--so I honestly have zero idea if Tedenby has earned another shot by playing well in the minors. I am assuming that he has, because if he can't excel in the minors at this point then he is well and truly finished as a prospect.

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NHL.com is speculating it's a back injury. If that's the case, it may be a "best case scenario" for the Devils vs. something like a pulled groin or hamstring, as a back thing could be cleared up with less time off the ice. We obviously have no way of knowing what it is, whether it's a herniated disk or something nasty like that, but if it's back spasms or a muscle pull in his back, it may be something that can be patched up in time to have him return to some effectiveness in this series.

Edited by Risky
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If he's got a herniated disc, he shouldnt be playing at all. He's going to be our Zajac next season if this is true. Playing can make it a lot worse. We don't want him on the fourth line with the Flyers being such a bloodthirsty team.

If he's got a herniated disc, we could use the roster spot for a 100% player.

Edited by ghdi
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If he has a herniated disk, he shouldn't be anywhere near the ice. So I'm having a hard time believing that's what it is if he's at the morning skate.

Same. Even a slightly herniated disc would not warrant him out there. My bet is its just a severe strain or something like that.

If its herniated and he's playing both he and the Devils are stupid. Way too much risk involved.

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