| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Beans15 |
Posted - 07/29/2011 : 10:51:09
TSN is reporting that unrestricted free agent Alexei Kovalev is set to sign a 2 yr deal with Atlant Mytishchi of the KHL. At 38 yrs old this would most likely mean the end of Kovalev's NHL career.
Kovalev has always had the stigma of being a supremely talented player with a supremely sub par work ethic. In Kovalev's prime and when he felt like playing, he was quite possibly the most purely talented player of his generation. He made everything look easy and made everyone else look foolish. He would also take amazing stretches of 'time off' where he would look average at best.
Kovalev will most likely be remembered for what he could have done rather than what he did do. At the ages of 36-38 he put up seasons of 65, 49, and 34 points. That is as much or more than Mark Recchi did at the same time period of his career. However, Kovalev was expected to do more. Recchi was heralded as a great addition to a team and Kovalev as an under-achiever.
Regardless, I find it a shame that Kovalev will most likely not be recognized for his brilliance with an induction into the Hall of Fame even though the body of his career would likely garner at least a few votes. The shame of it is that if Kovalev would have been a little more consistent, he would be a shoe in for the Hall.
Here are a few highlights from Kovalev's career:
-15th overall selection in the 91 Entry Draft.(First Russian to evey be drafted in the 1st round)
-Olympic Gold Medal in '92 (Bronze in '02)
-Member of the Stanley Cup winning Rangers in '94.
-One of 4 Russians to be the first to have their name on the Stanley Cup (Karpovtsev, Nemchinov, and Zubov are the others)
-Named the World Championship Best Forwards in '95
-2nd Team NHL All-Star in 07/08
-3 Time All Star game participate, MVP of the All Star game in '09
-428 goals, 596 assists, 1024 points in 1302 reg season games
-45 goals, 55 assist, 100 pts in 123 playoff games.
-Most game played by a player born and trained in the former USSR. |
| 3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Alex116 |
Posted - 07/29/2011 : 13:45:56
Thanks Ryan, it's funny, i actually started to watch that Weiss video but turned it off before it got to the Kovalev part.
I know i've seen a better clip of it, one where it shows Kovalev coming to the bench, getting told to stay one (repetetively) and having a big grin on his face thinking "this is great"! I know it's out there somewhere?  |
| ryan93 |
Posted - 07/29/2011 : 11:37:50
Here you go Alex...the 2nd half is about Kovalev's shift:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMorxtRECKo |
| Alex116 |
Posted - 07/29/2011 : 11:19:53
An amazing talent he was! True, it's a shame he didn't have the motivation to match his talent!
One of my favorite memories though, had to be when he was in NY (i think?), and the coach (can't remember who it was but think it was Keenan?) wouldn't let him come off the ice after a super long shift! He was notorious for long shifts, so the coach wanted to punish him and made him stay out there for another couple mins. Just looked quickly for it on youtube but couldn't find it! Was pretty comical, by the time he got to the bench, he was dead tired! |
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