27 Alex Kovalev 06-07

[hockey_gal89]

5. Now, tell me, what player in history had this combination of skill, determination, commitment and MUSCLE  to settle the score in this manner for his team?

Maurice Richard comes to mind.

[Dice-R-Loaded]

Kindred and Mojo,

You quote me saying......."Now, tell me, what player in history had this combination of skill, determination, commitment and MUSCLE to settle the score IN THIS MANNER for his team?"

Then, you mention Howe and Richard. But, you miss the important point of the quote- "in this manner"----

Howe, great and legendary, but waited games before he retaliated. That happens all the time. That's business as usual.

Richard, great and legendary, but you don't specify what hit Richard put on a cheap shot artist that was the same as what Kovy did with Tucker.

McSorley took a stick to Beschair (sp)- and ended up an embarassment to the game. That's not the stuff of captains, that's insanity.

The point of the post was Kovy answered instantaneously to Tucker- and not by running the guy down with a stick or dropping the gloves or by waiting til next game - but by deking and stick handling through a team to SET TUCKER UP for a teeth rattler.

Now, if you've seen that before, please give that example....because I watched for a long time, and that's the first time I've ever seen a guy stick handle through a team, search out a punk, bait him, set him up, and then lay him out!

[Guest cup crazy88]

Once again a great post Dice.

hehe yeah nice stuff, im sooooo glad i was at the game!! Best 100$ ever spent

[Kindred]

The point of the post was Kovy answered instantaneously to Tucker- and not by running the guy down with a stick  or dropping the gloves or by waiting til next game - but by deking and stick handling through a team to SET TUCKER UP for a teeth rattler.  

Skating around the leafs wasn't exactly a hard thing to do plus Tucker isn't exactly world reknown for his skating ability. Thats like someone guessing Zednik is going to skate with one hand on his stick.

Now, if you've seen that before, please give that example....because I watched for a long time, and that's the first time I've ever seen a guy stick handle through a team, search out a punk, bait him, set him up, and then lay him out!

McSorley took a stick to Beschair (sp)- and ended up an embarassment to the game. That's not the stuff of captains, that's insanity.

so now by doing that Kovalev should be nominated as captain :? Yes it was a great end to a great beating of the leafs but is it really good enough to make him a captain?

But, you miss the important point of the quote- "in this manner"----

and you missed the point of my post 8)

now if that had of been someone else on the team (Ribeiro, Perezhogin, Koivu) to be on recieving end of Tuckers cheap hit would Kovalev had of still taken matters in to his own hands?

Kovalev did an excellant job of looking after himself but now if Koivu or Perezhogin had skated back to the bench with a mark from Tucker would Kovalev gone out and done the same thing?

[Guest cup crazy88]

Kovalev did an excellant job of looking after himself but now if Koivu or Perezhogin had skated back to the bench with a mark from Tucker would Kovalev  gone out and done the same thing?

Ok if you are implying that a captin should look out for others, thats stupid because that isn't there Job, why we have 4th line scrappers/pkers... I don't c koivu picking fights.

2nd of all if he was on the ice and this happened, being the 3rd man in would give the other team a powerplay since he would most likely get the instigator... giving the other team a great schance to score...

Also remeber that the score was 6-2 at this point and the game was out of toronto's reach...

[scotrbrtsn]

Isn't he captain of the Russian Olympic squad? I think that's enough said on the matter.

[Guest cup crazy88]

Yeah habs had 3 international captains, Streit, Koivu and Kovalev....

[Kindred]

Ok if you are implying that a captin should look out for others, thats stupid

no, I am saying by that one act some think Kovalev can lead and rally the players like Koivu does with that one act. And 2nd of all stating a Captain looks out for his teammates is no more far fetched then implying someone deserves to be captain by laying out Tucker

Also remeber that the score was 6-2 at this point and the game was out of toronto's reach...

right I guess that's why I said:

Yes it was a great end to a great beating of the leafs

[Dice-R-Loaded]

no, I am saying by that one act some  think Kovalev can lead and rally the players like Koivu does with that one act. And 2nd of all stating a Captain looks out for his teammates is no more far fetched then implying someone deserves to be captain by laying out Tucker right I guess that's why I said:

Kindred, why do you Saku fans always do this??? I didn't compare Kovy and Saku at all. I prefaced my post by saying that Kovalev shouldn't be Captain of the Habs- that Saku should be captain.

If you read my post, all I said was Kovalev is a natural leader, and should have been a Captain on some team in his career- and imo, he would have been a better player for it. And, as a concrete example, I cited the Tucker Hit as the instintive reaction of a true Leader.

That's all. Nothing to do with Saku. No put down of Saku, which I would never do. Saku obviously is a leader in his own right, and he deserves to be Habs captain.

Why Saku fans come on this thread and tear down Alex, so as to make Saku better by comparison, is beyond me. There's no need to do that. As far as I know, and as much as I read, Kovy fans post here to support Kovy- not to say one word against Saku Koivu.

And, with all respect, you're wrong where you claim it was "easy". What Kovy did with his presese of mind when he was obviously enraged, with the deking, with the stickhandling, with finding Tucker, with losing the puck on purpose to set up "The HIT HEARD THROUGHOUT MONTREAL" - was hardly "EASY"- whether it be against the Leafs or any other NHL team.

It was genius, it was magic, it was AWE inspring, it was skilled, it was imortal for Habs fans- but it WAS NOT "EASY".

Perhaps , you're just a little confused because Alex has such incedible hockey skills, he often makes the impossible seem "easy". :wink:

Cheers.

[crognalsen]

It's true that many times he plays well when he is angry. If you are the opponent the best thing you can do is let him go through the motions. If you go after him with a cheap shot or hit him it will wake him up and he goes crazy. To bad he can't play like that all the time.

[Guest js2]

And, with all respect, you're wrong where you claim it was "easy". What Kovy did with his presese of mind when he was obviously enraged, with the deking, with the stickhandling, with finding Tucker, with losing the puck on purpose to set up "The HIT HEARD THROUGHOUT MONTREAL" - was hardly "EASY"-  whether it be against the Leafs or any other NHL team.

It was genius, it was magic, it was AWE inspring, it was skilled, it was imortal for Habs fans-  but it WAS NOT "EASY".  

Perhaps , you're just a little confused because Alex has such incedible hockey skills, he often makes the impossible seem "easy".  :wink:

Cheers.  

Maybe he should use those incredible hockey skills to score more goals.

[Kindred]

Kindred, why do you Saku fans always do this??? I didn't compare Kovy and Saku at all. I prefaced my post by saying that Kovalev shouldn't be Captain of the Habs- that Saku should be captain.  

fair enough, simply a misunderdstanding on my part. Not trying to make this into a Koivu vs Kovalev thread ( there have been enough of those)

And, with all respect, you're wrong where you claim it was "easy". What Kovy did with his presese of mind when he was obviously enraged, with the deking, with the stickhandling, with finding Tucker, with losing the puck on purpose to set up "The HIT HEARD THROUGHOUT MONTREAL" - was hardly "EASY"-  whether it be against the Leafs or any other NHL team.

It was genius, it was magic, it was AWE inspring, it was skilled, it was imortal for Habs fans-  but it WAS NOT "EASY". .

yeah I guess I'm wrong again. Since the leafs were famous last season for having such a young, fast, speedy team it was truly a miracle that he could keep up with the leafs, let alone zero in on Darcy "Speedy Gonzales" Tucker.

Perhaps , you're just a little confused because Alex has such incedible hockey skills, he often makes the impossible seem "easy".  :wink:

Cheers.  

actually I'm more confused by this:

Just take a look at the REAL Kovalev. There’s always a defining moment- when you see all you need know about the character of a man.  

Last year, as you know, Tucker gave him a cheap shot at a meaningless point in a game

so did we see the REAL Kovalev or just angry Kovalev. If that was the first time we saw his true colors what has he been doing since he got here?

This season I would like to see the "Real" Alex Kovalev stand up.

again I like Kovalev. I'm glad he is on our side but the saying I agree with most on here is " I would rather see a CH goal then a Kovalev deke"

This year he has two new linemates and hopefully they can wreck some havoc out there.

[Guest Captain Koivu#11]

Kovy doesn’t deserve to be captain of the Habs,  nor is he the Habs “Franchise Player” .  

But, should Kovy have been a Captain somewhere?  Absolutely! He’s a natural leader. The more responsibility he’s given, the better he responds.  Just take a look at the REAL Kovalev. There’s always a defining moment- when you see all you need know about the character of a man.  

Last year, as you know, Tucker gave him a cheap shot at a meaningless point in a game.  After Kovy shook off the cobwebs and knew the refs were going to let the cheap shot slide- what did you see? He took justice into his own hands- for himself and his team.  You saw:

1. Incredible competitive spirit- Just because the Habs didn't have an “enforcer”,  he wasn’t  going to let the cheap shot pass to send the message that the Habs were pushovers..  

2. Self sufficiency- He didn’t look for a “body guard” to step in for him.

3. Cool “cold” thinking- He found the puck, and in the heat of the game, he instantly knew what he had to do.  He was going to set Tucker up- and remember, he decided this while he had his back to Tucker, and Tucker was completely on the other side on the ice.

4. Incomparable skill- Unlike others who may have had to charge right at Tucker, Kovy expertly used his skill to weave his way -with the puck -towards Tucker.  Kovy calculated that Tucker would try another cheap shot, and Kovy suckered Tucker in by losing the puck, and then laid him out.  Unprecedented- at least, I’ve never seen it done before.  

5. And he did it all, without causing damage to his team or himself- by way of a suspension.  Now, tell me, what player in history had this combination of skill, determination, commitment and MUSCLE  to settle the score in this manner for his team?

6. There was not ONE other play the entire season, that united the Habs and their fans, as much as that one hit.   It will be remembered forever in Habs folklore.

NOW,  if anyone does not think that innate fire, skill and competitive spirit is the embodiment of what a Captain is all about, we’re on different wave lengths.  

As I said, I don’t think he should replace Cap. K- Kovy should not be the Captain of the Habs.  But, please don’t say  this guy doesn’t have the qualities of a Captain.  :wink:

Excellent post Dice. I agree completely.

[crognalsen]

What I would like to see is him forget about being Captain or Assistant Captain and just concentrate on scoring goals as well. Every game he should be focusing on trying to score. Thats his job on this team. Don't worry about your teammates or how they are doing. Just concentrate on yourself and finding ways to get the puck into the back of the twine. Thats the biggest contribution he can make to the team. If he scores a lot the team will win more often.

[Guest Godfather]

Kovy doesn’t deserve to be captain of the Habs,  nor is he the Habs “Franchise Player” .  

But, should Kovy have been a Captain somewhere?  Absolutely! He’s a natural leader. The more responsibility he’s given, the better he responds.  Just take a look at the REAL Kovalev. There’s always a defining moment- when you see all you need know about the character of a man.  

Last year, as you know, Tucker gave him a cheap shot at a meaningless point in a game.  After Kovy shook off the cobwebs and knew the refs were going to let the cheap shot slide- what did you see? He took justice into his own hands- for himself and his team.  You saw:

1. Incredible competitive spirit- Just because the Habs didn't have an “enforcer”,  he wasn’t  going to let the cheap shot pass to send the message that the Habs were pushovers..  

2. Self sufficiency- He didn’t look for a “body guard” to step in for him.

3. Cool “cold” thinking- He found the puck, and in the heat of the game, he instantly knew what he had to do.  He was going to set Tucker up- and remember, he decided this while he had his back to Tucker, and Tucker was completely on the other side on the ice.

4. Incomparable skill- Unlike others who may have had to charge right at Tucker, Kovy expertly used his skill to weave his way -with the puck -towards Tucker.  Kovy calculated that Tucker would try another cheap shot, and Kovy suckered Tucker in by losing the puck, and then laid him out.  Unprecedented- at least, I’ve never seen it done before.  

5. And he did it all, without causing damage to his team or himself- by way of a suspension.  Now, tell me, what player in history had this combination of skill, determination, commitment and MUSCLE  to settle the score in this manner for his team?

6. There was not ONE other play the entire season, that united the Habs and their fans, as much as that one hit.   It will be remembered forever in Habs folklore.

NOW,  if anyone does not think that innate fire, skill and competitive spirit is the embodiment of what a Captain is all about, we’re on different wave lengths.  

As I said, I don’t think he should replace Cap. K- Kovy should not be the Captain of the Habs.  But, please don’t say  this guy doesn’t have the qualities of a Captain.  :wink:

Excellent post man but as for the #4 "he didn't trick tucker into thinkin he was gonna lose the puck" lol the funny part is if u look at the video he loses the puck slightly when he looks at Tucker to line him up for the collision..lol it's priceless as for exberything else you said you are right...ref didn't call and he showed he was a man he took the matter in his own hands and thats the way a hockey player should be...not relying on a teamate to back them up but rely upon their own strengths....now thats respect.

[habs-24]

kovalev will give tucker back his teeth saturdaynight

[Dice-R-Loaded]

Come on you Kovy-busters, be fair. It's fun to discuss, debate and exchange views with you- but stop mixing pucks with baseballs.

The recent posts on the "Hit that Rocked Canada" were all to support a claim that Kovalev had an instinct towards leadership- not by words, but by his deeds. And you guys can talk til your blue as ice, but nothing you can say will ever undo the true leadership you see in that video -THAT NONE OF YOU CAN STOP WATCHING! :wink:

And you know why you can't stop watching it? Because you've never seen anything like that before! And that's because no one, in the history of the NHL, has ever combined that kind of hockey skill with pre- meditated "smack down" and "payback". Go ahead, watch it again.

But now, you guys mix in, well if he was so great, has leadership and is Captain material, how come he's not scoring a ton of goals? Well, you all know that those issues are 2 totally different topics. If goals determined leadership and a Captaincy, Saku wouldn't be our captain, now would he?

So, if you want to talk leadership, we Kovy fans can talk leadership.

If you want to change the subject, and talk about scoring, we Kovy fans will talk scoring.

But don't mix and match- only little girls do that when they're shopping for clothes.

All in good fun, guys. Cheers

[Guest HabsFanInPitt27]

That's right Dice we're ready for anything the Kovy bashers throw at us.

[Guest Captain Koivu#11]

I think Kovy is due for a 30 goal season. It would really cheer me up about his goal production (not his point production, im quite happy his average is around a point per game).

[Guest js2]

Come on you Kovy-busters, be fair.  It's fun to discuss, debate and exchange views with you- but stop mixing pucks with baseballs.

The recent posts on the "Hit that Rocked Canada" were all to support a claim that Kovalev had an instinct towards leadership- not by words, but by his deeds. And you guys can talk til your blue as ice, but nothing you can say will ever undo the true leadership you see in that video -THAT NONE OF YOU CAN STOP WATCHING! :wink:  

And you know why you can't stop watching it?  Because you've never seen anything like that before! And that's because no one, in the history of the NHL, has ever combined that kind of hockey skill with pre- meditated  "smack down"  and "payback".  Go ahead, watch it again.  

But now, you guys mix in, well if he was so great, has leadership and is Captain material, how come he's not scoring a ton of goals?  Well, you all know that those issues are 2 totally different topics. If goals determined leadership and a Captaincy, Saku wouldn't be our captain, now would he?

So, if you want to talk leadership, we Kovy fans can talk leadership.

If you want to change the subject, and talk about scoring, we Kovy fans will talk scoring.

But don't mix and match- only little girls do that when they're shopping for clothes.  

All in good fun, guys.  Cheers

I don't understand where you're getting this leadership thing from that Tucker incident. He got mad because Tucker clipped him in the face with his elbow.

[Kindred]

Come on you Kovy-busters, be fair.  It's fun to discuss, debate and exchange views with you- but stop mixing pucks with baseballs.

now you have my interest, where exactly did the baseballs come from? The last I checked we were talking about Hockey

If goals determined leadership and a Captaincy, Saku wouldn't be our captain, now would he.

and there you Kovy supporters go, calling into question the captains ability to find the net. Shameful dice r loaded, just shameful. I thought we were here to talk about Kovalev. :razz:

on that subject yes scoring goals and leadership are two different things, but the last I checked Kovalev is here to put points on the board, not smackdown people. That is just an added bonus 8)

[Dice-R-Loaded]

I don't understand where you're getting this leadership thing from that Tucker incident. He got mad because Tucker clipped him in the face with his elbow.

KOVY didn’t get mad, he got even!

And that’s why it’s Leadership.

MsSorley got mad, Bertuccci got mad- and countless others, who, reacting selfishly on their anger, take their revenge and hurt their teams. If Kovy were blindly ANGRY, he would have just dropped his gloves and took off after Tucker. Obviously, he didn’t.

Perhaps you might better see it, if I say it this way- Kovy used THE FORCE. He didn’t give in to his anger and his hate-he didn’t go over to the DARK SIDE. He channeled and focussed his emotion. Right?

That's Leadership. He made a cold, calculated instant decision. He could not allow such a cheap, vicious play go unpunished for the sake of his teammates (now and future)- but at the same time, he could not give in to his anger - that might have brought a 10 game suspension and deprived his team of its BEST point producer-----So, he did what you see ever time you watch the video. How many times have you watched it?????

That’s Leadership 101, my friend- and somewhere, Yoda is smiling! :wink:

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU (AND WITH HABS TONITE)

[Dice-R-Loaded]

and there you Kovy  supporters go, calling into question the captains ability to find the net.

See, how you Koivu fans are. I try to DEFEND Saku, and you twist my words!

In reply to some one who said goals=captaincy, I said that Saku SHOULD BE be our Captain- even if he doesn’t score many goals.

And if there comes another time this season when he goes another 19 games without scoring a goal, I’ll still say he should be Captain. !!! A Captain does not have to be the best goal scorer- best player- best point producer in order to be a GREAT Captain. And Saku is a great example of that truism.

Forsa Capt K.!!!!! :wink:

[hockey_gal89]

Richard, great and legendary, but you don't specify what hit Richard put on a cheap shot artist that was the same as what Kovy did with Tucker.

The point of the post was Kovy answered instantaneously to Tucker- and not by running the guy down with a stick  or dropping the gloves or by waiting til next game - but by deking and stick handling through a team to SET TUCKER UP for a teeth rattler.  

Now, if you've seen that before, please give that example....because I watched for a long time, and that's the first time I've ever seen a guy stick handle through a team, search out a punk, bait him, set him up, and then lay him out!

When Richard knocked out Bob "Killer" Dill with one punch. That's just one example. Richard didn't just have to answer to on-ice bullies he also had to contend with referees who were against him as well. 3rd rate thugs were constantly being called up from the minors by opposing teams. Their marching orders out on the ice were simple: END RICHARD'S CAREER.

Richard fended for himself each and every night. Not only did he answer the bell when it was time to drop the gloves, but he played through injuries from non-called cross-checks and slashes by opposing teams.

My point to you is one huge hit on a Darcy Tucker (No matter how much I loved that hit) does not a captain of hockey's most celebrated franchise make.

[Kindred]

See, how you Koivu fans are. I try to DEFEND Saku, and you twist my words!  

I guess you didn't see this :razz: at the end of my statement. I was simply poking fun at how you were coming off as high and mighty about us "Koivu Fans" after I tried to get the conversation back on to Kovalev 8)

and yes I am a Koivu fan, and a Kovalev fan, and a Bonk fan and a Begin, Rivet, Huet, Aebi, Perezhogin and a fan of anyone who puts on that uniform.

back to Kovalev and his leadership by example. I am still not convinced if that had been another linemate on the wrong end of Tuckers elbow that Kovalev would had done the "hit heard throughout Montreal" He was looking out for himself and himself only. Now before you think I am bashing him, I'm not. It's good to see that our players are standing up for themselves and it is sad to see the refs let a game fall into a state where the players have to take the justice into their own hands; but after the game Kovalev was giving an interview and said he didn't care if he was suspended for what he did. But he should care. We needed all the offensive power we could get on that last stretch before the playoffs.

and remember dice

"a jedi uses the force for knowledge and events, not for personal gain"

if Kovalev was really using the force he would have simply moved tucker out of the way with a wave of the hand.

Hopefully he can pull a few tricks out of his sleeve for the game tonight.