hatethosebruins Posted November 27, 2010 Report Share Posted November 27, 2010 Seems like he doesn't like playing in Ottowa think if he came back he'd play better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roy_133 Posted November 27, 2010 Report Share Posted November 27, 2010 Not saying I wouldn't want him, he's been playing better lately after a putrid start (bare in mind that coming off major surgery at his age has to be a process). He's still a good player and would easily upgrade our top 6 but based on his age and the major injury we couldn't expect quite the level of the player we had if we reacquired him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
never213 Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 Yeah, I do think he'd play better. Expectations wouldn't be as high as when he was our only real goal scorer. He'd contributed nicely to our offense and improve our power play. Having Kovalev on your team is never a bad thing, and Markov on LTIR means we can afford him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatethosebruins Posted December 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 Yeah, I do think he'd play better. Expectations wouldn't be as high as when he was our only real goal scorer. He'd contributed nicely to our offense and improve our power play. Having Kovalev on your team is never a bad thing, and Markov on LTIR means we can afford him. I'd love him on the second line, only thing is the 6 mil a year is a problem. How many more years on his contract? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Regis2 Posted December 11, 2010 Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 think if he came back he'd play better? no Alex is Alex What you see is what you get Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatethosebruins Posted December 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2010 Rumours are dying down on Kovalev coming to Montreal, I just read that St. Louis could be looking for him. http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/13/report-st-louis-blues-might-look-to-trade-for-alex-kovalev-in-early-2011/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rypat19 Posted December 14, 2010 Report Share Posted December 14, 2010 He is magic on the pp , but I don't think we need him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatethosebruins Posted July 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 Wouldnt mind him as a cheap depth acquisition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CANADIENS27 Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 Kovalev is still unsigned. It would make sense to sign him if he could counted to played inspired hockey, which he apparently didn't do in Ottawa and Pittsburgh. And also in Montreal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicalhab Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 Wouldn't mind him as a cheap depth acquisition. Im not sure he would fit in well at all with the current locker room and Im fine with that, he had his tenure in Montreal for the successful years I thank him but he's gonna have a tough time extending his NHL career any longer I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CANADIENS27 Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 I meant to say not sign Kovalev. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstStar Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 Kovalev is still unsigned. It would make sense to sign him if he could counted to played inspired hockey, which he apparently didn't do in Ottawa and Pittsburgh. And also in Montreal. His best season since the lockout was in Montreal. From everything I've heard (the wife is Russian and pretty involved in the Russian Community), he loved Montreal and didn't want to leave. Another member (forget who) brought this up and it made sense... Get him cheap as a 3rd liner. He did well with AK in the past, Eller could learn a lot from him and they could turn into a surprising scoring line. I was hoping on getting some toughness, but Kovy could (at the right price) could be a good plan "B". Remember, several years ago we were all hoping to land Sundin. Robert Lang was our plan "B", he ended up being our leading scorer (until his injury) and Sundin only disappointed in Vancouver. Plan "B's" can sometimes pay off, may be something worth checking out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerplay2009 Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 His best season since the lockout was in Montreal. From everything I've heard (the wife is Russian and pretty involved in the Russian Community), he loved Montreal and didn't want to leave. Another member (forget who) brought this up and it made sense... Get him cheap as a 3rd liner. He did well with AK in the past, Eller could learn a lot from him and they could turn into a surprising scoring line. I was hoping on getting some toughness, but Kovy could (at the right price) could be a good plan "B". Remember, several years ago we were all hoping to land Sundin. Robert Lang was our plan "B", he ended up being our leading scorer (until his injury) and Sundin only disappointed in Vancouver. Plan "B's" can sometimes pay off, may be something worth checking out. Given the free agents that are left and the fact that Gauthier can't seem to get a trade done, I think he may not be a plan B anymore. He is better than nothing, and nothing seems to be the only alternative right now. Still, if we can make a trade for a good defenseman, then talk to Kovalev after that. But like I said, I don't see that happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever_Habs10 Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 no Alex is Alex What you see is what you get There you go. He is better than nothing, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatethosebruins Posted July 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 Im not saying Alex is going to come in to Montreal and post a great statistical season, I think he would look good on our third line with Eller and AK. AK had his best statistical season playing beside Pleks and AK27, and last year he found consistency (and therefore pts) with Eller. Why not get Kovalev to mentor on that line, as well as playing with a winger he has known consistency with, while let AK play with 2 players he has consistency with. Eller then has 2 competent wingers to play beside on the third line which IMO can only help his development. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncivilengineer Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 Kovy off to the KHL http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2011/07/29/sp-sopel-khl.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatethosebruins Posted July 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 Kovy off to the KHL http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2011/07/29/sp-sopel-khl.html Right after my rant...thanks uncivil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever_Habs10 Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 Right after my rant...thanks uncivil Its all about the timing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncivilengineer Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 Right after my rant...thanks uncivil Its all about the timing. What he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedimaas Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 His best season since the lockout was in Montreal. From everything I've heard (the wife is Russian and pretty involved in the Russian Community), he loved Montreal and didn't want to leave. Another member (forget who) brought this up and it made sense... Get him cheap as a 3rd liner. He did well with AK in the past, Eller could learn a lot from him and they could turn into a surprising scoring line. I was hoping on getting some toughness, but Kovy could (at the right price) could be a good plan "B". Remember, several years ago we were all hoping to land Sundin. Robert Lang was our plan "B", he ended up being our leading scorer (until his injury) and Sundin only disappointed in Vancouver. Plan "B's" can sometimes pay off, may be something worth checking out. I think it was me you were thinking of. I've suggested Kovalev on the third line for a while now because I think he would be perfect in that role: less minutes, less pressure etc - and i would LOVE to see a motivated Kovalev in the playoffs one last time. That said, TSN is reporting he is set to sign a contract with the KHL, so I guess the plan is moot. I agree with a lot of the moves that Gauthier has made & given that we now have about $5m in cap space with most of our roster signed, if I were him I would have looked at bringing back Kovalev $2m, Hannan $1m and one more 4th line checker/grinder for <$1m. I think that we would have iced a pretty darned competitive team. Im curious to see what he does with the rest of the space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever_Habs10 Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 TSN is reporting he is set to sign a contract with the KHL, so I guess the plan is moot. All the best down the road dude,hope it works out for ya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigTed3 Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 I've said it before, but Kovalev, as much as it would have been fun to see him here, was not the right fit for us at this time. We need to shore up the bottom 6 with a player who can play the PK well for us and possibly be strong in the face-off circle. We have enough guys who can be used on the PP and frankly, there just wasn't a roster spot to fill Kovy into. I wouldn't mind PG taking a look at Scott Hannan at this point and seeing whether a low-ball contract offer might get him signed for a year or two, but in my opinion, not signing AK27 was the right move if you use your head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CANADIENS27 Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 According to the NHL.com site, Kovalev has signed a two year contract with Alant Mytishchi of the KHL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedimaas Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 I've said it before, but Kovalev, as much as it would have been fun to see him here, was not the right fit for us at this time. We need to shore up the bottom 6 with a player who can play the PK well for us and possibly be strong in the face-off circle. We have enough guys who can be used on the PP and frankly, there just wasn't a roster spot to fill Kovy into. I wouldn't mind PG taking a look at Scott Hannan at this point and seeing whether a low-ball contract offer might get him signed for a year or two, but in my opinion, not signing AK27 was the right move if you use your head. IMHO, it really depends, Ted. If the plan is to play a "normal" 2 offense, 1 checking, 1 energy line, then yes, Kovalev is the wrong fit. However, if you think outside the box & go with the idea of 3 scoring lines (we dont have the talent to score with 1 or 2 anyway) and one energy/checking line, then kovalev may very well have been a good fit. Not to mention the fact that he's a playoff monster and adding him to a team that already seems to be building towards the moniker of "playoff team" would be a very positive thing. Hannan could absolutely be good for us, although I think the biggest hurdle is still going to be term. He has to be looking for 3+ years at his age. The longer he goes unsigned, the more likely it will be that he'll sign for 1 or 2 years though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigTed3 Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 IMHO, it really depends, Ted. If the plan is to play a "normal" 2 offense, 1 checking, 1 energy line, then yes, Kovalev is the wrong fit. However, if you think outside the box & go with the idea of 3 scoring lines (we dont have the talent to score with 1 or 2 anyway) and one energy/checking line, then kovalev may very well have been a good fit. Not to mention the fact that he's a playoff monster and adding him to a team that already seems to be building towards the moniker of "playoff team" would be a very positive thing. Hannan could absolutely be good for us, although I think the biggest hurdle is still going to be term. He has to be looking for 3+ years at his age. The longer he goes unsigned, the more likely it will be that he'll sign for 1 or 2 years though. The argument I used against Kovalev before is the special teams distribution of players. As it stands, JM has 3-4 D men who can play the point on the PP and so really only needs to use 6 forwards. If one signs Kovy with the intent of playing him on the PP, then who doesn't play there? It's already a log jam, with Pleks, Gomez, Gio, and Cammy almost guaranteed spots there to start the year, Cole, AK, and Pacman vying for the power forward spots, and DD and maybe even Darche and Eller who can add something too. On the PK side of things though, we have Moen as a specialist and after that, we're relying on guys who should be delivering offence to play the PK too. That means Pleks, DD, Gio, maybe Cammalleri... my theory has always been that if you find a way to limit the tiring PK work these guys have to do, they'll be able to give us more offensively. So whereas I can see the value of a guy like Kovy at even strength to boost the lines, the fact remains that we're not talking about being able to give him big minutes anyways and any contribution he makes at his age is going to be to the PP, where we don't have a need for him right now. I'd much rather use that roster spot for a guy who can contribute at the other end and save the quality offensive minutes for the guys we have in house already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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