This is what I was thinking , maybe he can still be traded to a rebuilding team at the deadline or something.
I would also suggest that part of the reason you don't see many offensive defensemen coming out of Russia these days extends down to the pee wee level. If a kid shows a high level of skill at a young age, they're likely to be funneled towards playing a more offensive role early in their development, because KHL systems are less focused on skill from the back end. In North America, a Cale Makar or Adam Fox type of kid would be more encouraged to try playing defense, because North American hockey values offensive defensemen a lot more. I think it's a philosophical divergence as much as a developmental one.
Tell me you don't watch the games without telling me you don't watch the games.
There are probably a lot of reasons why... in the end, not sure the why matters on an individual level. Results matter.
That would be jumping the gun considering Kovalenko has a lot to prove still.
Tell me you don't watch the games without telling me you don't watch the games.
There are probably a lot of reasons why... in the end, not sure the why matters on an individual level. Results matter.
That would be jumping the gun considering Kovalenko has a lot to prove still.
My opinion is certainly not the end all be all, far from it. If you're watching games, you should see that he's playing pretty conservatively and jumping in the play at a fairly low rate. He's also not super aggressive with his pinches and passes. He will flash moments and they'll happen once a game or every other game... but they are not 5-6-7+ times a game that you'd see in the NHL. If you think he's being aggressive, your definition is far different than mine.
I think this is more so the preferred route to the NHL by Gulyayev, just as it was for Kovalenko. As you have said it may not be the best route, but from the Avs standpoint they are happy to let these Russian guys do it their way. I hope it works for both guys.
I’d agree it is the preferred path for many Russians. I doubt it is really preferred by the Avs. They’ll deal with it, but they’ve shown the want their Euros over quickly. Even to the tune of having OO and Kaut over in their +1 seasons. They’ve tried multiple times to get Kovalenko over… even 3 or so years ago they pushed hard. They like their guys developing players.
Agreed all around. I don't think Avs would be in the market to trade him, but him potentially coming at the end of his deal might be when the Avs Cup window closes, so really poor planning on him and his agent's part if he wants an NHL career.
Joining a team when their cup window is closing isn't necessarily a bad thing for a prospect trying to break into the league though... Typically a team exiting it's window means that the rosters depth and prospect pool has been depleted, thus likely making it easier to make the roster, as compared to a roster that is early in its window and still stacked with depth guys on value contracts and with a deep prospect pool. Once Rantanen, Byram, and the rest of the stars get paid there will be more emphasis on getting ELC's into the lineup in increasingly larger roles.
I feel like he'd have had a chance if his time was 10 years later.
Or a coach that could have recognized his talent.
I remember Sacco pretty much created a locker room rift simply because he was too afraid to tweak the lineup during a win streak.
