2025 locker clean out
- Thread starter LadyStanley
- Start date
pappaf2
Registered User
Patty Ice
Mighty Luca
I'm excited for this Labanc kid.
hohosaregood
Banned
- Sep 1, 2011
- 32,476
- 14,982
I have a feeling he's gonna be better than Meier.
SjMilhouse
Registered User
- Jul 18, 2012
- 2,166
- 3,518
Tough season, first time in 10 years we missed the playoffs and what a wild ride coming into the year after the reverse sweep by LA. Hopefully DW and Thornton can figure their shit out this offseason and maybe we'll get lucky enough to draft Rantanen if we don't win the lotto for McJesus
Hodge
Registered User
- Apr 27, 2021
- 5,474
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Holy f*** will this loser ever stop whining? The level of entitlement for someone with 50 career NHL games at 25 is insane.
- Jul 25, 2007
- 3,365
- 9,442
I thought last game was a great example of why Kovalenko and Gush are struggling to stick in the NHL. They clearly went out being like, "f*** yeah, we're on a line together, last game of the season, let's go have some fun" and they played with panache and creativity -- and were mostly ineffective, and struggled on possession. Despite creating a few openings and opportunities to make a chance, they often squandered it by making one final "too cute" move. They won some puck battles but lost more.
Honestly looked a bit like less-skilled Smith/Celebrini out there from earlier in the year... turns out, boring, structured, and strong/big/fast players are the bread and butter at the NHL level because no matter how flashy you are, a guy in the right place with the right stick and strength/speed can neutralize you, send a 2 on 1 the other way, and some dude can just snipe a corner without making 15 dangles.
Being with Dellandrea in one of his worse games didn't help them. Nonetheless, a guy like Graf was able to come up and succeed without the high end skill of either Gush or Kovy. Even Lund has looked more reliable and solid at the NHL level, despite having a ceiling of probably 3W.
I don't wish them any ill will, and if Kovalenko had a better attitude I'd want him back, but I think the writing is on the wall here.
Hodge
Registered User
- Apr 27, 2021
- 5,474
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Exactly, we've seen Graf and Mukhamadullin earn increased ice time and responsibility due to their performance so it's ridiculous to act like Warsofsky or his system is biased against young players (of course Kovalenko isn't even young). Puck skills are such a small component of what makes someone an effective middle six or middle pairing NHLer relative to how much fans and media focus on it above all else.
Man, our media asks some cringe questions
timorous me
Gristled Veteran
- Apr 14, 2010
- 1,934
- 4,821
It's not an excuse, but I can't help but wonder in situations like this, with guys who have gotten such limited opportunity, if they're suffering because they're trying to force the issue and impress. It's not the right way to go about things, we all know, but I think it can be hard to operate differently if you're that guy in that situation.
Dellandrea obviously wasn't a good fit with them, but I'd be curious to see how a line like Kovalenko and Gushchin centered by Wennberg would work. Obviously we'd need a 2C to run such a line, so it's more of a thought experiment, and probably too soft of a trio overall. I wonder if he weren't hurt if Ostapchuk would've gotten that opportunity instead. I'd really like to see him with a couple more attacking players just to see if his offensive game could spark to life a little.
timorous me
Gristled Veteran
- Apr 14, 2010
- 1,934
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People complain when athletes don't say anything interesting or substantive to the media, and then they complain when they actually do give their opinion in an unfiltered way like this.
Not to say that I agree he should be saying this stuff to the media, but I also find it refreshing. And honestly, why wouldn't a guy want to play more? I'd be more bothered if he were fine just sitting around and collecting a paycheck and not playing.
- Jul 25, 2007
- 3,365
- 9,442
It's fair. You don't get an extended look, you don't really get a chance. That said... I am of the mindset that you drop guys like Gregor down to the AHL and they're scoring a lot more points. He had 12 points in 8 games in 2022, small sample but point is there. There's always a lot of angst for the young prospects at the top of the AHL roster, but the jump is big and the play style is less forgiving, and if we dropped down the "boring, terrible vets" to the AHL they'd likely show off their skills a whole lot more and put up many more points. Graf will likely stick next year because he's smart and his playstyle translates, even if he doesn't have the size of Bystedt or the skill of Gushchin or Bordeleau.
My bet is Kovy is back in the KHL and Gush might follow him. Just hope we don't actually develop an anti-Russian aura. Asky and Mukh hopefully show the way to Cherny.
Hodge
Registered User
- Apr 27, 2021
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I'm not complaining that Kovalenko voiced his opinion, I just think his opinion is based on delusional levels of entitlement. Kovalenko doesn't seem to realize he's just some rando. It's not like Warsofsky buried a respected established vet like Toffoli or Wennberg or Granlund.
My guess is Kovalenko's rights are traded for a draft pick for a team that wants to give him a shot, but given the obvious and looming KHL flight risk, Grier's probably not gonna get much.
OrrNumber4
Registered User
- Jul 25, 2002
- 16,080
- 7,314
We'll get a prospect bust named Wozzy Oiesblatt for Kovalenko. Kovalenko will then proceed to go to the KHL anyway. Wozzy will play a few games for the Sharks, score a point, and then proceed to be a career AHLer.
Star Platinum
Registered User
- Mar 20, 2025
- 555
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It feels like another Sasha Chmelevski situation
I respect Wennberg giving the answer he did regarding Kovalenko. It's a tough spot for him to be in. The team needs more from guys like Kovalenko but they also need more from guys like Wennberg. For what he got paid and the minutes he got especially after Granlund got moved, he's not bringing enough either. A lot of guys are in that boat and that's why they lost so many games. They need more consistency in their games.
tiburon12
Registered User
- Jul 18, 2009
- 4,740
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Just pointing out that at the beginning of the season, when we had seemingly 10 4th line-level guys, the entire point of the exercise that Grier set up was to let internal competition drive players to be better and earn ice time. In other words, the internal fight for ice time will separate chaff from wheat naturally.
Kovalenko and Gus are examples of not winning those internal battles, whereas Graf did.
The system worked as it was designed to
