I have a feeling he's gonna be better than Meier.I'm excited for this Labanc kid.
Holy f*** will this loser ever stop whining? The level of entitlement for someone with 50 career NHL games at 25 is insane.
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.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.
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.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.
Holy f*** will this loser ever stop whining? The level of entitlement for someone with 50 career NHL games at 25 is insane.
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.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.
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.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.
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.
It feels like another Sasha Chmelevski situationMy 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.