Confirmed with Link: Avs sign Kovalenko to 2-year deal

[AllAboutAvs]

There is a difference on guys like Kaut, Bowers, OO, etc... and that is they simply suck. Kaut had the talent of an AHL 2nd liner with a work ethic the falls behind Arnason. Bowers was a primadonna who could have carved out a 4th line role if he was willing to take coaching, work, and have some actual injury luck. If you're legit NHL impact talented, Bendar will play you. If you're not, you better work your ass off... and if you do, he'll play you.

Nobody is disagreeing with that. But Bednar will cut their TOI and role if they show they can't handle the defensive side of their game until he sees improvement.

 

[henchman21]

Nobody is disagreeing with that. But Bednar will cut their TOI and role if they show they can't handle the defensive side of their game until he sees improvement.

I’d agree with a stipulation. If they can add offense at a significant level, he will over look that flaw (for any player). If you don’t produce and are a liability, of course he will cut time.

 

[VikingAv]

Nobody is disagreeing with that. But Bednar will cut their TOI and role if they show they can't handle the defensive side of their game until he sees improvement.

What you're describing through this discussion, isn't just for the young players, though. It applies to veterans as well. Just look at this season. RyJo, Drouin and Tatar have all had icetime cut, early on. Drouin even got to sit and think about what he, uhm, hadn't done.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

Okay, I'll just end this by saying this is what you said in the original post.

The highlighted part of your post here is simply not true. He slots guys in the role he feels they'll excel in. If they struggle, yes, they get yanked. Sometimes quickly (Tatar), sometimes not (Jost, Compher). That is by definition NOT "prove yourself first". If he were a Babcock-type coach he'd slot one of those new guys in a grinder/depth role to begin with and make them "earn" their way out like a lot of old-school coaches. But giving them that big role to begin with is the complete opposite of that.

That bolded statement was regard to playing guys on the top-2 lines. I never said or implied he was a Babcock-type coach. I think Foppa's post showed that he does not put them in those situations until they prove themselves on the 3rd or 4th line first. If they show they can handle it they will be moved to those top positions very quickly but if they don't they either stay there with reduced TOI, or go on lower lines or get sent down.

Obviously we won't agree on this.

I’d agree with a stipulation. If they can add offense at a significant level, he will over look that flaw (for any player). If you don’t produce and are a liability, of course he will cut time.

That I will agree with.

What you're describing through this discussion, isn't just for the young players, though. It applies to veterans as well. Just look at this season. RyJo, Drouin and Tatar have all had icetime cut, early on. Drouin even got to sit and think about what he, uhm, hadn't done.

I agree it goes for the veterans as well but they usually have a much longer leash.

 

[Foppa2118]

The discussion started with how Kovy would be used if he comes over this season so yes it was about the first game and obviously the next few.

I appreciate the time you put in that post to prove that I wasn't losing my mind. I tried to bring up their first game GDT but couldn't. Maybe I was doing it wrong or they are no longer available due to a site update. Regardless it looks like I was mostly right except for Makar, which I quickly conceded due to being a special case, and Byram which is also a 4th round pick but like you said he got very little minutes. In Newhook case I wonder if you could verify if there were some injuries for him to start with Kadri on his first game?

I still agree with the other guys though that Bednar is better than most coaches to give opportunities to young players. I just disagree that the opportunities last as long as they say they do. He is pretty quick in pulling back their TOI if they screw up which I agree with. Kids need to earn their TOI and trust of the coach.

Anyway thanks a lot for your work.

They were missing Calvert in that game, but I don't think that's why they played Newhook with Kadri.

Again though, he only played there his first game, then got demoted, then played with Kadri again in his 4th game, then got demoted to the 3rd line again to finish the regular seaosn, and then to the 4th line for the playoffs. Which is is the context for Kovalenko.

Newhook was a 16th overall skill player. Not even really viewed as a two way player like Jost or Compher who started in bottom six roles.

Kovalenko isn't viewed as a pure skill player like Newhook either. You don't have to worry about not putting him in a position to succeed, by playing him in a bottom six role.

Not sure why what you said is in such dispute. The spirit of what you were saying that players need to prove themselves with Bednar is absolutely true, and even the comment about proving themselves first before starting in a role has been true for like 95% of players.

Bo is a great example. We knew he had been cleared medically to play in the playoffs, but Bednar specifically didnt' play him because he said he hadn't seen him in enough games yet. Even though he played 19 games and looked pretty good, and he loved the way he played in the WJC that year. In hindsight I think Bedsy would admit it was a mistake not to play him, because they needed help with their transition game to beat Vegas that year.

Kovalenko's last regular game with Torpedo is on the 26th, so he'll get at most 22-23 games before the playoffs. He may get a tryout in a regular season game or two in a bigger role to prove himself, but by far the most likely place he'll play to start, especially in the playoffs this year, is the 3rd or 4th line.

 

[McMetal]

I feel like this is going around in circles over a completely moot point. Kovalenko is going to start in the bottom six because he's a bottom six player. Bednar not giving him a chance on the second line will have nothing to do with his personal philosophy and everything to do with the completely rational judgement he will make that he should ideally be playing on the third or fourth line in a healthy lineup.

 

[tigervixxxen]

I feel like this is going around in circles over a completely moot point. Kovalenko is going to start in the bottom six because he's a bottom six player. Bednar not giving him a chance on the second line will have nothing to do with his personal philosophy and everything to do with the completely rational judgement he will make that he should ideally be playing on the third or fourth line in a healthy lineup.

Completely agree here.

Also, Kovalenko is going to at bare minimum recieve the promises package of consideration Ben Meyers got. He’s not going to be treated like a random 6th rounder that started in the AHL at 20 years old. He’s 24 years old and they put in a lot of effort to get Kovy signed. His chance won’t last forever but he’s going to get some runway from the org. It’s not all about merit, especially the looks some of these college FAs get.

 

[Alienblood]

Completely agree here.

Also, Kovalenko is going to at bare minimum recieve the promises package of consideration Ben Meyers got. He’s not going to be treated like a random 6th rounder that started in the AHL at 20 years old. He’s 24 years old and they put in a lot of effort to get Kovy signed. His chance won’t last forever but he’s going to get some runway from the org. It’s not all about merit, especially the looks some of these college FAs get.

couple of looks and then back in Russia by the middle of next year

 

[Hasbro]

couple of looks and then back in Russia by the middle of next year

Not if the hire more massuses!

 

[Perratrooper]

Lots of talk of if he’ll be top 6 or not. Given how depleted our lineup depth is, I wouldn’t be shocked if he works hard that he might receive top 6 minutes for a couple games. To me he’s a best going to be a hard working bottom 6 player that hopefully has a similar impact to Parise. A tenacious 4C would likely work wonders on that sort of line and as has been beaten to death if the Avs can shed RyJo and get a 2C/4C (low hopes for the 2C), we could feasibly run a very deep team.

Lehkonen-MacKinnon-Rantanen
Drouin-2C-Nichuskin
Wood-Colton-LOC
Parise-4C-Kovalenko

With Cogliano being the substitute if Kovy doesn’t pan out.

Major asks, but potential for great depth.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Lots of talk of if he’ll be top 6 or not. Given how depleted our lineup depth is, I wouldn’t be shocked if he works hard that he might receive top 6 minutes for a couple games. To me he’s a best going to be a hard working bottom 6 player that hopefully has a similar impact to Parise. A tenacious 4C would likely work wonders on that sort of line and as has been beaten to death if the Avs can shed RyJo and get a 2C/4C (low hopes for the 2C), we could feasibly run a very deep team.

Lehkonen-MacKinnon-Rantanen
Drouin-2C-Nichuskin
Wood-Colton-LOC
Parise-4C-Kovalenko

With Cogliano being the substitute if Kovy doesn’t pan out.

Major asks, but potential for great depth.

I just don't think there should be an expectation he's a top 6 guy. That would just lead to eventual disappointment imo. I'm expecting lesser version of Lehky, which would be a good addition to the bottom 6 and a great find for the scouting team that desperately needs some hits.

 

[henchman21]

Kovalenko will get various looks and with it basically being KHL or bust, he's going to get NHL time. Only if he shows there is no way he can play in the NHL, will he not be getting a look. I think more of the issue is realistically how good of player is he?

I just don't think there should be an expectation he's a top 6 guy. That would just lead to eventual disappointment imo. I'm expecting lesser version of Lehky, which would be a good addition to the bottom 6 and a great find for the scouting team that desperately needs some hits.

Yeah I feel people ran wild with his PPG season last year and simply forget all context... and they don't really look as the skill set of the player.

 

[Ararana]

Kovalenko will get various looks and with it basically being KHL or bust, he's going to get NHL time. Only if he shows there is no way he can play in the NHL, will he not be getting a look. I think more of the issue is realistically how good of player is he?

The Avs hired a new masseuse, right? Right?!?!

 

[henchman21]

The Avs hired a new masseuse, right? Right?!?!

Nope

 

[AllAboutAvs]

If Kovy comes in this season and is good enough to push guys like Kivi, Olofsson, Dermy, etc. out of the lineup it will be a plus towards the playoffs. Anything above 4th line will be a bonus for these playoffs.

As for next season TC will dictate how far up the lineup he will play or if he stays in NA for that matter.

 

[niwotsblessing]

I'm glad Nuke is back to hopefully help Kovy adjust to a new hockey culture and language. Having Nuke take on the role of mentor will grow him as well, on and off the ice.

 

[Avs9296]

I'm glad Nuke is back to hopefully help Kovy adjust to a new hockey culture and language. Having Nuke take on the role of mentor will grow him as well, on and off the ice.

1. I'm pretty sure we don't want Nuke mentoring anyone.

2. Kovy was born in the US and probably speaks English pretty well.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

1. I'm pretty sure we don't want Nuke mentoring anyone.

2. Kovy was born in the US and probably speaks English pretty well.

Kovy was 2 yrs old when his dad finished his career in NA so I'm not sure how good his english is.

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

I’ve gotten deep into Torpedo conspiracy theories this year. One of their top defenseman to start the year, Sizov, just disappeared and hasn’t come back. One theory is he had a “disagreement” with Larionov’s kid and got booted. A lot of people think there are internal issues there. Fans calling for Larionov’s head, but I think he just got an extension.

Either way, they’ll likely get smoked by SKA and Kovalenko will be here soon. I only watched the first today but he was flying, very active. Team fell apart after that, which has happened a lot lately.

 

[Bender]

Nope

 

[Avs9296]

I’ve gotten deep into Torpedo conspiracy theories this year. One of their top defenseman to start the year, Sizov, just disappeared and hasn’t come back. One theory is he had a “disagreement” with Larionov’s kid and got booted. A lot of people think there are internal issues there. Fans calling for Larionov’s head, but I think he just got an extension.

Either way, they’ll likely get smoked by SKA and Kovalenko will be here soon. I only watched the first today but he was flying, very active. Team fell apart after that, which has happened a lot lately.

How soon do you think? When do the playoffs start?

 

[BobRossColton]

How soon do you think? When do the playoffs start?

March 8th, right after the deadline.

 

[Cypher]

And they'll tout Kovalenko as our main trade deadline acquisition

 

[sethro109]

Does he have to join before the TDL to be playoff eligible? Or can he not at all today?

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

How soon do you think? When do the playoffs start?

Thursday or Friday.

Does he have to join before the TDL to be playoff eligible? Or can he not at all today?

He's eligible for the playoffs no matter what since he's on the reserve list and under contract.