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

[Hasbro]

Could also be because Russians aren’t seen as gritty, heart and soul lunch pail types which is what NHL teams want in their role players. At that level it’s just as much about org desire to give opportunity than anything particular the player is doing that makes him a better option than the handful of guys every team has who can do the same job. It’s just as much about optics, politics and org favor to move someone along as a bottom of the roster role player and Russians generally aren’t going to get that favor.

They're "enigmas".

 

[henchman21]

There isn't a vast conspiracy... coaches and front offices' livelihoods are on the line. They'll put the team they feel serves the overall objectives best. Sometimes that is being terrible (see Chicago), but most of the time it is about putting the team that the group feels is best on the ice. If a player isn't suited to a role or can't adapt, then that player simply won't keep that role.

If players are not talented enough to be pure, top skill guys (and frankly very few are), then they have to accept and adapt to roles. If that doesn't happen, they will fail.

As for Bednar in this... he clearly gives chances. All the failures in these spots have gotten runs in the roles. They just wouldn't adapt or play the way Bednar wanted. Kamenev got like 60 games and basically a whole season. Kaut was told for years what he needed to work on. Even got a long run last season. Maltsev had some bad injury luck, be even he got a run. Ranta, even as dumb as a doornail as he is, got runs and even broke camp with the Avs. If you're not a guy who can pop in 30g or provide 35+ points from defense... you pretty much have to accept and work in a role.

Which all that means, if Kovalenko plays the way Bednar wants and is accepting of a role, he's going to get a shot and a decently long one to work out. It'll likely be in the bottom 6 and Kovalenko will have to play more like LOC or Lehky than Kaut (which he does now so this shouldn't be a concern).

 

[NOTENOUGHRYJOTHINGS]

Last time I was in Stanley park I just saw junkies and raccoons.

Hope Kovalenko can live up to the Avs hype.

Just because they wear Canucks jerseys doesn't automatically mean they're junkies.

 

[Gumballhead]

I think you need Siberians for the lunch pail type. Wasn’t Nikolishin from way north?

 

[expatriatedtexan]

I think you need Siberians for the lunch pail type. Wasn’t Nikolishin from way north?

The pride of Vorkuta. It's north, but I more centrally located, not really Siberia. It's south of the Kara Sea.

 

[tigervixxxen]

Doesn't look like Bednar gives a shit about politics. Either you make the team better and get opportunities or don't and get sent down/to the stands.

Completely not true.

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Completely not true.

Name some examples where Bednar buried quality players for political reasons

 

[tigervixxxen]

For starters there’s MacDermid sticking around. Other 4th liners that clearly get much longer rope than others. Kovalenko is going to get a ton of favor too.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Who has Bednar unfairly not played? Bowers, who’s never shown enough to be an NHL’er? Ranta? Who’s now in europe? Kaut? Also europe. It’s not like players are leaving and blowing up away from here. Bednars eye for talent is pretty good and he‘s as fair as a coach out there.

 

[TruePowerSlave]

For starters there’s MacDermid sticking around. Other 4th liners that clearly get much longer rope than others. Kovalenko is going to get a ton of favor too.

That's all you got?

MacDermy and maybe some AHLers could play on the roster. Not exactly making a strong case, especially considering the claim.

All coaches have some bias towards certain players, every single one of them. Bednar is one of the more fair coaches, as long as you fit the system and have a role to play.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

For starters there’s MacDermid sticking around. Other 4th liners that clearly get much longer rope than others. Kovalenko is going to get a ton of favor too.

So your answer to the question was that you can't actually name anybody.

MacDermid sticking around most certainly isn't political

 

[tigervixxxen]

Making the team as a role player is all about bias. Not sure why it’s believed as finding a needle in a haystack type of process where someone is a one out of a hundred type of grinder. Players make the team as a role player due to opportunity and desire to provide that opportunity. Some guys get more or longer opportunity due to politics, bias, org favor, nepotism, etc. None of those guys are going to go be mindblowing elsewhere but they’ll get opportunity at some point, usually resurfacing 4 orgs down the line as we try out the same.

Bednar’s difference in commitment to young players is pretty obvious when the org has committed to them or not. He’s done a great job when he has that commitment. But to still believe in it’s all about merit is pretty naive.

 

[tigervixxxen]

So your answer to the question was that you can't actually name anybody.

MacDermid sticking around most certainly isn't political

Of course I can name someone, just look at the clear promises Meyers was given and has still been living off of.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Of course I can name someone, just look at the clear promises Meyers was given and has still been living off of.

You mean the guy who spent half the season in the AHL last year?

Gee yeah what a great example. The top college UFA they signed is your best example, who isn't even an example.

 

[tigervixxxen]

You mean the guy who spent half the season in the AHL last year?

Gee yeah what a great example. The top college UFA they signed is your best example, who isn't even an example.

He didn’t spend half the season there and they didn’t even send him down without a return ticket until February. Now he has a one way contract and penciled in at 4C despite not actually doing anything to earn it.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Staying away from the org until 24 might be the new strategy!

when Bednar sees Kovy forecheck he will shed a single tear.

the loan is so that he can actually come over in the spring. Without that I would say it was going to be unlikely.

Yeah that work ethic will get him maybe more ice than his skill will may even be on par for. Who knows though. I think bottom end he's a 4th liner buzz saw, that maybe gets injured a lot lol.

He won't stay for that though beyond his ELC.

He'll have Drouin to hate plenty of, don't you worry

Yeah, that's a real possibility lol. The thing is, if Drouin takes it easy Mack will drive him to the airport himself, maybe even buy him out himself lol.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Nikolishin was f***ing filthy lol

Why have I never heard of him lol?

 

[Foppa2118]

For starters there’s MacDermid sticking around. Other 4th liners that clearly get much longer rope than others. Kovalenko is going to get a ton of favor too.

MacDermid is clearly an exception, because he's a heavyweight enforcer that can play both forward and D, and the team including its stars like Nate want him on the team. Most here liked him in his role the first year too.

Meyers was sent down 3 games into his first season and he's not penciled in at all for 4C this year. He's going to have to battle it out in camp and could easily lose it to a guy like Pavel, and get sent down again with a buryable $775k cap hit.

Kovalenko will come in at the end of the season, and I guarantee you he's not going to play down the stretch if they need wins, or in the playoffs, if he's not effective in his role and playing the way Bednar wants. He also got a two way deal.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

At the end of the day, the only guy I think I really wanted to see more of last season was Foudy and to be honest, it was probably in his best interest to stick in the AHL and get more minutes last season. I just really hope he's allowed to properly battle for that apparent open bottom six slot. I really like his shifty-ness.

Burke was also an interesting 2-game callup, but I certainly can't say I've seen enough to determine how likely his chances of making the NHL consistently are. I would say they aren't that high but again in all the crap we were throwing at the wall, he looked less out of place than a lot of others, albeit in an extremely small sample size.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

Of course I can name someone, just look at the clear promises Meyers was given and has still been living off of.

Of course Bednar will play with politics but up to a certain point. If a player was told by the FO he would get a look I'm sure Bednar will listen to the FO and give the guy a try but he won't waste too much time on it either. Newhook at 2C is a good example of that. FO wanting him tried again at 2C....Bednar gave him a few games and gave up on it quickly.

 

[henchman21]

Is this really about Meyers/Dermy… or about Kaut?

Meyers technically spent more time in the minors than half… something like 78-107.

 

[Sea Eagles]

Developing a player we selected later in the draft hey guys?

Jeez I love this team. CMac just keeps closing those doors on subjects people complain about hey !

I'm so excited for this kid. He exploded in the KHL against men last season. Honestly think he could play up the lines too.

A++++ to both scouting / drafting. On point.

 

[lionsDen]

That's all you got?

MacDermy and maybe some AHLers could play on the roster. Not exactly making a strong case, especially considering the claim.

All coaches have some bias towards certain players, every single one of them. Bednar is one of the more fair coaches, as long as you fit the system and have a role to play.

Mcdermid also had a one way no? With money tight I can’t blame the. For playing him 5 minutes a nite. His role is to hit and beat people up. I like dermy but that problem is with the front office giving him that contract. More the. Bed at playing politics IMO

 

[Hasbro]

The pride of Vorkuta. It's north, but I more centrally located, not really Siberia. It's south of the Kara Sea.

It was a gulag.

 

[Alienblood]

It was a gulag.

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