I didnt follow hockey too much when Kovalchuk was drafted, so I want to know who was hyped the most. Ovechkin was said to be the next big thing coming from russia with Pavel Bure comparison. How was Kovalchuk hype back then?
Clarify the meaning of "being stupid with the puck". Clarify why "passing means you're being smart with the puck".wilka91 said:Ovechkin is like Kovalchuk but less tupid with the puck.
dunwoody_joe said:Kovy works plenty hard! It is true that his defensive intensity had been less than his offensive intensity, but over the couse of the year Hartley had him playing defense. He took shifts on the penalty kill too!
Kovy love the game and his intensity is off the charts. He continues to improve his game--even off its present level. Damn, the kid led the league in goal scoring his third year, always playing with "leftover parts" line mates. His offensive creativity rivals Mario and Wayne.
If Ovechin plays at Kovy's level I will be surprised. Kovy is league MVP material, under the right circumstances.
Oh, did I already say that Kovy is intense!!
BHLCommish said:If you think Kovalchuk does not play a physical game and that he is not one of the hardest workers on the ice, you have not seen nearly enough of him.
Vincent_TheGreat said:Intensity includes both sides of the ice, Bure was an intense offensive player but a huge liability because he did nothing on D just like Kovy.
Vlad The Impaler said:Well, what you refer to is two-way play, not intensity.
dunwoody_joe said:Kovy works plenty hard! It is true that his defensive intensity had been less than his offensive intensity, but over the couse of the year Hartley had him playing defense. He took shifts on the penalty kill too!
Kovy love the game and his intensity is off the charts. He continues to improve his game--even off its present level. Damn, the kid led the league in goal scoring his third year, always playing with "leftover parts" line mates. His offensive creativity rivals Mario and Wayne.
If Ovechin plays at Kovy's level I will be surprised. Kovy is league MVP material, under the right circumstances.
Oh, did I already say that Kovy is intense!!
monster_bertuzzi said:Kovalchuk's hype was tampered in 2001 because Spezza was around as well. Ovechkin has had far more build up than Ilya did.
Vincent_TheGreat said:Kovalchuk had a lot of hype, but I believe Ovechkin has a lot more followers as Kovy came out of nowhere. That being said between the two players I have to believe Ovechkin will be the better player. I never liked kovalchuk, but I love Ovechkin, he hits like a Canadian player and has the skills of the best and has a great work ethic. Kovalchuk could learn work ethic and physical play from Ovechkin.
zecke26 said:right. spezza was even more hyped, some spoke of the new gretzky...maybe the same persons that are now on the bandwagon of crosby. some will never learn. i remember that kovalchuk was seen as the #2 of his draft for a long time and maybe two month before the draft, he reached the spezza level of hype.
Mizral said:I would rank Kovalchuk's intensity up there with Steve Yzerman. I would rank his 'smartness' up there with Lemieux. Lemieux has never backchecked more than 3 or 4 times in his entire career, much less his first couple seasons. So don't give me that 'Kovalchuk is a stupid player' remark.
Physically, I think Kovalchuk could be every bit as physical as a Keith Tkachuk very soon - maybe even as soon as next year.
I think you'll find that all you Kovalchuk doubters are going to be very, very, VERY wrong inside of 3 years.
I can see this kid being ranked up there with Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr, and Howe. I think he's that good.
Ovechkin on the other hand, while a great player, I would compare him more to a Sakic type player. Insane skill, but I do not sense the same level of talent nor determination & pure force of will out there on the ice that I see in Kovalchuk. And that's what truely makes Kovalchuk a frighteningly good player.
Mizral said:I would rank Kovalchuk's intensity up there with Steve Yzerman. I would rank his 'smartness' up there with Lemieux. Lemieux has never backchecked more than 3 or 4 times in his entire career, much less his first couple seasons. So don't give me that 'Kovalchuk is a stupid player' remark.
Physically, I think Kovalchuk could be every bit as physical as a Keith Tkachuk very soon - maybe even as soon as next year.
I think you'll find that all you Kovalchuk doubters are going to be very, very, VERY wrong inside of 3 years.
I can see this kid being ranked up there with Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr, and Howe. I think he's that good.
Ovechkin on the other hand, while a great player, I would compare him more to a Sakic type player. Insane skill, but I do not sense the same level of talent nor determination & pure force of will out there on the ice that I see in Kovalchuk. And that's what truely makes Kovalchuk a frighteningly good player.
Obviously the point wasn't that someone who makes passes is automatically not stupid or smart with the puck; it was that someone who never makes passes when he should is stupid.IlyaK17 said:Clarify the meaning of "being stupid with the puck". Clarify why "passing means you're being smart with the puck".
I've seen only clips pf Ovechkin (while reading tons of words) so i can't say about him, but as for Kovalchuk i think Wilka91 is not wrong, he is just harsh and hasty, he often doesn't take the time to fully explain what he means.IlyaK17 said:I've heard you say at least 5 times in various threads about "Ovechkin is better because he is less stupid". Exactly when is Kovy "stupid" and why is shooting a bad thing? He has more assists than goals this year so I'm thinking he's not as "Pejorative Slured" as you think he is.
wilka91 said:Kovy...just drove to the net, no matter how many defensemen were in front of him or from what angle he was shooting.