Viktor Kozlov - Why Wasn't He Elite?

[Ekblast]

Panthers fans spent many many many years yelling at this guy to shoot the puck. He could stick handle like crazy but if he got near the boards he would lose it. Seemed scared and hesitant. Don't know why.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

He was the second greatest Atlanta Thrasher..!

And like the 324th greatest Red Wing

That's fair enough, but even in NYI he had a resurgence from his prior year in New Jersey. He had a 51 point year there too.

I know, I know, Alexei Yashin!

Yashin has a terrible reputation but at least he was a truly elite player. Just had one of the worst contracts of all time.

You can't find an explanation for everything, Kozlov sucked for NJ, it is what it is.

 

[Riddum]

Crosby with the physical tools of Kozlov would be the GOAT

 

[Dread Clawz]

There are just fundamental, philosophical differences between Russian and NHL/North American style hockey and a lot of guys can't adjust. For instance, even today, dump-and-chase is anathema to Russians. It's seen as a coward move. Here, in the structured, overcoached NHL, you'd damn better well dump and chase because that's the scheme and if you don't do it, you'll be back in the minors.

Pretty much this, Kozlov was an artist who didn't really fit into nhl style play. He was a bit soft and lazy, but I don't think he had a bad attitude. Extremely skilled player, but much better suited to European hockey.

 

[Dread Clawz]

than mario?

Not Mario, but everyone else yes.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

I used to dominate with Kozlov and Fedorov in NHL 95'. So he was pretty good in my book.

Wrong Kozlov, you're talking about Vyacheslav (Slava), not Viktor

 

[KevinRedkey]

He had no vision. Tried playing the passing game but didn't have the vision of a guy like Thornton.

PS:
No vision is an exaggeration. He has vision... just not of the elite variety needed to put up godly numbers.

 

[Rats96Yo]

Blessed with size and skill but had NO intention of using the former. It was the most frustrating thing to watch that he would go nowhere near the net. Forget about corners. Always made one pass too many.

In a cruel twist of fate, the Panthers traded away the pick that would turned into Lecavalier for him. Probably the biggest turning point that changed the fates of both Florida teams (San Jose also traded the pick away).

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/five-huge-nhl-moves-youve-probably-forgotten/