What do you think of Alex Kovalev?

[Frank Drebin]

I liked him for a few years where he was here, but by the end I was just so ****ing sick of the drama that followed him every single season.

Every bloody year, there was some big Kovalev scandal. Carbo is a racist! Where's the tape?? Darkest day in history! I'm leaving the team! Long walk by the water with Gainey! Fist fights in the lockers! I hate Koivu!

It's one thing when the media makes garbage up because they don't like the guy, or the organization wants someone gone so they get the media to edge a guy out like with Subban... But Kovalev seemed to create it himself.

oh god, so ironic

 

[Deebs]

Ya, that's what it was...he didn't want to...

He could've been one of the greats...to think what he should've been if he actually played with effort all the time. Oh well, he still provided us with some flashes of greatness at times and that was fun to watch.

 

[yianik]

Supremely talented electrifying player. When he was on his game he was a joy to watch. He had such a skill set that when the puck was on his stick he would just freeze the opposition. Go after him and he is by you, sit back and he takes a laser shot that is either in or your goalie makes a great save. literally made opponents look like pylons.

Have to say that while his consistency and work ethic is criticized , which touches on character, I was impressed that after he was lit up by teammates, media and fans for that hand injury stunt against Boston, that he signed here. True he redeemed himself with his performance as the games went on and was treated as a hero, but he had a mouthful of derision before that. so he knew how hard it could be to play here and he also saw the plus side, he liked the plus side.To me that showed character.

 

[Redux91]

That shift he had where he protected the puck deep in the zone, lost his glove and circled back with the puck, picked it up and put it back on and continued. So epic.

so G, lol

 

[crazyd]

I think the closest we got to getting back a Kovalev type player is in the hair department.

Weise pretty much had the same mane....

 

[BenchBrawl]

so G, lol

I was at that game, and very close to the ice and on the same side.

Glorious.

 

[boompuffboom]

total man crush for me haha

rediculous skillset, awesome presence and of course, quite enigmatic.

many very special and fond memories of this guy. one of the rare hockey players ive watched that made me love the game of hockey even more.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Surprised at how lopsided my poll is.Pleasantly surprised.

 

[badbrains]

Awesome skill. When he decided to rule, he ruled. [MOD]

 

[Redux91]

Surprised at how lopsided my poll is.Pleasantly surprised.

Surprised?

lemme put it this way

there was a crowd outside the bell center picketing for him to return when he was FA

They didnt even do that for Koivu.

 

[Kriss E]

He could've been one of the greats...to think what he should've been if he actually played with effort all the time. Oh well, he still provided us with some flashes of greatness at times and that was fun to watch.

I don't understand when or how it started really, but this belief that every single person on the planet can give 100% of effort and play at their full capacity every shift is completely fictional.
Do you know how Kovalev's body responds when he gives out full physical exertion after a shift? What about after 5 shifts? How fast does he recover?

Guess what, very few people in this world can perform at 100% of their capacity every game, every shift. Very few.

Was he blowing some defensive coverage at times?? Ya. So does Crosby, yet he's not lazy and nobody ever excuses him of laziness. Mario Lemieux was one of the biggest coasters, nobody ever called him out for it or questioned his heart/desire.

People need to stop questioning the character of people because they're not reaching their full out potential.

 

[JGRB]

He and Markov were my favourite Habs from 2004-2009. Loved Kovalev.

 

[the]

You know you are a great player when both Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux said he was the most skilled player they ever played with.

 

[MasterDecoy]

You know you are a great player when both Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux said he was the most skilled player they ever played with.

Gretzky would happily say that the zamboni driver was the best player he ever played with

He's that nice...

 

[No More Subban]

Him, Koivu and Theodore were the reason I became a Habs fan back in '04.

 

[Doc McKenna]

Him, Koivu and Theodore were the reason I became a Habs fan back in '04.

Still have my koivu and salo Mcfarlane toy set in plastic

 

[Le Tricolore]

Surprised?

lemme put it this way

there was a crowd outside the bell center picketing for him to return when he was FA

They didnt even do that for Koivu.

That was so pathetic.