What prevented Kovalchuk from reaching Ovechkin/Crosby/Malkin level?

[authentic]

Kovalchuk in his prime had the size and speed of a prime Ovechkin, arguably even better hands, and arguably just as good of an arsenal of shots. He also didn't appear to be any less smart a player than Ovechkin, and despite all of this, he really never produced anywhere close to a prime Ovechkin. People will talk about how Kovalev underachieved given his skill set, and I feel the same way about Kovalchuk.

Discuss.

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[WarriorofTime]

Kovalchuk didn't underachieve. He was a monster.

 

[Dylan9z9]

His desire to go back to the motherland.

 

[mrpither]

Thrashers.

 

[Tripod]

Kovalchuk didn't underachieve. He was a monster.

As a Flyers fan, I can easily agree. He was a fantastic, all around player in NJ. They taught him how to play a team game.

 

[Cult of Hynes]

Kovalchuk didn't underachieve. He was a monster.

This. The guy was a consistent 30+ goal scorer in the league. only two times he didnt score 30 or more was in his rookie season (29) and a lockout shortened season (11 in 37 games). He was exactly a ppg player in his career. In NJ he became a solid two way guy and produced in the playoffs. Had the best shots (wrist, slap, snap) when he was in the league and was one of the top players in the league.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Kovalchuk in his prime had the size and speed of a prime Ovechkin, arguably even better hands, and arguably just as good of an arsenal of shots. He also didn't appear to be any less smart a player than Ovechkin, and despite all of this, he really never produced anywhere close to a prime Ovechkin. People will talk about how Kovalev underachieved given his skill set, and I feel the same way about Kovalchuk.

Discuss.

lack of heart and a love of money as a motivational factor

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Kovalchuk in his prime had the size and speed of a prime Ovechkin, arguably even better hands, and arguably just as good of an arsenal of shots. He also didn't appear to be any less smart a player than Ovechkin, and despite all of this, he really never produced anywhere close to a prime Ovechkin. People will talk about how Kovalev underachieved given his skill set, and I feel the same way about Kovalchuk.

Discuss.

Ovechkin in his prime was a 50-60 goal 100+ point player while kovy was a 40-50 90+ point player

 

[Sinistril]

In his rookie season, Ovechkin had over 100 shots MORE than kovalchuk. I'm not saying Ovechkin being a volume shooter is the reason Kovalchuk never reached that level, and maybe it speaks to Ovys ability to get open/get possession and generally get pucks on net, but if Kovalchuk ever shot as much as Ovechkin he would eclipse him in goals if not other areas of play.

Kovalchuk wasn't as dominant from the get-go in his career as Ovechkin either...

 

[Cassano]

Kovalchuk has good hockey IQ and the best physical toolset out of those players, but the players you mentioned Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin were just naturally smarter players at generating offense. It's what seperates a superstar (Kovalchuk) from the three generational talents.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

lack of heart and a love of money as a motivational factor

You obviously didn't watch Kovalchuk play if you think he didn't play with heart

 

[authentic]

Ovechkin in his prime was a 50-60 goal 100+ point player while kovy was a 40-50 90+ point player

Yes I'm aware of that, and I'm asking why. He should have been a 60 goal 100 point player, but wasn't, and I'm just wondering why people think that is. Again, he was just as big, fast, strong, and skilled as a prime Ovechkin. He didn't play the physical game Ovechkin brought though, which likely created a lot more space for Ovechkin.

 

[Cassano]

lack of heart and a love of money as a motivational factor

Kovalchuk's tenure with the Devils was far from the narrative of 'lack of heart'. He was the best SH threat in the league, physically dominant and scored in multiple ways to beat teams. One of the most complete wingers in the game, if not the most.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Yes I'm aware of that, and I'm asking why. He should have been a 60 goal 100 point player, but wasn't, and I'm just wondering why people think that is. Again, he was just as big, fast, strong, and skilled as a prime Ovechkin. He didn't play the physical game Ovechkin brought though, which likely created a lot more space for Ovechkin.

IMO he just didn't shoot as much. In 08-09 ovechkin had 500+ shots and came up with 56 goals. If kovy shot that much? Who knows how many goals. I may be wrong but when both were in their primes in 2008. In the WC I believe the Russian team have kovalchuk the left circle/point over ovechkin so that's something

 

[The Expert]

Kovalchuk didn't underachieve. He was a monster.

Amen.

You obviously didn't watch Kovalchuk play if you think he didn't play with heart

Truth. This thread makes absolutely no sense, Kovalchuk had a fantastic NHL career.

Yes I'm aware of that, and I'm asking why. He should have been a 60 goal 100 point player, but wasn't, and I'm just wondering why people think that is. Again, he was just as big, fast, strong, and skilled as a prime Ovechkin. He didn't play the physical game Ovechkin brought though, which likely created a lot more space for Ovechkin.

He should have? That's extremely unfair. Hockey is so much more than just skill sets.

 

[Slimmy]

Could it be he didn't have flashy numbers because he was stuck on a rotten team? A legit question. If he had to own up for both ends, his offensive production would suffer.

 

[Trottier]

Kovalchuk didn't underachieve. He was a monster.

The truth, presented early in a thread.

I like.

Kovalchuk was a perennial goal scorer, and as his last act (that is, before leaving the scene), he helped lead an overachieving Devils team to Game Six of the SCF, helping ruin the image he had among some of being just a guy who could collect numbers on lousy squads. Not the stuff of legends, but a notable and often overlooked point that nonetheless matters to some of us when evaluating a player.

 

[Cult of Hynes]

Ovechkin in his prime was a 50-60 goal 100+ point player while kovy was a 40-50 90+ point player

Ovechkin only hit 60+ goals once. He also had better teams around him than Kovalchuk did. He also did not shoot even remotely close to how much Ovechkin did/does haha.

In his rookie season, Ovechkin had over 100 shots MORE than kovalchuk. I'm not saying Ovechkin being a volume shooter is the reason Kovalchuk never reached that level, and maybe it speaks to Ovys ability to get open/get possession and generally get pucks on net, but if Kovalchuk ever shot as much as Ovechkin he would eclipse him in goals if not other areas of play.

Kovalchuk wasn't as dominant from the get-go in his career as Ovechkin either...

Kovalchuk started during a different time than Ovechkin did. The league had a lot of clutching and grabbing and it wasnt as open as it is now and when Ovechkin came up. Red line passing, clutching and grabbing.

IMO he just didn't shoot as much. In 08-09 ovechkin had 500+ shots and came up with 56 goals. If kovy shot that much? Who knows how many goals. I may be wrong but when both were in their primes in 2008. In the WC I believe the Russian team have kovalchuk the left circle/point over ovechkin so that's something

I agree, if Kovalchuk shot as much as Ovechkin he probably would be able to put up the same amount of numbers or surpass them. The shots he possessed were amazing.

 

[Jyrki]

He didn't quite score like Ovechkin because he did a lot more than find spots on the ice to shoot from. He was also entrusted with transitioning the puck from his zone to the other hand, and getting the play started once there. And I'd reckon that as a winger, you just don't score as much as you would as a center if you do a lot of the puck carrying. Specially considering his Devil days, when the best man centering him was Zajac.

It could also be due to him not quite having a motor like Crosby's. It's not like he couldn't blow by people, but he tried beating people by stickhandling much more often than besting them at skating or strength.

 

[KaraLupin]

Kovalchuk has good hockey IQ and the best physical toolset out of those players, but the players you mentioned Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin were just naturally smarter players at generating offense. It's what seperates a superstar (Kovalchuk) from the three generational talents.

uh?????

 

[Bi Coastal Bawse*]

I don't compare Ovi with Crosby or Malkin. I see the other 2 above him. Maybe it's the SCF ring they have IDK. I feel like Ovi only really cares about scoring goals and getting points while the other 2 want to be remembered as 2 of the very best that have played.

 

[authentic]

Amen.



Truth. This thread makes absolutely no sense, Kovalchuk had a fantastic NHL career.



He should have? That's extremely unfair. Hockey is so much more than just skill sets.

The truth, presented early in a thread.

I like.

Kovalchuk was a perennial goal scorer, and as his last act (that is, before leaving the scene), he helped lead an overachieving Devils team to Game Six of the SCF, helping ruin the image he had among some of being just a guy who could collect numbers on lousy squads. Not the stuff of legends, but an notable and often overlooked point that nonetheless matters to some of us when evaluating a player.

I think some in this thread are misunderstanding me. I agree that he was an amazing player, and had an amazing career, I just feel like he could have/should have been even better. He appeared to me to be nearly as good as Ovechkin, yet produced nowhere close to as good. I feel like he should have had a few 110 point seasons, yet his career high was only 98 points in the high scoring 05-06 season.

 

[Jumptheshark]

You obviously didn't watch Kovalchuk play if you think he didn't play with heart

Ovie plays 85% all games with heart--ovey played about 25% with heart--sorry when you play 1/4 of the games with heart--that is not playing with heart

only selective watchning suggests he plays with heart--seen him play in the KHL and he still lacks motivation for many games

 

[TheAngryHank]

Kovalchuk had probably the best one-timer ever. Shanny and Hull had sick one-timert but Kovalchuk's was disgusting. Couldn't find the video but there is one of a bunch of his goals and most are one-timers that clank off the post and in.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Again, he was just as big, fast, strong, and skilled as a prime Ovechkin.

^^^I've identified the source of your confusion.