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

[Fear the Wushu]

1. Lack of hype. While Ovi/Sid/Geno deserve the praise they've received, the fact is they were placed on this level before they had proven it in the league.
2. Environment. While Ovi didn't have much (okay, anything) to work with his first couple of seasons a team was put around him that fit his talents fairly well. Meanwhile not only did this not happen for Kovy in ATL but his first few years were before the lockout as opposed to Ovi coming into the league right after the lockout.
3. Physicality. Ovi's physicality gives him a dimension that Kovy doesn't have, a dimension that "passes the eye test" for heart, passion, etc.

I personally thought Kovalchuk was a way more physically imposing presence than Ovi. Kovy never backed down from a big hit or a fight. In fact, if those two went at it I could see Kovy man handling Ovi easily.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Not the video I was looking for but a real good hi-lite reel.

When I think of Kovalchuk's career in the NHL - I think of the word Badd-Azz!

That video was only part of it

 

[Cult of Hynes]

1. Lack of hype. While Ovi/Sid/Geno deserve the praise they've received, the fact is they were placed on this level before they had proven it in the league.
2. Environment. While Ovi didn't have much (okay, anything) to work with his first couple of seasons a team was put around him that fit his talents fairly well. Meanwhile not only did this not happen for Kovy in ATL but his first few years were before the lockout as opposed to Ovi coming into the league right after the lockout.
3. Physicality. Ovi's physicality gives him a dimension that Kovy doesn't have, a dimension that "passes the eye test" for heart, passion, etc.

Yea, that is spoken like another ignorant fan.
Kovalchuk used his body, maybe not as much as Ovehckin, but he certainly was in more fights than Ovechkin, 7 more to be exact. IDK where people get this idea that Kovalchuk wasnt physical, he was, and was so in a much more intimidating way than Ovehckin, he would actually fight and ko'd a guy in a fight and didnt look bad when throwing them either.

 

[Bluesman]

I personally thought Kovalchuk was a way more physically imposing presence than Ovi. Kovy never backed down from a big hit or a fight. In fact, if those two went at it I could see Kovy man handling Ovi easily.

Good point. I guess a better way of saying it is Ovi was more physically aggressive on the ice, adding an element to his game as well as making it easier to say he plays with more heart and passion.

 

[Cult of Hynes]

Good point. I guess a better way of saying it is Ovi was more physically aggressive on the ice, adding an element to his game as well as making it easier to say he plays with more heart and passion.

I dont think he was more physically aggressive. He hasnt fought nearly as much as Kovalchuk and both had no issues throwing their body around.

 

[Jacob]

Kovalchuk committed to defense and his offensive production dropped significantly. So he never really proved that he could be an elite offensive player + a competent defensive player. He didn't seem to be as well conditioned as other elite players. Maybe that was a factor.

Yea, that is spoken like another ignorant fan.
Kovalchuk used his body, maybe not as much as Ovehckin, but he certainly was in more fights than Ovechkin, 7 more to be exact. IDK where people get this idea that Kovalchuk wasnt physical, he was, and was so in a much more intimidating way than Ovehckin, he would actually fight and ko'd a guy in a fight and didnt look bad when throwing them either.

The post you replied to didn't say Kovalchuk wasn't physical. Just that Ovechkin is significantly more so and more consistently physical. Which he clearly is. Also, physicality is more than just fighting.

 

[Cult of Hynes]

Kovalchuk committed to defense and his offensive production dropped significantly. So he never really proved that he could be an elite offensive player + a competent defensive player. He didn't seem to be as well conditioned as other elite players. Maybe that was a factor.



The post you replied to didn't say Kovalchuk wasn't physical. Just that Ovechkin is significantly more so and more consistently physical. Which he clearly is. Also, physicality is more than just fighting.

I never said he said they werent physical, I was talking about IN GENERAL.
He isnt consistently more physical than a guy who throws hits AND fights more.

Yea, I dont watch hockey or know that physicality is hitting and fighting. Nope, new to the game of hockey.

 

[habamillions]

nobody to play with

 

[Johnnybegood13]

Kovalchuk is/was an absolute monster. Here is what sets him apart from Ovechkin

1) Aside from two seasons with Marc Savard, a lack of an elite C to play with (Ovechkin has always had Backstrom).

2) He wanted to learn and improve his defensive game.

To this day, I would still take Kovalchuk on my team 10/10 times over Ovi. You are getting a far more complete forward in Kovalchuk who is just as dangerous offensively as Ovi.

He scored 98 goals his first 2 season without Backstrom including ROTY.

Ovi trumps Kovalchuk in every department,points,PPG,goals,assists, +/- everything...not even close. Kovalchuk played for Kovalchuk...to get the paycheck.

 

[Cursed Lemon]

What's preventing Kessel from reaching Ovechkin's level?

Nothing. He's just not good enough.

 

[authentic]

Yea, that is spoken like another ignorant fan.
Kovalchuk used his body, maybe not as much as Ovehckin, but he certainly was in more fights than Ovechkin, 7 more to be exact. IDK where people get this idea that Kovalchuk wasnt physical, he was, and was so in a much more intimidating way than Ovehckin, he would actually fight and ko'd a guy in a fight and didnt look bad when throwing them either.

I don't think you can argue that Kovalchuk hit nearly as frequently as Ovechkin, he didn't play nearly as aggressive either, him fighting doesn't refute that.

 

[Cult of Hynes]

I don't think you can argue that Kovalchuk hit nearly as frequently as Ovechkin, he didn't play nearly as aggressive either, him fighting doesn't refute that.

I never said he hit as frequently, but he did hit quit often, at least more often than people here remember and him fighting more does refute that since his overall physical game was more aggressive when you factor in his hitting and his willingness to fight more often than Ovechkins.

 

[hockeystick89]

A pissed off Kovalchuk was unstoppable. Under Lemaire he became a much better player.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats....position=S&country=&status=&viewName=summary#

Dany Heatley and Ilya Kovalchuk both had good rookie seasons

http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats....position=S&country=&status=&viewName=summary#

Dany Heatley was much better

http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats....position=S&country=&status=&viewName=summary#

Both Ilya Kovalchuk and Marc Savard was great that year in Atlanta Marc Savard just didn't play as many games

http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats....position=S&country=&status=&viewName=summary#

Marc Savard finished 1 point behind granted in 4 more games played but still it was close. Marc Savard also had been better defensively.

Apart from power play, Kovalchuk rarely played on same line as Heatley, Savard and Hossa.

Savard was mostly Kozlov's center. While Kovalchuk had a revolving door of centers that included the great Patrik Stefan, Eric Belanger and for the playoffs it was Keith Tkachuk.

As for Heatley and Hossa. Kovy played with Heatley for their rookie year after that they were split up. The theory is Atlanta wanted to have a multiple line scoring threat. When Hossa join the team for Heatley, it was much of the same, they were kept on two separate lines at even strength.

Also about Kovy in Atlanta. He really didn't get coached for the first few years until Bob Hartley was appointed. Because the thrashers were so bad, they just need him to score goals and were happy to let him float without much attention to defense. That changed when Hartley came on board who benched Kovalchuk once for not backchecking. After that he got the message and started to play more D and the transition was stepped up in NJ in moulding him into an effective two way player under Lemaire.

 

[Devils090]

Kovalchuk was a better player than Ovechkin

 

[Fantomas]

Kovalchuk lost some of his explosiveness suddenly at a point past the age of 25. Closer to his late 20s. I am not sure if there was an injury involved.

 

[Riddum]

Kovalchuk was the most electrifying player in the NHL. Can you name the top 3 best centers he's ever played with?

 

[Russian Factor]

Kovalchuk committed to defense and his offensive production dropped significantly. So he never really proved that he could be an elite offensive player + a competent defensive player. He didn't seem to be as well conditioned as other elite players. Maybe that was a factor.



The post you replied to didn't say Kovalchuk wasn't physical. Just that Ovechkin is significantly more so and more consistently physical. Which he clearly is. Also, physicality is more than just fighting.

Agree with most of what you said except the bold. IIRC he was extremely well conditioned and used to play some insanely high minutes every game

 

[Volodya Krutov]

Kovalchuk was capable to play 30 minutes on regular basis.

 

[JaeTM]

I miss Kovalchuk. He was one of my favorite players and one of the most exciting to watch. Even after he went to the Devils.

 

[Devils090]

Agree with most of what you said except the bold. IIRC he was extremely well conditioned and used to play some insanely high minutes every game

he averaged almost 25 minutes a game his last year in NJ. guy played the full 2 minutes of the PP and would kill penalties too, he was a monster.

 

[SkinsFan09]

Kovalchuk is/was an absolute monster. Here is what sets him apart from Ovechkin

1) Aside from two seasons with Marc Savard, a lack of an elite C to play with (Ovechkin has always had Backstrom).

2) He wanted to learn and improve his defensive game.

To this day, I would still take Kovalchuk on my team 10/10 times over Ovi. You are getting a far more complete forward in Kovalchuk who is just as dangerous offensively as Ovi.

More incorrect rhetoric.

Ovechkin put up 98 goals and 198 points in 2 seasons before Backstrom was even drafted. In 2007-08, Ovechkin's center was Viktor Kozlov when he hit 65, Nick played 2C that year.

 

[ThePsychicSaw]

Kovalchuk was a better player than Ovechkin

Maybe next time you can actually add something worthwhile to this conversation?

 

[Son Goku]

Kovalchuk was a better player than Ovechkin

Yeah tell that to Ovechkins three harts

 

[Offtheboard412]

He just lacked that next level hockey sense that the all time greats have. He turned the puck over a lot and was very careless at times. Honestly I think if Atlanta had kept Savard and allowed Kovalchuk to just focus on being a pure trigger man on his line he could have broke 60 goals, because his shooting ability is a good as Ive ever seen. When he tried to carry the puck a lot himself is when he would get in trouble, which is something he was forced to do a lot more once Savard and Heatley were gone.