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

[illpucks]

Thread needs more of

Very very calm player with everything on the line.

 

[JerseyGuy276]

I honestly don't understand the purpose of this thread. Ilya Kovalchuk was literally a hockey monster. He was physically massive at 6'3" 230+ and he knew how to use it when he got angry. He had great puck handling skills, a fantastic wrist shot and snap shot and the best one-timer in the league. And after learning how to play defense, he turned himself into the most complete winger in the league.

The guy was a stud plain and simple. I consider it fantastic that I got to watch his play for my team for 3 years even though I wanted to burn everything Kovalchuk related after he "retired".

 

[All_blueandwhite]

Apart from Ovechkin, no one in the NHL today has the arsenal of shots that Kovalchuk has. His wrist shot, slapshot, one timer...all elite

 

[Muston Atthews]

here it is

Jesus what a shot

 

[NHL Fanatik*]

Kovalchuk was their level.

 

[deckercky]

Crosby's best consistent winger since entering the league is Chris Kunitz.

I don't think that qualifies as a better supporting cast.

Crosby's always had great support from an elite puck moving defenceman (Gonchar then Letang). That's a significant difference to what Kovalchuk had (can't even think of what solid PMDs he's played with).

Ovechkin had Green obviously.

 

[1989]

Kovalchuk was their level.

Is/was Kovalchuk a generational talent?

 

[Devils090]

guy was top 5 in points with Zajac as his center

 

[glovesave_35]

I honestly don't understand the purpose of this thread. Ilya Kovalchuk was literally a hockey monster. He was physically massive at 6'3" 230+ and he knew how to use it when he got angry. He had great puck handling skills, a fantastic wrist shot and snap shot and the best one-timer in the league. And after learning how to play defense, he turned himself into the most complete winger in the league.

The guy was a stud plain and simple. I consider it fantastic that I got to watch his play for my team for 3 years even though I wanted to burn everything Kovalchuk related after he "retired".

Pretty much my take on it too. You may as well ask why any good player wasn't better or put up more points. Why hasn't Crosby scored over 120? Why doesn't Malkin have more 100 point seasons?

 

[mariemarie]

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

 

[FlaPantherSwe*]

He was better then Malkin thats for sure, pure goal scorer like Bure. Reasons? well he aint no good ole Canadian boy with plenty of intangibles so i guess he is a lazy russian right?

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Malkin is and was always better than Kovalchuk. Let's not build up his Mythos like he was some kind of Forsberg-esque machine.

 

[CraigsList]

What's preventing Kovalchuk? Leaving the NHL.

 

[Atas2000]

Is/was Kovalchuk a generational talent?

Yes, the only "trouble" with it there was an unprecedented golden generation of Kovalchuk, Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin, all very close in age. You can't call one of them the best of his generation clearly. Look at the laegue since then. There's Stamkos, but who else would come close to this 83-87 born class?

 

[Atas2000]

Malkin is and was always better than Kovalchuk. Let's not build up his Mythos like he was some kind of Forsberg-esque machine.

Kovalchuk is a winger too. Malkin and Kovalchuk are probably one of the best center-winger duos to ever play together. It's useless comparing Malkin to Kovalchuk like that.

It's also useless to blow up the Forsberg mythos however greatof an elite superstar he was. All these players are in the same league as Forsberg.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

He was probably one of the most purely talented players in the last 2 decades. Wasn't as smart as some of the other players, didn't have a work ethic akin to some of the hardest workers, and wasn't as consistently as intense as some guys. Extremely talented player, just had a few deficiencies in his game. It's too bad he couldn't consistently play with a top line center in his career.

Savard?

 

[PensBandwagonerNo272*]

He wasn't far off from Ovechkin. He was a better all-around player too.

 

[Nei1ey*]

Kovalchuk was their level.

No he wasn't, Ovi, Malkin & Sid each have at least 3 seasons over 100+ points plus countless Art ross/Harts among them. Just because he might be as talented as those 3 doesn't mean he was as effective as those guys. Each of those guys have more heart and integrity than Kovalchuk has or ever had, which is why he punked out on NJ and weaseled his way out. He's a ***** plan & simple, he can rot in KHL.

 

[Nordique]

 

[Bongo]

Had he gone to a real NHL team instead of the make believe team that existed for a short time time Atlanta, he would have surely been a better all round player.

 

[Volodya Krutov]

In 2011-2012 Kovalchuk scored more shorthanded points (5) than his unit allowed goals while on the ice (4).

In short he was a positive penatly killer and I didn't even account the times he didn't register a point on a Devils shorthander. #Beast

 

[BenchBrawl]

Didn't have the IQ of Malkin/Crosby, and didn't seem to have the thirst to score goals that Ovechkin has.

What a shot though.

 

[The Gourmet]

I think he was on their level.

 

[cheap77]

He played in Atlanta. Nobody really paid attention to hockey there.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

In 2011-2012 Kovalchuk scored more shorthanded points (5) than his unit allowed goals while on the ice (4).

In short he was a positive penatly killer and I didn't even account the times he didn't register a point on a Devils shorthander. #Beast

A beast on the ice in all 3 zones and put into any situation. Argue ably the 4th best player in his time frame