Player Discussion Ilya Kovalchuk

[Poehday]

Kovy, KK, Poehling will be dynamite.

 

[NORiculous]

I think people are going to be surprised how well he does here. He scored 16 goals in 60 games last year on the kings who have low offense and low shot totals. Montreal on the other hand does very well 5 on 5, high shot totals and a much improved power play. Don’t be surprised if he doesn’t score 15 goals and 25 points down the last half of the season

His shot is still lethal but his skating was/is bad.

I think I he said he was training in Miami and lost some weight, that could help for speed.

If his skating is better(and good enough), the Habs fans will love him and he will pull a Kovalev.

We will see very quickly if he is up too speed.

 

[HabsQC]

Here's my seemingly unpopular opinion : I'm excited to see Kovalchuk in a Habs jersey

 

[KingsHockey24]

Here's my seemingly unpopular opinion : I'm excited to see Kovalchuk in a Habs jersey

I bought a Kovalchuk Adidas 3rd jersey today. I'll miss seeing him play 10 minutes a night. Hopefully he plays well for you guys ; if not this may very well be his last season in the NHL.

 

[TopProspect91]

Big Kovy fan. But also a big Leaf fan. Gutted to see him go to a rival, but I hope he absolutely kills it for you guys.

Looks like I’ll be buying a Habs jersey. Never thought this day would come!

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

The historian in me will get a kick out of seeing him with a habs jersey that first game. I would have felt the same way if Jagr ended up playing a few games for us. Too bad it's 2020 and not 2010.

 

[Dondini]

His shot is still lethal but his skating was/is bad.

I think I he said he was training in Miami and lost some weight, that could help for speed.

If his skating is better(and good enough), the Habs fans will love him and he will pull a Kovalev.

We will see very quickly if he is up too speed.

I hear ya his skating wasn’t the greatest in LA but everyone is slow on la haha. I’m expecting the habs speed to help carry him a bit. I’m cautiously optimistic.

 

[MTL-rules]

Please just help remove Cousins from the top 6...

 

[KingsHockey24]

Where the hell is this theory that Kovalchuk is a bad/slow skater coming from?

He skates very well.

 

[Legend123]

Where the hell is this theory that Kovalchuk is a bad/slow skater coming from?

He skates very well.

He must have been beyond useless on 5v5

 

[MSLs absurd thighs]

I hope he can pull a Jagr (in Florida) and mentor our young forwards, all that while being decent.

Honestly if he gets 12 goals in the second half i'll be pleased

 

[Doc McKenna]

- Extended Markov and Emelin
- Traded for Gonchar and Nesterov
- Signed Radulov and Kovalchuk as UFAs
- Drafted Scherbak, Sergachev, Romanov, and Khisamutdinov,

Gonchar retired.
Nesterov decided to go back to the KHL
Emelin was taken in the Expansion Draft
Scherbak was lost to waivers
Sergachev was used in a trade
Romanov is still with the Canadiens, who are doing what they can to try to convince him to sign.
Kovalchuk just signed.

Only Markov and Radulov can be used as an example of ugliness.

But the narrative that MB doesn't like Russians is a false and weak as an argument.

The narrative is we lost 5 russians at the end of one season and he traded our only two left the season following. Trade and waiving guys is still removing them from the team.
2016-2017 Nesterov, Emelin(should have been protected over Jordie fircken benn and signing schlemko over Nate), Sergachev, Markov, Radulov All gone in 2 weeks. Sherbak and Chuck the year following with No russians in our lineup since...till soon? 5 of them gone in such a small time sounds liek a purge if you would ask anyone. Compare it against any other nationality?

And not one of us understand the reason for this signing.

 

[Norman Moscow]

He is in very good shape.

 

[TouzY]

Mtl has 4 goals in 3 matchs, I'm no "expert" but it's a horrible ratio.

 

[Hins77]

Mtl has 4 goals in 3 matchs, I'm no "expert" but it's a horrible ratio.

When montreal try to play conservative and good defensively, they don’t score. And when they try to open the machine, they are screwed and they let few goals against them. So there is no solution here

 

[OldCraig71]

Kovy, KK, Poehling will be dynamite.

Really, you expect that it will be dynamite? Poehling has no points in 15 games and KK is trying to grow into his body and Kovalchuk.......Jesus I can't even believe that he is a hab. If another team made this type of desperation move there would be at least a half dozen people here that would proclaim that "at least Bergie isn't as dumb as GM X". I can bet money that you would read that here!

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

Briere
Semin
Hemsky
Kovalchuk

Am I missing anyone from the low risk low reward has-been trash heap?

He wasn't good enough to crack the Kings who are one of the few teams more desperate for forwards than us

And for anyone thinking this will get Cousins and Weal off the Top PP and Top 6 you're dreaming, KK/Poehling are the ones that will lose offensive time not CJs BFFs

 

[HabsFather]

1 more sleep!

 

[jaffy27]

He is in very good shape.View attachment 303059

I miss being 35

 

[jaffy27]

1 more sleep!

Christmas has passed man.......or has it

 

[417]

So André Savard confirmed the offer the Habs made to the Thrashers for Ilya Kovalchuk, or rather, the #1 pick.

- Habs 1st round pick (#7)
- Marcel Hossa
- Ron Hainsey
- Jeff Hackett or Mathieu Garon

The Thrashers insisted on José Théodore...Andre Savard refused.

And the rest is history.

 

[psychonaut]

Briere
Semin
Hemsky
Kovalchuk

Am I missing anyone from the low risk low reward has-been trash heap?

He wasn't good enough to crack the Kings who are one of the few teams more desperate for forwards than us

And for anyone thinking this will get Cousins and Weal off the Top PP and Top 6 you're dreaming, KK/Poehling are the ones that will lose offensive time not CJs BFFs

You could include Parenteau but he was never really that good.
But for he's trash this is he's best one yet lol we might have a used can that can be recycled for 5 cents.

 

[Roadhouse]

His shot is still lethal but his skating was/is bad.

I think I he said he was training in Miami and lost some weight, that could help for speed.

If his skating is better(and good enough), the Habs fans will love him and he will pull a Kovalev.

We will see very quickly if he is up too speed.

...and as others have pointed out already, that's not necessarily a good thing. That's a better look at a 15th pick. The WC race is a very tough one as things stand today, and there's no way this Kovalevesque stunt from Kovy has the Habs fighting for a divisional spot.

Best case? Great entertainment for 3 months. Not prepared to say adding a Kovalesque run from Kovalchuk gets us in the PO.

Worst case? A difference of 5 to 10 spots at an awesome draft class, and the event is held in the Habs' backyard. Disgusting.

 

[Binary Code]

Bergevin showing Romanov he cares about Russians

 

[Roadhouse]

Bergevin showing Romanov he cares about Russians

Bergevin extending Kovalchuk for 4 years if he hovers around 0.75 PPG until the end of this season.

Bergevin not having many options to insert high end talent in his lineup.