Posts tagged ilya kovalchuk
No Need To Panic!
Sep 5th
During the last couple of weeks there has been much talk of the dreaded CBA re-negotiation that’s bound to happen in two years time. That might seem a long time now, but you can already see its ugly head peeking on the horizon with the recent Kovalchuk/NJ versus the league mini war. So, what’s the deal? With recent Hockey News articles and some NHL site writings one might think that another lockout, let’s call it lockout v2, is about to take place when the current CBA (collective bargaining agreement) expires. I’m not quite sure that will be the case. Anyways, I’m just here to state my reasons why there is not that much reason to panic as some would have you believe. For those of you that are not that well acquainted with how the league functions economically or don’t have much knowledge about labor bargaining and unions I’ll try to keep this as simple as possible.
Death By Kovalchuk?
Jul 20th
Sometimes being a fan of an NHL team is a lot like being a ten year old kid in front of a candy shop. You see that treat that you desperately want but then mom comes into play and says: “You can’t have it!”. She of course knows it’s not good, healthy for you to eat gummy bears, but you can’t be persuaded. You like sweets. I know some of you would like to have seen No17 glide down the ice with that blistering speed or burry one on the PP but it all comes with a price. As much as I’ve been against the Kovalchuk deal in the past, I’d like it too. What? You didn’t think I was impressed by his all world offensive talent. I’ve watched this kid since he came to the league as a No1 draft pick. I’ve even watched him play for Bars Kazan during the lockout and am well aware what he’s capable of. Also, his winning pedigree isn’t stellar in the NHL but is very good on the international stage. So, I’m looking to ask one question. Should we have paid that price? This one is about the current Kovalchuk deal and how it would affect the Leafs had we been in the mix and eventually won his over signature. I will also try to look the current and future NJ situation just to get a better, more objective view on the impact of his deal.
A Game Of Kovalchuk
Jul 5th
As much as this isn’t directly related to the Leafs anymore, it still kind of is. Ilya Kovalchuk is a fantastic hockey player. Wait, let me rephrase that, Ilya Kovalchuk is a great offensive hockey player and a superstar goalscorer. In his 8 NHL seasons and 621 games played, the tallied 338 goals and 304 assists (642 points). That puts his NHL average at about 1.03 points per game. He is a fantastic skater who possesses great stride, speed and is one of the most influential powerplay performers I have ever seen. That’s mainly due to his offensive instincts and a superior shot that is easily one of the best in the game, if not the best. That said, would I want him on our team? My answer is plain and simple, my answer is no. And here is why.
Who Fits?
Jun 19th
It’s going to be a wild wild summer. We will continue to watch every news report, every rumor in hope that the Blue and White have gotten bigger, stronger, meaner and more skillful. We will get up every morning hoping for some news, some glimpse of a major trade. Yes, the draft will indeed be a big deal and I suspect our magic man, Mr. Brian Burke will try to get us a top pick. I will put an emphasis on try, because getting a top pick in a draft as deep as this, with only two solid but not spectacular assets to trade (Nikolai Kulemin and Tomas Kaberle) will not be a cakewalk. However, don’t think for a second Burke can’t get it done. But, realizing the degree of difficulty of getting a top 10 pick, one finds some problems in envisioning a trade that would get us that pick without giving too much away. Yes I’m talking about a Schenn + deal. Instead, getting the right player, with the right mindset and skillset, via trades and free agency will be the focal point of this article. Hope you enjoy it.
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