As of now, who would you rather have on your team?
Kovalchuk has been very consistant over the years, averaging 80-90 pts and 45 goals per season.
Ovechkin has reached higher point totals in the past, having 4 seasons in the 100-110 points and hitting the 50 goal plateau 4 times...allthough he seemed to struggle those past 2 seasons and some even believe he is not gonna climb back to 100+ point production. You also have to take in consideration that Ovechkin is surrounded by a better crew offensively speaking.
I'm asking this question because I currently have a real hard time deciding who between the 2 I would pick.
Ovechkin's possibility to bounce back made the choice difficult, but I chose Kovalchuk because of consistency. His steady (pretty steady...) point production is quite appealing.
Please tell me how Kovalchuk is more consistent? He had a 83 point season last season which is comparable to Ovechkin's 85 point season 2 years ago, and then he had a 60 point season which is comparable to Ovechkin's 65 point season last year. Even then Ovechkin has outproduced Kovalchuk the last two years, then you look at the other years and it isn't close. This argument is just based on the recency effect of one year, total joke. Ovechkin >>>>> Kovalchuk.
The majority of Devils fans are very happy with the way Kovalchuk fits on the team. Given the choice, I think most of us would stick with the Devil we know.
Pens fan voting for Ovi. I'm not sure the argument for Kovalchuk > Ovi because Ovi is clearly a more elite player / scorer. I'll concede that Kovalchuk is better defensively, but in the hockey I watch, scoring goals are pretty important to win you games.
As of now, who would you rather have on your team?
Kovalchuk has been very consistant over the years, averaging 80-90 pts and 45 goals per season.
Ovechkin has reached higher point totals in the past, having 4 seasons in the 100-110 points and hitting the 50 goal plateau 4 times...allthough he seemed to struggle those past 2 seasons and some even believe he is not gonna climb back to 100+ point production. You also have to take in consideration that Ovechkin is surrounded by a better crew offensively speaking.
I'm asking this question because I currently have a real hard time deciding who between the 2 I would pick.
Kovalchuk has averaged in his career 0.52 G/G and 0.48 A/G = 1 P/G
Ovechkin has averaged 0.61 G/G and 0.61 A/G = 1.22 P/G
The ONLY year when Kovalchuk has outproduced Ovechkin was last season.
Kovy has played 11 seasons in the NHL in which he has produced PPG+ pace in 6 times. Just about every second season.
Ovechkin has played 7 seasons in the NHL in which he has produced 6 consecutive PPG+ seasons, including 4x100+ points.
Kovy was not a any more well rounded than Ovechkin in his years prior to last one. Which was the only year he was better than Ovechkin since they have played in the league at the same time. If you give credit to Kovalchuk about being consistent then you at least have to do the same to Ovechkin.
But this is a valid question, since Ovechkin has so many question marks. If he somehow manages to bounce back in the 50 goal 90+ point territory i would take him but if this is in fact Ovechkin declining, as it seems, i would probably go with Kovalchuk. He seems to have found his game last year and considering that he keeps up that kind of play for the next 3-5 years he is one of the most valuable players.
Kovy will never be as good as Ovechkin can be, but i don't really know if Ovechkin will be as good as he can be either.
Being a OV fanboy i will still pick him, but next time they play in the NHL together i need Ovechkin to actually come back to life. One more season and after that i give up on him. I already waited for two.
Interesting results so far. 2/3rds pick Kovalchuk over Ovechkin.
I still haven't made up my mind but I have to admit that the fact several hockey guru's mentioned Ovy might not be able to replicate the type of seasons he had in the past, that he's too predictable to defend againts and that he's not playing with the edge he use to play with...It kind of bugs my mind.
I'm among those who believe the contrary actually, that Ovy had a bad year because Backstrom and Green were injured, that Semin had a down year, that he was stuck in a defense 1st strategy, that his ice time was reduced by several minutes...
This is why this is such a hard choice imo. Kovalchuk has become a great 2way player, something Ovy will never become imo, and Kovy comes at a cheap cap hit compared to Ovy's salary. Ovy's got a much more offensive talent around him which should influence his production by a couple of points.
Ovechkin has slowed down but still 70 goals and 150 points in 157 games over the past 2 seasons. Those were considered 'down years' for him and i believe he will bounce back, probably not to the same point- and goal totals he had few years ago, but still a potential 50 goalscorer. Now compare that to Kovalchuk's 68 goals and 143 points in 158 games, Kovy has improved defensively but i wouldnt still call him a good defensive player. Now Ovy has the physical game on his side, so yeah, i'll still go with Ovy.
Kovalchuk is an awesome PKer but overall only average defensively, (still better than OV though). Otoh his leadership, constant desire to improve and a pretty underrated skillset to turn his linemates better that makes IK a more rounded player than OV lately.
I feel also IK has clearly understood that he couldn't beat defences by himself anymore. Can't say the same thing about OV yet.
OV is more skilled than anybody but he lacks of hockey IQ big time.
Kovy purely for cap hit. I didn't even like Ovechkin's contract when he was scoring 50+ goals per season, much less now. Kovalchuk's is ludicrous in length, but cap hit is good for one of the best snipers in the league.
Kovy's numbers were not that great in 2010-2011 because the entire team was dreadful due to John Maclean. Elias and Parise's numbers sucked as well. He is well over a point per game with Lemaire in 2009-2010, second half of 2010-2011, and with Deboer last year.
Right now its Kovalchuk. His game is better and more reliable. He makes sure the puck gets in deep every shift, and his game has flourished ever since he got more time on the PK and was played in key situations late in games.
Tough one. Kovalchuk has been better lately,and is older, more mature(which feels really weird saying about Kovalchuk) whereas Ovechkin has a better overall career, is younger,slumping and more emotionally reactive(no, I'm not sure. Fine, I'll go see which one I can make cry first). I think I'd take Kovalchuk,
Ill go with Ovie and hope he rebounds back to his former self, and if he doesnt, you still have a guaranteed 30 goals and a much better physical player
When the stats are somewhat close, I choose the 2way player 10 times out of 10.
You think Kovy is better defensively? Thats arguable. But if he is then it isnt by very much
But you can't really argue that Ovechkin is a far better hitter than Kovy... Kovy is one of the least physical guys in the league which is surprising considering his powerful build
