he was awful for Ottawa and Pittsburgh, did nothing in the KHL and would bring the circus to town even on a training camp invite
Add his last season in Montreal and we are talking 4 poor years in a row
WHY? Why even think about this?
His last season in Montreal, he had 26 goals and 65 points. That's what $4.5M gets you. Despite his overhype as a superstar, his actual results as a first line player were ok, not poor.
Even his first season in Ottawa, his stats were decent for a winger. His second year, not good,
Having said all that, his current season stats are outright frightening. The only way he should get a training camp invite is if trusted scouts physically see him play and confirm that he can keep up speed-wise with the play. And even then, I would be very surprised if he made the club. He has probably slowed down to where he cannot handle the NHL OR KHL anymore.
It's too bad, I know he loves to play and wanted to keep going until age 50, but the reflexes and speed have to at least be decent, like Mark Recchi's were up to age 43.
3 seasons out of 4 of 65 points or more, more then any of our "great" 1st liners will have this season including pacioretty, cole and desharnais. A playoff performer on top of that plus one of the best powerplay players. Yeah, we never saw him play.
What's your point? Wayne Gretzky scored 92 goals one year, maybe we should see if he'll come out of retirement for us.
I can't believe so many people would be in favor of this. Luckily I don't think management is that stupid.
beat me to it. just for the PP. In fact I would hire Kovy and MAB just for the PP next year.
If you bring in two guys strictly for PP, give up any dream of having fighters on the team.
Only so much room on the roster, if you have a 7th D in MAB in the lineup and a PP specialist Kovalev on the 4th line, you are gonna need your other players to play way too many minutes as is. Can't have a Staubitz back too.
Also kovalev's 65 pt season may have been good statistically, but do we forget the drama around that season?
The long stretch with no effort and no goals?
The team sending him home for two games as a healthy scratch because he wasn't getting it done?
That 08-09 year of 65 pts was a disaster for Kovalev until he was put on the line with Koivu and Tanguay and they had a good 6 weeks that boosted his overall numbers.
But the majority of that season, he wasn't very good.
No thanks. Would rather see a younger player taking that role, earning the experience and providing more to the team. Kovalev barely cuts it in the KHL right now, there is absolutely nothing he can bring to the Habs besides a decent game out of every 15.
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What's your point? Wayne Gretzky scored 92 goals one year, maybe we should see if he'll come out of retirement for us.
I can't believe so many people would be in favor of this. Luckily I don't think management is that stupid.
Me either...but then again, habs fans have an unhealthy infatuation with Kovalev. He could be 70yrs and a cripple, and threads would still pop up in the forum asking if he should get another shot
I'm a little surprised that so many people voted no on a move that involves no risk at all for the organization.
I mean sure he's not as good as he used to be, but he's the type of player that grows an extra gear in the right circumstances. If AK27 wants to have a tryout with the team at the camp, I say give it to him and see how it goes.
I'm a little surprised that so many people voted no on a move that involves no risk at all for the organization.
I mean sure he's not as good as he used to be, but he's the type of player that grows an extra gear in the right circumstances. If AK27 wants to have a tryout with the team at the camp, I say give it to him and see how it goes.
No risk at all, go for it!
There is risk, The risk of screwing up the important team building and bonding that happens in September because Kovalev becomes a giant distraction.
The risk of putting our new coach and GM in a position they are forced to make the unpopular decision to cut a star.
There is risk, The risk of screwing up the important team building and bonding that happens in September because Kovalev becomes a giant distraction.
The risk of putting our new coach and GM in a position they are forced to make the unpopular decision to cut a star.
The only fans that would make a big deal out of it are the ones that rallied in front of the BC to try and influence the org to re-sign Kovy during the off season IMO and to be honest, who cares?
People with actual hockey knowledge won't get upset if he gets cut because he can't keep up.
The bonding part of your argument is valid, but I don't believe Kovalev has THAT much influence being away from this team for a good number of years now.
According to what Renaud Lavoie said on RDS, Alex Kovalev wants to return to the NHL next year. Knowing he wants to be here and loves Montreal, would you give him an invite to next year's camp?
Just seing that almost 40% of posters want him back makes me think this season has damaged lots of brains.
The question is "WOULD YOU INVITE HIM TO TRAINING CAMP"? I'm sure if the question was would you sign Kovalev to a contract the percentage of people saying yes would be significantly lower. Its the same situation as the Devils with Sykora this year, if he sucked they could've just sent him home after traininging camp. He ended up playing well and he's going to end up with over 40 points and they're paying him $650K. If the guy sucks don't sign him, if he comes back motivated and in shape then sign him for cheap.
I'm a little surprised that so many people voted no on a move that involves no risk at all for the organization.
I mean sure he's not as good as he used to be, but he's the type of player that grows an extra gear in the right circumstances. If AK27 wants to have a tryout with the team at the camp, I say give it to him and see how it goes.
No risk at all, go for it!
If the fact that there's no risk at all (which is debateable in the first place) is the only criteria for bringing back players who are 10 years past their prime, then why not bring back Oleg Petrov while we're at it?
