Alexei Kovalev retires

[penny lane]

http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/alexei-koval ... -1.1206672

A Kovalev was the first russian penguin who absolutely dazzled me & the crowds.
In 99-00, he must have had 6 HT... In 99, it was Kovy who scared #1 seeded devils into a huge play-off upset. Jaromir sealed the deal in game six.
All the best to my favorite moonwalker!
a goal from mario's return game~ over cujo's short side.

Spoiler:

[Big Easy Pens Fan]

Enjoy your retirement Alex!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BEPF

[DudeMan2766]

I Just posted in NHR, didnt see this. He was one of my favorites as well. I was at the moonwalk game after getting awesome $20 student rush tickets. Another of his favorite goals of mine I saw was in 98 Game 6 vs Toronto, he just kept the puck in the zone then skated to the top of the far circle and put a laser of a snap shot into a square between the goalies left shoulder and the corner post that was no bigger than the size of the puck. Just so so smooth.

[no name]

That shot was his bread and butter, no one could wrist a puck like he could.

[penny lane]

I Just posted in NHR, didnt see this. He was one of my favorites as well. I was at the moonwalk game after getting awesome $20 student rush tickets. Another of his favorite goals of mine I saw was in 98 Game 6 vs Toronto, he just kept the puck in the zone then skated to the top of the far circle and put a laser of a snap shot into a square between the goalies left shoulder and the corner post that was no bigger than the size of the puck. Just so so smooth.

So sorry, I was waiting to see if somebody posted news about Kovalev making it official.

*when he was with the canadiens, i enjoyed watching Brooks and him battle.

more video-including moonwalk on fly boys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJU57cZZVpU

[Steve]

Best stick handler I've ever seen. Just tremendous.

[thepittman]

Will be missed

[pugilist13]

I thought he retired a few years ago. Flying off into the sunset.

[Lt. Dish]

I just loved him--still do. I wanted him to be so awesome during his recent stint that Ray would have to rethink his plan not to resign him. But that was just me being selfish and unrealistic.

I remember being just crushed when we had to dump his salary and send him back to the NYR. But, hey, you have to give to get; how else were we going to acquire Richard Lintner and Rico Fata?

[Shakes]

I'll choose to ignore the AK72 era. He's close to a Hall of Famer, but probably needed a few more points and/or 1 or 2 more rings.


http://www.hockey-reference.com/leaders/points_career.html

Spoiler:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks_HQMQo9LE

[relantel]

Like the MR8 return, the AK72 experiment dropped him below 1.0 ppg as a Pen - 0.969 now - Others still in the ppg club:

Spoiler:

Lemieux
Jagr
Crosby
Francis
Stevens
Malkin
Apps
Coffey
Quinn
Cullen
Larouche
Tocchet
Nedved
Zubov
Palffy
*Sneep (one game wonder)

[mikey287]

I'll choose to ignore the AK72 era. He's close to a Hall of Famer, but probably needed a few more points and/or 1 or 2 more rings.


http://www.hockey-reference.com/leaders/points_career.html

Spoiler:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks_HQMQo9LE

HOF Talent, not a HOF career. Not by any stretch of the imagination. It's not even about rings, he could have gotten 4 rings, he'd still be pretty far out.

[SolidSnake]

Best wrist shot ever.

[Dickie Dunn]

I'll choose to ignore the AK72 era. He's close to a Hall of Famer, but probably needed a few more points and/or 1 or 2 more rings.


http://www.hockey-reference.com/leaders/points_career.html

Spoiler:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks_HQMQo9LE

HOF Talent, not a HOF career. Not by any stretch of the imagination. It's not even about rings, he could have gotten 4 rings, he'd still be pretty far out.

That's pretty much my sentiment as well. It's not an easy one to make, but you could argue that Kovalev was the most talented player to ever play the game. His puck skills were obscene. The production never matched the talent.

[Penspal]

One of my all time favorite Pens, loved the shot, the deke and even the big hit. He could deke guys by toe fakes and used his heels better than any other skater e.v.e.r.

[mikey287]

He ranks highly in technical skill, sure. There's more to "skill" than just that of course, which, as you aptly note, contributed to the lack of production.

Alexander Mogilny the same way before him, Alexander Semin the same way after him. World class technical skills, lots lacking in the rest of their game. Semin is by far the most complete player of the trio, that tells you all you need to know.

[newarenanow]

Good luck Kovy!

[Dickie Dunn]

He ranks highly in technical skill, sure. There's more to "skill" than just that of course, which, as you aptly note, contributed to the lack of production.

Alexander Mogilny the same way before him, Alexander Semin the same way after him. World class technical skills, lots lacking in the rest of their game. Semin is by far the most complete player of the trio, that tells you all you need to know.

Without a doubt, which is why I would argue about his skill level, but not about his place in hockey history. He's light years away from ever being considered one of the best players in NHL history. There's so many elements of the game outside of pure skill that factor into creating great players and its in those areas that Kovy was lacking.

Regardless of that, watching his Warrior Hockey videos on Youtube is always impressive.

[DudeMan2766]

I remember hearing the story that he would bore out the center of pucks and fill them with lead. Thats what he used to practice with and after so long a regular puck felt like nothing, thats how we could fire the puck so effortlessly. As a kid I always wanted to do that after I heard it but ever had the resources lol

[Stevens25]

He was a bright spot for a very terrible team for a long time.
I hope he enjoys his retirement.

[Shakes]

I'll choose to ignore the AK72 era. He's close to a Hall of Famer, but probably needed a few more points and/or 1 or 2 more rings.


http://www.hockey-reference.com/leaders/points_career.html

Spoiler:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks_HQMQo9LE

HOF Talent, not a HOF career. Not by any stretch of the imagination. It's not even about rings, he could have gotten 4 rings, he'd still be pretty far out.

Fair enough. I don't claim to a be history guy (admire those who are). Besides significantly more playoff success, what's the difference between him and say, Nieuwendyk, for example. Was Kovy just that much worse in other aspects of the game?

Serious question. I guess he is AlMo, but I think of him as a way better all-around player. Maybe just biased.

[thepittman]

[RxBandit66]

Always one of my favorites. He began this season with three points on opening day, and I thought maybe we'd be able to enjoy watching him play a little bit longer, but it was not to be. Good luck Alex!!

[relantel]

Code: Select all

Joe Nieuwendyk   1157   564   562   1126   0.487467589   0.48573898   0.973206569

Alexei Kovalev   1302   428   596   1024   0.328725038   0.457757296   0.786482335

(numbers before current season)

Nieuwendyk - more goals, points, in fewer games played.

[pfim]

Serious question. I guess he is AlMo, but I think of him as a way better all-around player. Maybe just biased.

About 130 goals, one Conn Smythe, two Cups.