Pass the Vodka...

Key Lime · Guru

Pass the Vodka...

jeanthehabtiste · Senior Member

I agree. Scary, eh, KL?

These guys are fast. Marty's gotta be sharp.

barry33 · Guru

Key Lime wrote:

If Brodeur doesn't have the best game in his international career today, I don't see how Canada will defend such an Russian offense. Kovalev / Konawalchuk / Datsuk...makes me dizzy just typing those names. As for the Canadian defense, well, good luck.

What amazes me is how Kovalev has suddenly come to life..where the hell has he been all year?!??? And please people do not give me the old "well now he has better linemates so that's the difference" line. Kovalev has played all year with Saku Koivu, who according to many on this board, is one of the best playmakers and centers in the league. I am sorry boys...but extra effort that I see this guy making and the fact that he actually "cares" every shift out there instead of every 8th game, has absolutely ZILCH to do with his linemates. Perhaps Brooky is onto something with his new uniform idea.

Key Lime · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Key Lime wrote: If Brodeur doesn't have the best game in his international career today, I don't see how Canada will defend such an Russian offense. Kovalev / Konawalchuk / Datsuk...makes me dizzy just typing those names. As for the Canadian defense, well, good luck. What amazes me is how Kovalev has suddenly come to life..where the hell has he been all year?!??? And please people do not give me the old "well now he has better linemates so that's the difference" line. Kovalev has played all year with Saku Koivu, who according to many on this board, is one of the best playmakers and centers in the league. I am sorry boys...but extra effort that I see this guy making and the fact that he actually "cares" every shift out there instead of every 8th game, has absolutely ZILCH to do with his linemates. Perhaps Brooky is onto something with his new uniform idea.

So what does BG do? Does he surround Kovy with more Russians. I think not.

Kovy has to be more consitent when he gets back to North America. His "off-nights" are unexceptable until the end of the season. If he continues to have "off-nights" and the Habs don't make the playoffs...he's going to get ripped. That would be suicide for him in MTL.

jeanthehabtiste · Senior Member

Can one of you guys explain to me what an "off night" is for Alex Kovalev?

No points? 1 point? 2 goals?..explain please.

Nil d · Guru

jeanthehabtiste wrote:

Can one of you guys explain to me what an "off night" is for Alex Kovalev? No points? 1 point? 2 goals?..explain please.

Off-night = no effort (regardless of points), IMHO.

barry33 · Guru

jeanthehabtiste wrote:

Can one of you guys explain to me what an "off night" is for Alex Kovalev? No points? 1 point? 2 goals?..explain please.

Kovalev has 14 NHL goals this year playing on the top line with Saku Koivu. He is supposed to be our "hired gun" and is not being paid to coast up and down the ice. I have bought into the concept that Koivu brings more to the team then points. But if we are to use that as a measuring stick then what does Kovalev bring to the team?

jeanthehabtiste · Senior Member

Barry, explain "effort"....are you confusing the Kovy Ego with lack of "effort?

The guy has a huge head. That's Alex. That's the way he is.

barry33 · Guru

jeanthehabtiste wrote:

Barry, explain "effort"....are you confusing the Kovy Ego with lack of "effort? The guy has a huge head. That's Alex. That's the way he is.

Effort to me is skating hard every shift out there. Effor is going hard into the corners and coming out with the puck. Effort is taking shorter shifts (Kovalev is known for staying out there almost a minute while everyone else is off in 40 seconds..if he was making a true effort he would not be able to stay out a minute, he would be too tired). Someone explain to me why we should pay this guy the bucks we do for 14 goals? Are there not better places to put our money?

jeanthehabtiste · Senior Member

I know, he's expensive, but he IS quite a playoff gun. Consistancy sucks on the parts of few other out there too...ahem.....certain folically challenged goalies...ahem...

Key Lime · Guru

I agree with Barry. I've seen Ribs and Kovy on shifts that seem to last forever. Most of you have played organised hockey right? If yes, picture a time when you were in the best shape of your life. Now remember the time you stayed on the ice an extra 15 seconds. Do visualize those lungs burning? Do you feel your legs having that acidic feeling?

Besides the powerplay, if you are on the ice more than 1 minute, you are NOT helping the team and you are not giving your full effort for more 30 seconds on an extended shift.

heet_150 · Guru

jeanthehabtiste wrote:

I know, he's expensive, but he IS quite a playoff gun. Consistancy sucks on the parts of few other out there too...ahem.....certain folically challenged goalies...ahem...

What good is a playoff gun, if they are on the first tee when the playoffs start?

jeanthehabtiste · Senior Member

Comon' KL,

Kovy can handle extra time on a shift. That's the way he is..he's driven to perform. Most of the best players I ever had a chance to be on the ice with all teneded to take a few more seconds on the shift before the change.

Kovy's expensive, but I've seen him dangle to the outside like no other on this roster. When he's on, HE IS ON.

He's the fastest we have.

Key Lime · Guru

jeanthehabtiste wrote:

Comon' KL, Kovy can handle extra time on a shift. That's the way he is..he's driven to perform. Most of the best players I ever had a chance to be on the ice with all teneded to take a few more seconds on the shift before the change. Kovy's expensive, but I've seen him dangle to the outside like no other on this roster. When he's on, HE IS ON. He's the fastest we have.

Ok so what you are saying is that he is one of the rare ones

jeanthehabtiste · Senior Member

right.I guess that's what I'm sayin'. Barry wont agree, but I think the guy is like our Duke Nuke Em.

Don't you think the guy flies? I know it's not 24/7, but, did you see that goal he scored yeasterday? It was off the radar, man.

plouf · Guru

Even the best players in the world shouldn't take long shifts. What Barry is pointing to is shift length, not how much time he's on the ice overall. Anyway, Kovalev will always have his detractors, because in his career he has almost never put up the points he looks like he should score.

jeanthehabtiste · Senior Member

It helps when other linemates pass a little more accurately and set the guy up to do his job.

Just watch him today. I bet he'll put one past Marty, and Marty won't even know it till it's too late.

jeanthehabtiste · Senior Member

Muller93 · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Key Lime wrote:
What amazes me is how Kovalev has suddenly come to life..where the hell has he been all year?!??? And please people do not give me the old "well now he has better linemates so that's the difference" line. Kovalev has played all year with Saku Koivu, who according to many on this board, is one of the best playmakers and centers in the league. I am sorry boys...but extra effort that I see this guy making and the fact that he actually "cares" every shift out there instead of every 8th game, has absolutely ZILCH to do with his linemates. Perhaps Brooky is onto something with his new uniform idea.

Sorry barry33, but Im going to have to disagree with you once again. Not sure what you are missing with my points, but it's one thing to have 2-4 good players on a team to "play" with( Koivu), but quite another to have 2-3 solid lines who are offensivley threatening.

You confuse linemates with a team effort. The problem in Montreal is that it is all too easy for the opposition to blanket the habs 2-4 good offensive players. If the habs had a few more threats( what Ribby was suppossed to be), then it would free up ice and space for the likes of Koivu and Kovalev. Problem is, these guys are operating on a "defensive" system( which is how you win cups by the way), without adequate second line support.

THAT is why Koivu and Kovalev are thriving now in the olympics...proving in fact that even on great teams...they are number one line guys...

barry33 · Guru

jeanthehabtiste wrote:

It helps when other linemates pass a little more accurately and set the guy up to do his job. Just watch him today. I bet he'll put one past Marty, and Marty won't even know it till it's too late.

So you are saying that Koivu is not a good passer?

barry33 · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

barry33 wrote: Key Lime wrote: What amazes me is how Kovalev has suddenly come to life..where the hell has he been all year?!??? And please people do not give me the old "well now he has better linemates so that's the difference" line. Kovalev has played all year with Saku Koivu, who according to many on this board, is one of the best playmakers and centers in the league. I am sorry boys...but extra effort that I see this guy making and the fact that he actually "cares" every shift out there instead of every 8th game, has absolutely ZILCH to do with his linemates. Perhaps Brooky is onto something with his new uniform idea. Sorry barry33, but Im going to have to disagree with you once again. Not sure what you are missing with my points, but it's one thing to have 2-4 good players on a team to "play" with( Koivu), but quite another to have 2-3 solid lines who are offensivley threatening. You confuse linemates with a team effort. The problem in Montreal is that it is all too easy for the opposition to blanket the habs 2-4 good offensive players. If the habs had a few more threats( what Ribby was suppossed to be), then it would free up ice and space for the likes of Koivu and Kovalev. Problem is, these guys are operating on a "defensive" system( which is how you win cups by the way), without adequate second line support. THAT is why Koivu and Kovalev are thriving now in the olympics...proving in fact that even on great teams...they are number one line guys...

I respecteth thou opinion but methinks thou wearest blinders lol

jeanthehabtiste · Senior Member

barry33 wrote:

jeanthehabtiste wrote: It helps when other linemates pass a little more accurately and set the guy up to do his job. Just watch him today. I bet he'll put one past Marty, and Marty won't even know it till it's too late. So you are saying that Koivu is not a good passer?

...sometimes they all have "off" games, but comon',Barry, when they click, they are a loaded gun, baby.

The whole first line can pass the puck, but they have times when things aren't on the same page.

I think you're looking for a real consistant grinder for this team. Am I right? - Like Gilmour was?

jeanthehabtiste · Senior Member

just pass the vodka.