p_diddy_datsyuk_13 2 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 With Marian Hossa all but gone, what would anyone think about Alexei Kovalev. I really think he could thrive on a top notch team like the Wings, and the Wings need someone to anchor the wing on the second line with there being a reasonable chance that we cannot afford Hudler (at least at the price we want). He could likely be had for $2-$2.5 million for one year after this past season when the entire Canadiens franchise was in disarray. He is an experienced veteran and likely wants to win. He is multi-demensional from an offensive standpoint and, as a result, is not heavily reliant on linemates the way Hossa is. He could be a good fit with Filppula and Franzen on the second line and easily would chip in 60 points. Since Hossa is all but gone, this would be an affordable solution for one year while we wait for some of our prospects to flourish. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie_Wing 354 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 Might as well get Robert Lang back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heroes of Hockeytown 694 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 Might as well get Robert Lang back. Um, yes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reds4Life 51 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 No way. Just no. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 an aging superstar who at one time had all the talent in the world, but no heart, work ethic or reliability... why wouldn't they have just brought back Fedorov? no thanks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CMatt89 63 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 its not like in video games where no matter how old the player is, he's always in his prime. He's a cancer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PROBIE4PREZ 58 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 I wouldnt waste 3 mill on dead weight .. even if hes a "pp specialist". Huds for 3 mill on the 2nd pp line is more like it ... Im sure if Hudler comes back they will give him a bigger role than what he has had on the team so far Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miller76 463 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 I would rather have Lang on the team. Kovalev is a joke. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
soonboomer 31 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 an aging superstar who at one time had all the talent in the world, but no heart, work ethic or reliability... why wouldn't they have just brought back Fedorov? no thanks. Yea, the guy never gave any effort the whole time he was here..........what a moronic post. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted June 29, 2009 No kovalev is lazy and he sucks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 its not like in video games where no matter how old the player is, he's always in his prime. He's a cancer. Name me one player or coach who has said Kovalev is a cancer who themselves has not been considered a cancer by more players/coaches than Kovalev. Kovalev has been called a cancer by fans because teams he has been on haven't won big in the postseason, even if his team doesn't have good depth and he plays well, or if his team doesn't even make the postseason. See Olli Jokinen or Roberto Luongo. Kovalev would be a good fit on the Wings because he is quick, a good playmaker, has a hard, accurate shot, and is better than average defensively. He's also the kind of guy who is easy to plug into a system and doesn't need to be the team's big star. He made $4.5m last year, so he'll have to take a pretty significant pay cut, especially considering he is over 35. Something like $2m to $2.5m over two years would be a fair deal for him. I doubt he ends up in Detroit unless he actually wants to if that's the contract that is offered and Kenny goes for it, because it's likely that other teams would be more than happy to offer him like $4m or $5m per year that he made this year ($4.5m, to be specific) for a one or two year deal. I wouldn't mind seeing either these lines at all Franzen/Zetterberg/Hudler (Datsyuk/Zetterberg/Cleary) Cleary/Datsyuk/Kovalev (Franzen/Hudler/Kovalev) Leino/Filppula/Holmstrom Maltby/Draper/Helm Lidstrom/Rafalski Kronwall/Stuart Ericsson/Lebda Meech Osgood Howard This roster assumes that Lilja is not playing next season due to his injury. If Lilja is returning, Kovalev would have to take a lower hit, or someone would have to be traded to make room. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CMatt89 63 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 We dont need a veteren who will provide us with a spotty performance. We can spend 3 million elsewhere, for someone younger, less skillful and we would be just fine. Someone who wants to work hard and win. Guys like Kovalev need more ice time than the Red Wings can give him to shine. Sure, he could be along side Datsyuk and they would be a scoring threat to any team in the league..but, with all the controversy surrounding him last year leading to him agreeing to not go on the mid to end of season road trip to find his game..I'm sure thats not healthy for a locker room..when your top star is not allowed to join the team on a road trip because he's playing the worst hockey of anyone on the team. The Wings dont need that. I say pray for an offer on Hudler, Let Sammy go, Hossa can sign elsewhere for the money he deserves and that will free up room for Leino, Helm, Abdelkader and Downey can rotate in and Ken Holland can do what he does I dont know much about these guys, what are they like: Travis Moen, Joel Lundqvist. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 Yea, the guy never gave any effort the whole time he was here..........what a moronic post. he did when it meant a paycheck... remember the hold out, or how about the 94 playoffs where he skated like it was a leisurely Sunday afternoon skate when we needed him badly... Just because he is a potential hall of famer on 60% effort, doesn't excuse him for only playing at 100% when HE wanted to... what a moronic response. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theophany 110 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 I wouldn't mind seeing either these lines at all Franzen/Zetterberg/Hudler (Datsyuk/Zetterberg/Cleary) Cleary/Datsyuk/Kovalev (Franzen/Hudler/Kovalev) Leino/Filppula/Holmstrom Maltby/Draper/Helm Lidstrom/Rafalski Kronwall/Stuart Ericsson/Lebda Meech Osgood Howard This roster assumes that Lilja is not playing next season due to his injury. If Lilja is returning, Kovalev would have to take a lower hit, or someone would have to be traded to make room. Ew, Hudler centering line 2 over Filppula? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
P. Marlowe 748 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 I think a motivated Kovalev would be great, but do you really think that a team could get him by just $2.5 millions? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlakKy 58 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 Don't the Wings sort of have a history of being able to humble and motivate stars? Wouldn't Kovalev pride himself in being a part of the Red Wings' Russian history? Couldn't he play with Datsyuk and then, you know, just reap the benefits of playing with the best hockey player? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 My beef with Kovalev is his hot/cold streaks (mind you his cold streaks can last for some time). This past year in particular left many Hab fans/color commentators questioning his desire. I agree with this. His first demand would be that he would become the new Captain. He would be told "no". Then, he would have one of his "cold streaks", which also translates into "sulking". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
soonboomer 31 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 he did when it meant a paycheck... remember the hold out, or how about the 94 playoffs where he skated like it was a leisurely Sunday afternoon skate when we needed him badly... Just because he is a potential hall of famer on 60% effort, doesn't excuse him for only playing at 100% when HE wanted to... what a moronic response. Sure, it's common knowledge that winning a Hart trophy takes no heart or effort. To say that Feds had NO HEART is about as stupid a statement as one could make. Maybe he didn't meet your standards, but then again, who are you? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedFX 48 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 I say we do it........If it was 2004 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theman19 47 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 we're not going to, so that right there ends the thread. But,.....Kovalev isn't nearly the waste of space you all think he is. When he wants to be he's one of the best players in the world. His talent has not dropped off, it's his desire, the team that puts him in a capacity as something other than "super star" will get max from him. Look what happened to Lang last year,... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 Sure, it's common knowledge that winning a Hart trophy takes no heart or effort. To say that Feds had NO HEART is about as stupid a statement as one could make. Maybe he didn't meet your standards, but then again, who are you? sorry, I should re-phase - he had optional heart... he played with lots when he wanted to, none when he didn't... The pretenses under which he left speak volumes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 Hook me up with Lang over Kovalev. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
soonboomer 31 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 sorry, I should re-phase - he had optional heart... he played with lots when he wanted to, none when he didn't... The pretenses under which he left speak volumes. As Feds was a little over a point a game guy in the playoffs for his career with Detroit, we might could have used a few more heartless players like him in the SCF this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted June 29, 2009 As Feds was a little over a point a game guy in the playoffs for his career with Detroit, we might could have used a few more heartless players like him in the SCF this year. Kovalev is almost a point per game guy player in the playoffs too... you're missing my point, Feds was great when he was here, but his best time is behind him - LIKE Kovalev You can overlook the attitude (that they both have) when they're in their prime... it's not worth it at their ages... if Feds really cared about competing for another cup, he would have re-upped with Wash at a discount, rather than bolting for Russia for more $$ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
