T-Ruff 47 Report post Posted September 22, 2009 Kovalchuk makes the most sense for me Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lidstrom for Norris 0 Report post Posted September 22, 2009 Martin Brodeur Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hak 21 Report post Posted September 22, 2009 Kovalchuck And thanks Echolalia for putting it on the first page.. much easier to follow now! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BeeRYCE 2 Report post Posted September 22, 2009 Parise, I'll continue my support. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted September 23, 2009 (edited) Vincent Lecavalier. What exactly does Kovalchuk do better than him? Edited September 23, 2009 by GMRwings1983 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeowingsfan 16 Report post Posted September 23, 2009 I have to go with Kovalchuck Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BeeRYCE 2 Report post Posted September 23, 2009 Vincent Lecavalier. What exactly does Kovalchuk do better than him? Everything except the physical gritty aspect, which does exist in Ilya's game anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted September 23, 2009 Everything except the physical gritty aspect, which does exist in Ilya's game anyway. Kovalchuk is not a better scorer than Vinny. He has a better shot, but he doesn't score in front of the net the way Vinny can. Thus, Lecavalier is a more versatile scorer. The physical, gritty aspect is a big part of hockey and it seems like you downplayed its importance. Neither is great defensively, but Vinny is better at it than Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk is a better skater. Both have great hands. Vinny has a Cup and won the Richard trophy a few years back. I just don't understand why no one is voting for him. He wasn't great last year, but still scored about a point per game in an off year for him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StevieY'sguy 1 Report post Posted September 23, 2009 Kovalchuk is not a better scorer than Vinny. He has a better shot, but he doesn't score in front of the net the way Vinny can. Thus, Lecavalier is a more versatile scorer. The physical, gritty aspect is a big part of hockey and it seems like you downplayed its importance. Neither is great defensively, but Vinny is better at it than Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk is a better skater. Both have great hands. Vinny has a Cup and won the Richard trophy a few years back. I just don't understand why no one is voting for him. He wasn't great last year, but still scored about a point per game in an off year for him. If you think Vinny is a player thats your opinion but i don't see how you can say he is a better scorer than Kovalchuk..compare their 5 highest goal scoring seasons: Vinny: 52, 40, 35, 33,32 Ilya : 52, 52, 43, 42, 41 It's not comparable, all this and Vinny has a better offensive supporting cast around him, everyone knows Ilya is the only guy who can put the puck in the net in Atlanta. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heroes of Hockeytown 694 Report post Posted September 23, 2009 (edited) Kovalchuk is not a better scorer than Vinny. If he's not, he's still much more consistent. Since his breakout year in '04, Kovalchuk has finished in the top 10 in league scoring four out of five times. In that same span, Vinny has only done this twice. EDIT: So yeah, Kovalchuk. Edited September 23, 2009 by Heroes of Hockeytown Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted September 23, 2009 If you think Vinny is a player thats your opinion but i don't see how you can say he is a better scorer than Kovalchuk..compare their 5 highest goal scoring seasons: Vinny: 52, 40, 35, 33,32 Ilya : 52, 52, 43, 42, 41 It's not comparable, all this and Vinny has a better offensive supporting cast around him, everyone knows Ilya is the only guy who can put the puck in the net in Atlanta. Actually, Kovalchuk has played with Hossa and Heatley, so I'd say he's had some help too. Lecavalier wasn't great last season, but I'd still take him over Kovalchuk if I needed a goal late in the game. I don't think Kovalchuk is as willing to go to the scoring areas in front of the goalie. That's why I think Vinny is a more versatile scorer when he's on his game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted September 23, 2009 I shudder to think what Kovalchuk could do with a good center. Next up is Chara. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StevieY'sguy 1 Report post Posted September 23, 2009 Actually, Kovalchuk has played with Hossa and Heatley, so I'd say he's had some help too. Lecavalier wasn't great last season, but I'd still take him over Kovalchuk if I needed a goal late in the game. I don't think Kovalchuk is as willing to go to the scoring areas in front of the goalie. That's why I think Vinny is a more versatile scorer when he's on his game. More versatile maybe, better pure scorer? not a chance Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted September 23, 2009 I guess I'm the only one that seems hesitant to pick some one-dimensional player who's never even played in a big game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heroes of Hockeytown 694 Report post Posted September 23, 2009 I guess I'm the only one that seems hesitant to pick some one-dimensional player who's never even played in a big game. Vinny's not exactly a defensive dynamo either, and Kovalchuk has been a better, more consistent scorer in the NHL. Seems pretty straightforward to me. You can pick on his lack of playoff appearances, but I'd say perennially being a top 10 scorer in the league is doing your part to get to the postseason. Thrashers are just consistently a bad team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted September 23, 2009 (edited) Vinny's not exactly a defensive dynamo either, and Kovalchuk has been a better, more consistent scorer in the NHL. Seems pretty straightforward to me. You can pick on his lack of playoff appearances, but I'd say perennially being a top 10 scorer in the league is doing your part to get to the postseason. Thrashers are just consistently a bad team. So why not pick a guy like Hossa or Thornton ahead of Kovalchuk? Those guys seem to be great scorers too, especially Thornton, who always puts up huge numbers and leads the league in assists every year. I know they haven't exactly cut it in the playoffs, but neither has Kovalchuk. Also, they're more multi-dimensional players. I was planning on picking them ahead of Kovalchuk also. Edited September 23, 2009 by GMRwings1983 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heroes of Hockeytown 694 Report post Posted September 23, 2009 So why not pick a guy like Hossa or Thornton ahead of Kovalchuk? Those guys seem to be great scorers too, especially Thornton, who always puts up huge numbers and leads the league in assists every year. I've got no problem with either of those guys, Thornton in particular is pretty even with Kovalchuk in terms of consistency, but Kovalchuk is definitely the best goal scorer of the bunch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted September 23, 2009 Can't really hold it against Kovalchuk the same way you can hold it against Thornton. Thornton has had plenty of opportunities in the postseason with pretty good teams, while Kovalchuk plays for an expansion team. Goal scoring is the hardest thing to do in hockey so I can see why Kovalchuk is getting alot of votes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pockets 9 Report post Posted September 23, 2009 Chara Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BeeRYCE 2 Report post Posted September 23, 2009 I can't wait for Evander Kane to burst into the league and pair up with Kovalchuk. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zetts 236 Report post Posted September 23, 2009 Chara. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BeeRYCE 2 Report post Posted September 24, 2009 Let's get this thread back in the mix... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted September 24, 2009 I have 13 votes right now. Lets get it at least up to 20. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigTex 1 Report post Posted September 24, 2009 Kovalchuck Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Namingway 146 Report post Posted September 24, 2009 Ilya Kovalchuk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
