Posts Tagged ‘Alex Kovalev’

Canadiens vs Senators – Terrible pre-season game

Last night’s game certainly wasn’t a great performance by the Montreal Canadiens. At first, the pace of the game seemed to indicate that we were gonna be in for an entertaining game…. both Habs fans and Sens fans alike. The pace was fairly quick and there was some jump on both sides.

But it soon started to turn for the worst for the Habs.
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Canadiens VS Senators – Post game highlights and comments

The Montreal Canadiens played their second pre-season match up at the Bell center last night against the Ottawa Senators who opted not to dress Alex Kovalev. I really didn’t expect Kovalev to play because I’m sure he’ll get a favorable reaction from the crowd and he is quite fresh in voicing his desire to return to Montreal someday…

This game marked the second win in the pre-season for the Canadiens and another loss for the Senators as the Canadiens won 2-1…
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Thoughts on Alex Kovalev interview

As I watch this interview with Alex Kovalev a few things go through my head.

He loved Montreal

Playing in Montreal for the Canadiens has to be a tough job at times. Really…. it’s a tough place for guys to play, but I really believe his heart was in Montreal.

Ask Saku Koivu and I’m sure that he’ll tell you about the challenges… actually, there are some interviews out there where he mentions the pressure..etc. He’s not the only one to talk about it either. They pretty much all have.
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New players vs Old players – Numbers game

I thought I’d take a look at a some numbers and try to have fun. That probably really makes me sound lame…. but anything to do with the Montreal Canadiens will interest me in general.

Trust me.

So to start, what I wanted to do was simply look at last years roster and this year’s roster (2008-2009 vs 2009-2010) and compare some numbers.

So we have 7 players coming in and something like 11 players going out. Here’s a breakdown of the numbers each player game the habs last year:

Looking at last year vs this year and taking out Mathieu Schneider’s numbers because he only finished the season in Montreal, we see something like this:
New Habs – 539 out of 574 possible games played. 35 missed games or 6.1% missed.
Old Habs – 601 out of 820 possible games played. 219 missed or 26.7% missed.

With these numbers, some things don’t really look too different if you do crunch numbers but other things kind of jumped out at me.

Did you know Scott Gomez finished 16th in the league in shots on goal last year?
Did you know Mike Cammalleri finished 25th and Brian Gionta finished 31st?

Last year’s leader (in Montreal) was Alex Kovalev who finished with 209 in 68th position overall. Tomas Plekanec was right behind him with 202 shots on goal.

Did you know that Mike Cammalleri finished 3rd in Power Play goals last year?

Alex Kovalev had 11 power play goals last season.

All those numbers are just that, they are numbers from a season gone by. All these players find themselves in new places (well, most of ‘em) and they’ll be surrouned with new teammates. So their numbers this year could vary, for better or worse.. depending on chemistry, the team’s system (or strategy), injuries…. a whole host of varialbes.

A few things jumped out at me.

1. Scott Gomez will likely shoot the puck quite a bit. Putting the puck on the net is a good thing although he’s never been scorer so much as a playmaker.
2. Mike Cammalleri will likely be shooting alot. He had 299 shots on goal in 2006-2007.
3. Robert Lang was a great pickup last year… so efficient. As was Alex Tanguay. Tanguay’s number weren’t too bad at all really. Just too bad he was hurt and seemed a bit soft in the playoffs.
4. The players coming in (7 of them) actually have a higher total of shots on goal as the ones going out (that’s 11 going out).
5. Although I was a fan of Chris Higgins and do wish him the best, I can’t seem to be disappointed in the numbers he put up last year.

I do believe this year we’ll see a more organized and tighter defensive system that will protect Carey Price. Players like Gionta and Gomez thrived in New Jersey with a similar system and if the defense is tighter it will be so much more fun for Price.

The team has a new look, the dressing room will have a new feel and the team’s culture is different. Who knows which way it will go. I’m waiting to hear more from the analysts.

Whatever they say, just remember. 2 years ago most of ‘em said the Montreal Canadiens wouldn’t make the playoffs while they finished 1st in the east. And 1 year ago most analysts picked them to go deep in the playoffs, some even to contend for the stanley cup, while they barely crawled in at 8th.

So many variables. It can’t be calculated. But the sum of the team’s efforts night after night will tell the story.

Go Habs!

The Hockey News interview with Mike Cammalleri and some thoughts on the new team

I just watched the video of The Hockey News interview with Mike Cammalleri. The interview is 6 minutes and 57 seconds long.

When I first loaded the page up, I thought that Cammalleri looked good in the vintage Montreal Canadiens uniform.

I thought Cammalleri was a good move for sure…. but the more I watch youtube clips, saw him on OTR on TSN…. and with this interview I gotta say I like the Mike Cammalleri signing more and more.

Cammalleri seems to be well spoken and from what I heard he said some pretty interesting things about the new lineup. When asked about the identity of the new Montreal Canadiens lineup he, as well as Ken Campbell, weren’t too shure on what the identity was but as their conversation went Campbell talked about Bob Gainey acquiring guys who are hard workers and who have experience winning… and some playing together.

Then Cammalleri said they may have touched on what the identity of the team is actually going to be. I thought something similar as I learned a little more about these guys. They’re starting to look more like a team who shows up every night and plays hard.

Not to take anything away from last year’s lineup (and some prior years) but that wasn’t quite their reputation. Alex Kovalev certainly hasn’t been known as a player who would bring it every night and the team in general last year had such a major meltdown that they would just stop competing.

I think Cammalleri is just the kind of guy who we should have in Montreal. He wants to compete… he wants to win… he knows how hard the city can be…. he really seems to appreciate and respect the hockey tradition…. and he understands the pressure of playing amidst a rabid hockey fan base and the “occasional” love-hate relationships that some fans have with their players.

Here’s the link to the video:
One-on-One with Habs sniper Mike Cammalleri

Scott Gomez – Welcome!

Scott Gomez, when I first heard of that trade, I’ll say that I really didn’t like the deal. Not at all.

A clarification on Kovalev

Yesterday, I had written an email to PJ Stock over at the Team990 about Kovalev being in Ottawa. And as I’m not writer, I think I came out sounding a bit harsh.

Basically, I’ve always loved Kovalev in Montreal. I would have gladly taken him back.

I’m actually a bit sad to see him go… and according to reports, he did want to stay in Montreal… and Gainey did want him back. A lack of communication it seems.

Now, one thing that I don’t understand is that while people have been to the streets in Montreal prior to his (Kovalev) signing in Ottawa, in attempts to convince Bob Gainey to sign him, is that while he was a member of the Canadiens, I would often hear and read comments by people calling him the best player on the face of the earth… and other comments calling him a bum.

The opposite ends of the spectrum.

We all know that Kovalev is likely one of the very top skilled forwards in the world. I don’t think there is any doubt. But, consistency has dogged him.

Mind you, last year has been called a disappoint… but it was far better then the 2007-2008 season. Statiscally, I don’t think it was that bad a year. Since the whole team seemed to go down the drain at the mid-way point. People just see what talents he has and believe (or expect) that he should carry the team… be the offensive leader.

And while some people were calling to put the “C” on Kovalev in Montreal. I’m not so sure. In a way, if he would have signed, it certainly would have been major motivation for him. In another way, I would put the “C” on someone who brings it every night without a doubt… someone who buys into the system the team is playing… etc.

Kovalev might indeed have been a good captain and player in Montreal for the proposed 2 years / 10 Million. But, we’ll never know.

Alex, once again. Have a great year in Ottawa. Loved your time in Montreal and I will keep watching you play for Ottawa. But I hope you understand, I gotta cheer against you when you’re playing against Montreal….

No hard feelings right??

Online petition to keep Alex Kovalev

Seems as though the online petition to keep Alex Kovalev in Montreal got a little more attention as RDS put out a little piece on it today.

Alex Kovalev has definately been one of the most popular players in recent years in the Montreal Canadiens organisation. Kovalev, dubbed as “the artist”, has shown his mad skills on the ice in Montreal much to the pleasure of the fans… and some fans have taken it upon themselves to try and convince Gainey to sign him before he signs elsewhere.

Honestly, I would have taken Kovalev back in a heartbeat. I still would if a deal were to be reached.

I believe that Kovalev knows that he was really loved by the fans in Montreal. At least, for me, Kovalev was a joy to watch. Sometimes, I’ll admit, it was frustrating to watch him… but that is just because of the expectation that we (as fans.. and maybe the “experts”… and staff) placed upon him… due to his incredible talent that was always so evident.

I loved watching Kovalev play for the Habs.

If Gainey were to change his mind he would still have to address the defense, which may require a trade.

So far, François Beauchemin seemed to the the favorite by many to try and get signed as he would fill up the defense nicely… and rumour has it that he’s expressed a desire to play in Montreal.

So if Kovalev was resigned, it would certainly look as though Gainey would be out in the Beauchemin races….. and it would probably kill the rumour that Koivu “could” be back in Montreal.. (Eklund’s rumour here)

I know there is another petition for Saku Koivu….. I don’t know… but really, I’m still attached to these 2 great players who served us well in their time with the Canadiens. And I would welcome both back. I’m just not sure how Gainey would work signing either Kovalev or Koivu or both…. and still addressing a need at the defensive position. But.. one can always acquire a defenseman via trade.

Can’t wait for the season to start!

Happy Birthday Kovalev!

Today, February 24th is Alex Kovalev’s birthday.

Gainey understands Kovalev

Over the last week, an incredible amount of stuff was written and shown on the sports networks about Kovalev and that his time was up in Montreal.