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Thursday, 24 February 2011 13:19

Written by Seth Rorabaugh

According to TSN's Bob McKenzie, the Penguins have re-acquired forward from the Ottawa Senators. No word yet on what was sent to Ottawa in return. According to McKenzie, Kovalev waived a no-trade clause in order for the trade to be made.

UPDATE: The Senators received a conditional-sixth or seventh-round draft pick.

In the second year of a two-year contract he signed with Ottawa in the 2009 offseason, Kovalev has appeared in 54 games and scored 27 points (14 goals, 13 assists). He has a salary cap hit of $5 million.

Kovalev was an all-star for the Penguins in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 345 regular season games with the Penguins, Kovalev had 347 points, 16th-most in franchise history. In 39 postseason games, he scored 28 points. He represented the Penguins in the 2001 and 2002 all-star games.

After talks of a contract extension reached in impasse, former Penguins general manager traded Kovalev to the Rangers midway through the 2002-03 season along with Mike Wilson, Alex Kovalev, Janne Laukkanen and Dan LaCouture midway through the season in exchange for Joel Bouchard, Richard Lintner and Rico Fata and Mikael Samuelsson.

Since then, Kovalev, who turns 38 today, has spent time with the Rangers, Canadiens and Senators. This season, he has publicly feuded with coach Cory Clouston as the Senators have struggled to a 20-31-9 record, worst in the Eastern Conference.

EN Says: We get the infatuation with Kovalev. He was a star here. For a brief while, he was the best player on this team. And he was fond of Pittsburgh, the city.

But that was nearly a decade ago. He was a much younger player. And he had a set of linesmates in Robert Lang and Martin Straka who were perfect for him.

Kovalev is now 38 and has a lot of miles on the odometer. This is not the 29-year-old who dazzled us a decade ago. And the Penguins are completely different franchise than the one he left in 2003.

And even under the best of circumstances, Kovalev is an inconsistent player. It's been that way since he debuted with the Rangers in the 1990s. He has talent second-to-none, but he takes long stretches of games off. That's why he was run out of New York (twice), Montreal and Ottawa.

Additionally, does his style fit this team and how Dan Bylsma want it to play. This is a team which mucks, grinds, forechecks and pretty much tries to batter you into submission along the boards. That not exactly Alex Kovalev's game.

That said, in a conversation following last night's loss to the Sharks, a much brighter hockey mind than us suggested the Penguins win that game if Kovalev is in the lineup. He has that ability to just score a goal on his own. As well as others such as Tyler Kennedy or Craig Adams are playing in face of mounting injuries, the Penguins don't have anyone in the current (healthy) lineup who can do that. They could have won Sunday's game in Chicago as well. Alex Kovalev in a shootout? We'll take that any day.

Kovalev should pay off immediately with the team's struggling power play. This until wasn't playing very well even before the massive injuries. But watching an all-star like Kris Letang trying to run the power play with less than ideal talent has become brutal. with Alex Goligoski being traded Monday, the Penguins need another player who can at the very least gain the offensive zone. And there's no one better than Kovalev at that.

Immediately, one would assume Kovalev would be teamed with Sidney Crosby when and if he returns from his concussion. We're not sure that would work. Both like to possess the puck and create. And there's only one puck on the ice. Kovalev might be better suited playing with Jordan Staal.

Regardless, Kovalev has a unique skill set no one on the current roster can claim. He immediately upgrades the talent level on a team ravaged by injuries, especially up front.

(Photos: First-Peter Diana/Post-Gazette; Second-Dale MacMillan/Getty Images; Third-Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)

Comments (18)

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written by Bones, February 24, 2011 - 12:31 PM

Bizarre, I really didn't see this one actually happening. Hopefully he buys into the system. I will be wearing my #27 to work tomorrow!

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written by pittbeatwv, February 24, 2011 - 12:39 PM

*t all depends on what was given up, but this is nice if for no other reason than the PP. Didn't he play on the point when he was here before???

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written by Bones, February 24, 2011 - 12:43 PM

I seem to remember him playing the point. Never been a fan of a forward back there though.

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written by Brinton, February 24, 2011 - 12:44 PM

Kovy for a 7th round pick is what I saw.

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written by Bones, February 24, 2011 - 12:48 PM

Well, we can't complain about the price. Kinda scary that with all the potential suitors that Ottawa was willing to accept that deal just to be rid of him.

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written by jethro, February 24, 2011 - 12:48 PM

Yep, conditional 7th rounder. Becomes 6th rounder if Pens win a playoff series and Kovy plays at least 50% of the games. So really giving up nothing.

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written by gamecockfn, February 24, 2011 - 12:55 PM

Good deal, really cannot lose with this one.

He did play the point for most of his career.

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written by gamecockfn, February 24, 2011 - 01:01 PM

I think there is a better video somewhere, but classic Kovalev here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI7KeY-DmNU&playnext=1&list=PL108D456FC9557690

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written by Bones, February 24, 2011 - 01:01 PM

The cost Shero paid is the key to all this. If he buys into the system while chipping in some key goals then this could be a steal. If he ends up being a distraction and a liability on the ice then they can scratch him without having to stomach that they gave up a significant asset to get him. The most frustrating thing about seeing Ponikarovsky get scratched last year was knowing that such a big part of the future was mortgaged to acquire him.

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written by krikker, February 24, 2011 - 01:32 PM

Agree with many here. Given the price, another sweet move by GMRS. It's been a fascinating 3 or 4 weeks really getting an intense course in the difference between "top" AHL talent and what it takes to be successful and compete at the NHL level. While guys like Vitale, Wallace, Strait, Craig, etc.. have huge hearts and great work ethic, those guys, at least at this stage can only hope to be role players on a third or 4th line. Elevate them as the Pens have had to in recent weeks to greater responsibilities and it's just not there. No substitute for skill. Moreover, their inability to control play in the other team's zone puts your Def at risk as we lose the puck control battle.

In that regard, Kovy is a nice move. I would have preferred a higher price for a younger Hejduk but perhaps GMRS is not done.

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written by Lili, February 24, 2011 - 01:33 PM

With the price I think this is a win win for the Pens. If he fits great, if he doesn't oh well. We need someone who can put the puck in the net and Kovy can do that when he wants to. That is the key phrase though. When he wants to.

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written by Pens Fan in Michigan, February 24, 2011 - 01:42 PM

Question is, what number does he where? I don't see Craig Adams giving up his #27.

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written by Bones, February 24, 2011 - 01:51 PM

Give Kovy #72.

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written by Patrick, February 24, 2011 - 01:55 PM

You get a .5 pt/game guy (at this point in his career) and at a cost of nothing.

I'm willing to bet the house he beats Ponikaravsky's numbers with the Pens before week 1 of this new stint with the Pens is done.

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written by Disgruntled Goat, February 24, 2011 - 01:56 PM

Low risk, righ reward move. I've seen some concerns relating to motivation and fitting Bylsma's system. There is room in the system for one guy who isn't a big forechecker. Malkin is certainly a bit of a free wheeler and he isn't in the line up. I don't see a problem with Kovy being allowed a bit of offensive freedom, especially if he is paired with the defensivly strong Staal. Besides, I'm pretty sure Kevin Constantine had a fairly strict system. As far as motivation goes, 1994 was a long time ago.

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written by Disgruntled Goat, February 24, 2011 - 01:59 PM

A much brighter hockey mind than us.

Seth, I always assumed you were a supergenious too.

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written by Matt Mc, February 24, 2011 - 02:23 PM

Low, low risk factor. Worst part is now I have to buy that Ak Bars Kovy jersey for my wife. Stupid promises!

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written by Uli, February 24, 2011 - 04:20 PM

A 7th round pick for Kovy? There´s nothing wrong with that move.

Mr. Shero must have heard about the German invasion to Consol Energy Center in two weeks and with Geno and probably Sid out, he thought of bringing in a future Hall of Famer.

He is a future Hall of Famer, isn´t he?

I´m curious how warm of a welcome he will get from the hometown fans in his first game back in Pittsburgh.

Sweet move!

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