User Rating: / 2
PoorBest 

Friday, 25 February 2011 12:54

Written by Seth Rorabaugh

Arguably the biggest question coming out of yesterday's trade was about what number Alex Kovalev would wear.

With Craig Adams already wearing No. 27, Kovalev will flip his familiar digits and don No. 72.

That's going to take some getting used to.

The only other players in franchise history to wear that number were Jeff Christian and Eric Meloche.

Per the Post-Gazette's Dave Molinari, the top three lines at this morning skate were:

James Neal - Jordan Staal - Alex Kovalev
Matt Cooke - Maxime Talbot - Tyler Kennedy
Mike Rupp - Dustin Jeffrey - Pascal Dupuis

The fourth line was a hodge-podge of Chris Conner/Brett Sterling-Mark Letestu/Joe Vitale-Craig Adams/Eric Godard.

Other notes:

-The first power play unit was Kovalev, Letang, Staal, Kennedy and Neal. Kovalev was on the left point while Letang was on the right.

-Dustin Jeffrey will return to the lineup after having missed six games due to a right leg injury. In 13 games this season, he has seven points (four goals, three assists) and a plus-seven.

-Paul Martin ("upper-body") will not play.

For the Hurricanes, the addition of Cory Stillman has shuffled their lines. According to Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer, their lines and defensive pairings this morning were:

Cory Stillman - Eric Staal - Erik Cole
Jeff Skinner - Tuomo Ruutu - Chad LaRose
Jussi Jokinen - Brandon Sutter - Jiri Tlusty
Sergei Samsonov - Patrick Dwyer - Troy Bodie

Joni Pitkanen - Joe Corvo
Tim Gleason - Andrew McBain
Derek Joslin - Jay Harrison

Update: Kovalev speaks to Pittsburgh media for the first time since returning to the Penguins:

(Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins)

Comments (14)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

...
written by Disgruntled Goat, February 25, 2011 - 02:16 PM

**s a sad state of affairs when the return of a guy who should be in the minors generates any kind of excitement.

• 
• -5
• 
• 

...
written by cerimorgan, February 25, 2011 - 02:33 PM

Our entire first line was not playing for the Penguins 7 weeks ago

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by Bones, February 25, 2011 - 02:37 PM

I know he's 38, I know he's "enigmatic", but I am really excited to see what Kovy can do tonight. I agree though, it is going to be very strange to see him without #27 on his back.

• 
• +2
• 
• 

...
written by Disgruntled Goat, February 25, 2011 - 02:50 PM

*t will be interesting to see what Kovalev has left in the tank. Maybe coming back here will lead to some sort of a revival.
He should have taken #47.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by Disgruntled Goat, February 25, 2011 - 02:54 PM

BTW-I was referring to Dustin Jeffrey in my first post.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by espo33, February 25, 2011 - 03:15 PM

Goat-the way Jeffrey has played, why should he be in the minors? The kid is producing when given some linemates. I could agree and say he has been playing better then Staal. He is much better offensively then Adams and Talbot trying to score or create. Sterling was pretty good, but if Jeffrey doesn't show any lingering injuries the next day and Kunitz or Letestu come back tomorrow night, how can you send Jeffrey down instead of Vitale or Sterling?

I would rather see Kovy with Jeffrey then Kennedy with Staal or Kennedy with Jeffrey as Dupius has no hands.

• 
• +3
• 
• 

...
written by Bones, February 25, 2011 - 03:15 PM

I swear, EVERY article you read about Kovalev uses the word enigmatic. He might as well adopt it as his middle name...

• 
• +1
• 
• 

...
written by espo33, February 25, 2011 - 03:16 PM

should be argue and agree...

• 
• +1
• 
• 

...
written by Disgruntled Goat, February 25, 2011 - 03:23 PM

espo--What I meant was, if everyone was healthy, Jeffrey would be in the minors. So would all the guys you mentioned. Could you have concieved at the start of the year a time when anyone would say "Yay! Dustin Jeffrey is coming back!" I like him and agree that he is the best of the WBS guys, but the fact that he is now considered a major contributor is really bad news.

• 
• +1
• 
• 

...
written by Bones, February 25, 2011 - 03:32 PM

Like him or not, you've gotta admit that Kovy has style. How often does a professional athlete arrive in town by piloting his own private jet?

• 
• +1
• 
• 

...
written by espo33, February 25, 2011 - 03:34 PM

got you and agree.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by Disgruntled Goat, February 25, 2011 - 03:42 PM

I suppose we'll never know, but I wonder if Jeffrey would have made the team out of camp over Letestu if not for his two way contract.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by Bones, February 25, 2011 - 04:15 PM

I always thought Letestu had an edge because he's better at faceoffs. Could be that I imagined that though...

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by krikker, February 25, 2011 - 06:54 PM

Look at those line pairings. It feels like three years ago when Sid was on a goal a game pace, people were talking about 50 in 50 and we were duking it out among the league's elite.

Fast forward a few weeks and you have line pairings and players that look like what Seth would be listing for the opposing squad. Unreal. Hat's off to GMRS for not sitting still and trying to make some things happen. We needed O, and he has gone out and brought it in at extremely reasonable prices.

My only knock on those lines is that it still makes it far too easy for the opposing coach to match up his top D pairing for our best three O men. I would spread it out. Let Jeffrey or Letestu center Neal and Kovy and keep Staal on a second line with Kennedy and Cookie.

Fired up for tonight. 38 or not, I loved Kovy, welcome back!

• 
• +0
• 
•